How impt was it that your partner could stay with you after birth?

[crumpet]

for my pregnancy i went private, with my own OB and chose to deliver at the private hospital as opposed to the public one he has rights at.....

for me i wanted my DH to stay the night she was born BUT the hospital we happy for him to stay as late as he wanted and come in as early as he wanted so after being settled in my room and seeing the double bed we choose for him to go home and come back early in the morning, plus i had a PPH so they wanted me to rest up so him staying in a small bed with me wasnt going to work.

DH then worked while i was in hospy and would come in and stay till late each night.

i then expected him to stay the night before we came home but DD ended up in SCU so there was no point him being there.

when i was admitted in jan before we lost our DS i was in the public hospital and becasue i was a private patient i was guaranteed my own room, and given my situation the middies told me i would have been given one anyway....

personally for me, i like knowing the option is there just incase and there was no way i wanted to share a room so going private guaranteed that for me....

[TaRhLi.]

I had DD in a private hospital and DH stayed the first 2 nights with me. The second day he actually went to work and then came back in the afternoon (he works in the public hossy next door to the private one). It was a great help, especially the first night as I had a c/s and he was able to assist with getting DD for me. If he wouldn't have been there they would have taken her to the nursery as I couldn't get out of bed.

Every other day of my stay he would come in about 7.30am to spend time before going to work and then every evening until about 9pm to help with bathing etc. Going private for us meant that he could come and go whenever he pleased and stay as late as he wanted to everynight. They allow that for partners and your children but not other visitors who have strict visiting hours.

I had a single room which was great and I didn't feel lonely at all as I would have the midwives come in and visit and chat when it was quiet and if I had no visitors.

This time around unfortunately he won't be able to stay with me as he will need to look after DD, but he will come in everyday and bring DD with him and in the evenings we will go through DD's nightly routine with her (even shower her in my room if needed and I will also order extra for my meals for DD as well) so she can spend time with me before she goes to bed in the evening and then DH will take her home for bed. We want to try and make this time about including DD in the whole baby process and by having our own room in a private hospital it will allow us to spend as much time together as a family unit.