Time in hospital after birth

[StillinShockAhhhhhhh]

It's getting closer to my due date now and getting more and more nervous about how long I will be in hospital after the birth. My husband and I are rarely separated and am now getting anxious he will be sent home after birth and I'll be left at the hospital with a new baby and nobody to be there with. How long after the birth can I go home providing its a straightforward delivery?

[BiscuitsofYum]

I had a csection myself and stayed 2 nights, leaving early morning after a late night birth.
During this time I did a lot of people watching, the women with straight forward births left hours later. The ones that gave birth in the evening/early am hours went home by 11 and the ones that came to the ward after about 7am left in the evening. The wards generally try and get mothers home asap.

[katandkits]

My second birth I opted for six hour discharge as I had no epidural, only minor stitches, OK blood loss, baby healthy and breastfeeding well from the start. I gave birth at 9.30pm and stayed in the same room until we were ready to leave at 4.30am. We were lucky that we were able to be discharged in the middle of the night, if there wasn't a peadeatrician available I'd have had to wait on postnatal and husband go home till morning. However the ward was busy so they were keen for me to go home too as no need for me to stay.
First birth I stayed 2 nights. Induced labour, long time on a drip, lots of pethidine, baby a bit drowsy so took longer to get going with breastfeeding plus I had no idea how to do it and needed help. Husband sent home overnights for 12 hours. Most people who stay in tend to stay one night (unless c section)

[footallsock]

Baby 1 we were in 2 nights. They won't let you go until baby is feeding. Baby 2 I was out within 9 hours - 1am early morning delivery and out by lunch as no issues

[TheOriginalWinkly]

I had a difficult birth, bad tear, catheter. DD born at 7.30pm, finally stitched at 10pm, DH went home at midnight. Catheter out at midday, big wee, antiD injection and out of hospital by 3pm, hooray :) (we didn't have breastfeeding established but my DSis was at home and had bf 2 babies, so I knew she would be more use than overworked staff on the postnatal ward)

[Cupcakes123]

I had first baby a few months ago, straight forward birth, no pain relief or stitches. DS was born at 4.03pm and we took him home at 11pm. They make you wee a certain amount into a jug, classy times to make sure nothing is damaged and provided all is ok with you and baby you should be able to leave??

I wanted nothing more than my own bed and to be with DP!

Good luck

[GlitzAndGigglesx]

I was in just over 24 hours with my first. One of the midwives was trying to keep me longer but the doctor on duty was happy to discharge me. I had no post birth complications and had a pretty straightforward delivery. It all varies and be prepared to wait ages to be seen by the doctor! You may get to sample some of the prison style food too!

[Hopelass]

I had ds at 5pm (first baby) and was discharged at 9pm. Had no pain relief but did need stitches. I think they were busy and needed the beds although they did offer for me to stay if I wished but I said I'd prefer to go home with DP. good luck

[NoLongerJustAShopGirl]

1st birth - undiagnosed breech, CS, complications 5 days in hospital - couldn't have cared less who was there or not to be honest, was concentrating on feeding my baby and "getting better"

2nd - was supposed to be a CS, but DD thought she'd come early, so had a straightforward vaginal delivery, out after 6 hours, back to normal straight away.

First birth, they will check you are feeding ok and know the basics - like how to clean the umbilical etc. But IF it is straightforward, you should be home quickly.

[Number3cometome]

DC1 - 7 days in ITU, sorry that's not what you wanted to hear, but at the time I was more concerned with how I felt and how baby was. I thought I would be bothered about not going home, but I was so poorly it was at the back of my mind.

DC2 - ELCS, home on the morning of day 3! They didn't really want me to go, but I was confident I would be fine and I was.

I am on DC3 now and hoping for a 24 hour discharge after an ELCS if possible!!

[Number3cometome]

NoLongerJustAShopGirl

Just read your DC1 after I had typed mine - that's exactly how I felt x

[Jackiebrambles]

With my first baby I had an EMCS.

I had him at 8pm on the wednesday and was discharged at around 8pm on the Friday.

I was up and about at around 10ish the next morning though, catheter was out and I could shower etc.

To be honest we were ready to go at lunchtime on the friday but they had to get my drugs together which took some time and had to sort the discharge paperwork which seemed to take an age too!

[StillinShockAhhhhhhh]

Quite a lot of variation then x it's already been decided I won't be breastfeeding due to medications I have to take after the birth do babies tend to take easier to breast than bottle?

[TidyDancer]

With DD I was out in six hours but it was a textbook birth and I don't recall being that common amongst friends.

My hospital allows partners to stay outside of normal visiting hours but will eventually expect them to leave. Do you have concerns you could talk through with someone at the hospital? If you stay overnight it will likely include a period of being without your DH. Private might be different, could you look into this?

[Florin]

My first and only child after a short Labour I gave birth at 6am no pain relief (there wasn't time!), I had a 2nd degree year but it didn't give me any bother. We went home mid afternoon. We settled in at home very quickly and got back to normal very quickly and we went out for lunch the next day. However if it wasn't so straight forward at our local hospital the fathers can stay with you all the time although yoh have to provide an air mattress and bedding etc.
In my opinion though the sooner you are home the better so much nicer to be in your own bed.

[StillinShockAhhhhhhh]

I tried speaking to the midwife but was quite dismissive n just said you will be there as long as necessary and DH obviously wasn't her priority x it's just all a bit daunting the idea of giving birth then left to deal with it on my own x everyone I've spoken to said they spent quite long periods of time without the midwife being there (obviously they are extremely busy I understand that) just obviously would rather be with DH than alone x

[SeasonsEatings]

I had baby at 0515, hubby stayed with me until about 11am, even then he wasn't rushed out, I stayed in one night.

However the time I had on my own with my newborn in the hospital was magical, we really bonded.

Does your partner work? if so you are going to be alone with the baby a fair bit, I would strongly recommend that you have a chat with your Mid wife about these worries at your next appointment.

[BeginnerSAHM]

Just had third baby - second degree tear (no stitches though) but fast birth, no epidural, and out within 5 hours of the birth. It only took that long because they took a while to book in my new baby check as the receptionist/booking person was on her break... Busy London teaching hospital though so suspect they were pleased to be rid of me!

[BeginnerSAHM]

And dad's could stay 24 hours if they wanted... (On postnatal ward too) Didn't get a bed though - jut the visitor's chair!

[StillinShockAhhhhhhh]

DH works a shift pattern it its call out based so is normally based at home and only out a few hours maximum being on my own at home doesn't worry me as is familiar surroundings etc x tonnes of family around and my own sofa and TV I think it's more the being stuck in a hospital with freedom restricted if that makes sense, strange bed reliant on nhs staff for food drinks etc x

[BlingBubbles]

DD was born at 7:02am and we left hospital that evening at 20:30. Straight forward delivery, no pain relief, tearing or stitches so I was ok. I would have gone home sooner but we had to wait for the paperwork to discharge us.

I am due with my second next week and we are now not in the UK, apparently hospital policy here is to keep you in for 3 days.... However there is a baby nursery where babies are taken to give mum a rest so I might take up the offer and stay in hospital and send DH home to look after the toddler

[Wisteria1979]

We took an air bed that we left in the car for DH in case we were staying overnight (had checked beforehand and at birth centre that would have been allowed in the room) as we wanted to stay together. Ended up going home after only a couple of hours so no issue. They obviously won't allow it on a busy post labour ward but if you do end up staying and you want him with you would a private room be an option? It's quite pricey but for me it would have been worth it.

[katandkits]

If you are bottle feeding you are less likely to have any difficulties regarding feeding. You just can't predict how long you have to stay in. In most hospitals partners can be there all day for 12 hours. If they were all there 24 hours on an open ward nobody would get any sleep. In all probability you will have a one night stay after a first baby, perhaps not even that if you give birth in early hours. I know it is daunting but I expect you can manage without your husband for 12 hours. He goes home, gets some sleep so he can be of some use to you when you get home as you will be very tired then.

[StillinShockAhhhhhhh]

With a private room would I need to let them know in advance or is it something we can arrange on the day if I do need to stay longer?

[TidyDancer]

OP, I don't recognise you so forgive me for asking (and obviously you don't have to answer this) but do you have a diagnosed anxiety related condition (etc)? You certainly do not have to give details if you do not wish to, but I'm wondering if you could perhaps enlist the assistance of someone professional who is known to you already to speak with the midwives etc? I don't know if this is even possible, but if you could get some reassurance at least that the hospital will be sympathetic and kind to you (not that they would be unkind, but ykwim) that might make you feel a little better?