In some hospitals the Dads are allowed to stay for a few hours. Visitors are allowed less visiting time even during visiting hours than the Dads are. It has been that way for at least 35 years. Let’s face it, the Mum needs some undisturbed sleep while baby is asleep to re-build her strength up. In most cases now Mum and baby go home in 2 days anyway.

the hospital i was at for my first there was no leave time for the father’s the day/night bub was born, at 4am a family came in after having bub and kept the whole room awake all night. I think private room or private hospital only

Abso friggin lutely!
It’s his child as much as the mothers. In this day and age we need as much help as we can get. It was absolutely heart breaking seeing my hubby have to leave after our first son was born. He texted me all night saying how much he missed us both and how he cried himself to sleep. So heartbreaking. Thankfully we had a family room for our second and he was able to stay.

I think it is a great and very important time for fathers to bond with their babies. I feel they need to be included more and feel special too. To help their partners after the birth too. Give them such great physical and mental support.

I agree! We would probably see a reduction in post natal depression in some cases if dads were allowed to stay on the ward! Mums need help in the first few days, more help usually then what the midwives can provide!

I agree with comments that it would only work in a private room. Definitely was essential for me to have support though.

Unfortunately I suspect the health system could not cover the cost of extra beds and food.

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  • • Ellen replied
    • 05 May 2019 , 7:27 am

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  I don’t think the health system shouldn’t have to cover that, those costs should be payed by the dads who stay on the ward

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    • • mom93821 replied
      • 05 May 2019 , 7:39 am

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    I agree and that should indeed be researched – a good idea – well done!

My husband stayed with me all the time, but we had a private room.

I can see both sides, in a 4 bedded room do you really want 8 adults and 4 babies. Sounds like a recipe for disaster

It’s only for a few days, there’s hospital staff on hand to help mum if it’s needed. If you can get a private room. I see no issue. But I fail to see how this would be able to happen on a shared ward. There’s other mums to consider there who may not be comfortable sharing a room with strange men. And honestly, hospitals and the health system is struggling to take care of sick people, without being expected to supply beds for healthy dads

In the case of a private room this shouldn’t be a problem, but in the case of a shared room I would think it’s inappropriate to have multiple man staying there.

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  • • Ellen replied
    • 04 May 2019 , 8:18 am

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  multiple men

Its a hospital. Not a hotel. Mum gets to stay because her body just went through the trauma of birth and needs to recover. Our health system is already screwed up enough with people waiting months for urgently needed procedures. Money should be invested into beds for them before beds for perfectly healthy dads.

I totally agree they should. It’s hard for us mums and we need all the support we can

If you have a single room then I think it’s appropriate.
When I had my first son (stillbirth) my husband stayed with me during my hospital stay and with my daughter I was lucky enough to have a single room and he was also allowed to stay but meals were not provided for him. For my son ( now 9mo) I was told if I chose to stay the night he would have to go home because there was only shared rooms but that didn’t matter as I went home 4hrs after the delivery.

I don’t think it’s acceptable if you’re in a shared room – I don’t want a strange man in my bedroom, especially just after giving birth. But it should be normal in private rooms.

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  • • AmbieBambi replied
    • 03 May 2019 , 7:03 pm

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  I have to agree with you, it’s probably a privacy thing for other women! But private rooms, why not? Which I think some do let the husband stay.

Personally I want Dads to stay on the ward with new Mums. It makes them feel part of the initial bonding hours and they are just as important as the Mums.