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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think an overnight stay in hospital after childbirth is standard?

118 replies

MaisyN · 03/11/2025 14:00

I had a planned c-section at 1pm, was walking around by 9pm, and discharged the following day at 5pm.

Friend thinks this is unusually quick, even for a straightforward birth.

YABU it’s weirdly fast
YANBU it’s pretty normal

OP posts:
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Brelim · 04/11/2025 12:44

SendhelpToddlerBoy566 · 03/11/2025 19:20

I was barely able to move 18 hours after my section. I really needed the 48 hours thank god 2-3 nights was standard where I lived. I don't think I would have made it to the car tbh.

it took me 20 minutes to walk to my car 2 days after my c section (a walk that was maybe 5 minutes normally). All my insides felt like they would fall out.

Oh gosh I’m so sorry! That sounds painful. I had no issues with mine thank goodness. I also hated being on the ward, it was so noisy and my baby would not be left in the cot, so I had to hold them and therefore stay awake the whole time - I was knackered! Couldn’t wait to get home to my husband who could hold them for a bit whilst I had a rest.

SheSpeaks · 03/11/2025 23:07

I’ve given birth to three babies but never gone to the hospital to do so. Midwives never stayed longer than 20-60 minutes after the babies were born if that’s a comparable statistic.

PurpleThistle7 · 03/11/2025 22:46

I was in for a night after my daughter and really regretted it. The ward was awful and I would have been far better off at home. Discharged myself at 1am after staying the recommended 6 hours after having my son and it was so much better. I don’t think there’s a normal however do you aren’t unreasonable either way.

JaninaDuszejko · 03/11/2025 21:35

My Mum had a week in hospital for each of her children, that was the 70s though. I was in hospital for 3 days with DC1 (until she eastablished BFing), about 6h with DD2 (easy birth, very hungry and efficient feeder from day one) and 3 days with premature DS then we had 24h at home then he was readmitted and we didn't get out until he was 2 weeks old. If he had been my first I probably wouldn't have realised he wasn't feeding properly but with a third child I realised very quickly there was an issue. With DS we had a private room and being in for so long was good for me as well as DS. It's a difficult balance and there needs to be proper MW support for new Mums if they are sent home quickly.

Clearinguptheclutter · 03/11/2025 21:23

Seems quite quick for a c section
after my (vaginal) births first one I was there for about 36 hours but I was totally exhausted I couldn’t have left earlier

second I was discharged about 14 hours after a 1 am birth they were very keen to get me on my way

Springbaby2023 · 03/11/2025 20:47

It’s normal but that doesn’t mean it’s ok. From memory mine was born at 1.40am ish and I was discharged at around 3pm the following day, so about 36 hours. And that was after an EMCS and a long labour. They couldn’t have been more keen to get me out. First I stayed for shorter but he was a VB.

Iloveeverycat · 03/11/2025 20:45

In the 90s you stayed in for 7 days for a c section

Sausagedognamedmash · 03/11/2025 20:43

With DD she was an assisted birth and we went home about 36 hours later due to some complications but I was desperate to get out of that sauna of a ward.

With DS, a planned section, I had him at 2pm and was home by lunch time the next day.

carpool · 03/11/2025 20:42

I had my DC in the 1980's and then 10 days post CS was the norm!

parthyphibday · 03/11/2025 20:39

3 Csections here. Yes this timeframe is 'normal'.

AuxArmesCitoyens · 03/11/2025 20:39

Blimey, I had my babies in France and we get 5 days in a private room in hospital as standard.

Merryoldgoat · 03/11/2025 20:38

The hospital I had my sons at had a generally 2 nights minimum minimum post section which seems reasonable to me.

Amba1998 · 03/11/2025 20:36

NHS roughly 24 hours pretty standard including after c section

IsntItDarkOut · 03/11/2025 20:35

My SIL stayed in a week for both of hers (early 2000s) one was a C-section. They all couldn’t believe I got out the next day (thank fuck after 0 hours sleep in noisy ward) and kept saying I should complain.
yes I think it’s standard now.

Cel77 · 03/11/2025 20:33

Normal vaginal delivery but they wanted to make sure my baby was feeding properly before sending me home. And I had a tear. I stayed 3 days. It was bliss to be fair. I had almost the ward to myself, baby was mostly sleeping and I had food and drinks (as well as strong painkillers!) delivered regularly. It felt like a holiday!

FutureMandosWife · 03/11/2025 20:04

I stayed 2 nights because we both needed antibiotics,

nicelongbath · 03/11/2025 19:52

SeriouslyWhataMess · 03/11/2025 19:31

I had a C-section at 8am and was home by 5pm. After staying in for five days with the first one, it was a shock to go home so fast and tbh I wasn’t really ready.

I was stuck in for 3 nights after my c-section (mainly because DS was unwell) and the car journey home still nearly had me in tears, I couldn’t imagine being capable of it much faster

nicelongbath · 03/11/2025 19:43

Both times I was delayed overnight as there was no one available to discharge us! Got to the point we were threatening to just walk out before they managed to summon someone who could do the paperwork.

Spareincoming · 03/11/2025 19:35

Both my last sections were first surgeries of
the day; I had one night in and was discharged at 2pm and 11am respectively.
Both times there was a staff and bed shortage.

cherish123 · 03/11/2025 19:34

It's quick for C-section but normal for vaginal delivery. With vaginal delivery, you are sometimes out the same day. The quicker you get home the better, I say.

SeriouslyWhataMess · 03/11/2025 19:31

I had a C-section at 8am and was home by 5pm. After staying in for five days with the first one, it was a shock to go home so fast and tbh I wasn’t really ready.

SendhelpToddlerBoy566 · 03/11/2025 19:20

Brelim · 03/11/2025 17:47

I had the section at 2100, I was home by 1400 the next day. I was ready to go much earlier but had to wait for meds. I would have gone mad if I had to stay in any longer!!

I was barely able to move 18 hours after my section. I really needed the 48 hours thank god 2-3 nights was standard where I lived. I don't think I would have made it to the car tbh.

it took me 20 minutes to walk to my car 2 days after my c section (a walk that was maybe 5 minutes normally). All my insides felt like they would fall out.

Disturbia81 · 03/11/2025 19:12

CaviarForTea · 03/11/2025 14:33

I was gagging to get out by this stage after both my c sections.

The post partum ward is akin to hell and not somewhere I'd want to spend a second longer than needed

I was in for about 30 hours each time but I wanted to go home a good 10 hours before this, they just couldn't find the staff to discharge us

Same, I was in 2 days both times and it was hell, as soon as I was home I started to recover.

WonderingWanda · 03/11/2025 17:59

Gave birth to my second at 9pm, was told I could leave at 11.30pm, they did say Inwould need to bring the baby back in the morning for a check up. I got out of bed but my legs felt like jelly and I was shattered so I asked to stay. They put me in a lovely quiet room on my own, not disturbed once. Had some tea and toast, someone checked the baby over in the morning and I was out by midday.

readingismycardio · 03/11/2025 17:55

Not in the UK, but where I live standard is 3 days (unless there are issues)