How to get discharged quickly after ELCS

[NoMoreHandgel]

Hi everyone,
STB FTM and I'm looking for advice on getting out of hospital as quickly as possible after ELCS.

I'm booked in for an ELCS in the coming days. It was arranged for MH reasons / tokophobia and I am very nervous and scared. Adding to my anxiety is the pandemic and the restrictive conditions. In particular I feel sad / worried about the fact that DH has to leave 2 hrs after the birth and I will be alone in the ward all night and possibly longer with a baby I can hardly lift and struggling to access my things. However, I have accepted that this isn't going to change.... So my focus is now on controlling the things that I can control and trying not to worry about the rest...

One thing which would really help would be to get in and out of the hospital as quickly as possible, as I am longing for the moment the three of us are safely back home together 🙏.

What tips do you have for trying my best to get discharged asap? I know that it's good to try and get the catheter out quickly - but how can I push for this and what are the signs the nurses looking for? I know I need to try and walk around asap as well. Is there anything else I can do to try and get them to discharge me as quickly as possible? What will they ask me and what can I do?

Another factor is being one of the first to have the operation on the actual day... Does anyone know how they decide who goes first? (allowing for emergencies to take precedence of course).

I would be SO grateful for any tips and advice here! Thank you xx

I was home the following day. Got up as soon as I was physically able too, requested catheter out and walked around as much as I could. I wasn’t rushing to get out but I just wanted to get moving and then they said I can go home so I did.
I stayed in longer after my emergency c section though.
Don’t forget it’s major surgery and you will be very sore and weaker after it so don’t rush home if at all possible x

I had an EMCS and I was in for 7 day's.

I appreciate you want to be at home with the security of your family and your home comforts, but also do not put pressure on yourself to be home quickly.

It's major surgery, very major. And you may need help like lots of women who have c sections need such a breastfeeding assistance etc and sometimes milk doesn't come in fast

I had an elcs 8 months ago and was home the next day. Prior to going in they'd given me this booklet detailing all the stuff I had to do in order to be discharged (up after how ever many hours, have a shower etc). In reality they couldn't get rid of me quick enough, didn't ask me about any of that stuff (I hadn't even showered- just did it when I got home) and even though I was told I wouldn't be discharged until my pulse had dropped below 100, the last reading was 108 and I got sent home anyway and told not to worry about it. So ime they will want you out in no time!

Thanks for these. Yes @KatnissK at the moment they do want people out fast in general anyway due to Covid - (I'm at a large teaching hospital in London) - so I'm hoping this will also go in my favour so to speak.

I think an EMCS is a very different experience to an ELCS and 7 days sounds horrendous, but realistically hoping that won't apply to me!

I gave birth in lockdown via EMCS and was discharged 24 hours later. They were really keen to get people out where possible to avoid any possible covid stuff.

I had to have a wee and show I could breastfeed, that was it! Take all the painkillers offered but don’t push it, if you’re not ready then you’re not ready.

FWIW, the midwives were great and extra helpful but it was AMAZING being reunited with DH

Good luck!

I’ve had both elective and emergency and they were very similar really.

Feel free to ask if you have more questions OP as our experiences will be very similar

With my 2nd emcs, they took the catheter out as soon as I got the ward. I think that's fairly standard. I was meant to be an elective but dc2 had other ideas. I was going to be first on the list due to a traumatic first experience/diagnosis of postpartum psychosis after dc1 was born but I think it's usually prioritized on physical health issues, I.e diabetes etc. They offered a second night but were happy to let me go 24 hours after dc2 turned up. I have very easy physical recoveries though.

Have you had your pre op? As far as I know they finalise the list first thing in the morning. Tell them what you'd like with regards to early discharge. What slowed me down slightly was waiting for my bloods back as they didn't get taken as early as I'd have liked. That, the paediatrician checking baby and their hearing test can also keep you in a bit longer. Worth bearing in mind csection babies often fail their first hearing test but that doesn't mean they have an issue. Dc2 failed at first and then past with flying colours 2 weeks later.

Good luck!

A nights stay after a first section will be the minimum. You'll need to be able to pass urine, be OK with your blood loss/pain and comfortable with however you've decided to feed baby.

Thanks @ShirleyPhallus really helpful to hear from someone who's had a CS during Covid.

Ok so I need to try to get catheter taken out ASAP, have a wee, walk about as soon as I'm ready and hope the feeding works out.

I had an elective section with my second 6 weeks ago. Was very straight forward. I was taken first out of 4 on the morning. My reasons for section were due to a traumatic first birth so no real medical reason affecting myself or baby. As it was seen as “straightforward” I was taken first and my little boy born just after 10am. I was discharged the following afternoon. I was up on my feet around 6 hours after surgery and catheter removed the following morning at 6am. I then had to produce a large urine sample which was measured before discharge. I would get up a moving once able but at same time don’t over do it. Small steps at a time. I found it painful at times getting in and out of bed but great pain relief is available in hospital so take full use of this and keep on top of your pain relief once discharged. Also don’t be afraid to ask for help in hospital if struggling. The staff can’t do enough with all that’s happening. Yes it’s sad we can’t have our partners there to help on ward , however, it’s a lovely peaceful time to get to know your baby and chat to others in ward. When I arrived on ward the midwife sorted all my bits and bobs out which was great. So get your charger plugged in, snacks out bag, nappies etc within easy reach. And just enjoy your new baby!!

It may be a little too late for this now, but try to eat lots of iron-rich foods to get your iron levels up. I had quite a large bleed during cs, but my iron level didn’t fall too low as a result (which could mean blood transfusion, iron tablets and extra monitoring so a longer stay). I just needed IV fluids which was fine. Make sure you drink plenty of water after too!

Okay so drink lots of water so that I can do a big wee when the time comes!

And the iron is a good tip, thank you. Luckily my iron levels are good.

On the weeing front, run all the taps to help. A friend was told to sit on the toilet the other way around as well to help her bladder. I was given 6 hours from the catheter coming out to manage otherwise the catheter would have back to go back in to give you an idea of the timeline.

Have you discussed with your midwife? I agreed with her and my consultant that I would have an early discharge (after 24 hours) for MH reasons presuming all was okay with baby. My midwife was very good at advocating for me when one of the other midwives wanted me to stay in and got a plan agreed with a doctor that allowed me to go home (the concern was my iron levels which were very low but I agreed to manage them at home). Definitely get your team onside though, it makes all the difference

Good ideas thank you. I am seeing my midwife shortly so will ask her about this and explain that it is part of supporting my MH so I would like to get out soon, presuming baby and me are okay.

I was discharged at 26 hours after an emergency csection. Baby born 2.55pm, on ward at 5pm, by 8pm catheter out and up on my feet. I declined oramorph after one dose (when I realised what it was and that it sent me west) but didn't need it so I think that may have factored in. Let them know as soon as you're on the ward that you'd like a prompt discharge. I was looking the other day at factors affecting discharge times (I'm opting for an ELCS and was hoping for a same day discharge but I think that would be seriously pushing my luck and unlikely to ever happen haha) and eating and drinking within a couple of hours is a factor. It will depend on baby too, sign of jaundice for example may increase time to discharge so lots of feeding if you're planning on BFing - I also requested to see our infant feeding team asap to establish BFing quickly. Good luck x

Hi OP

I've had two ELCS' due to tokophobia. I hope you're doing ok.

I had a really good experience both times. First DC I was in for two nights but could have just stayed in for one really but they weren't keen- very different times atm though! I had GA rather than spinal/epidural. I don't know if there's any tips I can give as such because it just depends on how smoothly it goes. I had a temperature in the hours after the op, no idea why as there was no infection. I can't remember what number I was on the list but baby born PM.

DC2 I was first on the list- different hospital- I think because I was quick and easy to do they just got me out of the way. Textbook op and recovery- I was out the following afternoon- I was desperate to get out and was waiting for the check to be done on baby which is why it took longer, I was ready to go first thing in the morning!

Make sure you ask for pain relief when needed. Drink lots of water when you can and eat if you feel up to it, you want to start recovering ASAP basically. But be sensible to follow advice- roll out of bed etc, listen to all they tell you. Also do the exercises they give you to do when home!

I hope it all goes well for you and that you have a lovely birth.

I was climbing the walls to get out after my second c-section, so entirely understand this. But please don't push too hard! You are very unlikely to get covid on the postnatal ward. If you do, it's very unlikely to lead to serious illness. But there are a number of things that can happen to you after unproblematic pregnancies (I had very high blood pressure after my first, despite having low blood pressure throughout my life and until 42 weeks of pregnancy) that are serious and where you need to stay in for your own safety. If your baby has jaundice or a mild infection then it will also be much better in the long run to stay in and be monitored.

Thanks @AlexTurnersCigarette that's really helpful to hear from someone else who experienced tokophobia. I think the hardest aspect is not having my DH there with me. If he was there I'm sure I'd still want to come home quickly but I think it would feel a bit less frightening.

I had a category 3 emcs (so almost an elcs) with my 4th baby who is 7 years old now so my experience is probably a bit out of date. I had my elcs on the monday and was discharged on the thursday. I was told on the tuesday that I could go home on the wednesday but that didn't happen because I spent most of the time with ds in nicu and just came back to my bed to eat, sleep and for the drugs round. I was first on the list because I had been 2nd on the list the day before and kept getting bumped down because of emergencies. Also my waters had been flooding everywhere for 69 hours by this point so they wanted to get a move on.