To leave maternity ward without red book?

[SOPH781]

So, I'm due in hospital for an elective c-section this week. This is my second ECS and with my first I was ready to leave the next day. Baby was great, I felt great - no pain etc. However, the midwives were not happy about me leaving so early and told me that I had to wait for the red book. They kept me waiting for something like 14 hours - it felt like they were holding me hostage/punishing me for wanting to discharge myself!

I chose to wait for it as I was unsure if I would be able to get the red book from somewhere else and I was aware of its importance. I've asked my current midwife and she didn't know if I would be able to get it later down the line. Have any of you had experience of this? Were you able to collect your red book at a later date?

Thank you

I got my red book whilst I was still in recovery at the hospital and DC was about an hour old. I can only imagine the midwives at your hospital were busy and had to prioritise at the time. After all, I am sure you would rather a midwife helped you out in labour instead of sitting at a desk filling out a book for someone who had already given birth.

Why don't you just wait and see how you feel ?

Already you are planning your escape from those eeeeevil health care workers that have your best interests at heart after a major intervention

Second c/s ? You might not bounce back quite so quickly this time. You might want to stay in hospital a day or two longer with your newborn and let someone else hold the fort at home.

My dd is 4 weeks old and I had to get them to post me one - got it last week! There was no mention of not being able to leave without it-I had to keep asking for mine! Think it depends on the healthcare authority too though.

I got 2 red books for dc2, one from NICU and one from the HV. So it probably doesn't matter too much!

I would just leave. If it's that important you'll be given one. Tell them dh will be back to pick it up if it's not ready when you want to leave.

I discharged myself against medical advice after my last child's birth. I was given the red book. It should just be there as they will have been writing in it since she was born. It was a delaying tactic.

I will add though that I had a semi-elective c/s and recovered incredibly well and they still kept me in a couple of days.

Hmm, pretty sure the health visitor gave us DD's red book on her first home visit. That was 4 years ago though so things may have changed!

With my first they were out of red books in hospital and the community health visitor brought it along later. Should be fine.

I would suggest you try to wait if you can bear it I know it's frustrating but after my second c section five months ago the next day I had really bladder issues and needed a catheter reinserted .... They really won't make you stay unless you need to ... its not long in the rand scheme of things
really not big snarky I swear ....its tough going when you just want to go I know

Don't be silly, Anyfucker - in my case they were doing precisely nothing. And I don't understand why anyone would want to stay a minute longer than necessary.

I would leave without it, yes.

I was like you and was determined to leave hospital ASAP after my elective section. One sleepless night I could just about handle, but the thought of two sleepless nights was a real concern (I suffered four sleepless nights in hospital after the birth of my first child and nearly lost my mind).

So, damn right I was planning my escape in advance!

However, most hospitals are more than happy to get rid of you if you've managed to get out of bed and shower (and the doctor is happy with the condition of the wound). I'm surprised the midwives were so obstructive when it came to discharging you.

How do you know they were "doing precisely nothing" unless of course you think your care and only yours should be their absolute priority

I never got one and I've never needed it, and I know the feeling about wanting to get home quickly! I recovered much quicker at home.

No experience of a c section but mine was a large pph for which I went to theatre - the "must stay for three days" was protocol rather than actually doing anything of benefit. I wish I'd discharged myself as soon as I was transferred to the ward. I ended up staying 24 hours.

HV's can get your red book if you don't have it. Second time round I'd be staying a couple of days though because with an older dc at home it wasn't easy for me to rest & recover. Even though dp, parents & inlaws were all on hand - ds just wanted me occasionally

Now you're being stupid Anyfucker. I mean that they were doing precisely nothing that meant I needed to stay.

I discharged myself after being made to wait a ridiculous amount of time. It's not like you'll get arrested. Believe me, it's in their interest to get that book to you.

I hate the undercurrent of entitledment on these threads

The thinly-veiled HCP bashing is unpleasant and born out of ignorance

Discharge yourself if you like and think you know better. And be thankful that a midnight dash back to the hospital is always available to you if the post op complications you were being monitored for show themselves

No wonder there is a massive shortage of midwives in the UK. Apparently they keep you in hospital against your will and "do nothing" in the immediate aftermath of abdominal surgery.

i had my DC at different hospitals and on each occasion I got the red book from the HV (or perhaps the community midwife?) some days later.

I sympathise with the OP wanting to leave hospital as soon as she was medically fit for discharge. I was medically cleared for discharge at about 10am with DC1, and was still waiting for my discharge paperwork in the early evening. I politely took my own discharge, and told them to fax/post the paperwork. I know the reason it wasn't done was due to other clinical priorities, and I don't blame them for that one bit, but there was no reason for another unnecessary night on a hot and noisy ward.

the hospital at which I had my second child were far more pragmatic, and told me they'd fax everything over to the community midwives while ushering out ASAP.

How do you know they were "doing precisely nothing" unless of course you think your care and only yours should be their absolute priority

Give over. In the context of this thread what she was required to stay for I.e no medical or social reason at all is her priority.

She had no need to stay because other people were being cared for or had a need for medical attention, she didn't.

There are many ways the book could have been passed to her ways that didn't block a bed for 14 hours

Just leave I'm sure the red book will come one way or another.

And another thing HCP need to understand that their industry is a service industry and more people are realising this every day, they need to evolve.

They have definitely relaxed the rules on the 48 hour stay. After my last c section I was out in 24 hours ( not self discharge, they suggested it and I was happy). I think the red book is a bit of a red herring (ha!). They are usually sitting in the cot before baby is born! I do baby checks on the pn ward and the red book has never been a reason to delay discharge. If however you are waiting for a baby check, then it is best to stay put and wait for it - I've picked up all sorts of things at baby check! That way any problems can be dealt with before discharge. But see how you go, I have had three sections and my second one was a bugger. I couldn't wear jeans for three months! and I promise of you are ill, or your baby is, hospital is the best place to be (even if the food is rubbish)

The health visitor gives out the red books here. I didn't take it as hcp bashing either, if you've been on a postnatal ward recently you'll know that discharges are quite often held up due to paperwork. If you feel well and there are no complications then I would discharge yourself op.

If that means you need to do a midnight dash back then of course the hospital will be there, that's the whole point of the nhs healthcare when it's needed. Unless anyfucker feels that medical help should be withdrawn unless you are a good girl and do exactly as the hcp tell you even if it's not in your best interests?