3-6 hour discharge - how common is this?

[Wholelottalove]

I went to a homebirth support group today(considering having HB with DC2 due in Dec) and was quite surprised when the midwives said that at our local large maternity hospital they are now so stretched they are making 3-6 hour discharge the norm, particularly for 2nd time Mums. In fact, where they can, they are apparently asking people to go home directly from the delivery suite.

I'm not necessarily against this as if I end up in hospital and all goes well, I'll be keen to come home asap, but I was quite surprised and also a bit concerned. If they are so busy it seems to be only a matter of time before they need to close their doors to women in labour surely?

Is this now a standard thing? I did leave quite quickly with DD (2 1/2 years ago) but even so it wasn't until about 2 or 3 in the afternoon and I'd had her at midnight.

I had DS2 at 5.30pm and left straight from delivery suite at 9.30pm, would have liked to have left earlier but not sure what they were doing as when we left we were the only people there and we were just waiting for paperwork. Had to go back the next day for paediatric checks and antiD for me.

I had ds2 at 10pm and was discharged with him at 12.45am! And it was freezing in January.

We left 8 hours after a twin birth, straight from delivery suite. We only waited that long because I had to have 4 hours of IV synto after the birth, and then it took ages to find someone who could do newborn checks in the middle of the night. We were happy to go, can't fathom why anyone would want to go on a postnatal ward if well enough to go home.

I'm hoping for a super-quick discharge this time too. Much rather be in my own bed with someone to help me than be stuck on a ward with over-stretched staff. The night in hosp. I spent post-delivery with DD was bloody awful

I shall make my intentions as clear as possible by getting dressed to shoes, hat & coat ASAP after delivery

My m/w has put in my notes that I want as quick a discharge as possible - it's worth mentioning to someone...

I stayed in over night with DS2, but with DS3 I had him at 4.20, placenta delivered just before 5. I left at 9pm - would have been earlier but they were faffing around trying to decide whether or not I could have his hearing checked at the local out patient hospital rather than wait for the paed there.

(I would have left by 6pm if I could )

Pippy Wow where do you live? That sounds so reassuring.

It's in Torquay - I had my DS1 there 6 years ago and sadly moved away whilst pregnant with DS2, so I can't vouch for if it is still
like that.

They were excellent, a really forward thinking team and high level of personal care, with one of the highest birth rates in the country.

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/aug/18/familyandrelationships.health

my hospital couldn't wait to get me out. i was shattered from 5 days trying to get my baby out, and asleep, and they came over and told me i should have a bath, and i needed to get up as they're on a 6 hour discharge. i had to remind them i had group b strep so clinically i had to stay in for 48 hours.

i think in generaly quick discharge is fine if you know what you're doing and are well, but i do think for a first baby if you are BFing it does help to have some support from midwives around, so it would be better to stay in hospital for a bit longer.

I was home in about 15 hours with DD. That was a forceps delivery and I was only there so long because (i) awful labour meant super doses of epidural, and my right leg took a long time to come back; and (ii) we were waiting for the doctor to sign off DD. She was born early hours so we were home early evening.

Ward MW wanted me to stay in because of instrumental delivery. When I said I wanted to leave, the Sister couldn't get me signed out fast enough. Obviously needed the bed. Best decision in an awful labour!

Oh, and the BF support was useless in hospital, so I'm glad I didn't hang around for it.

am a first time mum and planning a home birth but the delivery dep at the local hospital is so busy that they can't agree to send me a midwife out and have closed their doors on at least 2 occasions recently and people have then had to go miles and I do mean miles to another hospital.