How Many Birthing Partners Can I Have Uk

Are you allowed two birthing partners UK?

Active labour (CLU and MLU birth rooms) – One nominated birth partner has consistently been able to accompany the woman or person in our care during active labour. A second nominated birth partner can now also be with them at the same time in birth rooms on our consultant-led unit (CLU) and midwife-led unit (MLU) at Lister Hospital’s Diamond Jubilee Maternity Unit.

Not change (these birth partners cannot be swapped to someone else) Wear the face mask providedMinimise movements in and out of the birth roomMaintain social distancing where possible

Please note two nominated birth partners can attend in CLU and MLU birth rooms only. Due to social distancing and ventilation requirements, only one nominated partner can attend in induction, theatre, recovery and ward areas as stated on this page. The same also applies in scanning rooms, where one nominated person can attend.

Can you have 2 birthing partners 2023?

Birthing partners – You can have up to two birthing partners during labour and birth. However, if you require an elective or emergency caesarean only one birthing partner is allowed in theatres. More information on birthing options

Are you allowed two birthing partners?

You are welcome to bring up to two birthing partners to be with you in The Birthing Centre and one birth partner if you plan to give birth on the Labour Ward. If you have a doula, the doula is welcome to attend to support you.

Can I have three birth partners?

How many birth partners can I have at my home birth? – If you are having a home birth you can choose how many birth partners you wish to have with you. If you transfer to hospital at any point, you may only be able to have one or two partners come with you.

How many people can I bring when I give birth?

Check your hospital’s delivery room policy Many only allow two or three people to be with mom. You may want to double check if your partner and doula count in that number. Some hospitals allow a certain number of people to be in the room during labor, but fewer during the actual delivery.

How many birthing partners can I have Royal Berkshire hospital?

We ask that the number of birthing partners is limited to two, as this helps both the labouring woman and the professionals form a small and supportive group during the birthing process.

Can my partner stay overnight after labour?

Birthing partners staying overnight – Milton Keynes University Hospital Please note, this page is printable by selecting the normal print options on your computer. We recognise that for some situations, it is supportive for a birth partner to stay overnight.

obtaining refreshments supporting to the bathroom baby care, such as changing nappies, feeding and holding baby

If you are staying overnight, you will need to agree to the conditions set out in this booklet. This is to ensure we can maintain an environment that is suitable for everyone. If you are unable to meet the conditions outlined in this booklet, we will not be able to support you to stay overnight and you will be asked to leave.

Can my husband stay with me after I give birth?

When it comes to letting your partner stay the night after you’ve given birth – hospital policies vary. Some don’t allow it at all, some let the dads stay if you’re in a private room, and we’ve even heard of some where the dads are allowed to stay – but NOT to fall asleep.

Can your partner stay with you when being induced?

If labour is not anticipated overnight, your partner should return home to rest but you or your midwife can keep in contact with them if any changes occur overnight. Once you are on the Delivery Unit, your partner is welcome to stay with you throughout the duration of labour until the birth of your baby.

When were husbands allowed in delivery room UK?

1940–1970 – Few records of numbers of men attending birth at home or in hospital exist, but social surveys can give some insight into the levels of attendance. Newson and Newson, in their study of around 700 Nottingham families in the late 1950s, found men were present at the delivery in 13 per cent of home births.

In contrast, no lay person, husband or otherwise, was present in a single case of hospital births.21 Similarly, a survey conducted by psychologists Woollett, White and Lyon in the early 1980s found that in 15 per cent of deliveries between 1940 and 1969, the father was present.22 Again, these were all home births; the location mattered in determining whether men were present.

Pat Callis, a midwife from Sheffield, noted how novel and potentially frightening men’s involvement in birth was in the early 1960s, but suggested that ‘At home we used to get them a little bit more involved’.23 Whilst the numbers of men attending birth at this time were small, it is noteworthy that the limited evidence available suggests this was more likely at home than in hospital.

• Being ‘present’ for a birth could mean a number of different things, including being there during the labour and/or the delivery itself.
• Crucially, when giving birth at home, the line between presence and absence was more blurred, as men were more likely to be nearby or in and out of the delivery room because it was a familiar space.

Some midwives were at the forefront of this change. Harry and Rose had children in 1948 and 1952 in West Yorkshire, and Harry was present for the second labour and delivery, at home. They described how their newly-qualified midwife discussed the prospect of his presence, telling Rose ‘they’ve started now believing that fathers should be given the chance to be at the birth’.

• She added ‘now, some husbands only want what comes beforehand’.
• Harry didn’t want to be there at first, but when Rose explained that ‘most men’ wanted only the preamble to pregnancy, he thought ‘that makes me sound awful’.
• Harry had imagined ‘peering in’ and ‘a gory scene’, but he sat next to Rose, and held her hand.24 Harry and Rose were sure they were very unusual, and were one of the first couples in the West Yorkshire area to do this.

Another interviewee, Harold, was not allowed to be with his wife during her first labour, in 1962, in hospital. Although, tragically, it was a stillbirth rather than twins as they had expected, he remembered ‘they wouldn’t let me sit with her or anything like that’.

• In contrast, two years later, they had a son at home, and Harold said ‘I were there when he were born and I held him straight away’ ‘a lovely morning’.25 In contrast, ‘presence’ and ‘absence’ were more formally defined and regulated in hospital.
• Initially, some hospitals were more welcoming than others: University College Hospital London invited fathers into their delivery rooms as early as 1951.

As an obstetrician explained to a BBC interviewer in 1953, we do encourage fathers—if they want to come. Er, sometimes they feel they don’t want to be present, nor do their wives want them to come, but we’ve had quite a number now of expectant fathers who’ve been present at the time of delivery.

1. Most of them stand up to it very well.
2. On the whole it’s a terrific and exciting experience for both expectant father and mother.26 Other practitioners were strongly against fathers’ involvement.
3. Dr Patterson of Tyrone County Hospital wrote in the British Medical Journal in 1961, Let us not pander to morbid curiosity and sensationalism, nor to those featherbrains who wish to be in the van of a new fashion, by encouraging a highly unnatural trend with the mumbo-jumbo of pseudo psychology.

The proper place for the father, if not at work, is the ‘local,’ whither instinct will usually guide him. Family men may be baby-sitting, unless ejected by mother-in-law.27 Indeed, hospitals outside of London often took longer to allow fathers in. Mary recalled asking whether her husband Alf could stay with her for their first child’s birth in hospital in Leeds in 1961: ‘I said I don’t know why husbands aren’t allowed to be here’, and asked ‘what would happen if I had a screaming fit until you let him in’.

The nurse replied ‘you’re not going to have a screaming fit’. Alf was not present for the labour or delivery.28 Sheffield’s Jessop Hospital changed its regulations in 1968.29 According to midwife Mary Croft, pressure from midwives on consultants instigated the change. She described telling a senior doctor that midwives wanted men to stay with their wives.

His initial response was ‘rubbish, rubbish’, but she persisted, highlighting that ‘it’s 1968 and we have to move with the times’.30 The success of these midwives suggested that the hospital had not kept pace with wider social changes, although not all midwives completely agreed with the idea.

Barbara Ford said ‘It seemed strange. To a single person who had never been married and not being worldly-wise I thought it was awful that men were there.’ 31 Visiting hours could also prohibit men’s involvement after the birth in ways that might be possible at home; Henry recalled being unable to see his new baby until the following day, after her birth in a Lincoln hospital in 1965.

She arrived around 10pm, ‘so of course I couldn’t see her then’. He was present for the births of his other three children, at home in 1968 and 1970 and in hospital in 1975.32 In other cases, husbands were only admitted to the labour and delivery in certain circumstances; Mike recalled when his first child was born in 1971 in Middlesbrough, the matrons were very much in charge, so ‘it had to be special circumstances’ if men were present.33 The reason for men’s absence during the birth of their child, where it was articulated at all, was often framed in gendered terms.

In the immediate post-war era, men, women and midwives usually defined their opposition to men’s presence at childbirth on this basis: men were not welcome because they were men, and men didn’t want to be there because it wasn’t manly.34 Glyn, whose first child was born in hospital in 1948, stated that he phoned the maternity ward every five minutes to check on progress, but said: ‘Oh there was no suggestion at all of your being with your wife at my time’.35 Fred, who became a father in 1961, noted ‘It wasn’t a man’s province in those days’, and added he wouldn’t have wanted to be there.

The delivery room was simply not a ‘man’s place’, even if men were keen to be supportive during labour and see their new baby just after it was born.36 Women frequently agreed: Mary, a mother of five born between 1954 and 1964, was horrified by the prospect:  Interviewer:  Was Ronnie there? Subject:   What—that was disgusting.

Interviewer:  That wasn’t seen to be ? Subject:   Oh my God, no way, nobody mentioned that in them days. For a man to see you like in that state. Eeh no.37 Ideas of privacy were highly gendered; who should and should not see a woman giving birth was dictated by their gender more than any other variable, although medical qualification could override this norm, as male doctors attended women.

Only a minority reflected that they wished they or their husbands could have been present, but this had not been possible or allowed.38 By the late 1960s and into the 1970s, expectations were changing; Ben was told he was welcome to attend his first child’s birth in a Reading hospital in 1970.

However, when his wife was taken away for a forceps delivery, he recalled it was clear ‘there was no way I could go in’ and reflected ‘I was quite disappointed I must admit that I didn’t actually see born’.39 Men were often around whilst their wives were labouring, and were happy and eager to see their child soon after it was born, something which was usually more possible at home.

Brian noted that whilst he was there for a large part of the birth, when it came to the delivery he remembered that his wife’s mother ‘said you can get out, she said, this is nothing to do with men’, again reflecting the strongly gendered assumptions around childbirth.

As husbands and fathers, men were increasingly expected to ‘help’ and support their wives emotionally.40 Yet, the physically intimate tasks of childcare remained women’s responsibility, and a separation from childbirth and infant-care remained important to constructions of masculinity in this period, even as norms around fatherhood were shifting substantially.41 Yet, it was often a hugely significant moment for fathers: men who did not want to witness the delivery itself also described the strong emotions they felt.

John described how he was ‘proud as punch’, though he was keen to stress he did not cry: ‘I just filled up. I didn’t properly cry or that, I just filled up you know, with emotion’.42 Glyn said that he was ‘Proud, extremely proud. I wanted to tell everybody, you know’.43 Henry, though not involved in the birth, recalled how much he felt his life and he, himself changed in the wake of becoming a father in 1965.45 Strong gendered norms and institutional rules could therefore militate against men’s involvement in the birth process or presence at delivery.

What are the rules for water birth in the UK?

The birth should have a ‘hands off’ approach, supported by verbal guidance from the midwife. The baby must be born completely underwater with no air contact until s/he is raised gently to the surface, face first, either by the mother or midwife.

Can I be with my wife during birth?

While it can feel challenging and overwhelming to think about providing support for your partner during labor, it is a vital role that can have a significant impact on the outcome of the labor and delivery process. In fact, research shows that continuous support during childbirth for a person in labor can have positive benefits for both them and for the baby.

Positive support might even improve the outcome and reduce the length of labor. Plus, providing support can help you and your partner bond as you meet the challenges of labor together as a team. “Labor can be a very scary and overwhelming experience,” says Emily Guarnotta, PsyD, PMH-C, a licensed clinical psychologist and certified perinatal mental health provider.

“It can also be very vulnerable, both physically and emotionally. Having a supportive partner during labor can help a person to feel less alone and more safe and comfortable.” If you are going to be your partner’s support person during labor and delivery, it is important to gather as many tips and suggestions as you can so that you are prepared to help them through the process.

How many birthing partners can I have NHS Scotland?

2. During Labour – Can my birth partner attend when I am being induced? Women can be accompanied by two birth partners throughout labour and birth, including induction, provided that neither person is not COVID positive, self-isolating or showing any symptoms of coronavirus.

Do not attend the maternity unit if you currently have any symptoms of COVID-19 or have had any symptoms in the previous 2 days. To prepare for this, women and their partners are being encouraged to think about a alternative birth partners if required.Please be aware of the strict infection control procedures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to pregnant women and their babies, as well as other vulnerable people within the hospital and the maternity staff:

Please wash your hands regularly with soap and water and use hand sanitiser gel in clinical areas as available.If you cough or sneeze, please cover your mouth with a tissue and dispose of this in a bin immediately and wash your hands.Stay in the labour room with your partner. Do not move/ walk around the Labour Ward unnecessarily, please use the call bell if you require assistance.Birth partners will be asked to a wear a mask throughout their visit to the hospital, please follow the instructions carefully.

If required, please be aware that operating theatre staff will be wearing PPE and it may be more difficult for them to communicate with you.

Can I still have a water birth as planned? Yes, if you were planning to give birth in one of our Maternity Units or at home you may use the birthing pool if you do not have confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) do not recommend the use of water in labour or birth if you are suspected or are confirmed to have COVID-19.

Can I still give birth in the Birth Centre or at home as planned? Yes, if you had planned to give birth in the Birth Centre or at home, this option is currently still available to you. If it is confirmed that you have or it is suspected that you may have COVID-19, the RCOG recommend that you plan to give birth in our Labour Wards in hospital.

This is because it is recommended that we carry out extra monitoring of you and your baby during labour as some small studies have noted that some babies may be slightly more likely to become distressed in labour. Can I still have an epidural? Yes, all pain-relief options will still be available to you during your labour as you wish.

Can my birth partner come into theatre with me if I have a caesarean section or an instrumental birth? Yes, as most caesareans, as well as instrumental births in theatre are carried out under spinal or epidural anaesthetic one of your birth partners can come to theatre with you. This means that you would be awake but the lower part of your body is numb.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff in the operating theatre will be wearing enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent the spread of infection, which will make it more difficult for them to communicate. To enable the clinicians to assist in the birth of your baby safely, it’s important your birth partner follows the instructions from the team.

How many birthing partners can I have Wales?

Established labour, attending theatre and emergency caesarean sections – Up to two birth partners can attend with their partner when they are in active labour. Only a single birth partner can attend theatre for an elective or emergency caesarean section. Visitors must comply at all times with the following safety measures that are in place:

Adhere to instructions and information on keeping a safe distance from others Good hand hygiene and washing of hands, including the use of the alcohol gel provided on the ward/ unit Good respiratory hygiene – ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it approach’ Keep personal items to a minimum and on person at all times Children under the age of 16 will not be permitted in the inpatient area unless they are a sibling of the new baby.

What is the highest number of giving birth?

Mothers and couples – This section lists mothers who gave birth to at least 20 children. Numbers in bold and italics are likely to be legendary or inexact, some of them having been recorded before the 19th century. Due to the fact that women bear the children and therefore cannot reproduce as often as men, their records are often shared with or exceeded by their partners.

Total children birthed	Mother or couple (if known)	Approximate year of last birth	Notes
69	Valentina and	1765	A Russian woman named Valentina Vassilyeva and her husband Feodor Vassilyev are alleged to hold the record for the most children a couple has produced. She gave birth to a total of 69 children – sixteen pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets – between 1725 and 1765, a total of 27,67 of the 69 children were said to have survived infancy. Allegedly Vassilyev also had six sets of twins and two sets of triplets with a second wife, for another 18 children in eight births; he fathered a total of 87 children. The claim is disputed as records at this time were not well kept.
57	Mr and Ms Kirillov	1755	The first wife of peasant Yakov Kirillov from the village of Vvedensky, Russia, gave birth to 57 children in a total of 21, She had four sets of quadruplets, seven sets of triplets and ten sets of twins. All of the children were alive in 1755, when Kirillov, aged 60, was presented at court. : 6  As with the Vassilyev case, the truth of these claims has not been established, and is highly improbable.
53	Barbara and Adam Stratzmann	1498	It is claimed that Barbara Stratzmann (c.1448 – 1503) of, Germany, gave birth to 53 children (38 sons and 15 daughters) in a total of 29 by 1498. She had one set of septuplets, one set of sextuplets, four sets of triplets and five sets of twins. Nineteen of the children were stillborn, while the eldest surviving was eight years old in 1498. As with the Vassilyev, Gravata and Kirillov cases above, the survival of any one of the offspring of the alleged multiple births is questionable, as is the likelihood of so many multiple births in an era before fertility treatments.
44		2016	from gave birth to 44 children (43 survived infancy) by the age of 36. This included 3 sets of quadruplets, 4 sets of triplets and 6 sets of twins, due to a rare genetic condition causing hyperovulation. In 2019, at the age of 40, she underwent a medical procedure to prevent any further pregnancies. As of April 4, 2023 she had a total of 38 surviving children, having lost 6. They comprise 16 girls and 22 boys.
42	Elizabeth and John Mott	1720	Elizabeth Mott of,, married in 1676 and produced 42 live-born children. She died in 1720. : 13
41	Alice Hookes	1553	According to the inscription on a gravestone in Conwy Church cemetery,,, Nicholas Hookes (died 1637) was the 41st child of his mother Alice Hookes, but there were no further details. : 13
39		1681	was the last child of 39 by his mother Elizabeth (1615–1681) and William Greenhill. The family consisted of 7 sons and 32 daughters. Not only is this a large number of live newborns, but is unusual in that all but one pair of twins were single births.
35	Ms and Mr Harrison	1736	Ms Harrison, the wife of an undertaker residing in Vere Street,, gave birth to her 35th child by one husband in 1736.
33	Mary and John Jonas	1892	Mary Jonas (1814–1899) gave birth to 33 children, including 15 sets of boy–girl twins. All were christened, but few reached adulthood. Ten children were still alive when their father John died in 1892.
32	Moddie and Purcell Oliver	1959	Ms Moddie Mae Oliver, aged 50, wife of a Lumberton,, sharecropper, was expecting her 33rd child in 1959. At that time, 22 of her children were alive.
32	Maria Addolorata Casalini	1970	Ms Casalini (born 1929) of, Italy, married at 17 and gave birth to her 32nd child on 11 November 1970. She had two sets of quadruplets, one of triplets, one of twins and nineteen single births. Only 15 children survived.
32	Madalena and Raimundo Carnauba	1961	Madalena Carnauba of, married at 13 and gave birth to 32 children: 24 sons and 8 daughters.
32	Maria Benita Olivera	1989	Ms Olivera (born 1939) of, gave birth to her 32nd child on 31 January 1989. All children were believed to be alive at that time. She was married twice, and had a set of triplets (born when she was 13) and two sets of twins.
30	Rebecca Town	1851	Ms Town (1807–1851) of,, had 30 children, but only one reached age 3.
28	Griffith and Elizabeth Johnson	1790	Elizabeth G Johnson was born in 1732 in Montgomery, Maryland. She married Griffith Johnson on 16 February 1766, in Annapolis, Maryland. They had 28 children in 31 years. She died on 30 January 1790, in Oldtown, Maryland, at the age of 58, and was buried there.
28	Mabel Murphy	1949	Ms Murphy (born 1898) of, Co. Fermanagh, N. Ireland was reported to have produced 28 children (12 stillborn) in 32 years of marriage by December 1949, but this claim has not been fully substantiated.
27	Irene ( née Cooke) and James Arthur Robinson	1936	Ms Robinson of gave birth to her 27th child in 1936. She had 27 children, including six sets of twins in a 24-year period. Eleven children died as babies.
27	Marie-Elise ( née Chamberland) and Heliodore Cyr	1959	Marie-Elise Chamberland and Heliodore Cyr married in 1928 and had 27 children by 1959, all single births.19 of them survived to adulthood. Mr Cyr, a potato farmer from, appeared on the TV show three times – after the births of his 25th, 26th and 27th children.
26	Marilouise (Landry) and William Croteau	1919 ( c.)	Marielouise and William Croteau had 26 children in St. Patrice-de-Beaurivage, Québec including six sets of twins. Two died as infants, one at 10 months, and one at four years.21 survived to adulthood. The last to survive was Madeleine Croteau Houle who lived to be 102 and died on January 31, 2021.
25	Wéber Andrásné Szirotek Teréz	1899	Ms Wéber (b.30 September 1855) of, gave birth to 25 children between 1872 and 1899. She was awarded with a silver medal on 20 August 1930 on the ‘Magyar anyák nemzeti ünnepe’ (Hungarian Mothers National Day).
25	Lapa Piagenti and Giacomo di Benincasa	1347 ( c.)	Their 23rd child was Saint,
25	Ada Watson	1931	Ms Watson (1886–1974) of gave birth to 25 children, including three sets of twins, during the period 1904–1931. All of the children attained majority.
24	Virginia Elizabeth Newton Williford and Henderson H. Williford	1910	Virginia Elizabeth and Henderson H. Williford had 24 children in The Tallyho Township of Granville County, NC From 1882 – 1910 1 set of twins, 1 set of triplets with 19 pregnancies.
24	Kathleen Scott	1958	Ms Scott (b.4 July 1914) of gave birth to her 24th child on 9 August 1958. Twenty of her children were still alive in 1990.
24	Marcella S. ( née Mills) Big Crow and James M. Big Crow Sr.	1989 ( c.)	Marcella Mills-Big Crow (1924–1989) of, had 24 children, including eight pairs of twins. Five children died in infancy.
23	and Louis Christian, Count of Stolberg-Gedern	1705	The great-great-great-grandmother of of the United Kingdom had 23 children in 19 pregnancies between 1684 and 1705 (including four sets of twins); 11 of them survived to adulthood.
23	and King	1807 ( c.)	They had a total of 23 children, 13 of whom lived to adulthood.
23	Tabatha Marcum and Silas Mainord	1811 ( c.)	Married in 1811, they lived in, and produced 23 children. One of their daughters, Syreana, later became the mother of 17.
23	Grace Bagnato	1938	Grace Bagnato and her husband had 23 children; nine of them were conceived in order to compete for a bequest by a eccentric, in what became known as the,
23	Irene and Charles DeMello	1958	Irene DeMello of, gave birth to her 23rd child in February 1958 at the age of 40 in her 25 years of marriage. There were no multiple births. Seventeen of the children were alive, the eldest being 23.
23	Mary and Sylvester Hemsing	1951 ( c.)	Mary Hemsing (1913–2014) of, Canada, gave birth to 11 boys and 12 girls, one of whom was stillborn.
23	Alina and Juho Tyni	1955	A couple in Taivalkoski, Finland had 23 children. Two of them died very young.
22	Ursula and	1712	The German Count Franz Adolf Dietrich von Ingelheim (1659–1742) of and his wife Ursula (1668–1730) had 22 children between 1683 and 1712.
22		1778	Emily FitzGerald, Duchess of Leinster and her first husband, had nineteen children born between 1748 and 1773. Later she married her children’s tutor ; they had three children, who were born between years 1775 and 1778.
22	Ms and Mr Hostetter	1941	Roy Hostetter, a 46-year-old Pennsylvania miner, and his wife, aged 42, announced the birth of their 22nd child in May 1941.
22	Charlotte and Marlon Story	1946	Charlotte Story of, gave birth to her 22nd child in July 1946. At the time, 19 of the other 21 children, including four sets of twins, were alive. Marion and Charlotte Story participated in in 1950.
22	Ms Dick Renata	1948	Ms Dick Renata, a, of,, gave birth to her 22nd child in November 1948. Fourteen of her children survived, including the second born, who was 21 at the time she gave birth to the 22nd, and was himself a father.
22	Madeleine and Marce Devaud	1952	Madeleine Devaud, wife of a village dairyman of La Gorre, western, gave birth to her 22nd child, a boy, in March 1952, at the age of 42. The Devaud couple, married for 24 years, had 13 girls and seven boys. Two other children died in infancy.
22	Mabel Constable	1950 ( c.)	Ms Constable (born 1920), of,, gave birth to 22 children, including a set of triplets and two sets of twins.
22	Margaret McNaught	1945 ( c.)	Ms McNaught (born 1923), of,, gave birth to 22 children, 12 boys (2 of them died in infancy) and 10 girls, all single births.
22	Effie ( née Estes) and Charles Dickey	1914 ( c.)	From, Ms Dickey gave birth to 22 children, all single births. All of them lived to adulthood, with 18 of them living at least 70 years of age (the others died at ages 30, 58, 60 and 67).
22	Unidentified Romani woman	1998	A 38-year-old Romani woman of, gave birth to her 22nd child in March 1998. She and her husband had no jobs.17 children lived with them and five were in orphanages.
22	Alice ( née Spencer) &	1660 ( c.)	Jennings was an MP of St. Albans before the, He names 3 of these children in his will, dated 1642, and his wife’s will names 7 of them, dated 1663. Their granddaughter was,
22		2020	Sue (Suzanne) Radford has given birth to 22 children as of April 2020, 11 boys and 11 girls, all single births. Alfie (their 17th) was stillborn. At this time, their eldest son (Christopher) is 30 years old. They have six grandchildren. They have a bakery which is the family business and live in Morecambe, Britain. All of them are healthy and thriving. The tv series 22 kids and counting documents their lives
21+	Mary Susannah Roberts ( née Sautelle) and	1749 ( c.)	18th-century Irish and his wife. Of their children, said to number 21 or 24, only eight survived to adulthood, including the painters and,
21	Johanna O’Sullivan and William O’Daly	1837	They had 21 children in 29 years, 6 sons and 15 daughters, born between 1808 and 1837 in Gurrane,,,, There were no multiple births, and all of the children were born alive – it is likely that there were a number of stillborn children too. Four children died in childhood, and the last child, Bridget Russell, died in 1923. Descendants of Johanna and William include,,, and, captain of the rugby team.
21	Barbara Bremner and Thomas Burns	1978	Barbara and Thomas resided in Rogers Park on the north side of Chicago. Barbara gave birth to 21 single birth live children. She had her first daughter in 1951, and last in 1978. They supported their children on Tom’s salary as an electrician, and Barbara ran a secretarial and phone-answering service, called Barb’s Wire, from her home for many years. All 21 children reached adulthood.
21		1783	Guinness was an Irish brewer. Only ten of their children lived to adulthood.
21	Ann Clark Skerrett and Jeremiah Lear	1812	Their 20th child was English artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet (born 1812).
21	Olivia ( née Gutenberger) and Rudolph Schoelzel Sr.	1949	They had 21 children in 24 years, 11 sons and 10 daughters, born between 1925 and 1949 in, Wisconsin, USA. There were no multiple births. One daughter died in infancy, and one son died in 1947, aged 21.
21	Domitille ( née Brun) and Pierre Martin	1861	They had 21 children in 25 years, 11 sons and 10 daughters, born and baptized between 1835 and 1861 in,,, There were no multiple births.
21	Teodora ( née Lopez) and Raymundo Olivas	1853 ( c.)	Born in 1809 in Los Angeles, Raymundo Olivas met his future wife, Teodora Lopez, in Santa Barbara. They were married in 1832, and together they had 21 children – 13 boys and eight girls. In 1841 Raymundo built the, an important part of ‘s cultural heritage.
21	Josephine & Michael Salzo Sr.	1923 ( c.)	The 21 children included the first known surviving set of quadruplets in New Haven, Connecticut; triplets; and two sets of twins.
21	Anna and Henry Crocker	1963 ( c.)	18 of their children lived to adulthood.
21	Ms and Mr Albert Cunningham	1930	The couple from, welcomed their 21st child in September 1930 after 27 years of marriage. Seventeen of their children were alive.
21	Mary Chaloner Hale	1789	The wife of (1728–1806), Mary Hale (1743–1803, born Mary Chaloner in ) bore 21 offspring between the years of 1764 and 1789, including her first child,,
21	Elizabeth Hudson	1955	Ms Hudson, of, the wife of a paint sprayer, gave birth to her 21st child in February 1955, at the age of 45. Sixteen of the children were alive.
21	Mary and Wara Tengu	1968	The couple from, welcomed their 21st child in January 1968; the mother was then 42 years old. They already had five grandchildren.
21	Ofelia Llanes Gaxiola	1960 ( c.)	Ms Ofelia Llanes Gaxiola, of Culiacán, Sinaloa. the wife of a postman, gave birth to her 21 children.
21	Aliza and Meir Ben-Haroush	1969	Aliza Ben-Haroush of gave birth to her 21st child in July 1969 at the age of 46 and became the most prolific mother in,
21	Unidentified Indian woman	1970	Not much is known about this case except that a woman from gave birth to her 21st child in 1970.
21	Leonora and Yanosh Nameni	2013	Leonora Namenia, of Ostritsa,,, gave birth to her 21st child in October 2013, at the age of 44, becoming the most prolific mother in, Leonora and Yanosh are followers of the and do not practice, The Nameni family has 11 sons and 10 daughters, including two sets of twins.
21	Sebastiana Maria da Conceicao	2015	Sebastiana Maria da Conceicao, aged 51, gave birth to her 21st child in the city of,, in May 2015. The boy joined the family of 10 brothers and 10 sisters, of whom 18 were alive.
20	Elizabeth and William Dunn	1798	William Dunn and his wife Elizabeth née Marson of Atwick, Yorkshire, England, were married on 7 February 1774. They had 20 children born between 1774 and 1798, no multiple births, but two children were stillborn. The Atwick Baptism Records state that Ann born 1798 and baptised on 28 October 1798 was ‘their 20th child’. On their son Benjamin’s baptism in 1797 the record states that he was their ’19th child 17 of which were baptised and 2 stillborn in the space of 23 years’.
20	Jane ( née Purdon) and,	1590 ( c.)	The, and later of, and,, had 20 children with his wife Jane between c.1559 and 1590, twelve of whom survived to adulthood.
20	Catherine Marion de Druy and	1612	Famous lawyer had 20 children with his wife Catherine Marion de Druy between 1588 and 1612, ten of whom survived to adulthood.
20	Elizabeth Carleton	1681 ( c.)	Elizabeth Carleton, daughter of, had one child, daughter Elizabeth, with her first husband Thomas Barker, and 19 children with her second husband Giles Vanbrugh, 12 of whom survived infancy, including English architect and dramatist (1664 – 1726) and Commodore Governor of (c.1681 – 1753).
20	Marie Elisabeth of Eggenberg and	1685	had 20 children with his wife Marie Elisabeth of Eggenberg between 1657 and 1685 (all single births), of whom only five survived to adulthood.
20	Anne Margrethe Rossing and	1718 ( c.)	astronomer and his wife Anne Margrethe Rossing had a total of 20 children. One of their sons,, born 1718, continued his father’s astronomical studies.
20	Barbe Arnault and Antoine Monneron	1758	Barbe Arnault and Antoine Monneron had 20 children between 1733 and 1758 (all single births), 12 of whom survived infancy. Their sons became well known,
20	Rosgen ( née Fuld) and Hayum Lowenstein	1860 ( c.)	Rosgen and Hayum Lowenstein of,, had 20 children, 19 of whom survived to adulthood. The youngest child was born in 1860.
20	Marie Verrault and Pierre Edouard Cauchon	1882	Born between 1853 and 1882 at,,, sixteen of the children died in infancy, and one as a young adult. There were no multiple births.
20	Florestine Piché and Gaspard Beaupré	1881	Florestine Piché and Gaspard Beaupré had 20 children; the eldest of them was famous giant, born in 1881 in,
20	Emma Catherine Padgett and Addison Bidwell Millard	1890	Addison Millard (1843–1898) and Emma Padgett (1849–1919) married in 1865 in, and had 20 children, the last of whom was born in 1890. Six died in infancy. The family moved to in 1893, where they ran for more than 50 years.
20	Elise Steinmann and Leonhard Hauser	1928 ( c.)	The couple had 20 children, seven of whom died as infants. Elise Steinmann (1848–1928) and Leonhard Hauser (1842–1915) were both born in Switzerland. they immigrated to the US in 1882, and settled in Greenwood (now Greenfield) near Rockford, Minnesota.13 of their children were born in Switzerland, and seven in the US.
20	Ella and James Lee Townsend	1917	Ella and James Lee Townsend, sharecroppers from, had a total of 20 children. The youngest of them was, leader, and, born in 1917.
20	Gertrude Louisa Rowe Goodley and George Thomas Jolley	1932	Gertrude and George married in 1905 and had 20 children between 1906 and 1932, when Gertrude was aged 46. The family were from the Tolaga Bay area on New Zealand’s North Island. Issue 227 of the Gisborne Photo News carried a report in 1973 about a reunion of 140 of their descendants and noted that they had 215 direct descendants at that time.
20	Mary and John Fullerton	1935 ( c.)	Mary and John Fullerton from, Ireland, had 20 children, the eldest of whom was, born in 1935.
20	Ms and Mr Rexford Oakley	1954	Ms Oakley, aged 54, from, gave birth to her 20th child in December 1954.18 of the children, including the newborn, were alive.
20	Zola Inez ( née Sutterfield) and Harvey Auston Smith	1956	Ms Smith (born 1 September 1910) gave birth to her 20th child in, in May 1956, at the age of 45. She and her husband, married for 29 years, had 14 sons and six daughters, all single births. Three sons died in infancy. By April 1973 they had 35 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
20	Rose Alma and Roland Letendre	1956 ( c.)	The couple had 20 children; the youngest died as a result of birth injury. All the children were born in, Quebec. Rose Alma died at age 100 in 2018.
20	Ms and Mr Edward Bitter	1958	Ms Bitter, aged 40, the wife of a bricklayer, from, gave birth to her 20th child in January 1958. Four of their children, including a set of twins, were dead. The other 16 were 10 boys and six girls; the oldest of them was 24.
20	Dolores and Prosper Grenier	1961	Dolores Grenier, aged 43, of, gave birth to her 20th child in April 1961. During 26 years of marriage she gave birth to 12 sons and eight daughters, including three sets of twins. Two daughters have died.
20	Eldora and James Parnell	1966	Eldora Parnell, aged 42, of, gave birth to her 20th child in November 1966, after 27 years of marriage.
20	The mother of Maria Goncales Moreira	1984	Not much is known about this case except the fact that she had ten sets of twins. Her daughter also had ten sets of twins (see below).
20	Maria Goncales Moreira	1984	Ms Moreira of,, gave birth to her tenth set of twins (identical boys) on 3 July 1984. Her other twins were 16 girls and two boys. She delivered the first at age 13. Her mother also had ten sets of twins.
20	Jessie Campbell	1990	Ms Campbell (born 1946) of,,, gave birth to her 20th child on 22 January 1990.
20	Julianna and Ernő Lukács	1991	Julianna Lukács and her husband, a Hungarian farmer, have six sons and fourteen daughters. They live in,, in a mansion farming on 3,336 acres (1,350 ha). The first child was born in 1966 and the last in 1991.
20	Valentina and Anatoliy Khromykh	1993 ( c.)	Valentina Khromykh from,,, gave birth to 20 children, 11 boys and 9 girls. As of May 2015, 15 of the children were alive (two died in infancy and other three at the ages of 12, 28 and 32), the oldest child was 46 and the youngest was 22. Also by May 2015, Valentina was 64, she had been married to Anatoliy Khromykh for 46 years, and they already had ten grandchildren.
20	Elena and Alexander Shishkin	2003	Elena Shishkina (born 1958) of, Russia, gave birth to her 20th child in April 2003, becoming the most prolific mother in Russia; her eldest son was 24 at that time. The Shishkins have 9 sons and 11 daughters, and had 20 grandchildren by November 2012.
20	Marie and Antonín Kludský	1909 ( c.)	Marie (1832–1909) and Antonín Kludský (1826–1895) from were parents of 20 boys and ancestors of the famous cirque family Kludský.
20	Georgiana Văcaru	2020 ( c.)	Georgiana Văcaru (born 1976) from is the woman with the most children in Romania.
20	Maria ( née Potter) and James Burton	1871 ( c.)	Maria (1812–1871) and James Burton (1811–1888) of, in were parents to 20 children, 9 died in infancy and another 2 died young.
20	Bertta (nee Ämmänpää) and Seppo Oikarinen	1992	A couple in Finland had 20 children.
20	“Dorothea”	1550 ( c.)	Dorothea, an Italian woman who lived at the time of, reportedly delivered 20 children in 2 exceptionally large pregnancies. She first carried 9 children, and then 11. It is unknown whether the children survived.

Do I have to let my husband in the delivery room?

It might feel awkward to ask someone not to be in the delivery room, but don’t worry—many expecting mothers have been in this same position. While additional loved ones might want to be a part of this special moment, whether or not they are in the delivery room is your choice.

Are dads allowed in C section?

During a c-section You can usually stay with your partner during a planned or emergency c-section unless they need a general anaesthetic. The midwife or operating assistant will give you a top, trousers and hat to wear in the operating theatre. This is for hygiene reasons. Find out what happens during a c-section.

How many birthing partners can I have at Leicester Royal Infirmary?

Can my birth partner stay with me during labour? You can have one birthing partner with you for the duration of labour and a second can join you once you are in established labour.

How many birthing partners can I have Milton Keynes hospital?

Labour Ward – This is where you would come to have your baby if you decided to come into hospital. You can find a full tour and a video on how to get to us from the main entrance on the There are no set visiting hours on labour ward. Your birth partners can be with you at any time whilst you are on the labour ward.

You can only have two birthing partners with you. Unfortunately, children are unable to be in this area. Meal times: hot and cold meals are provided for service users at any time of the day (including outside of usual mealtimes). There is also a variety of hot and cold drinks and snacks available 24 hours a day.

The team who care for you on Labour Ward may include midwives, obstetricians, paediatricians and anaesthetists. When making your choice, it is important to consider all your personal circumstances and any additional care needs you and your baby may need.

You can discuss your wishes and options available with your Midwife and/or Obstetrician if there are any pregnancy concerns. It may be possible for you to visit the unit during your pregnancy. This will give you the opportunity to find out more about the facilities available. We are able to offer a birthing room to suit your preferences- including two birthing pools, ambient lighting, aromatherapy, active birthing aids such as mats, peanut balls, birthing stools and birthing balls.

Inducing labour It may be necessary to start your labour if there are problems in the pregnancy e.g. high blood pressure, concerns about the baby’s growth or if you are 10-14 days overdue. If you are ‘overdue’ your Midwife will offer you a membrane sweep at 41 weeks.

1. This is a vaginal examination which stimulates the neck of the womb, which may trigger labour.
2. Contractions can be started by inserting a pessary into the vagina.
3. The pessaries are not designed to get you into established labour, however most people experience some form of contractions or cramping during this time.

The aim of the pessaries is to soften and open the cervix enough that it is possible to break your waters. While the pessaries can sometimes cause you to go into labour, most of the time, a hormone infusion (drip) is needed to speed up the labour. You and your baby will be closely monitored throughout the induction process.

Delays are common in this process, in order for us to provide safe care to families, we must prioritise providing 1:1 care to people in established labour, and therefore we may need to pause the continuation of the induction process while we manage those who are already in established labour. Assessment of progress There are many ways that midwives can tell how the labour is progressing.

The most commonly used way is to perform vaginal examination, to determine how open the cervix is, how stretchy and thin it is, and how the baby is positioned. Midwives also look for other signs of progress, such as the behaviour of the person in labour, contraction length, strength and frequency.

• When to call us If your pregnancy has been uncomplicated and you are having a hospital birth, it is advisable that you stay at home for as long as possible during the early stages of labour, as long as your baby is moving and you are coping with the contractions.
• Evidence suggests that your home environment will encourage you to remain relaxed and therefore more able to cope with the pain.

Remember to continue to eat and drink during this time.

How many birthing partners can I have Royal Bolton hospital?

Two birth partners are allowed to attend the Delivery Suite. Women accessing Maternity Triage will be allowed one named visitor.

Can you have two midwives?

Abstract – Background: Severe perineal trauma (SPT) affecting the anal sphincter muscle complex is a serious complication following childbirth, associated with short-term and long-term maternal morbidity. Effective preventive strategies are still scarce.

The aim of the Oneplus trial was to test the hypothesis that the presence of a second midwife during the second stage of labour, with the purpose of preventing SPT, would result in fewer injuries affecting the anal sphincter than if attended by one midwife. Methods: In this multicentre, randomised, controlled parallel group, unmasked trial done at five obstetric units in Sweden, women were randomly assigned to be assisted by either one or two midwives in late second stage.

Nulliparous women and women planning the first vaginal birth after caesarean section who were age 18-47 years were randomly assigned to an intervention when reaching the second stage of labour. Further inclusion criteria were gestational week 37+0, carrying a singleton live fetus in vertex presentation, and proficiency in either Swedish, English, Arabic, or Farsi.

Exclusion criteria were a multiple pregnancy, intrauterine fetal demise, a planned caesarean section, or women who were less than 37 weeks pregnant. Randomisation to the intervention group of two midwives or standard care group of one midwife (1:1) was done using a computer-based program and treatment groups were allocated by use of sealed opaque envelopes.

All women and midwives were aware of the group assignment, but the statistician from Clinical Studies Forum South, who did the analyses, was masked to group assignment. Midwives were instructed to implement existing prevention models and the second midwife was to assist on instruction of the primary midwife, when asked.

Midwives were also instructed to complete case report forms detailing assistance techniques and perineal trauma prevention techniques. The primary outcome was the proportion of women who had SPT, for which odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated, and logistic regression was done to adjust for study site.

All analyses were done according to intention to treat. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT0377096, Findings: Between Dec 10, 2018, and March 21, 2020, 8866 women were assessed for eligibility, and 4264 met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate.3776 (88·5%) of 4264 women were randomly assigned to an intervention after reaching the second stage of labour.1892 women were assigned to collegial assistance (two midwives) during the second stage of labour and 1884 women were assigned to standard care (one midwife).13 women in each group did not meet the inclusion criteria and were excluded.

1. After further exclusions, 1546 women spontaneously gave birth in the intervention group and 1513 in the standard care group.1546 women in the intervention group and 1513 in the standard care group were included in the intention-to-treat analysis of the primary outcome.
2. There was a significant reduction in SPT in the intervention group (3·9% vs 5·7% ; adjusted OR 0·69 (0·49-0·97).

Interpretation: The presence of two midwives during the active second stage can reduce SPT in women giving birth for the first time. Funding: The Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare; Jan Hains Research Foundation; and Skane County Council’s Research and Development Foundation.

How many birthing partners can I have Liverpool women’s?

Birth Partners and Maternity Visiting –

When attending the hospital for labour and birth, your TWO support partners will be invited to accompany you to the hospital and remain with you throughout your birth until your transfer to the postnatal wards. If you are already admitted to our IOL suite your additional birth support partner will be contacted as you move through to a Delivery area.

Women undergoing an elective caesarean section will attend the hospital with their nominated ONE support partner and will be admitted to the elective caesarean section Admissions Lounge. Following the delivery of your baby in theatre, you will be moved to recovery where your partner will remain with you. On transfer to the maternity ward your chosen support partner, In addition you may choose a second support partner who will then be able to visit you on the following day by making the appropriate appointment.

TWO support partners are permitted in the inpatient antenatal and postnatal areas for visiting. Your support partners will already be known to us for postnatal visiting. For antenatal visits, nominated support partners will need to be identified prior to visiting. The named support partners must arrange their visiting slot in advance.

To clarify for all visiting and support whilst you are in our care, TWO support partners are permitted and this must be the same person for all subsequent visits – multiple support partners/visitors are not permitted, unless in exceptional circumstances.

Siblings are permitted to attend the Maternity Ward areas in addition to the two support partners.

Visiting in the inpatient antenatal and postnatal areas (Maternity ward) will be permitted between the following sessions: 11:00 – 14:00 and 16:00 – 19:00. Visiting will be restricted to one 3 hour visit per day and will need to be booked in advance to obtain a designated time slot. This is to reduce the volume of footfall of visitors within the area throughout the day ensuring safety for women and their babies.

To book a visiting appointment for the Maternity Base, call 0151 702 4064 between the hours of 08.30-16.00.

Please note that at present visiting appointment requests can only be made one day at a time – block bookings for set times each day will not be possible. You will be required to contact us each day to book individual appointments.

How many birth partners can I have Scotland?

You can be accompanied by two birth partners. If your birth partner is symptomatic of COVID-19 they will not be able to accompany you.

How many birthing partners can I have Wales?

Established labour, attending theatre and emergency caesarean sections – Up to two birth partners can attend with their partner when they are in active labour. Only a single birth partner can attend theatre for an elective or emergency caesarean section. Visitors must comply at all times with the following safety measures that are in place:

Adhere to instructions and information on keeping a safe distance from others Good hand hygiene and washing of hands, including the use of the alcohol gel provided on the ward/ unit Good respiratory hygiene – ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it approach’ Keep personal items to a minimum and on person at all times Children under the age of 16 will not be permitted in the inpatient area unless they are a sibling of the new baby.