"Giving Birth to My First Baby without Partner Present"

July 2022 I gave birth to my first baby. My husband and I caught Covid the week of giving birth. He would of been clear of his 5 days on Sunday a day later, but I wasn't I since i caught it Thursday and went into labor Friday. We did inform the nurses we were positive when we arrived at South Health Campus. I was admitted and checked for dilation etc. My husband being respectful kept his distance from the nurses checking me. They told me I had to stay since I was 4 cm dilated already. But they told my husband he had to leave because he was Covid positive, and couldn't come back until the next day when his 5 days was clear. But I can get a family member to stay with me while I gave birth, but they would need to sign a form saying that they will have a risk of catching Covid. We told the nurses that was silly because we have been living with the sickness already and there's no point in risking someone else just because I'm giving birth. We were quarantined in our birth room anyways. The nurses said it was protocol. We begged them to let him stay saying he was going to miss the birth of our first child, but I felt they didn't seem to care. 22 hours later I gave birth alone. I felt guilty I couldn't hold on long enough to let him come back in time to watch his daughter being born. I gave birth at 7pm and asked the nurses if my husband can come. They said not until midnight that night.

I didn't feel any compassion from the nurses, no one helped me labor, all they did was check me until I was ready to push.

2.5 years later, I've been through postpartum therapy twice and I am still dealing with postpartum trauma from my experience and am currently still taking medication for it.

I'm saddened and heartbroken that they robbed us of the wonderful experience of bringing our baby into the world as partners and parents to be. It's one thing that I'll never forget nor will it ever be a happy story.