If you had to stay on post natal ward...

[CarrotPuff]

...what was the reason? I mean, why you couldn't be discharged the same day?

I was quite lucky with DS, had straightforward labour, some issues with placenta coming out but nothing major. He was born before 11am and we went home about 8pm. I was actually wondering why we couldn't go earlier, but I am Rh neg so they were waiting for lab results on DS's blood.

It's a bit early to be thinking about labour with DC2, as I'm only 17 weeks, but I wonder why they make you stay? What was your reason? And how long for?

Four nights post delivery is standard where I had my children. It's like a little holiday Private room, three good meals, tea trolley at regular intervals, help if you want, peace if you want...bliss! The reward for shelling out obscene amount on health insurance

I stayed for 5 days. Had v complicated tear resulting in big blood loss and I had to have 2 blood transfusions. I couldn't get out of bed on my own without passing out and blood pressure was v low. Also ds didn't feed for first 30hrs and lost more than the threshold weight loss so we were on feeding plan and they wouldn't let us go until day 5 weigh in and satisfied he was putting on weight. So glad I stayed though I was a right mess and he 24/7 support was amazing.

To be honest... I don't actually know.

They never checked up on me, asked me anything or said why I had to stay. But I think after I had my son, they sad I cloud go home... Then my dumb mum and sister said 'we don't have the car seat!' Hospital was about an hour away so I was fucked. Now I wish they had bloody gone home, got it, then came back to rescue me! It's not as if there was ANY benefit to me staying in - they were rubbish with everything! I got no sleep, was left on my own, got no help with breastfeeding and no one came round to check me or my son after a bit of a traumatic birth.

I should have just escaped myself!

*said I could go home

Dd was born v healthy at breakfast time after a very short and none intervention easy labour. (Was admitted an hour before). I wasn't discharged till the following day. I suspect because I was young and on my own and they were making sure I was alright. Perfectly sensible and nice for me that if I had have struggled I had experienced back up. And was told that being on my own if they didn't need the bed I could stay longer. I think either way they'd have kept me till late evening because I was breastfeeding and they wanted to make sure anyone doing so was managing it ok. Next day they said I could go home after breakfast ( gave me chance for a shower while dd was asleep and in safe hands if she'd woke) but it took hours to discharge me. But in fairness they seemed to be rushed off their feet and kept being diverted to more urgent things so didn't get round to discharging me till later

ds1 type 1 diabetes and emcs 3 days
dts type 1 diabetes, premature babies, both got jaundice and had light therapy 5 days

Otherwise they kick you out within 6hrs or as fast as they can find a paed to sign the baby off. To give them credit the reason they take so long to sign off is because you are low priority and they are dealing with the babies that do actually need medical care. It's frustrating the first time but when you've been in the position of your babies needing the care you have a lot more patience and gratitude for being low down the list.

Good news is after you've had a baby other people's babies crying doesn't bother you in the slightest. I couldn't sleep at all with ds1 for other crying babies. With the twins I only woke up when either of them cried. Ignored everyone else's babies. Other women talking on the phone however was more irritating.....

I chose to stay overnight to get help with breastfeeding, as a first time Mum I was feeling that it would be good to have tjat support on the first night. I was offered a second night on the ward for the same reason but chose to go home as the ward was so hot! Glad I had the help on the first night though :)

I chose to stay in to ensure DS2 was feeding ok. It was really relaxing as everyone else on the ward went home and it was just DS2 and I. I knew at home it would have been manic with DS1 and the dog and so I appreciated the peace and quiet!

Sepsis, PPH. Spent a night in ITU and 7 in postnatal. I am a healthcare professional and was absolutely appalled at the care I received. Breastfeeding support however was excellent- despite a pretty rough start DD never had any formula.

I stayed for three days as my sons was in NICU, thankfully I was given a little room on my own but still on the ward. I discharged myself on Christmas Eve and my sone came home on New Year's Eve.

DS1 had to be observed for 12 hours for meconium aspiration, took us to gone 6pm and they suggested I stay the night as I had a room to myself anyway and they weren't busy. I didn't say no - en-suite shower & loo, reclining chair for DH, suited us. We left at 10 the next morning.

DS2 was born at home but I refused to stop bleeding so I had a bloody awful night in a crappy postnatal bay which stayed noisy all fucking night. Got given a dry manky sandwich at about 8pm as I was on a drip and hadn't eaten since before the birth. DH gave up and went home for a proper sleep after the drip finished. One of us had to stay sane.

In for a week. Induction, I'm diabetic, botched forceps delivery, group b strep colonised DD's associated facial wounds and she needed IV antibiotics.... I felt like I lived there.