Petition to not birth alone

[fizzandsparkle]

chng.it/Bx7NrrKKZ2

Please sign if you agree!

[Marieo]

But it's for the safety of mothers, babies and the medical staff, do you think that they have implemented it just for the fun of it? And yes, I gave birth alone as my DH was deployed. I appreciate that it is scary, but so is the thought of double the risk of the ward being exposed to Corona.

[fizzandsparkle]

Hence why I said sign if you agree, not everyone will and that's OK.

Stay safe!

[GrumpyHoonMain]

All it would take is one partner with coronavirus and you could see entire NICUs of babies die (as their mums often need to stay in postnatal wards).

[Bezalelle]

I won't be signing. Of course it will be hard not to have DH there but I'd rather lower the risk of spreading the virus. We have to think of the greater good.

[HarrietM87]

They won’t be alone, they’ll be with medically trained midwives and doctors. Any measures that ensure that situation continues are worth having in place. I’m pregnant and I’d rather give birth alone than have people die needlessly.

[Candyfloss99]

No won't be signing. They haven't made this up just to be horrible.

[MumofTinies]

I'll be signing, the HCPs during my first labour didn't seem to understand the meaning of the word consent, I was glad my husband was there to advocate for me when I was being ignored. If some hospitals can allow women to have a birth partner, why can't they all?

[HarrietM87]

@MumofTinies maybe because all hospitals have different capacities/ICU beds/risk profiles/locations and therefore (a) the risk of covid 19 being transmitted to staff and patients and (b) their ability to cope with it will be different?

[Starlight456]

I shall leave it to the medical professionals what us appropriate,

Not sure the point if the of the petition , it really isn’t a time for stamping your feet.

FWIW.... my now exh was bloody useless and thank gosh their was a midwife there who knew what she was doing

[wondering7777]

I'm so glad someone has started this and it's had loads of signatures.

I'm due to give birth soon and am terrified of doing so alone. DH and I are planning to completely self-isolate for two weeks before my due date (not leaving the house at all, even to go to the shops) so I can't see how it would be a risk to have him there. If DH did have the virus then it's likely I would also have it anyway.

I really don't feel I'm mentally strong enough to go through this without DH by my side.

I wonder what hospital this lady is at?

[Bubbletrouble43]

Not signing as I'm sure this decision would be taken with only the gravest necessity. Fwiw my mum and her generation of friends all gave birth without their husbands present and think it's hilarious that my generation even want men there.

[HarrietM87]

@wondering7777 you could go into labour at any time before your due date. You also don’t know how labour is going to go. I felt just the same as you but actually having my son I went into a zone - couldn’t see or hear anyone (in a good way) and didn’t give a shit who was there with me. The baby will come out of you one way or another, it’s not a question of being mentally strong. Whether your DH can be there might not be in your control so maybe look into hypnobirthing to help you prepare now.

[ShirleyPhallus]

All it would take is one partner with coronavirus and you could see entire NICUs of babies die

Fucking hell. Do people not ever consider the impact of their words? You realise there will be a lot of very scared women about to give birth at this uncertain time.

For all UK trusts, they still allow birth partners while in labour. For many, they allow birth partners to stay in the pre and post labour wards. Added to this that most labour wards / birth centres are in busy hospitals, all attended to by staff who have seen plenty of other women means there is already a small risk to any woman.

The above statement is completely incorrect, bullshit and inflammatory.

[wondering7777]

@HarrietM87 I'm completely panicking to be honest - I'm really nervous about the birth as it is, especially with it being my first, and the thought of not having DH there terrifies me.

I wasn't intending to have an epidural but will definitely be having one if this goes ahead, as I can't face being in that amount of pain without DH by my side.

[wondering7777]

For all UK trusts, they still allow birth partners while in labour.

Is that definitely the case @ShirleyPhallus? I desperately hope you're right.

[HarrietM87]

@wonderring7777 maybe he will he able to be there, so don’t panic. Also worst case scenario you will he in the care of experienced staff, not alone. And you don’t know how you’ll manage the pain - you might take it in your stride, or you might be so out of it you don’t know who is with you!

[NishaaS123]

I am signing it giving birth is one really scary experience you should have someone from your family with you 1 birthing should definitely be allowed!

[ShirleyPhallus]

@wondering7777 as far as I’m aware, so far yes it is. Some trusts don’t allow birth partners outside of active labour (ie on prelabour ward) but at the moment the guidelines are to allow every woman a partner at the time of birth.

I am due to give birth any day now (10 days overdue!!) and was in a complete pickle about all of this, mostly from what I’d read online rather than from facts. I spoke to my midwife and she assured me that my partner can be with me before, during and after labour and they’re still allowing partners to stay overnight.

The only condition is that we both have to be tested for symptoms (I suppose temperature taken etc) on arrival, my partner is given a wrist band and we can’t come and go.

Please try not to worry, it does depend on the trust but I really cannot see they will remove the right to a birth partner during labour.

If you check on that link too, that woman was allowed a birth partner during active labour. No one has yet suggested women in this country couldn’t have them, some other countries have bit really best to check directly with your midwife and trust.

[nancyjuice7]

Not signing as I don't agree

Very narrow minded to think that your birth as an individual matters more than the lives of all the medical staff, all other mothers and babies on those units.

They haven't done it to hurt women, they've done it for the safety of everyone

The small mindedness around this issue astounds me

[ShirleyPhallus]

Official guidelines here: www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/

Again - the petition states women DO have birth partners with them during active labour

[fedupandlookingforchange]

I’ve signed it.
My labour was long and traumatic, it could have ended very badly. It was my DH that saw it was going wrong not the medical staff and insisted they moved onto an emcs quickly. He’s not medically trained, he’s a stock farmer and has an instinct for when a birth is going wrong.

[HebeMumsnet]

Hi OP. We've moved this over to our petitions board for you. Good luck with it!

[WhentheRabbitsWentWild]

No I am not signing it .

Grow a backbone OP and accept it at this time . I thought that a labouring woman was allowed one birth partner with her anyway .

[Laurapb88]

My hospital is allowing a birthing partner only on labour ward but once it's done they have to leave I don't think its narrow minded at all everyone has a right to feelings I am personally scared of having our first on my own and not having the help after so praying for a normal birth, my friend is having to be induced tomorrow and has to do that alone until established labour people need support x

[ejmay90]

@GrumpyHoonMain all it takes is for one pregnant mother to have Corona virus too!
It's not just men carrying it is it. What about a women who comes in with it??
My partner has been at home with me since I was told to work from home 2 weeks ago, both of us have not been anywhere apart from walking our dog. I've had family drop food at the door.
We both wont be going anywhere until our son is born in 4ish weeks time. How is that fair he can't be there/have to leave when he's doing exactly the same as me and would be no more infected than I am?