Rejected petition Allow birth partners to attend labour, birth and visitation as normal in all hospitals.

I want to change the restrictions for maternity services across all hospitals to allow:

- Birth partners allowed to all scans/appointments.
- Birth partners allowed in early labour, c-section pre ops and visitation during induction.
- Birth partners allowed to stay with mother & baby after birth.
- Birth partners allowed to visit mother and baby where extended stays are required.

Current restrictions have impacted the mental, emotional and physical well being of mothers and partners.

More details

At scans & antenatal appointments women have faced bad news about their babies life & wellbeing alone. Having a partner present provides support where tough decisions may need to be made.

Families often live a considerable distance from hospital. Restrictions greatly increase the risk of partners missing birth if sent home or spending long periods in their cars at hospital car parks without basic amenities.

Birth partners play a vital role providing emotional & practical support during labour & birth. They also advocate for mothers during complications.

After birth mothers are taken to wards alone to care for newborns regardless of their emotional, mental or physical wellbeing. Midwives working on busy labour wards struggle to give women 1-1 support; which a birth partner can provide. Partners are also missing out on vital newborn bonding.

If mother & baby require a hospital stay visits are not permitted.

There is currently no consistency in the restrictions across Wales.

Why was this petition rejected?

There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue, or if the Petitions Committee has considered one in the last year.

Another petition about allowing birthing partners to be present at scans, the start of labour, birth and after the birth is already collecting signatures: https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/200113

You are more likely to get action on this issue if you sign and share a single petition.

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards

Rejected petitions are published in the language in which they were submitted

Date submitted 7 September 2020
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