What appointments have your partners been allowed to attend?

[EllieRosesMammy]

Just wondering what appointments everyones partners have been able to attend in recent weeks?

My partner couldnt attend my early bird app (which was fine cause he didnt miss much) and I dont think hes able to attend my booking app next week.

I believe hes allowed to attend our 12 week and 20 week scan, but in the following months things are about to change anyway so I'm assuming once shops and pubs reopen partners will be allowed to attend all appointments again?

What has everyone elses doctors surgery and hospital said?

No appts so far is my DH allowed to come to. It's our first as well. Hoping it changes soon, got a private scan also booked which he can come to. My 12 week one I'll be going alone to :(

@NoParticularPattern my area has the same rules- it's draconian isn't it!

I wouldn't worry about carrying bags and baby out by yourself though. I've been sat outside the postnatal ward a lot recently as it's where I need to wait for my appointments at the moment so I've seen a few women heading home- every time they've had midwives with them helping carrying all the bags and baby etc. They're not quite that harsh!

I'm 21 weeks now, my partner was allowed to attend my 12 and 20 week scans, although I went to the 12 week alone as we had no childcare for older DC.

I had repeated bleeds before Christmas when I was around 9/10 weeks and had to go in for early internal scans which he couldn't attend. That was pretty hard and I could have used the emotional support - my heart goes out to all the women who've had to have miscarriages confirmed without their partners there because of Covid.

Had baby December and dh was not allowed at a single scan or appointment. It was only the eve of the section they confirmed he could attend birth. We had began to think he would meet baby in car park.

I had baby in January. DH wasn't allowed to come to any scans or appointments, but when I was in labour he was able to stay the whole time until we were discharged 8 hours after birth

Only the 12 week scan (London); not allowed for 20 week scan or appts. Labour/ postnatal seems to be fine - just scans and appts.

The postcode lottery is so unfair.

Partners have never been invite to booking appointments anyway as its a chance for women to be honest and potentially reveal if they are suffering from any domestic abuse. Partners really don't need to be at this!

DH can only attend my scans and the birth. I don’t mind about the midwife appointments, but .I have to see the consultant to make choices about the birth and would really like him to be there.

None, no scans, not even when I was miscarrying in previous pregnancy. Glad this isn’t my first pregnancy, think it must be even harder then .

My partner did come to booking in appointment with previous pregnancy, pre Covid. So not true that they have never been invited.

@Summersun12 I'm pretty sure you don't have to a mask, but your partner will have to throughout

In the letter for my 12 week scan it said no partner allowed, but when I arrived the sonographer was like "No partner today?" Nope! We take the guidelines very seriously.

For my 20 week scan I was told it would be okay but my partner (who is missing a spleen and therefore immunocompromised) opted not to attend, which I was absolutely fine with.

It might sound strange but I kind of like that I've attended all hospital appointments alone (even very early ones for spotting) it made me feel strong, and protective of my family at home. There was also something kind of special about it just being me and the belly dweller's business, maybe I'm strange for seeing it that way, who knows.

My partner will absolutely be at the birth though! I've already checked that it'll be okay.

It's never occurred to me to ask him to attend midwife appointments. I feel like that would be boring for him, and there's no need. He'll be walking me to my next one though, and waiting outside the building, because I'm large and heavy now and don't want to walk alone

My dh is allowed at my 12 week scan and 20 week but not sure if he will be allowed to my growth scans. I hope so as I am due at the beginning of September. He was not allowed at my booking appointments or any midwife appointments at the moment. He was disappointed at this but I know the drill at this is my third pregnancy. I am not sure if this birth will lead to another section but if it does I hope he would be able to be with me for the booking in part and with me in theatre.

There is no real need for partners to come to midwife appointments but that doesn't mean some don't want to. Mine got a better understanding of what was going on in my pregnancy by coming along with me, he was allowed paid time off for my appointments. Fair enough if your oh doesn't want to, is self employed and can't or if his employer is rubbish but I don't understand what is so hard to understand that some dad's actually want to be involved with their partner's pregnancy, advocate for them and learn more about the process.

I would like him to be there at my consultant appointments especially when we discuss birth options.

@Sceptre86

My dh is allowed at my 12 week scan and 20 week but not sure if he will be allowed to my growth scans. I hope so as I am due at the beginning of September. He was not allowed at my booking appointments or any midwife appointments at the moment. He was disappointed at this but I know the drill at this is my third pregnancy. I am not sure if this birth will lead to another section but if it does I hope he would be able to be with me for the booking in part and with me in theatre.

There is no real need for partners to come to midwife appointments but that doesn't mean some don't want to. Mine got a better understanding of what was going on in my pregnancy by coming along with me, he was allowed paid time off for my appointments. Fair enough if your oh doesn't want to, is self employed and can't or if his employer is rubbish but I don't understand what is so hard to understand that some dad's actually want to be involved with their partner's pregnancy, advocate for them and learn more about the process.

I completely agree with this that some partners do actually want to attend midwife appointments. With my first pregnancy my partner came to all of mine as it helped him feel more involved, and I was totally fine with that:) I'd of took my partner to my booking app this time if we had been allowed x

It is mine and my partner's first baby and he wasn't allowed at the 12 week scan. We did opt to have a private early scan which was magical for us! We were very disappointed that he wasn't allowed to the 12 week Nhs scan when so many other trusts are allowing it. We are crossing our fingers for the 20 week one which will be April. The trust is Birmingham.