Are partners allowed to stay after birth in England yet?

[Flossie333]

Hi all- I'm in London and will be giving birth at Kingston hospital. Does anyone know if partners are allowed to stay after the birth yet? I know in April and May, a lot of partners had to leave pretty soon after the birth, but wanted to see if anyone knew if that had changed yet? Thanks x

I don’t think so, no.
Think one person gets to stay until you’re admitted to the ward or discharged.

I have two friends in hospital at the moment. One is receiving palliative care and the other is recovering from an operation.
Neither Is allowed visitors. At all. It is so sad.

Totally depends on the hospital - do they have a Facebook page? Ours has allowed 90 mins after getting to ward then 90 mins per day the while way through. Some aren't allowing anything.

Not at my hospital in SE. Was really hoping there might be a change by now, due September

I'm in Hampshire. Gave birth a week ago, my husband was allowed to stay for about half an hour after the birth, he wasn't allowed on the post natal ward. Then they allowed visiting 2-4pm after that.

I had a lockdown baby, and it was BLISS not having visitors on the ward. So calm and quiet, everyone (staff and mums) much more relaxed than at any of my previous births... so much quieter at night, not needing to always have curtains round my bed (because frankly breastfeeding in front of other mums is fine, whereas breastfeeding in front of their gawking father-in-law isn't)...

I get that it would be nice to have your partner with you, but if you can't, try to focus on the positives - I'd actually say it was my best birth/ stay out of my 4. Good luck either way!

it depends on the hospital.

I'm due in a few weeks and switched my care to a different hospital as the policy there changed. I'm now at a more modern hospital where everyone has their own room so partners can remain with you from start to finish (not allowed to leave room at all though).
The other hospital is an old building with small cramped wards so they still can't allow partners or visitors once you're moved onto the post natal ward

@Flossie333

Hi all- I'm in London and will be giving birth at Kingston hospital. Does anyone know if partners are allowed to stay after the birth yet? I know in April and May, a lot of partners had to leave pretty soon after the birth, but wanted to see if anyone knew if that had changed yet? Thanks x

I think it's hospital specific For example the hospital I am having baby at .. Partner can stay afterwards until you're taken to the ward and then they have to leave, then if you have to stay in for whatever reason they are allowed to visit for 1 hour per day (set time slot)

I'm in hospital at the moment having given birth last week and my partner has been allowed with me from the start. The hospital we are in only has private rooms so I guess it's a lot easier for them to allow birth partners in, although once you're in you can't leave and come back again.

I know another hospital about 10 minutes down the road which is part of the same trust, is only allowing birth partners in once you're in active later and they can't go down to the post-natal ward either. This is because there aren't any private rooms, only wards. Not surprisingly everyone is now trying to choose the first hospital and it's packed! We've been in hospital for a week now, don't know how I would have coped without my husband here.

I'm Midlands and my husband can only stay 45mins then pick me up when we get discharged. Dreading it.

It definitely depends on the trust, ours in the SE say 1 hour then they must leave. After my 1st I actually sent my husband home, we thought it best that one of us get a some rest, sleep, get the shopping in, etc before we came home with the baby, rather than both of us being knackered and no use to anyone. I understand its a scary thought, but you're not alone really, you have your baby

Definitely depends on the hospital. Mine (east London) is allowing one visitor on antenatal wards 2pm-6pm. Must be the same one each day. Check with your midwife.

I just gave birth at Kingston hospital 3 weeks ago and my partner was allowed to stay with me after birth. We were in for four days and he didn’t leave my side. We had to wear masks if we left our room but other than that things felt completely normal.

If it’s a communal ward, I have to say I love the idea of partners not being able to stay overnight. Less bothered if it’s a series of rooms. I cannot stand the thought of being in a vulnerable state of undress surrounded by men I don’t know. Every midwife I have spoken to about it has said it’s has been wonderful to get back to being able to care for women over night without (male) partners being there. I really do feel it should be a safe space for women.

I’m definitely with @Nightshifter on this one, but appreciate people have different views.

Whilst you are on the delivery suite your partner is allowed to stay with you, but if you get transferred to the ward then they have to go, however, unless having a c-section most women get discharged 5-6 hours straight from delivery suite so don’t go onto the ward.

I’m strongly in favour of partners not being allowed to stay on the AN ward overnight but no visitors at all is challenging. A friend of mine recently had a csection and was really unhappy with the fact her husband was sent away after an hour, the midwives weren’t responding to the buzzer and she had no assistance with lifting baby etc a couple of times, if her husband had been there it wouldn’t have mattered but she was very distressed about not being able to get help.

As PPs have said, it depends on the hospital I think, my NCT group are at hospitals across London and the rules are different at all of them. I asked at my 36 week appt yesterday and my midwife said that there’s no point thinking about the current rules as the situation keeps changing. I’d ask close to your due date.

I'm in the midlands and due September and I feel physically ill with the thought I'm going to have be on my own for most of it!
I'm really hoping that by September they might allow my birthing partner (in my case my DH) with me, throughout the whole thing.
If they aren't, I'm seriously considering a home birth as I just can't be without him! So scared

That’s interesting @slinkyjojee because I’m booked at Kingston and have been told no partners to stay overnight!

@Verytired2019 that’s so strange! DH couldn’t stay while I was being induced but once I was in labour he was with me constantly. I wasn’t even in a private room. I was on a ward with three other women and all their husbands stayed too.

I'm having an elcs in a couple of weeks. DH can attend the operation and stay in recovery with me for an hour afterwards. Then he will be sent away, but allowed back for visiting hours 1-5pm (no other visitors permitted). Like PPs, I'm really pleased that men aren't allowed on the postnatal ward overnight at the moment.

The hospital I'm booked at is sending partners home once you're transferred to ward. Another local hospital I'm contemplating changing to is allowing partners to stay, for as long as they like, but the moment they leave the ward they can't come back. There's no consistence between trusts what so ever.