the fastest way out of hospital is...???

[Spod]

I'm having a c section on friday and have a serious aversion to hospitals (have had major surgeries in past and hate the places). I wanna get up and about and home as fast as I can... everyone tells me I can expect a minimum 4 day stay.... this sounds just awful to me... Assuming that all is well with me and baby... why do they try and keep you in for 4 days+?? what 'tests' do i have to 'pass' to be allowed home (where i will get more help and sleep anyhow!!) I've had spinal surgery previously and so know what to expect in terms of healing and recovery and pain etc...a c section can't be any worse?? Any tips and advice would be great.

a c section is considered a major surgery. 4 days in and out with no complications is pretty good. they like to keep an eye on how well your healing and all the rest.

if u have a vaginal delivery (dont know your circumstances so dont know if this is an option at all) u can be out the same day if u have a morning delivery. or the following morning if an afternoon/evening delivery with no problems. which suited me fine as i have a problem with hospitals. an hour after having dd2 i was asking to go home, just waited for paed to come and check bubs and me then off we went.

One essential is that you have to have pooed before you're allowed to leave - that's a scary moment because you're convinced that the entire contents of you insides will follow suit down the loo.

well, the real answer is that you can leave any time you like, of course. They cannot 'keep' you there as it is not a prison and doctors have no right whatsoever to keep you in against your will though they can advise you. You'll find it hard to escape with no feeling in your legs and a catheter in though As soon as you feel well enough you can just go home - they might object but can't actually 'do' anything to stop you. My friend went home two days after her second section. I stayed five days but in retrospect could have happily gone home after 2/3. You won't know how you feel until after the op though.

I was discharged the following day after my 2nd c-section, I was moving to another maternity unit, BUT they were quite happy for me to go home if that was what I wanted.

they tried to discharge me 48 hours after my section...needed the bed and I was healing ok. Problems with ds meant we stayed another 48 hours though.

I came out after 3 days after my 'emergency' cs. Had the section on Friday night, was home by lunchtime on Monday. I assured themthat I would follow their 'rules' of rest and not doing things, that I had people to help me a home, and I was going to a ground floor apartment so no climbing needed, etc.

They will check your scar is healing okay, and that you are able to go to the doctors.

Oh, and I let them know early on that I wanted out asap (politely of course )

Good luck!

My friend had a C-section on a Monday morning and came out on the Wednesday lunchtime.

Another friend had a section on a Thursday afternoon and was let home on the Sunday morning.

HTH

I was evicted after 3 nights as they needed my bed ... but I didn't mind at all.
PS ... the 'poo' thing wasn't an issue ... no one asked me if I had done one ... in fact it was a total of 7 days after birth before I did !!!

Spod, just to second aloha, they can't keep you there. If you'd like to leave, be really nice and tell them an hour or so in advance (to give them a chance to do all they think is necessary) and then leave. I've never had a c-section but have left (and have taken my son out) of the hospital earlier than the doctors wanted. The key is not to argue, just say what you'd like to do then do it. Hope all goes well and congrats in advance!

I stayed in2 days after my 2nd 'elective' section I felt much better at home. But if you do go home early try to take it easy

barring any specific probs that may be identified with baby is there any reason why c section babies need to stay in longer than 'normal' deliveries? I hope I can make it out early... good idea to mention it and then politely leave... my midwife says she'll be visitng every day for a week after anyway so its not like they cant check on me... ijust feel hospitals are not always the best place to be

I got the feeling when I was in hospital that it's the mum that's in not the baby. After all its mum that's had the op. So if you feel fine there is no reason to stay as long as you take it very easy at home.

Spod - agree with everyone - you cannot be kept against your will. The extended stay is nothing to do with the baby - it is purely because a C/S is a major abdominal operation. Where I work women are advised to stay for 4-5 days. For 5 days they receive a daily injection of Fragmin to reduce the risk of development of DVT post surgery. It is gaiven at the same time each day so that is something to consider. It certaily is an injection that mums could be shown how to give themselves rather than relying on the community midwife. I am sure you would probably do better at home though, as would most women. Unfortunately women going home early after C/S are asked to sign an irregular discharge form in my area to absolve the hospital of any responsibility should anything untoward happen.

I went in on Fri was out on Mon. But I will say one thing, take fibogel or similar & windeze in with you. The fibogel will make you go gently. They don't offer a laxative until 3 days in my hosp.

I was like Wiltshire in on the Friday and (kicked)out on the Monday. It was my first child and DH was at home for a few weeks to support me. Remember it is major surgery, so take it steady. Try to go to a hospital where theres a real bed shortage and they'll be in no hurry to keep you.

I've had 2 c/s - 1st emergency, 2nd elective. With 1st, staff were lovely (the whole labour thing was a bit of a farce). Baby taken to nursery at night so I could rest, private room etc. I didn't want to leave and the food was nice!!!! With 2nd, own room again, but felt midwives weren't really very friendly. I was discharged after 3 days which really surprised me. Hope it all goes well.

My friend had an emergency c-section on the monday and was out tuesday morning. I don't think she had to plead either. I was surprised she was able to get out so soon especially as her dh doesn't drive and they live in the country.

Spod I am the same as you, intense dislike of hospitals. Unfortunately, I had an emergency c-section with my 2nd child so had to stay in for 5 days. It was awful especially as I was up and about the day after. They have to monitor you closely to check for infection etc. As well as that it is a serious operation. I felt good in myself but could not bend the rules no matter how I tried.

I think as long as they are happy that you can rest and that you are feeling well enough to travel they'll probably let you out. I had mine under general and wasn't going anywhere for the first couple of days - felt lousy!
I didn't have a bowel pass before I left, nearly a week (not recommended) from op to that. I was visited every other day by the midwife and a doctor popped in on the fifth day to remove the staples.

I had op sunday evening and was kicked out weds evening!

Boot1 - there are no rules! No doctor can keep anyone in hospital against their will. You may decide to follow their advice, but you cannot be 'kept' in if you don't want to. If I have another child I am pretty sure I will leave earlier, unless I feel absolutely dreadful. I was amazed how very much better I felt when I got home - but then I'd been in hospital for about six weeks by then!

I left after 3 days. In retrospect I could have gone even earlier but only if I had someone at home 24 hours to help (in fact 'do)lots of stuff like nappy changes and picking the baby up for feeds. Things (esp breastfeeding) picked up loads after I'd gone home - I just relaxed loads which was soooo much better. But I wouldn't do it any earlier without literally 24 hour help next time round - felt like crap the first few days. I can't compare it to other surgery but I do know that trying to get out of bed to bfeed and change a nappy while off my head on drugs prob wasn't my best idea.
Looking forward to reading all about the arrival of baby spod btw

Why do I keep reading the title of this thread, and thinking - "jumping through the window".

Probably cos I'm very silly. And not very helpful.

I agree with Oakmaiden - or you could always get dh to bring in nurses uniform and smuggle you out in the styke of The Great Escape.... seriously though, I was asking myself the same question only 5 weeks ago. It really is the worst part of the whole procedure. I think the best approach is to grin and bear it and just count the hours as calmly as possible as the less stress you put yourself under the sooner you will be fit and recovered.