Hospital discharge

[Handy83]

Was just wondering if anyone had any tips for getting discharged within hours after birth. The actual labour doesn't worry me, I'm a just get on with it type of person but I suffer really badly from homesickness. I am worried they will keep me in (even over night on a ward would be awful). I have never been in hospital and quite worried. Is pain relief free birth the best way or will having the gas and air not hinder me leaving.

I don't think gas and air would stop you from being able to leave. As far as I'm aware there's no lasting effects with using it.

I had to stay overnight as they wanted to make sure DS peed before letting us go, which he didn't do until the next morning. I liked that I stayed as I had breastfeeding support through the night

Agree gas and air wouldn’t make any difference. I got discharged 4 hours after my last birth. If you and the baby have weed, they’ve seen the baby feed and everything was straightforward with the birth then it’s definitely possible but I think in practice new baby checks and so forth can take a long time to sort. My MW agreed kindly to do mine in the community so we could leave early.

I would say to your MW after the birth that you are keen to leave ASAP; although you may find you don’t mind staying one night (I did with my first baby, despite feeling like you and having a straightforward birth) it can be good to get the help with breastfeeding if you want to do that and visitors are limited so you don’t get inundated the first day.

If you give birth late in the day you may not have a choice about staying the night. I feel it's something you may need to make your peace with op. What specifically worries you about it?

I get that you don’t want to be kept in (I don’t think anyone really does tbh!) but as I’m sure you know you really can’t control how the labour goes. Although hopefully you will have a straightforward time, you can’t know that and you and baby may need to stay in so to avoid stress later it might be worth working out now what bothers you most to try to address it in advance. I hoped to be home quickly but after a horrible complicated labour and EMCS that was never going to happen. Can you pay for a private room if you need to stay? I did and it may a massive difference.

Another thought - if you’re low risk etc maybe you could discuss a home birth with your midwife? That wasn’t medically an option for me but may be an option for you?

You may be lucky enough to get sent home the same day but nothing and no-one cam guarantee that.

I had a very short quick labour using g&a, pethadine and another injection which i am not sure what it was... i was fortunate enough to be discharged 18 hours after having him but that is quick from what i understand.

If you have to stay in op you will have to.. some hospitals will let you pay for a private room is that something that would make you more comfortable?

No one can predict or guarantee a quick discharge within a few hours of birth.
Reasons to stay in would be anyconcerns over baby, feeding problems, PPH, instrumental birth, epidural, having a catheter in labour, CS, medical problems that may arise with you.

If your birth is normal, you haven’t required an epidural or catheter, baby is deemed as normal and you are feeding relatively confidently then you may well be suitable for a discharge within a few hours. Baby needs a full examination 6-72hr old. If they are less than 6hr old and you’re ready to go, you will probably come back for baby check. The check has to be completed by a midwife or paediatrician or neonatal nurse that is qualified to do so and you join a queue so if you stayed you wouldn’t necessarily get it done immediately

I think the only pain relief that would require you to stay overnight would be an epidural. :)

Even with an epidural and a forceps delivery I went home the same day, but I delivered at 4am. I was exhausted after no sleep for 3 nights but I knew I wasn't going to get any sleep on a noisy post natal ward! Make sure they know you are keen to go home because the delays are usually due to getting the paperwork/baby check/hearing test done.

If you have a straightforward vaginal birth and are on your feet afterwards, they will probably discharge you. Your best shot is probably to aim to give birth in the MLU, where they wouldn't provide any pain relief that would interfere with that. That said, if you are physically able to leave after your birth they cannot stop you doing so. You can discharge yourself against medical advice. this is not true of baby though.

I could have gone home but opted to stay for support with bf and regretted it bitterly. I did get some support but was stuck there for two miserable and, I think, wholly unnecessary nights. I wish I'd known at the time that I could just have walked out and didn't have to wait for the interminable delayed checks.

That said with your first it's wise to have a back up plan of how to make it easier if you do have to stay in.