Giving birth alone

[Bella1905]

Has anyone given birth alone (in hospital but without a birth partner there) and how was your experience please? I’m seriously considering it for various reasons. I have a husband but on a practical level we have other children and our childcare options are limited. Also, I am not finding him especially supportive at the moment anyway so am not sure he’d bring much good support anyway and wonder if perhaps he’d be better just looking after our children. Thanks

Hi Op midwife here it actually happens quite a lot usually for childcare reasons. You could ask for a midwife with a student as they can act as an extra support. Also lots of people bring friends/ aunties ect rather than partners. Whatever you are comfortable with is best, good luck x

I did but not by choice (DH was held up and I laboured quickly). Would not recommend, but horses for courses.

My second child was born via C section, my partner had to stay at home with our oldest so I was alone, didn’t bother me and we video called in theatre so he was able to watch our daughter being born, we actually screen recorded the call so now we have a video of our daughters birth. He was able to leave our son with a relative later in the day and come to the hospital.

I did this with DS1 in Covid when birth partners weren’t allowed in.

I nearly did it again with DS2. I was admitted to labour ward about 6pm. Based on my previous labour, we thought we had ages. We agreed that DH would do bath and bedtime with DS1, arrange for MIL to come over and join later on. Turns out my second labour was much much faster than my first and he made the last few minutes.

Both times were fine, second time was better. This was because I had a student midwife second time around who was lovely and helped with the practical things that a birth partner would normally do. It also helped me personally to reframe it as not being alone, but being there in the moment with my baby.

Good luck whatever you decide!

I'm planning to birth alone this time around.
Dh was there for the 1st and that was nice as I had no idea what to expect, but he only stayed for the birth and about an hour or two after. Then came back about 6 hours later to pick me up.
Dh and dd1 was there for the 2nd and it was one of those things where I was focused more on how dd was and if she was hungry etc and how dh was doing with her than anything else, again stayed for a while and then came back to pick me up.
This third time I know the routine, I don't have to worry about the kids being looked after by a somebody they dont know so well, they will be happy and safe if dh is there in their normal environment, I can read my book for the boring first part of labour (which i specifically remember wanting to do with dc2 before pushing) and crack on and do my thing in the last stage without giving two hoots what i look or sound like, and then spend what will be the only 1 on 1 time I really get with baby where I won't be so entirely sleep deprived or disturbing the anybody else.
I've had offers from friends to either baby sit or be my birthing partner, but I truly just want this very last time for myself.

I did. It was absolutely fine

Yes, I was completely alone - I was working overseas and my daughter’s father had left. It was absolutely fine.

Yes, I spent my entire 12 hour labour alone on a multiple bay ward because the midwives didn’t believe I was in labour.

The staff will be used to it and will look after you. In my experience they will talk you through things and even take the initial photographs for you.