How long were you in the hospital after giving birth?

[lastboxoftampons]

Our local hospital is Kings in South London - I've been given a sheet that says if no complications I'm expected to leave the hospital within 4 hours of my baby's birth. I knew it was coming, but now I'm just wondering - how many people are really in and out in 4 hours?

How long did you stay in the hospital after giving birth?

[fruitshootsandheaves]

same here first baby 3 days but that was 15 years ago!

[AccidentalMum]

About 8 hours for DD1, then home birth for DD2. If you can stay in the delivery room for that 4 hours it is probably a great idea as it is lovely to have the privacy. We have amazing postnatal support and lots of visits over the first 1/2 weeks so I would be sure to confirm that you will have that. Also, would have thought that 4 hours could be ambitious on their part, given all the boxes that need ticking.

[MrsMattie]

48 hours with my last birth (2008) and that was after a c-section!

[NimChimpsky]

Discharged 12 hours after em cs.

[RnB]

3 days with my first, just under 6 hours with my 2nd

[chancelloroftheexCHEQUERS]

Discharged 16 hours after episiotomy and forceps.

[littlelamb]

Blimey! With dd I was in for 3 days. WIth ds it was 12 hours and I was grateful to be out, it was a natural birth with no complications whereas with dd I had an epidural after induction and was glad to be there to establish bf. With ds I oculdn't wait to leave. 4 hours seems harsh, especially for a first timer

[Hulababy]

CS following failed induction (took them 50 hours to work out it wasn't working - grr!) - had DD Friday evening, home by lunch on the Monday.

[DontlookatmeImshy]

Ds1 crash section - 5 days.
Ds2 Vbac, ventouse, 2nd degree tear born at midnight. I finally escaped at 4pm. Would've been sooner if they hadn't been so busy.

4 hours! What if you give birth in the middle of the night. There was no way they've had got me out of there by 4am in the morning.

[Tidey]

DS born 8pm, went home 11am next day.
DD born 4am, went home 1pm same day.

There's no way I could have coped with staying any longer than that. If there'd been anything wrong I suppose I would have had to, but I was desperate to leave. Mine both slept practically from when they were born til we left hospital, but I didn't get any sleep either time from the noise of other people's babies crying. I was far too tired to stay any longer!

[nuttygirl]

2 days (was my first). Couldn't wait to get out of there but "had" to stay to establish breastfeeding, though it never really happened and (because no-one told me it could be the pethidine I had) I gave formula and the change in baby was so great I didn't think to go back to bf. I was "allowed" to leave as soon as they'd done paperwork etc then.

[lauraloola]

Had dd at 7pm and was told at 10pm that I could go home if I really wanted but would have to return the next day for dd to be checked. Decided to stay and was home by lunch time the next day.

[DisasterArea]

DD1 - 6 hours. was rather unusual back then - also considering i had never even helda baby before and washigh as a kite. was brilliant

DD2 born at the wrong time of day and was forced to stay in over night - Dh was not assertive enough and couldn't persuade them i'd be o.k. i was too emotional.

best to get out asap - hospitals are full of sick people and noise and bugs.

[LazyLinePainterJane]

About 10 hours with DD. Would have been sooner but there was a shift changeover when we were due to leave. Never had to leave the delivery suite, I asked not to go up to the ward if they weren't busy as I knew that I would end up getting lost and having to stay overnight. Was nice to have the privacy in the delivery suite but the bed was less than comfortable!

I know someone who delivered at about 7am, out by midday.

[cluelessnchaos]

dd1 5 days
dd2 1 day
ds 4 hours

[Cosette]

DD1 2 days
DD2 12 hours
DS 8 hours

I wanted to go home much earlier with DS, but they have a policy you have to stay in for at least 6 hours afterwards. Agree 4 hours is a bit soon for a first baby.

[pagwatch]

DS1 24 hours
DS2 12 hours
DD about 5 hours

[thisisyesterday]

4 days with ds1 because he wouldn't feed.

you may well find that unless you have a totally straightforward birth and they are completely inundated you will be able to stay longer if you want.

I was asked if I wanted to leave, and said yes, but they were ok with me staying longer if I wanted. someone in at the same time asked if she could stayt another day and they were fine with it,.

[lastboxoftampons]

DisasterArea LOL about never holding a baby and being high as a kite!

I think that 4 hours is really optimistic on their part to be honest. Seems most people I know are in there longer.

Thisisyesterday Would rather leave asap actually - my parents are likely to be visiting and I don't want to leave them alone for too long.

[CatIsSleepy]

4 days, would have liked to have left sooner but was too anaemic

[Horton]

2 days (vaginal birth). Would have been out after approx 12 hours had it not been for entirely normal tinybaby heart murmur which needed to be checked out.

[poppy34]

nearly two days -had assisted third stage late on a thursday night so wanted to observe me for 24 hours to ensure no bleeding -didn't get signed out til saturday lunchtime