People’s Experiences

Below are some people’s stories from the UK about their postpartum experiences. With their consent they are willing to share what they went through to raise awareness of the current issue and need for support adults to stay with postpartum mothers after birth.

WARNING: some of this experiences may be deemed distressing and triggering due to the nature of them.

Rhi York - “We were readmitted for jaundice. Luckily my husband could stay as our daughter will not settle in the cot. We had to take it in turns to sleep..not sure how I would have coped if he couldn't stay . It was also over day 3 when my hormones were making me so emotional and I needed his support x”

Deborah Spencer - “I absolutely feel you on this one. I have just came home after spending 6 days in hospital with little one and we had the same, Dad wasn’t allowed at the hospital between 9pm and 9am and I was very unwell. I’d have thought he would have been able to stay the first night or two because I was unwell to care for baby but they wouldn’t let him x”

Kelly Powell - “I had a similar situation last week. Our boy was rushed to hospital due to breathing issues, o was week 4 of c section recovery and on my 3rd infection. I was made to stand up, walk to x Ray where i had to wear a heavy lead jacket my husband came about 6pm with some much needed pain relief for me and was allowed to stay until 10pm but in that time I collapsed on the floor from exhaustion they decided to pull the bed out for me and my husband asked if he could stay too and they said no...we were in a private room so I don't know why when they could see i was struggling, I was then awake all night apart for maybe 40mins. My mh is a mess from this and lots of other failings and now my 8 year old has strep throat. I don't know why it should always fall to them mum and hospitals should definitely be trying to help us where possible. Hope your little boy is better soon and you can both get home ASAP.”

Kathryn Barnett - “I had a similar situation with my first child during the height of COVID at our trust. The rules were only one parent at a time in NICU and once you had been in the facility and gone back out..you couldn't return for the rest of the day ��‍♀️ so me and my husband did half a day each and then spent the evening at home to recharge. I needed to be home for my mental health as otherwise they'd have kept me in on post natal with all other mums with their babies which I couldn't cope with. Also if I'd of stayed in I'd only see my husband for 1 hour out of the day and that was it. I couldn't have any other visitors. It was such a tough time!”