The Victorian government's announcement last week of new restrictions on maternity wards has caused great distress and outrage among families and perinatal health professionals. Limiting partner visits to two hours per day in the days following childbirth will undoubtedly put the mental health and well-being of all parents and their babies at great risk.
Restricting one parent’s hospital access reduces bonding time, significantly decreases partner support, limits both parents’ access to learning important skills in caring for a newborn and encourages women to leave hospital early. It also places increased demand on nursing staff to cover the invaluable support that partners provide.
Worryingly, these restrictions place far greater responsibility on new mothers to "do it all" at a time when they are most vulnerable. Up to one-in-three women find childbirth emotionally traumatic. These women may experience anxiety, panic attacks or "intense baby blues" and are at higher risk of developing post-natal depression. For these women, having the unlimited support of their partner or a support person while in hospital is especially crucial.
I am one of these women. I am pregnant with my third child and am petrified to be in hospital on my own. My past two births were caesareans. One was "planned" because my baby was breech. The other an "emergency" because my waters broke early. Both my babies spent time in the special care nursery.
I was separated from my babies. I was bed-bound for 24 hours. I could barely walk unassisted due to fluid retention and having had major surgery. I was woken every night by babies crying in surrounding rooms, but my baby wasn’t beside me. I struggled with syringes and breast pumps every three hours. I had no idea what I was doing. I cried because I was so overwhelmed and felt completely helpless.
My husband’s support was amazing. He cared for our babies and sent me photos and videos. He made crucial decisions while I was doped up on pain medication. He spent endless time keeping me company, gave me the reassurance I required and needed to learn as much as I did about newborns. He even taught me how to change a nappy!
Kylie, Brent and their second baby Levi, who arrived unexpectedly at 36 weeks.
Having my husband present at the birth of our children and during my recovery in hospital is an integral part of our birth plan. Many couples have this same plan. It is a fundamental element that helps me to cope better, allows my husband to bond with our baby and helps our family adapt as well as possible to the challenges a new baby presents.
Managing coronavirus risks and restrictions has been difficult for everyone in the community. Being pregnant during coronavirus has been particularly tough.
I fully support reasonable and considered health precautions, however the emotional gravity of the latest maternity restrictions is enormous for any pregnant woman to cope with - be it a first-time mum or an old hat like me. While the latest maternity restrictions may help to reduce coronavirus transmission, they pose a significant risk to the mental health and wellbeing of all parents and their babies. I urge the government to reconsider its visitation rules for partners of the thousands of women becoming mothers during this stressful time.
Dr Kylie Stone is a psychologist who works in assisted reproduction and supports donor-conceived families.
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