Sir,

The Welsh Assembly Government is asking for responses to maternity services in Wales. These need to be received by 18th April.

I felt compelled to contact you regarding the reduction in visiting hours for new fathers onto maternity wards in Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, The Royal Gwent Newport and Caerphilly Birth Centre. This policy was brought in, I understand, in June 2009.

I have a three-year-old son and gave birth at Nevill Hall in September 2007. The service provided was excellent, my son was premature and was cared for in the Special Care Unit for a week before we were both discharged.

During this time, the visiting hours for my husband were 9am to 9pm. I can remember counting the minutes before he arrived each day as I really felt the need of his support in those early days when I was having difficulty breastfeeding and we were both learning how to care for this new baby.

It was great to have him there with me every step of the way, learning how to change a nappy and bath our son as well as being able to bond with him and spend those precious early hours (and days) before we were 'on our own' at home.The pressure was off me as we were both learning what to do and experiencing our new baby together.

Looking forward to 21st May, my next baby is due.

Unfortunately, Nevill Hall's visiting hours have changed. My husband will only be able to visit me and our new baby from 12.30pm to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm. We live in Monmouth – an hour round trip to Abergavenny.

If we think of the worst case scenario, I give birth at 8.30pm. My husband is sent home, unable to see his new baby until 12.30pm the next day.

He then gets an hour and a half with us before he is asked to leave and drive home, let's say he gets home at 2.30pm.

He then has to wait for two hours before the half-hour journey back to the hospital to see me and his new baby again for three hours.

What is he missing out on? Getting to know his new baby, sharing those essential first hours of bonding with the baby.

I am missing out on his company and support at a very emotional and important time in our lives, our new baby is missing valuable bonding time with its father.

As the father of the baby, he should have the same right to see his baby as me.

The exclusion of fathers at this very special time seems a huge step backwards in maternity services, relegating the father to an observer in the whole affair.

I have heard the reason for this change is due to the fact that an extra member of staff needs to be employed to allow dads, or partners, onto the ward.

I have also heard that midwives on the wards have had the difficult job of removing new fathers off the ward, who understandably don't want to leave.

Kath Vickers

(Monmouth)

To have your say on maternity services, go to http://wales.gov.uk/consultations">http://wales.gov.uk/consultations

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