Will my partner be allowed in the delivery room?

[Blurby]

I'm 7 months pregnant - due in May. I have a consultant appointment on Monday. Ive been strictly advised that only I can attend. Absolutely no partners or children are allowed to go in with anyone. Totally understandable and I'm glad to see they're taking precautions.

But what happens when I have my c section in May does anyone know? Will my husband be allowed in the delivery room?

I will ask on Monday but just wanted to see if anyone had heard anything or knew what changes would be brought into place?

@blurby it was Wishaw general hospital that released it.

It was a friend who's due in two weeks that shared it. I will see if I can find it and post it x

Thanks @rosegoldivy 💕

Maybe the silver lining from this will be that it’ll get men off the post-natal wards overnight.

@blurby it's not letting me attach a photo from my phone. But the post was put on by "the daisy foundation Lanarkshire" on Facebook

Best friend is due in May and it is a strict "1 birth partner" rule. SE London.

@RoseGoldEagle

Wishaw is my maternity hospital too, they haven't sent me that message. I'm due at the end of April. I was thinking about how baby would not be able to have any visitors, I didnt think about my husband having to go home.
Thanks for the heads up.

@alexaambidextra I'm hoping that too. And the piles of visitors some people have.

Thanks @rosegoldivy 🙂

My sister had a baby last Friday and was allowed her partner not only for the birth, but he stayed for the four days she was in hospital afterwards (difficult delivery). No visitors on the mat ward due to CV though, and as we’re self-isolating I can’t see her at the moment either 😢.

I'm due in May also and I'm classed as high risk.
I am meant to have a scan next week but think it will be just me allowed at the moment. The hospital keeps changing its policy every few days with the way the corona is going.

I'm very anxious and it's my first baby. I will be finding out in the next few weeks if they want to induce me or not at 38 weeks. I'm planning on a vaginal birth (thought of c section terrifies me!) I am not allowed a water birth and restricted with epidural. I would be devestated if my husband can't be at the birth but it could be a possibility.

Up to now my hospital has banned all visitors at the labour ward and you are allowed 1 birthing partner unless they have symptoms of corona virus..... I'm trying not to worry but its so hard x

My hospital sent out this earlier in the week

If I am told I cannot have my husband at the birth I would be so scared going in on my own that I would probably stay at home until it was too late and the baby came at home. The WHO are saying that having your partner is vital support during birth and I don't see why, if you can prove you've both been self isolating, they can't come in. It's his baby as much as mine and he would be absolutely distraught if he missed the birth of his first child. I'm going to speak to my midwife about home birth if there's even the hint that they might implement a no birth partner rule. This is making me so so anxious

It is scary but maybe essential?

I had my daughter on my own. Was fine in the end.

It was fine 'in the end' doesn't sound like the kind of birth experience I want. My husband will have been isolating with me for weeks prior to the birth, I see that as essential if they want to be there. Are they suggesting that the baby's father will meet their child for the first time in the hospital car park if not?

It’s essential for me to have my husband during labour and afterwards. Despite having shoulder dystocia, retained placenta and haemorrhaging last time I’d probably stay at home if they put in a no birthing partners/partners in postnatal ward rule. My anxiety is high enough without them taking my only source of calm away. It gives me panic attacks just thinking about it.

Our local team are saying the home birth team are limited atm so please dont stay at home if you have any risks.

@kittykat7210 I'm so glad someone else seems to feel this as strongly as I do. There would never be a time that I would need him more than during giving birth. I think more women would be at risk because they would put off going to the hospital for as long as possible to ensure their partner is present for as much of the experience as they can be? I know I would :(

My hospital have changed from 2 birth partners down to 1 and today back up to 2 again. Seems they have had a rethink/ feedback and consider it to be important that women have the support of a birth partner(s) should they choose to. Was also told today that they will not be facilitating home births in my area (which I was considering) but at least I know where I stand now and can completely understand their reasoning. I’m due in 6 weeks (second baby) and am trying so hard not to get stressed about what the situation will be like when the time comes to go in. My feeling is that they will definitely try to do as much as they feasibly can to support women in labour, whilst still doing the best to support the rest of the NHS at this difficult time. Best of luck to everyone xx

Ours are allowing a birth partner but not on the wards afterwards.

@kittykat7210 @Hfarm1
To be honest, threatening to give birth at home unsupervised because you potentially won’t be allowed a birth partner is frankly disgusting.

High levels of anxiety won’t kill you. Your husband potentially infecting an already very sick person or a HCP who will go on to infect vulnerable people will kill.

Pregnancy and giving birth can be quite a fragile time mentally especially with all of this going on.

But please don’t be selfish and understand that this is for the best. To protect others.

Ours are allowing a birth partner but not on the wards afterwards.

Hospitals terrify me at the best of times - I will really struggle if DH is sent home straight after the birth and not allowed back. Is that likely to be the case? If so I will just have to pray that I have a straightforward birth and can leave the hospital quickly, because the thought of having to stay there for days afterwards on my own is really upsetting.

Please don’t think about risking your own life or that of your baby by trying to give birth alone at home . I know that it’s frighting to think that your partner won’t be with you 24/7. But you will be a lot more frightened if you have an emergency at home and you have to call an ambulance which could take a long time to come.

@wondering7777

I had an emergency CS last time and got home less than 24 hours later. They will be keen to get you home ASAP as it’s safer for you and baby.

I felt really shit BTW, don’t think you are getting to go home so you are recovered. But the only “ nursing care” I was getting in hospital was drugs and they gave me some home so that was fine.

At least I got fed and got my meds on time at home.

Hfarm I completely sympathise. There is a tonne of evidence that the more relaxed and less anxious mothers are the less likely it is they’ll need intervention (I’m obviously NOT saying that when people have difficult births it’s their fault for not being chilled enough- obviously things can go wrong no matter what, but it’s definitely a factor in helping straightforward births go smoothly). So I think they’ll do everything possible to ensure one birth partner is allowed. I guess the only exception would be if they were actually showing symptoms. I’m pregnant with number 3 and although my last 2 births were ok, I’d still be so scared at the idea of doing it without DH.

@Fantasiaa my mental health is important. If I don’t have good mental health I will not be able to be a mum to my children. I developed serious post natal depression with my daughter after a traumatic delivery and feeling very isolated. There was a while where I didn’t want to be living anymore. I’m going to put my family first. Yes it’s selfish but I’m self isolating until birth and probably damaging my mental health already, I’m already being as selfless as I can possibly be. But this is one point where I know my mental stability will break.