Why are Fathers Sent Home After the Birth of Their Baby?
A look into why fathers are being sent home after the birth of their babies. Enlists The Fathering Institutes campaign against being shut out from the post natal wards.
The Fatherhood Institute has launched a campaign against the fact that fathers are not allowed to stay with their wives or partners after the birth of their baby. In compliance with the NHS rules, fathers have to stick to the visiting times and are not allowed to stay overnight on the postnatal wards. However it is argued that fathers are missing out on the vital bonding with their babies and have equal right to be there.
Mothers of newborns often need support and physical assistance from their loved ones especially their husband and partners after the birth and feel that they would have felt much more comfortable staying overnight at the hospital if their husbands were allowed to stay with them.
Some mothers suffer from after effects of the birth such as post natal depression and do not have the strength to do simple everyday tasks straight after giving birth and it would be beneficial to those mothers to have a loved one stay with them. Mothers who have had to undergo a caesarean or had stitches will be in pain and often feel helpless and feel the need to have their partner by their side to be of moral support.
Often mothers are apprehensive about the experience of staying in hospital.
Susan Smith a 35 year old new mum said, “Being a mother myself and having given birth last month I was surprised that my husband was not allowed to stay with me after having our daughter. I personally felt that I would have preferred to have my husband stay with me rather than be left alone on the ward to take care of my baby”.
Another new mum Linda McGrath from Sussex said that, “As a first time mum I was anxious about the birth and was under the impression that after giving birth my husband would be able to share the first night with our baby together, however I was very disappointed when he had to say goodbye”.
The NHS may need to look at the issues raised regarding the overnight stay of fathers after birth and take into consideration how mothers really feel about the matter.
Liked it
