Wow Katanya, what hospital did you go to?!
Just the plain old Gold Coast Hospital, some of the midwives were not so keen but I had great ones at night in the first few days. They put a million pillows around us and a bed rail, and used to check in on us just to be sure.I know a lot of hospitals are paranoid about the liability, but obviously mine wasn't!

On the other hand, I have actually seen research which found a correlation between post-natal depression and having your baby sleep in your bed. Perhaps this implies that the pattern may be related to a mother's emotional needs.
wow really? I find it hard to believe? I wouldn't co-sleep if it didn't suit us too, and I know that it doesn't suit some people and I think every mother has to do what's right for her. But the bond I feel with co-sleeping is SO strong. I wonder if the problem occurs because we are trained with images of "good" babies sleeping peacefully in their cots in their rooms, and when some mothers "give in" to a baby who is happier in their bed then they feel like they have "failed" because they feel like they are being not a "good" parent!
By reading the posts here it shows the fact some babies like co-sleeping, and some do not prefering their own space (like Matilda!)

Maybe with increased co-sleeping in our communities (it's done HEAPS overseas in other cultures as a "normal thing") women can feel comfortable with having a baby in the bed without people saying "your creating a rod for your backs" like we get sometimes, usually from my family. My DP's boss, slept with all her 4 children for about a year and said after a certain age they want their own space, obviously when that is is up to the child.

The other issue people raise is the ability to be initimate with your partner, we I can say we don't have any issues in that area, and who says you have to do it in a bed anyhow!

Anyhow enough of a rant, I'm just a huge believer in intutive parenting and families making choices that suit them, not just following what they are told makes a good parent!