How long were you in hospital?

[CaptainKit]

Obviously all births are different, and not everyone even goes to a hospital, but there was no snappier way of writing that in the title!

Just curious, really. I'm 35+4, have only one week left at work, and am starting to think about the realities of what's about to happen.

So yeah, my question is; how long did you spend in hospital/maternity unit if any time at all, before and after your birth(s)?

Thanks!

[Cirsium]

9 very long days. Taken in on a sunday afternoon, after attending what i thought was going to be just another monitoring session, to be induced at 38wks due to pre eclampsia. DD arrived early hours of the wednesday. She had low blood sugar/jaundice so ended up in SCBU for 6 days, I still had high blood pressure and anaemia from the tiny portions of crap food I ate cold between visiting DD/feeding DD/expressing so was only discharged a day before her and allowed to stay on the mothers ward in neo natal.

[Samantha28]

Tiny portions of crap food

Ain't that the truth

[LariyahSpen]

Fairly text book labour of my first baby girl. In hospital labouring for 10 hours had her at 6.45pm they said I could home that night...I didn't I left at 10am the next day, but pretty quick considering she was my first. The food was horrific so that's what pushed me to leave

[Cirsium]

What really annoyed me was the nurse who gave me my first dose of iron (8 hours after it had beeen prescribed because i was off the ward for the morning med round) lecturing me on good, iron rich, diet.

[MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic]

DS1 - got there around 7am, had DS just after 6pm. Because I lost a little to much blood they kept me under observation in the delivery room until 1am (with no food or drink in case of surgery) Then went to the ward and then lay on the noisy ward with nothing to drink or eat and too wired too sleep until the morning. I was covered from waist to feet in dried blood but couldn't shower until DH got there at midday as I wasn't allowed to take DS into the bathroom (rules!) but at the same time no nurses would watch him... Finally left at around 6pm when a friend came from work to ferry us home. Swore I would never, ever stay overnight again.

DS2 - induced so went in at 7am, had him at 4pm, discharged myself with the help of a sympathetic midwife and was home eating pizza by 8pm. I got told off for that as DS2 didn't get his routine checks done in the hospital - they were incredibly short staffed and I was told on the Saturday that chances were he wouldn't be seen by the paediatrician until Monday. I left and my OOH GP did them for me instead.

DD - Got there at 6am, had her at 9.55am, left at 7pm because it took 6 hours to sort my discharge papers...

I do not like hospitals. If I didn't live in a tiny flat I would have had them at home.

[Loft653]

DD1 - arrived at birth centre at 10.30am and born at 3.25pm. Stayed in for 2 nights afterwards as she wasn't latching well to feed.

[Frazzled2207]

DS1 - 3 days (he didn't arrive for 24h after arrival)
DS2 - 20 hours

[Seff]

DD - sent home twice, then spent a night on an ante-natal ward before giving birth the next morning. Stayed in 2 nights due to minor blood loss. I was happy to stay that second night though - it felt odd that I was 'allowed' to keep and take responsibility for this tiny baby! What if I broke her?!

DS - home birth

[timelytess]

Saturday morning to Monday lunchtime, 33 years ago. The only food I remember was the toast I couldn't eat an hour after giving birth.

[SparklyPenguin]

Ahhh...the food! Such fond memories.... Was ravenous after giving birth having not eaten in over 24 hours, only to be presented with two slices of very very mouldy cold toast

[greatbigwho]

Went in for induction in the morning then was sent home to rest. Admitted at 3pm due to hyperstimulation, baby arrived at 9.45pm the following evening. Sent home 1pm the following day, so two nights in total.

[kittyvet]

Went in at 9pm. Daughter born 5am. Stayed one night after and went home the day after she was born. They probably would have kept me in another night but I was keen to get home!

[ShinyShinyShiny]

I was in for 2 nights, but DS was in for a total of 9 nights so I then spent another 3 nights with him in the special care transition ward to get feeding established before he came home.

My advice would be to pack for 2/3 nights just in case.

[SunnyDays1987]

Went in with chest pain during the early hours of the 30th Dec, got induced on 1st Jan, baby born early hours of 3rd Jan, out at tea time on 5th Jan. It was GRIM. I hope to never have to stay in hospital for more than a night or two again. I was on ante and postnatal wards and they were just so so noisy and hectic. Might be slightly better if you have your own room!

[TattieHowkerz]

A day and a half before (planned induction). A week after due to me and DD being injured in the birth. Felt like we lived there.

[Doublebubblebubble]

With DD 6 - I had her in 4.5 hours on gas and air (completely spontaneous) but i had a bladder problem - had 2 catheters!! she was born 18/1 @ 23:52 (she was due on the 19/1) and we left the hospital on the 20/1.. So two days

With ds he was 12 days overdue and emcs - had started induction 15/10 @ 3.30 but was born at 11:26am 16/10 - went home with him 19/10.. So 4 annoying and painful days

[Melmam]

I went in at 11am had my son at 21.51 that evening spent two nights one and a half days only reason I wasn't out sooner was we had complications.

[elliejjtiny]

DS1 - no time at all (homebirth)
DS2 - 90 mins in labour, 3 hours after
DS3 - 12 hours waiting for induction, 2 hours in labour, 2 hours afterwards
DS4 - 48 hours waiting for C-section on antenatal ward. I was in for 3 days afterwards and DS was in for 4 weeks.
DS5 - 9 hours waiting for induction, 1 hour in the bath, 4 hours on the drip waiting for labour to start, 30 minutes in labour, 2 hours in theatre having C-section, 2 days in HDU and then 6 days on the postnatal ward.

[Strokethefurrywall]

I have really fond memories of my time in hospital, especially the first time.

Arrived at 1pm Friday after waters breaking, contracting regularly, labored in private room with bathroom, had baby at 4pm, went for shower whilst they cleaned up and made bed fresh, got into bed and stayed there until Sunday lunchtime.
Food was ace, DH stayed with us and we had a succession of friends visiting with beer/wine/ice cream etc. (had fridge in room).

Second time was a different hospital but got there at 10.30pm Sunday, baby born at 6am Monday and I stayed until lunchtime Tuesday. With hindsight I wish I had stayed another night but I was desperate to get out and see DS1 at home.
I don't really remember the hospital food other than it being relatively inoffensive and it was near Easter so my friends kept bringing me mini eggs. DH kept me in pies and decent takeout so I was happy.

Completely different kettle of fish for me though as I'm not in UK. If I had to recover on an overheated ward surrounded by loads of other people, with shite food, tea that would rot a hole in your stomach lining and shared toilets/showers then I'd have been out of there like a shot! I remember visiting my best friend after she had her first and her muttering "get me the fuck out of here".

I think the NHS do their very best with what they've got but I think the desire to stay in hospital very much depends on the level of care/privacy/support you have whilst there. Private room where DH can stay, lactation consultant on hand and a nurturing environment, I'd stay as long as I could. Overcrowded ward and harassed and unsupportive environment, no way.

[Icklepickle101]

2 nights after an ELCS, they were happy for me to go after 1 but I wasn't ready.

[Mummymidwife87]

Admitted 6pm Friday night and delivered 9am Sunday morning so 36hours pre delivery and 11 days afterwards. Baby on NNU and then moved to paediatric ward

[bunnyrabbit93]

I had a complicated birth -placental abruption so I went in on Friday morning and discharged on Sunday evening but stayed in hospital until Monday evening as my baby was in SCBU

[thehomesecretary]

My most recent labour (three weeks ago) I went in to the midwife led unit an hour and a half before, then left two and a half hours after giving birth. So only 4 hours in all! This was my third child though...

[Miffy1979]

Went in for induction on Friday am,had to stay that night (no sleep thanks to loud snorers! ) DS wasn't then born until Sunday AM. He was taken to SCBU in the middle of the night and we ended up staying until the following Saturday.. so 8 days in total. I was climbing the walls!! I was lucky to have a "private" room but staff were in and out at all hours.. and kept telling me to sleep when the baby slept.. The food was bearable but tiny portions and they couldn't understand that I was veggie. This led to Fawltey towers type moments with their patient menus.
I am bloody hoping this next baby is a very quick stay!!

[Whathaveilost]

Ds1 went in Saturtday evening and came home on Thursday afternoon.

Ds2 weeny in very early Monday morning, came home on Wednesday.