How long will I be in hospital for?

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How long were you in hospital for?

I plan on giving birth at an MLU with just gas and air or Pethidine as pain relief. How soon do you think we would be able to go home?

I am aware that it does depend and my birth plan could go completely out the window though

1st C section was in for two nights.
2nd C section was in overnight.

I had hoped I'd be in and out, I went in on a Wednesday to be induced and came home on a Saturday xx

I also gave birth 36 hours after my waters broke via induction (pessary, no drip). I was in hospital Friday morning at 11, gave birth Friday night at 8pm, transferred to a midwife unit for breastfeeding help at 8pm on Saturday and got home late Sunday afternoon.

First child overnight, second child after 4 hrs went home from the delivery suite.

I think for some women they just want to get home but others, if it's a first baby or they're having feeding issues or just not feeling great in themselves- the quick in/out process after labour is quite frightening especially if they discharge late at night into the dark and cold which is what happened to me - why not wait until the next morning???

I guess there's just such a shortage of staff and hospital beds they want ladies in/out but I don't think it's always in people's best interest really. My mum had us, we're all in our 30's and was in a week with us older 2 and then 5 days and she was amazed how quick they now want you out especially with the big push by midwives on breastfeeding and the day 4/5 change of the milk and breasts and issues around that.

I’d planned to go home ASAP.

What wasn’t planned was my baby havingan infection and being in special care for a week so I was in for 4 days with him and feeling bad because of a second degree tear and an epististomy (SP).

Just go wth the flow - I was so upset I was there we left a week ago I’m still not over it

Let’s assume everything goes completely to ‘plan’... are you intending to bottle or breast feed?
We ‘let’ women go around the 6 hour mark when bottle feeding, however I always recommend an overnight stay for breastfeeders to help get established (for your own benefit). Bottler feeders are welcome to stay overnight also, but tend to feel less of a need to do so if it’s simply for feeding alone.

If baby needs observations that could add on 12hrs (usually- if they pooped in their waters, GBS, prolonged rupture of membranes etc) and then time to see the paeds before discharge. Other observations may add on 24-36-48hrs depending on what it’s for (eg those on feedings plans, antibiotics or withdrawal Obs etc).

Instrumental deliveries (otherwise straight forward) usually an overnight stay and then a Dr review in the morning.

Caesarean- minimum 24 hours, anything after depends on how ‘straight forward’ it was, and how well you’re managing pain wise etc.

Then you will have the odd few that end up in much longer due to more complex needs.

It’s fairly unpredictable. So I would say prepare for at least a 24hr stay, obviously less is great, but equally longer isn’t that unusual.

All of this will equally be affected by the busyness of the hospital as well. Some times we can plan to get someone home for lunch time and not achieve it till tea time, simply due to activity in the hospital.

You may find with a brand new baby, as a first time mum you actually don’t feel ready to be flung out into the real world as quickly as 6 hours- that’s fine, and normal.

First baby - elective then emergency section. In for 1night, I asked to leave as ward was crazy noisy all through the night and I was shattered but was given strong painkillers
Second - elective and out 23 hours later - it was a bit fast as they didn't give me any painkillers to go home with as they no longer do that in my Trust. Was ridiculous in my view, paracetamol and ibuprofen doesn't cut it 24hrs after a section!

With ds I was in for 2 nights. Really wanted to go home after the first night but they didn’t get round to it.

When I have dc2 in July I’ve asked for it to be included on my notes that unless there’s any medical need for me to stay (ie c section recovery, or recovery from difficult labour) I want to stay one night. That’s it. Ideally home same day if timing allows.

Went home same day with both of mine. Were both straight forward deliveries though.

Arrived at hospital at 8pm, gave birth at 10.30am the following morning, discharged at 10.45pm the same day. That was only because baby was born more than 24 hours after my waters went so she had to stay for 12 hour obs, otherwise we’d have been out earlier. I was offered to stay until the following morning but I wanted to get home. This was on an MLU FYI.

I had my DD on MLU at just after 7am, they advised me that I could go home that day or could stay the night for help with breastfeeding. I chose to stay, and was glad I did as struggled to get her to latch onto my left boob, the midwife help was brilliant for that. I found it hard staying awake though and was exhausted, but otherwise wouldn't change my decision.