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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Hospital stays

49 replies

katybob · 18/04/2018 23:53

How long has everyone had to stay in hospital after birth. I’m really anxious about this, And considering opting for a home birth.

OP posts:

BendydickCuminsnatch · 20/04/2018 09:00

First baby - induced, forceps, 3c year - stayed one night after giving birth

Second baby - elective section, but lost half my blood volume so had to stay in 2 nights because of drains etc. My friend had a elective section all went smoothly and stayed in 1 night.

Icklepickle101 · 20/04/2018 09:03

2 nights after a c section as I’d been taking medication which crossed the placenta so they needed to monitor baby. Otherwise was free to go the morning after surgery

sweetpotatoe · 20/04/2018 09:19

Two nights my blood pressure was high. Also I had help with establishing breastfeeding. I now realise how lucky I was the first night to have an amazing student midwife who spent 80% of the night with me. Helping me bf etc. The other ladies on my ward just happened to be using formula and didn't seem to need her.

SeeKnievelHitThe17thBus · 20/04/2018 09:28

I was in for 10 days with DS, 6 before he was born ad 4 after. the wards were terrible (sorry!) - noisy and understaffed with fathers trying to stay after visiting hours and babies crying.

Private rooms were £200 a night and only available if not needed for medical cases - a lady with GD got one as her baby was in NICU so they didn't want her on the post-natal ward with the other mums who had their babies with them, one with twins got one etc. but it's not affordable for that sort of length of stay.

Make sure you pack ear plugs in your hospital bag if you do have a hospital birth, and flip flops to wear in the shower and remember that you can also self-discharge if you're staying in hospital because of your health issues rathe than the baby's. women's experience on the internet would suggest threatening to self-discharge is a remarkably effective way of getting a room to yourself if they want you to stay and the alternative is that you're leaving.

HoppingPavlova · 20/04/2018 09:36

Australia, private system - 5 nights in a private room which is standard.

The public system has discharge more in line with NHS. It’s a 70/30 public to private split for maternity in Australia (approx), although specific areas have different ratios- for example Sydney is 50/50 but a regional area may be 100% public due to no private options.

Eldee1986 · 20/04/2018 11:36

Delivered at 23:24, was told at 9am I was getting discharged once baby and I had been checked, they were really short staffed so my paper work wasn’t completed until 7pm then off home we went once the grandparents had arrived to visit.

swizzells2003 · 20/04/2018 12:06

I ended up staying in for 3 nights .... it was the one thing I didn't want to do. Unfortunately DS had other ideas and would latch so we stayed for feeding help - had a private room which helped

laelti · 20/04/2018 17:48

Went in 11am Wednesday, baby was born 4.16pm that day. Came home 9am Friday. Could probably have left Thursday but I quite liked the idea of an extra nights professional support.
I was in a postnatal room rather than a ward (I was in an NHS hospital MLU) - don't know why particularly but didn't complain!

Cracklesfire · 20/04/2018 19:37

I went in at 8am to be induced, moved to midwifery suite in labour at 8pm. Had DS at 12.40am so the three of us were allowed to get tucked up for a sleep in the single birthing room overnight and I was at home for 2pm same day I had him. Might’ve been sooner but it was a public holiday and we had to wait ages for the paediatrician to check him over.

BarryTheKestrel · 20/04/2018 20:44

Went in at 1am Tuesday, gave birth 3pm Wednesday (forceps), discharged 1pm Saturday.

Had quite a bit of blood loss and DD was being treated for an infection.

After the first night on the ward postpartum I was suffering from anxiety which gave me a dodgy tummy so they moved me to a private room in case of a bug.

BeyondThePage · 20/04/2018 20:46

CS 3 days, noisy and dirty, not the most enjoyable experience.
VB 6 hours, scarily soon, felt a bit overwhelmed.

neighneigh · 20/04/2018 20:54

Ds2 was born at 10.30pm, at 1am they asked if I wanted to go home! No thanks I've just had a blummin baby... We were discharged at 11am the next day. It's actually quite reassuring being there for just a few hours. I lay him down to fetch some breakfast and he started to struggle to breathe, he was very mucousy (sp?) and it scared me witless, so I was glad for the professional help.

NoNoCharlieRascal · 20/04/2018 20:59

6 nights. I tore badly, ds had jaundice and a couple of other small issues. It was during a heatwave and it was horrid. I was put in a side room while ds was under the lights which was great for privacy but I was constantly forgotten about being put off the busy ward. I had to chase food and drink, checks and info on how he was doing.

bluesky45 · 20/04/2018 21:47

7 nights after baby was born. I could have gone home but baby was in NICU so I wasn't discharged until he was but don't think there was a medical reason for me to be there. I was so glad to be close to him and able to be with him at all times. No problems to indicate I needed a hospital birth and was full term etc. Ds needed resuscitation when born and was not well so I'm glad we were in hospital as all the facilities for ds were there. If all had gone well after ds was born at 8am, we would have either gone home later same day or had a one night stay. They don't tend to keep you in longer than needed as they simply don't have the space. Had we not had a hospital (midwife led unit within maternity section) birth, I could have a very different story to tell.

Original poster

katybob · 21/04/2018 00:45

I’m just really anxious about it, I’m not sure really what it is. My sister in law had to stay in for two weeks as they mucked her about for a week with her c section and stressed her out and that rose her blood pressure. My partners worried that he will be sick or pass out as he has a very weak stomach been trying to get him to watch one born but he’s thrown up at a lot of births so far. He’s worried about doing that or passing out: I couldn’t cope staying in over night I don’t think it would be so bad if baby was born late in the day but if I was early and I had to go the hole day and say good bye to my partner at the end of it I’d be crawling the walls. Are hospital only has one private room so bet that won’t be an option.i think I’d be ok with the That. I’m not sure maybe I’m worried about others looking at me

OP posts:

BeyondThePage · 21/04/2018 09:30

I was anxious about it too - especially the second time after feeling a bit tired and grumpy the first time - but to be honest being shunted out when you have only given birth 6 hours ago is just as scary.

Be prepared for either.

JessyJames · 21/04/2018 09:46

I was induced. Went in on a Wednesday for the induction, had DS at 6am on Thursday morning.
Went home Thursday evening. Could've gone at lunch time but we were waiting for the in-laws and couldn't get hold of them.

MrsMcW · 21/04/2018 15:35

ELCS late Monday afternoon. In for 3 nights, eventually discharged midday Thursday. Postnatal ward was hell on earth - hot, incredibly noisy and no peace from 6am to 10pm as staff were in and out every 15mins. Midwives understandable, but I was ready to shoot the Bounty lady who came round trying to persuade me to sign up to their newsletter when I was crying out for painkillers. I tried everything to get a private room, but none available even to pay for (and by third sleepless night I would have gladly paid ANYTHING).

This was in a central London hospital.

whomovedmychocolate · 22/04/2018 12:06

Ten days with first one (pre-eclampsia, caesarian section, severe hypertension), Six days with second one (Elective section) no complications other than PET.

The point I'm making here is this is not something you can control. Go with it.

Touchmybum · 22/04/2018 14:15

I was in for over a week with all three of mine and I think it was the key to successful breastfeeding. I didn't find it a terrible experience at all. At least it was just you and the baby. Worst bit for me was missing the older one/ones. Luckily I never had to go into the huge main ward; that would have driven me mad! C/section patients were in a smaller 3 bed ward opposite the nurses' station, and by the time I'd #3 they had revamped so I got a single room to myself.

harrietm87 · 23/04/2018 08:44

Had my baby on Friday at 4.30, stayed overnight in the lovely room where I gave birth, with DH (double bed), home at 11am on Saturday.

TriJo · 25/04/2018 12:46

1 night after my first son's straightforward MLU birth, a total of 9 nights with my second after we were admitted for reduced movements and induced at 38 weeks.

Havetothink · 13/05/2018 09:33

I was in for 5 days after, baby needed antibiotics as my waters had gone early. It was fine, a little noisy with the babies but it depends how full the ward is, and food just appears which is great when you've got a newborn. Everyone else seemed in a great rush to leave but baby being healthy was the main thing for me and my dh visited every day.

fitbitbore · 13/05/2018 09:37

First kid was home 8 hours after
Second one had to stay exactly 24 hours due to their policy on strep b.

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