How long did you stay in hospital after giving birth?

[NewbieToThis]

Posting here for traffic.

just curious how long were in you hospital after having your baby? What was your experience of care on the postnatal ward? Were you happy with the length of time you were in for? Did your baby settle on the ward? Did you get support at home if you had a difficult birth or you were a first time mum

Reading through these posts and I’m so sorry to all of you who had a bad experience in the hospital. That’s appalling in this day and age! Happy for those who had good experiences.

im hoping to be able to stay for a couple of days after I give birth to my son for support and to recover better lol even though I’ll be able to do that at home. My friend gave birth in the same hospital I’ll be giving birth in and she had an amazing experience with the care of the staff. They looked after her son for a few hours one night so that she could sleep. I’m hoping I get the same level of care

First child - Baby born at 4.30pm on Friday, 2 nights stay, and after begging and pleading allowed home at 9pm on Sunday. Had emergency c-section, needed to stay in hospital as I had gestational diabetes and baby’s blood sugar needed to be monitored. Also my blood pressure was very low and needed monitoring. Daughter was impossible and did not let me sleep a wink or allow me to put her down. Breast feeding was hard but lots of support on ward provided. My mum came from abroad and stayed with me for 3 months which was a god send! Daughter had reflux and was a very tiny baby. She cried a lot and could not be put down. I am forever grateful to my mother for how much she helped me and DH.

Second child - Baby born at 11.30 am on tuesday and went home at 3pm on wednesday. So one night stay, also c-section. Similar to first child needed blood sugar monitoring. I again had very low bp and need monitoring. Son was an angel and easy to manage. Slept a reasonable amount. Breast feeding was ok, but no support on ward, birth during covid. Hired a nanny/mother’s help to help with older child, baby and house chores. Managed ok, but would have preferred to have had my mum. Unfortunately wasn’t possible due to covid.

Baby born 6.30am Thursday; home Friday pm (later than would normally be as Bank Holiday). Text book birth. Was keen to get home as felt dirty and wanted proper food. Easier to feed baby at home.

I was 42 and it was my 4th c section and the doctor wanted to discharge me after 24 hours. I said I didn't feel ready so they let me stay another 24 hours - though moved me to a very noisy ward so didn't sleep at all the 2nd night! Didn't feel listened to at all.

Was induced, baby took 4 days to arrive. Ended in a c section as failure to progress.

Baby went to special care. I got one night of rest and then took care of him the rest of the time I was in hospital.

NHS wards are horrendously noisy busy places. I got my own room as separated from baby. In my experience they discharge you as soon as they can and they expect you to do all care of baby.

DH very hands on, was glad to be home

My 3rd baby recently I had a quick labour, went in at 8am, born at 11 and home by 7. They were happy for me to go around 2pm it just took a while getting discharged as midwives were busy. 3rd time round I was comfortable leaving and just wanted to get to my own home. Midwives were at the end of the phone if I had needed them though

29 hours, planned c section.

How long were in you hospital after having your baby? First one, about 28 hours. Was only kept overnight because of suspected potential gestational diabetes, and then only so long as it took a while to get discharged. Second, almost exactly the same.

What was your experience of care on the postnatal ward? Really positive.

Were you happy with the length of time you were in for? Yes, was happy to be in overnight with the first as the midwives were so helpful and it was enough time fir them to walk us through everything, us try it and ask any questions, and get comfortable with it (from feeding to dressing the baby and nappy changes). Husband was allowed to stay throughout and had a private room. Second time wouldn't have minded going home earlier. Didn't need as much support, and was in a 4 bed room with admittances and discharges and checks throughout the night so I struggled to sleep.

Did your baby settle on the ward?
Yes!

Did you get support at home if you had a difficult birth or you were a first time mum. Home visitor came and did offer advice/support yes.

I also got shouted at with dd3 for asking for help to put her back in cot. I was still numb from the spinal block (4th c section) ! If she'd been my first not my 4th I don't think I'd have had any more.

Dc1 8 hours.
Dc2 12 hours
Dc 3 home birth
Dc 4 12 hours

Hated it every time. First baby you should definitely get all the support you can. But it's not a place to recover really.

Op I mean this gently but if you’re going NHS be prepared to do all the care yourself. Nurses don’t have time to look after your baby.

Also they won’t keep you in while you recover, they will only keep you in if there is a medical necessity.

I also broke a tooth on a very hard roast potato and spent dd3 's first week at various emergency dentists and on antibiotics after it got infected! Filthy bathrooms and felt everything was too much trouble for the nurses etc.

A day with both of mine, I would've gone earlier if I could have as thy were both premature and in NICU and I was on a ward with all other women who had their babies with them

7 days. But that was due to DS being jaundice and needing IV antibiotics because his infection markers were a bit raised. I was on the ward the first 2 nights and it was hell on earth. Then they moved me to a private room because they knew we'd be in for longer. That was MUCH better.

Postnatal ward was my idea of hell OP! Constant noise - other babies crying as well as mine, nurses crashing about all night, doors banging. If you are a high risk pregnancy and think you might need to stay in longer my best piece of advice would be try and get a private room (not always available)