New dad begs to be allowed to care for his partner and baby daughter in hospital

A new father is begging to be allowed to help his partner with their new baby daughter in hospital – after a ruling that permits only one visitor a day.

An Ingle Farm father is appealing to SA Health to re-examine a ruling that effectively bans him from helping his partner care for their premature baby.

Alex Brackstone’s partner Laura Fletcher gave birth to their daughter Billie on December 20, seven weeks before her due date. Since restrictions were ramped up on December 29, only one parent is able to be with little Billie each day.

Mr Brackstone said that because their baby is being breastfed, this naturally meant Ms Fletcher had to be with Billie more often, putting an enormous amount of pressure on her.

He said that they have been told Billie will likely be in hospital for the next five weeks and that Ms Fletcher is both physically and emotionally exhausted from caring for Billie with no support from him.

“Our baby just lost 150g in a day at day 10 … we are incredibly worried,” Mr Brackstone said.

“She needs her mum and her mum needs me to help her.”

Laura Fletcher and Alex Brackstone with new baby Billie before new Covid restrictions meant only one parent could be present in the hospital.

Mr Brackstone said the before the new restrictions were put in place he was constantly at the hospital helping Ms Fletcher care for Billie.

“Every day I would do everything I possibly could in hospital while my partner was trying to establish breastfeeding,” he said.

“I would change nappies, feed my partner, get the breast pump, get her water, pass my beautiful little girl to her and put her back in her crib when she was done.

“Every book I have read states the importance of developing relationships with your newborn in the first few weeks, and that is going to be taken away from me forever.”

Mr Brackstone said both he and Ms Fletcher were both double vaccinated and had returned negative Covid tests immediately after Billie was born, and that he would happily submit to a regime of daily rapid testing or isolation within the hospital if it meant he could help his partner look after their child.

He said he felt for all the other fathers and partners who were in the same position right now, and appealed for health authorities to show compassion and find a way out of the situation.

“I’m one of many other dads who would be struggling so much right now while the two people they care about most are in hospital without them,” he said.

Ms Fletcher said caring for Billie without Mr Brackstone by her side was “heartbreaking”.

“It’s hard having a little baby in the special care nursery – physically and emotionally exhausting,” she said.

“I am usually a positive person but I am sensitive soul and my heart is breaking. I can feel myself retreating and withdrawing already. I feel for all the parents of babies in hospital at the moment; it’s an awful experience.”

Last Thursday SA Health relented and permitted new parents Sophie Miller and Trent Williams to visit their premature newborn son together at Flinders Medical Centre.

In a statement provided to the Sunday Mail, SA Health said: “Visitor limits are in place across our hospital network to limit the risk of infection of Covid-19 and protect patients, staff and visitors.

“We know these limits can be challenging for patients in some circumstances and we thank the community for their understanding while we make every effort to protect patients, staff and visitors from the spread of Covid-19.”