ELCS - how long do your nhs hospital let you stay?

[soppypreggyloon]

I was to be told in no uncertain terms that with an elcs at my hospital I would be out within 24h. The midwife who booked us in was adamant about this. Even though they still class it as major abdominal surgery.
When I asked what happened if you went home too early and had to be readmitted- she just shrugged!

I'm not sure if they have nightclub bouncers to physically remove you from the premises or some sort of ejector beds but I know I'm not leaving till I can walk straight and till dc2 is feeding well etc!

What's your experience?

I had 3rd degree tears with both my daughters.

My first was born at 01.50am on the friday morning and I was home by that tea time even though I was in a lot of pain and could barely walk,

Second was born at 01.45am on the saturday morning and once again I was home by early evening. She had complications at birth had her first poo inside me which she swallowed. So she was not breathing properly when she came out, and also was sick a couple of times on the ward which looked like poo. I was still let out, but 4 days later baby was readmitted with a serious chest infection. Was told if she had not came in when she had then she would have been dead within next few hours as her body was shutting down due to lack of oxygen. Found out after that she should have been kept in until morning in case of complications and if she had of been then MAYBE the problem would have been picked up sooner.

Seems to be a lot like a conveyor belt in hospitals now

First DC was Emergency CS after failed forceps. DS fitted, I was very ill so both in for almost fortnight.

DD was Elective CS. All went well on Thursday morning. Wanted me to go home next day. BUT.. DS has CP, DH working and DM away at time so asked to stay till Monday. No problem, and to be honest MWS told me they were glad I stayed in. Gave me a chance to establish BF, a bit of a rest (hospital very quiet) and DH a chance to celebrate and prepare for homecoming, unlike the first time.

As a nurse I can tell you that your wound would not be a reason to keep you in.
There is a much lower chance of getting a hospital bug at home-although MRSA is in all our environment.
Shower every day,pat the wound dry,place clean/dry dressing or pad over it-although this is not necessary.Wear clean pants/clothes. Watch for redness,swelling,heat,pain/discharge. Notify GP/DNurse if these occur.
However as a fricking human being I am shocked that so many women are ordered out after 24hrs!
OK,beds are like gold dust,but where has the empathy gone from nursing? I would never turf someone out.

Where I had mine it was technically 3 days, but 'days' ran from midday to midday so if you had a section at 11am on day 1 then technically if you were well enough you could be released at 1pm on the following day having supposedly been there 3 days! After my Em CS (baby no.1) I asked to leave as I wanted to go home and was discharged after approx 48hrs. After baby no.2 (ELCS) they told me I was fit to leave after approx 48hrs, but I didn't want to so I stayed a 3rd night. After no.3 (also ELCS), they told me I could go after about 24hrs, but I didn't want to go so soon and so stayed a second night (they did turf me out into the waiting room soon after breakfast the next day though! Luckily it didn't take DH too long to arrive and pick us up). My point is that even though they might tell you that you are fit to leave, you don't have to go if you don't want to.

I stayed in for 2 days. They checked me 24 hours after and was told I could go when ever I was ready. BUT I was told I could stay as long as I like too! The midwives were fantastic and gave me so much support, but I wanted my own bed!! I was in quite a bit of pain after but being at home made me so much more relaxed. I felt being at home made the recovery so much easier :)

i was out within 24hrs

i begged to be allowed to go early as i was positive i would recover quicker in my own bed than in a noisy hospital.
i hated being in hospital, it was soooo hot, i couldn't sleep and i was homesick.
i was glad to free early.

I was in for 33 hours after dd was born (naturally). The main concern was that you couldn't leave until you'd established feeding, then I had to wait until 4pm to be discharged. Can't imagine it would be less time for cs. I'll ask my consultant when I see him as I'm having a cs in September for twins.

I think there are some hospitals which carry more risk of infection than being at home!

They kept asking me if I wanted to go home and I felt under pressure to say yes. Then one MW told me that I could say no, so I did. I refused to leave until I felt BF had been established and I had done at least one feed without help. I had a 3rd degree tear and initially had been told I had to wait until I had done a bowel motion, but MWs seemed keen for me to leave earlier.

I think it is common that they ask you in a way that implies you should leave, so just remember they can't kick you out.