24 hour discharge after Caesarian?

[Yeni]

I'm booked in for a section next month and I'm more nervous about the stay in hospital than I am about the operation. This will be my second child. When I was in hospital having DD I hated every minute of it and was desperate to get home. I felt very unsupported with regard to breastfeeding in that the staff kept telling me she was latched on properly when she clearly wasn't and the showers and loos were absolutely filthy. I was also not expecting to be in the same open ward as women in labour which meant I couldn't really have a proper rest the whole time I was in there (I feel bad for saying that because it wasn't their fault!). I was discharged 27 hours after the (traumatic) birth.

I have read the NICE guidelines that mothers can be discharged after 24 hours if all is well, but my MW is most insistent that I have to stay in for at least 3 nights. Obviously I don't want to come home too soon and put myself at risk of post-operative complications, but the thought of spending 3 nights there unsupported is very distressing.

At home I will have my husband, and my mum will be staying to help out with domestic duties and looking after DD, so it's not as if I'm going to come home to get on with the housework.

I know they can't force me to stay in, but I want to be sensible about it. Assuming all went well, how long were you in for after a section? Are they more likely to let me out earlier in view of the fact that I already have a child, or is that going to make them want to keep me in? Or does it not make any difference?

Thanks!

PS Please don't suggest I have a homebirth! It would be inappropriate for me - I NEED this section!

[diplodocus]

I was in for 48 hours for both mine, which was the minimum allowed by the hospital. With my second I asked if I could go home after 24, and was told I couldn't. Obviously I could have discharged myself but was wary of doing this. However, I do think I'd have been fine doing so - I received so little post-op care second time round I really didn't see the point of being there. If I'd known about the NICE guidelines
I might have pushed a bit harder. As long as there are no problems with you or baby, you are given adequate information about possible complications, a midwife is visiting and you are comfortable enough to make the journey home I really wouldn't see the problem.

[LadyVictorianSqualor]

I had an el cs (afetr previous em cs) section with DS. He was born just after half nine on the 29th of dec, I went home late afternoon on the 30th.
My advice is to do as much as you can in hospital withotu strining yourself, I was sat up in bed feeding DS about an hour after he was born, when the midwives offered to do things for him I said no and asked them to hand him to me and did it myself on the bed, on the 30th I went and had a shower whilst DP watched DS and was dressed and ready to go when the m/w's came roudn to give me my meds, I just asked then, can I go home now, explained I ahd support at home and that I had another child I wanted to get back to, they were happy to let me go.

[clumsymum]

Yeni, When I had ds by elective cs, I was in a single room, rather than being on the ward, and told this was standard for ceasers. Don't know whether they still do this.

I had general anaesthetic, so the first day was completely lost anyway for me (I'm told ds fed well, but I don't remember the first 2 feeds at all ). By the second day I was very sore, and think going home then would have been very difficult, just getting into the car. On the 3rd day I did have a shower (know what you mean, it didn't seem very clean), and I think I would have managed that day. As it was I went home the day after that.

I know you don't want to stay in hosp, I hate them, and was anticipating (and dreading) staying in for a week. But I suspect 2 days might be a bit soon. Do ask about whether you would get a side room tho'.

[ArrietyClock]

I was in for 48 hours too, again the minimum that the hospital would 'allow'. Hated it. Can't imagine how you are supposed to get any rest of any kind (or help, or even get fed...). However after 24 hours I was allowed to transfer to the local midwifery led unit in a village a couple of miles from my home and that was lovely, even though they too didn't have time to help in any way (but were incredibly apologetic and somewhat embarassed about it). The hospital was, quite frankly, desperate to get rid of as many of us as possible, and so when they suggested it, I didn't argue. Had to get myself there so could, I guess, have absconded en route. Do you have an equivalent near by? If not I guess the other option is to do what LVS did - it might help if you can somehow persuade the consultant to put you first on the theatre list for the day. I was last, so no hope of me being let out the following afternoon! That said, if there's a next time I might just leave anyway. I would get better care at home. (Feel a bit bad saying that, but there were just insufficent MW's to the number of women in their care...)

[jeanjeannie]

I was literally chucked out (nursing assistant told to pack my bags )at less than 48 hours after em cs..! Our trust has a max stay of 48 hours.... even though I had a raging infection and was on intravenous anti-biotics..they unhooked me - stopped the meds - and off I had to go! Wish I could have stayed longer as ended up very ill

[McDreamy]

I've had 2 sections and was home after 2 nights with both of them. Don't think having another child at home had any bearing on their decision to discharge me. They were more interested about my mobility, wound and whether I could pee!! As long as baby's check is satisfactory don't see why you can't go - if yo feel like it. I couldn't wait to get out of hospital!! Good luck!!

[princessosyth]

My hospital wanted to keep me in for 3 days but after a 48 hour stay I told them that unless they discharged me I would jump out of the window . I felt well enough to go home after 24 hours and really felt that I should have been given the option to do so.

[Poledra]

I'd make it very clear to them you have the support at home. I stayed in 4 nights after em-c with first baby, wish I had gone home sooner but had GA and was quite sick. Still, would have had more one-to-one help at home (mum, dad and DH). With a spinal anaesthetic and normal recovery of blood pressure (which can drop with any anaesthetic), can't see why you'd need to stay in any longer. Most of the elective caesars on my ward went home within 48 hours.

[Yeni]

Thank you! Clumsymum, I asked about having my own room, as I know amenity rooms are in theory available at a charge. I was told the chance of getting one was virtually zero but I would probably be put in a two-bed bay with another c-section mum, which would be a little bit better.

What is worrying me most is being in there at night without my husband to help out. Last time I remember the second night going into the third day before my milk had come in and DD wanting to feed all the time and I can't imagine coping with that on my own.

I didn't do very well with breastfeeding last time and hated every minute but this time I have made the decision not to persist as long if I have the same difficulties, but I'm feeling now it would be easier for me to start formula feeding in the hospital which is not really what I intended. I was hoping to give it at least a few weeks before giving up.

The section is booked for the morning. I have to be at the hospital at 8 and I am first on the list unless there are any emergencies.

[nooka]

I had to fight to leave both times, like others I really didn't find the post natal ward a pleasant place to be. Think I did about three days both times. The trouble wasn't the midwives, but getting a doctor to give the baby their checks - it took hours and hours for them to turn up. Second time we had to wait for medication, but as it was taking a long time they agreed dh could come back later and pick them up. I think that it probably helps if you are very clear about your plans, so they know they will need to get the doctor to check the baby/meds organised etc. And getting as active as you can certainly helps the midwives decide you have recovered enough to go home.

[BibiThree]

I had a 4 day stay with dd1, and a 14 day stay after elective with dts, but they wouldn't let the babies go home so I stayed.

Realistically, I'd have stayed 3-4 days anyway, not that I liked the place but I had meals brought to me, pain relief on hand, cups of tea and other mother to chat with. The midwives and nurses weren't particularly helpful or available but the visiting hours were restricted, I didn't have to worry about messing my own sheets or towels and after a few days of asking I got the next single room that was vacated. It was a first come, first served basis, but I just kept asking and asking.

I'd be wary of leaving after 24 hours, I was still in a lot of discomfort but only you know how you feel and how much support you've got at home. ASK! State your case, listen to their advice and keep asking!

[Pollyanna]

I am probably going to have a cs in a few weeks - my hospital has told me that they do discharge after 24 hours.

[Yeni]

48 hours is sounding a lot better and less frightening than a minimum of 72. I think it's terrible that they're chucking people out if they're not fit to go home.

Having said that I do hope I'm fit to get out early. Last time I had a traumatic birth with lots of complications and they were happy to see the back of me so it might not be the battle I'm expecting.

[TuttiFrutti]

Am really at the stories of people being chucked out of hospital against their will when they should still be on a drip. What sort of country do we live in?

Rant over... Yeni, I wouldn't go home before the medical staff say you can, because you could have complications after a c-section and your safety is the most important thing.

Having said that, I was surprised to be told I could go home 24 hours after having my second c-s recently. I said I wanted to stay on, they said OK, and I stayed 5 days by choice - but on my own in an amenity room, which made all the difference. My first 2 nights were on the ward because no amentiy rooms were free, and that was extremely unrestful as you know.

[ScaryHairy]

Interesting to read that at some hospitals single rooms are standard for cesareans. When I had DD I was told that women who had had cs could not be on their own. Short staffing meant they wanted other women about to keep an eye...

I was discharged after 2 nights. They had a policy of keeping women in to the third day after the birth. Hospital days apparently start at noon (go figure) and as DD was born just after noon on a Friday, we had to stay to Monday. If she had been born 30 minutes earlier I would have left on the Sunday - all very bizarre.

Doing things for myself did not get me out of there any quicker. I had a shower within 6 hours of DD's birth and was up and dressed first thing the next day, but the policy still stood.

I couldn't do a lot the day after DD was born - 24 hours after the section, the heavy duty painkillers were out of my system and although I tried to stay on top of pain relief the midwives were not great at giving the meds so a lot of the Saturday was spent lying down and moaning. There is no way I could have managed if I had gone home then, although had they offered it I would have jumped (very carefully) at the chance.

On reflection, I probably should have stayed longer and taken it easier as I got ill on my return home and was bounced straight back in for overdoing it. Although the post-natal wards were hellish, a slightly longer stay would have been better than getting ill so that I had to have lots of post natal visits to the hospital. If I have another one I will do everything in my power to convince them I need my own room and will stay at least 3 nights.

[MrsPuddleduck]

I would have an open mind and see how you feel. I have had two c-sections and could hardly hobble after 24 hours never mind go home.

It is difficult with a baby in the night but on both occassions I got DH to wheel the tank right next to my bed before he left so I could at least get my hand in there to comfort if needed. But tbh I think I had both of them with me most of the time.

I am lucky - Stafford Hosptial put you in a single room on your own as a matter of course free of charge if you have had a c-section, also if you have had a traumatic birth they put you in as well.

[Highlander]

It's the medics that discharge, NOT the midwives.

I had a 24hr discharge planned but stayed an extra night as I was worried about DS1 jumping on my tummy. Wish I had gone home, TBH - was out of there by 8:30am the next day!