I think alot of people agree we need to change the restrictions in hospitals to allow birthing partners  in early labour/birth and after birth in maternity wards and hospitals around the country.

We need to change this to allow a chosen birth partner to be with mothers from the very start of labour until they are discharged from the hospital.

This is also to lift restrictions for scans and appointments throughout the pregnancy as so many are losing out on experiencing the support during these appointments. 

At the moment the rules state that women do not have to labour alone but partners are only allowed to be with the mother when she is 4cm dilated or more. They are not allowed in for the start of an induction and they are not allowed in for the pre operation preparation for a Caesarean section.

Yet birthing partners enter the hospital before this is determined and then are told to leave so that has to be a risk in itself leaving the building and coming back in again. 

They are not allowed to come onto the ward with the mother and baby after birth, they must leave shortly after birth. There is no thought of mothers emotional, mental or physical needs during this time.

Visits back to the hospital in the days after birth  are not permitted. If a mother is to stay for more than one day, this is going to be very difficult for all. 

Should you live a bit of a distance from the hospital there is a big risk your partner would miss the birth, as we all know labour is totally unpredictable and it could go from 4cm to having the baby in a very short time.

Not to mention if something went wrong, the mother can possibly come into trouble or has complications. Not having the partner there from the start puts her at risk of being alone in a scary situation. This is adding unnecessary stress to the mother during labour.

Many stories are coming to light that partners ARE missing births as adequate time is not being given to allow the partner to be there on time. If partners were allowed from the start, it simply wouldn’t happen.

What is also so entirely frustrating is that these rules are NOT consistent around the country. It is also irrelevant of Covid testing results. 

Some hospitals allow partners for the whole birth, for scans and appointments and it’s just not right. Precautions could very well be implemented by taking temperature of birth partner before entering  and correct PPE throughout their attendance in the Hospital. 

With so many unnecessary and non essential shops opening up with pubs, beauty salons and other social venues opening, how on earth is it justifiable to keep partners from appointments, labour and birth and to risk mental health issues such as post natal depression at the very least to both mum and partner.

It needs to change and proper precautions and regulations can be met to allow this to change. 

We mothers NEED OUR PARTNERS WITH US. With the correct PPE there is no reason why this isn’t possible now.

I am not saying we should open the wards to all and expose sick people with visitors coming in and out, but I don’t see why a birth partner is allowed to be with you for part of the birth but yet can not be present for all.

We need these restrictions to change. It doesn't make sense to have shops open, to allow socialising with people that do not live together and yet  keep this rule in place, especially when it’s a total emotional and physical need of people.