A Tayside father has shared the heartbreaking tale of seeing his newborn daughter through a window amid strict coronavirus measures.
Chris Robson’s partner Victoria Watson gave birth to little Daisy at Ninewells Hospital on April 1 but a difficult premature labour meant mother and baby had to stay in hospital for more than a week.
The proud dad has said he was devastated to be away from his family for so long but has praised the NHS Tayside midwives who created a special moment.
Victoria, 38, went into labour five weeks early but as the tot was lying in a breech position, she was rushed to hospital where she had a cesarean section.
Chris was allowed inside the birthing unit and was able to hold Daisy after she was born but current rules mean birthing partners are not allowed to visit antenatal or postnatal wards at Tayside hospitals, in a bid to protect mothers and babies from the coronavirus.
Victoria and Daisy are now home and healthy but 33-year-old Chris said the week away from them was extremely hard.
He said: “The baby was five weeks early and we weren’t really prepared for her to arrive yet.
“She was in a breach position so it was a bit of dangerous so when Victoria’s waters broke, we went to hospital and I had to wait in the car park until I got a message to say she was going to have a C-section.
“I was able to go in for the birth and I got to hold her and spend some time with her after she was born.
“I went back in later to drop some clothes off and it was heartbreaking knowing I wasn’t allowed back in to see her and Vic.
“But the midwives were absolutely brilliant and brought her up to the window so I could see her again.
“It was really hard to be within inches of my daughter and my partner and not be able to hold them.
“Although it felt awful, I know it had to be done and there are people going through a lot worse – it’s what we need to do to keep people safe.
“Vic was quite vulnerable after the operation and so was Daisy so I wouldn’t have wanted to risk making them very ill.
“I was quite upset to be stuck at home for over a week waiting on it being safe for them to come home.”
Ninewells midwife Patrice Keogh shared the precious moment on social media Chris saw Daisy through a hospital window, as she empathised with new parents.
She wrote: “Mums, we know how hard this is for you. We know that you’ve spent months imagining how this would go, and that nowhere in your plan had you imagined doing it alone.
“You will not be alone! We promise we will be there with you every step of the way. We will do our best to support you, to step in and offer you encouragement and care for you the best way we know how.
“Partners, we know this is just as hard for you too. We have spent a long time working to include partners in the pregnancy and birth process as much as possible, so this feels completely foreign to us too.
“We miss the valuable support you provide. We are working round the clock to look after your partners in these strange and uncertain times.
“Our absolute aim is to get mums and babies home to you as soon (but as safely) as possible.”
In a Facebook post, Victoria said: “I can’t thank the staff enough for what they did
“Thank you to everyone for the messages and well wishes, you guys got us through as it was a struggle living without your partner for a week and him living without his newborn baby. We did it though and we are ready to move forward.”
