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Childbirth

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Original poster

How long did you stay in hospital post C/S? Was it too short?

147 replies

mears · 25/03/2007 11:58

The reason I ask is that a lot of you seem to go home at 2-3 days. Are you fit enough?
We advise women to stay 5 days but I am sure that will change soon more due to shortage of beds. Midwives worry about women going home too soon. What is your experience?

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CadburyCremeSquonk · 25/03/2007 12:00

Had ds on the Thursday and was told not to expect to be going home until at least the followig Tuesday, but I begged them, and they agreed that ds was fine, and I was fine, so they let me go on the Sunday.

(probably walking a mile to the pub and back to show him off might have been a bad idea)

On the whole, I was happy with the outcome

sophiewd · 25/03/2007 12:03

I went home on the Tuesday after a section on the Saturday. I was up and walking around quite happily on the Sunday afternoon much to the astonishment of one of the midwives who had justcome on shift. I was bored and I had help at home. I had been walking our dog regulalry for fairly long walks/waddles right up to the end so although large I was active. I know the reccommended time is 5 days but I would have been driven mad by just takeing DD for strolls around the unit. But again I will stress it was my first child so no demanding other children I had DH plus another lady to help during the day and DD has been fantastically realxed and good from day 1.

Moomin · 25/03/2007 12:04

With dd1 I stayed in for 5 days. Don't know of this was policy but we were having problems establishing breast-feeding and they said I could stay for as long as I needed to.

With dd2 I had her on the Monday and was out by Weds, because I asked to go, but looking back it was far too soon. I went back to bed as soon as I got home but I didn't recover well at all and it was the whole 6 weeks before I could walk properly/drive etc.

With both dds I had placenta praevia and had been in hospital for ages before each birth so I was desperate to go home each time. Incidentally, I found the pain releif offered after dd1 much more effective than with dd2. I had to get dh to buy much stronger painkillers for me as the ones the hospital prescribed didn't touch the pain. I had dd1 in 2001 and dd2 in 2005

ThisEasterTime · 25/03/2007 12:07

I had DS on Wednesday and they said i was ready to go Saturday but i asked to stay one more night as was not ready. It maybe beacuse it was just me & DS going home to an empty house.

I was back in on the monday as my wound re-opened and eeeeewwwwww never seen as much blood and gungy stuff!

GandWJ · 25/03/2007 12:08

I had my DS by C section on a Friday am and was allowed to go home first thing on Sunday as I was desperate to leave. The ward was so noisy and hot, the food horrible and I thought I would feel much better recovering at home where I might be in pain but at least I would be comfy.
I think it helped greatly having someone with me for the first few weeks though.

whoopsfallenoveragain · 25/03/2007 12:11

I had dd at lunchtime on a Monday and was home at lunchtime on the Wednesday. I was up and walking around fine on the tuesday.
I did want to check myself back in once dh & my Mum started fighting over me! but other than that I was pleased to be at home in my own environment as sharing a bay with 4 other women who moaned lots was hard work!
If I had been in a room on my own I may have reconsidered going home so soon though

sandcastles · 25/03/2007 12:12

I was in for 5 days. More due to high BP (pre eclampsia) not going down quick enough.

Too long, but I had no choice.

Moomin · 25/03/2007 12:12

GandWJ's comment about the ward is a really good one. I think because I'd been in hosp for so long I really had had enough by the time I actually had the girls and the post-natal wards were exactly as described below. It was mental, they were so busy. If I'd have been offered a ward of 1 or 2 beds I might not have rushed to get out so much (but can't be sure - I was desperate)

beansprout · 25/03/2007 12:15

Ds was born at 2am on Monday and I went home at Wednesday lunchtime. I couldn't get home quick enough and would have gone earlier if they would have let me. I knew I would be much better off at home - my own bed, edible food and support from dh were all I really needed.

doddle · 25/03/2007 12:16

With DS1, had him on Wednesday evening and went home Saturday morning, because I begged to. My mum was staying to look after me and it was great. I really hated it in hospital, just because I hate crowded busy places, the care was excellent.

DS2, had him Monday evening, home Thursday morning. Didn't have to beg this time.

Recovered really quickly both times, but did have my lovely mum looking after me at home both times.

I had DS1 in 1999 and DS2 in 2001 if that's useful.

MintChocChippyMinton · 25/03/2007 12:16

Nearly a week due to high BP (pre-eclampsia). It was utterly horrible, i really wanted to go home and was on the point of discharging myself. There was NO help - 6 beds in one room, all CS. We were expected to help each other. After my next two (VBAC) i was out of the hospital within a few hours.

Original poster
mears · 25/03/2007 12:19

Thanks for posts. What about the injections to prevent blood clots. Did they continue at home till the fifth day or did they stop?

OP posts:
3easterbunniesandnomore · 25/03/2007 12:19

Had a Emergency C-section a Thursdaymorning and was out Sunday afternoon, but ready to go by Friday or Saturday....

MintChocChippyMinton · 25/03/2007 12:21

don't remember any injections

GandWJ · 25/03/2007 12:22

I don't remember any injections to stop blood clots at home or in hospital.

GandWJ · 25/03/2007 12:23

I had some inflatable boots on for the first night. Would they have been doing the same job?

SherlockLGJ · 25/03/2007 12:23

I had my own room, and I ended up being in for 14 days.

My heart failed on day 4, so I spent two weeks in hospital. I was ready to go home on day 4 if my bloody heart had not intervened.

lulumama · 25/03/2007 12:24

I had an emergency c.s friday night, 8.02 to be precise ! LOL! went home Tuesday after lunch...i had fragmin 2 or 3 times, certainly not after discharge....was encouraged to mobilise though.. i had a side room to myself, visiting was 7 am to 10 pm, so DH stayed all the time, that has changed now, sadly. It was comfortable and the food was fine...i was ready to go home when i was discharged..

sophiewd · 25/03/2007 12:46

Don't remember any injections. Also we are very lucky in our area as if you have a c section you get a room of your own, actually even for vb's they truy to keep you in single room for as long as possible and the wards they have are 3 max and usually just have 2 in.

AngeG · 25/03/2007 12:55

Don't remember any injections afterwards, but I was up and about quickly to see DS who was in NICU.
Had him on Wednesday night, sent home by horrible MW on Sunday who said, there was no way I would be taking my baby home with me with me so I might as well go home She was probably right looking back, but was horrible at the time. TBH I was well enough to go home. Took the full 6wks to recover properly though, probobly due to stress and travelling everyday to see DS in NICU

I'm booked in for Elective Section on 4th April, wonder how long I'll be in this time.

Original poster
mears · 25/03/2007 13:01

Interesting about injections but perhaps recommendation wasn't implemented when some of you had your babies, however it has been done for at least the past 5 years or more?

You should have TED stockings on post delivery and have fragmin injections (or similar) for 5 days to prevent DVT. Our unit stops the fragmin when you go home. I know of another unit where the community midwife gives it until the fifth day.

OP posts:
lulumama · 25/03/2007 13:02

my son is 7.5 mears , so maybe that is why, don;t remember the compression stockings, but was in a morphine induced haze for 36 hours and don;t remember much at all

tinkerbellhadpiles · 25/03/2007 13:04

8 sodding days, felt fine two hours after section and was walking/peeing unaided!!!!

AngeG · 25/03/2007 13:09

My section was in September 2003, didn't have the TED stockings or the injections.

It'll be interesting to see what happens this time.

nogoes · 25/03/2007 13:10

I left after 48 hours, they wanted me to stay in another day. I was definitely fit enough to go home, in fact I was running down the corridor I was so relieved to be getting out . In all honesty once they removed the cathetar and I had a shower I felt well enough to leave. I was off painkillers within 24 hours of c/s.