Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

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

Original poster

How long were you in hospital after c section?

59 replies

firsttimemomma2021 · 24/08/2021 12:53

Due my 1st baby this winter. Looking to have an elective c section for personal reasons.

I am aware it is a much harder process and not easy, recovery will be hard. I am lucky to be supported by an amazing partner and close family.

I have heard they can ask you to go home if everything goes to plan 24 hours after the operation.

I know I’ll see how I feel when I’ve had it but I wondered could I ask to stay another night or two if I didn’t feel ready? So for example I was still in a lot of pain and not very mobile?

By the sounds of how recovery is, I feel a few days in hospital would be good. This would also keep away visitors for a bit (DH very keen to have people meet the baby ASAP, I’m however hoping hospital restrictions remain so I can use it as an excuse not to have the whole family visit me!!!!)

When you had a c section (elective or emergency) how long were you in hospital for? Did you ask to leave earlier/stay longer and do they go with your wishes?

OP posts:
northernmamax · 24/08/2021 12:57

I've just had a section 12 days ago, DH was allowed to stay with me until 8pm on the night of the section and return the following morning at 10am (so visiting times) but no one else was allowed which was a relief! I was allowed to go home 24 hours after my op as everything was fine with me and baby but the woman next to me did ask if she could stay in and extra night for some more support, so they said yes but obviously her husband had to leave again at 8pm.

I imagine if you just express that you would like to stay longer they will let you, they did with me for my first baby and I hadn't even had a section with him. You'd be surprised at how accommodating they are (or they were at my hospital) xxx

northernmamax · 24/08/2021 12:58

Also I'd just like to add, my recovery with the c section was miles easier than it was with a natural birth for me. I would take an ELCS over natural delivery any day but everyone is different. Xxx

NonShallot · 24/08/2021 13:04

I had DD by emergency section at midday on a Sunday, I was up and walking by the evening and had told them to take the catheter out (usually they like to wait 24 hours at least). I was discharged by Tuesday late afternoon. It entirely depends on the individual, how well you are coping with pain, how mobile you are. They won't make you leave hospital until you are ready.

All I would say is just think very carefully about having a c section if there isn't a medical need. It is of course every woman's right to give birth how she chooses but sections are pretty horrendous- you can't drive for six weeks so if you don't have anyone around you to drive you, you can easily become isolated. Right after the section I couldn't get out of bed to pick up my baby and the midwives didn't always come straight away when I rang the bell (busy ward and under staffed), so I had to lie there and listen to her howling and couldn't help her- it was bloody awful. Sitting up is a struggle and it was impossible to go to the loo normally- I couldn't lower myself down so had to hover over the loo clinging onto the cistern for support!

I also know a few mums who had elective sections who struggled with breastfeeding to start with because they didn't go through natural labour with all the hormones etc kicking in so it took long than normal for their supply to start.

If given the choice I would not elect to have a section again but it is a very personal decision to make, best of luck to you!

Arecklessmanor · 24/08/2021 13:05

I think it will depend to a degree on staffing levels and the covid situation which may be complicated in winter.

I'm due to have a C-section in winter too with my first baby and they have said they aim to discharge within 24 hours if medically fit. I know they have kept people in with complications but not sure what their stance would be if they say you are fit to go and they need the bed, and that's pretty unpredictable.

Personally I don't want to be in hospital longer than I have to be as I expect visiting hours may be reduced.
I feel like my husband will be totally at my beck and call whereas nurses will have many patients.

Regarding your husband and visitors at home, don't hide behind hospital rules, just tell him that you are the one having major surgery and you will decide afterwards how you feel about visitors.
Not planning on having any here for a couple of weeks although distance makes it easier for us. But your needs matter most, and certainly trump anyone's desire to see your baby, they can do that when you are up to it.

Thegirlhasnoname · 24/08/2021 13:08

With my first (EMCS) I was in for just shy of a week as baby was in transitional care and I was poorly after with preeclampsia that didn’t go once placenta had gone.

With my section (technically EMCS as I went into labour before planned section date) I had baby at 8.12pm on a Monday, was discharged to go home 8pm on the Tuesday. This was in January and as far as I know, hospitals are still wanting to discharge as soon as possible due to covid

FluffMagnet · 24/08/2021 13:10

I stayed 2 nights a couple of years back, but that was because I had lost quite a bit of blood and needed a bit of extra monitoring. Remind your DH that you are the patient, and therefore people should respect your wishes to rest and recover! Easier said than done I know, but I feel most men don't actually connect the fact that their wives have just had a major medical event (vaginal or CS) and just concentrate on the new arrival. Would he like all your nearest and dearest traipsing by to see him after he had rectal surgery? I think instead agree to sensible visitors, I.e. grandparents, limited to a 30 min slot each, so you are not too overwhelming or exhausted, and he needs to police it and protect his new family.

SoonToBeMrs91 · 24/08/2021 13:16

Had an elective csection brought forward by water breaking at 36w6d. Csection was on Friday afternoon, and I was out by Saturday evening (had hemorrhage on Friday night after vomiting). Midwifes wanted to keep me in overnight on Saturday as well but noone checked on me for 7 hours straight so I felt no need to stay (and my baby was in a different hospital but that's a different story)

Recovery was smooth, first couple of weeks I would get breathless when walking too fast/too long. I was able to drive comfortably after 2 weeks. Found recovery smooth.

NightOwl19 · 24/08/2021 13:22

I was in for around 27 hours, I could of easily for an extra night but I was desperate to get home

FatAnkles · 24/08/2021 13:23

About 4 days, but I had some birth complications.

ShowOfHands · 24/08/2021 13:25

12hrs after my first.

36hrs after my second. Could have gone home after 24hrs but it was the weekend, ward was quiet (newly built) and they offered an extra night to save me coming back for extra checks the next day (needed a repeat blood test for ds, totally unrelated to the birth).

Hospitals aren't exactly relaxing. There were 6 other women in my bay first time round, crying babies, lights on, buzzers, drugs rounds, other people's husbands and boyfriends milling round, incredibly hot, no privacy, shared facilities and so on. It's manageable but not really where you'd choose to be for a relaxing break! I much preferred being at home.

I was up and about, catheter out and caring for the dc independently within 3-4hrs each time. You should aim to be up and about ASAP to aid recovery and at our hospital, you were given pain meds and took them when you needed them so shouldn't get to the point of being sore.

cookiesandsleep · 24/08/2021 13:32

I stayed 3 nights with my elective cs. The procedure was very straightforward and the baby was well. I did struggle with pain so only stared moving after 24 hours. I was 'fit' to go home after 2 nights but asked to stay for another night and the midwifes were ok with my request. This was pre-covid so my husband was able to stay with me all 3 nights.
I can't imagine them pushing you out of the hospital if you are not ready to leave be it physically or emotionally 😘

BarryTheKestrel · 24/08/2021 13:32

I had an elective with my second DC. Born at 1.30pm, was home by 1.30pm the next day. There is no denying its painful and recovery is hard, but the best thing you can do is get up and mobile as soon as possible, shuffle around the bed, take a shower, you'll feel better for it. I was dying to go home the next day and couldn't have hacked more time in the hospital, however I appreciate this is likely because of my serious dislike of hospitals after my first DC birth experience. I was much more comfortable at home, in my own surroundings, keeping up with my painkillers and with DH on hand to help.

Helporhindrance07 · 24/08/2021 13:41

I was discharged about 36 hours after my unplanned CS. No issues with me or baby. Would have been sooner but they had to redo some tests on me due to their error. However I was desperate to go home, the postnatal wards are hell on Earth, they are boiling hot, noisy (6 mums plus babies in my hospital) and the midwives are so busy that they can’t really spend the time helping you as I’m sure they and me would like. Back home I had DH on hand 24/7 to help me… yes family did want to visit but I didn’t actually mind that so much because it meant people held and fussed over the baby so I was able to sit more comfortably, shuffle around to help with healing etc. Plus my mum was able to help me try to establish breastfeeding which sadly the midwives just didn’t have time to do. But appreciate that will depend on your personal situation.

ShowOfHands · 24/08/2021 13:47

I'd check out private rooms too as this might be the solution for you? Many NHS maternity wards have them now and they mean your partner can stay and you have privacy.

Our local hospital doesn't have them and trialled letting husbands stay with their wives but soon realised that was untenable. Thank fuck because being ogled by a fairly aggressive new father at a very vulnerable time was something I hope no other post op new mum ever experiences.

Sparechange · 24/08/2021 13:51

I was out the next day
It would have been exactly 24 hours from birth to discharge but the doc was a bit delayed on their rounds so was about 28 hours, I think

I was given the option during the pre admission check to be fast tracked for quick discharge. My hospital offered it to anyone who was a normal BMI before pregnancy, had an uneventful pregnancy and wanted to go home

On the morning of discharge, a women’s physio came and checked me, I had to confirm I’d had a wee and eaten and drunk something, and they observed me walk to the end of the corridor and back

I was sent home with lots of painkillers but it really wasn’t that bad. Just regular co-codamol was fine for a few days

I was so, so glad to be back in my own bed, I can’t see any situation that I would have asked to stay in hospital any longer!

Ughmaybenot · 24/08/2021 13:54

Funnily enough I only spoke to my midwife about this earlier today. I’m also pregnant with my first, 29 weeks, and have opted for a c-section. She said that, for the particular hospital I have chosen, they’re generally happy for you to go home the next day, between 24 and 36 hours after the op, as long as all goes well and you’re up and about.
I don’t really think I’ll want to stay longer than I absolutely have to, I think I’ll be keen to be back in my own space, with my husband for on-hand support rather than waiting on a busy midwife, so that was good news to me!
You need to put your foot down in terms of visitors, you’ll be the one going through major surgery and having just had a baby, so it’s up to you who you see and when you see them.

Starjammer · 24/08/2021 13:56

24 hours. Catheter was out and I was mobile after six hours or so. They like to get you up and about ASAP and it really helps with recovery. The only times I felt really sore where when I had been sitting or lying down for a long period of time.

Amz6219 · 24/08/2021 13:58

I had EMCS after 2 day labour, after he was born (Saturday morning) we were in for 2 nights (went home on the Monday morning)

Starjammer · 24/08/2021 13:58

I should add that even though my section was an emergency once I found the recovery very easy and was absolutely ready to go home ASAP. Unfortunately we had to be readmitted as DD has jaundice and I found being in hospital really hard as I could barely sleep, so home was definitely right for me. Just see how you go.

Amz6219 · 24/08/2021 13:59

Oh, and I just went with the flow - wasn't overly mobile but more than happy to get out of there and get home! It is noisy on the ward, and likelihood is you'll just want to get home and into your own environment

Givemebackmylilo · 24/08/2021 14:03

7 nights

trunumber · 24/08/2021 14:11

24 hours, because I had Gestational diabetes and they needed to check me and the baby for 24 hours after, not cos of c section.

I was in the shower approximately 3 hours after the section. I walked 10 mins to the car, holding the baby 24 hours after (maybe not my wised idea, it was fine but I had to stop a few times) needed some help sitting up, and took things a little slower but was fine

I was back to complete normal within a week

LifeBeginsNow · 24/08/2021 14:24

I just wanted to say, recovery wasn't painful for me at all. I know often it is the case but I'd go in thinking optimistic if you can. I had a little walk a couple of hours after and then I was good to be moved to the ward where I could do what I wanted. I made sure I got up regularly and had a shower the next morning. I was out within 24hrs.

The only bit that wasn't great for me was that I was badly bruised so some movements were sore but completely manageable. I took paracetamol every 6hrs (I do anyway for unrelated reasons) and bought 2 boxes of ibruprofen for the bruising.

Just take any movement slowly. Think about how to get out of bed (you've probably adapted anyway while pregnant) and when you get out of a chair you might need your hands to help push you up.

Scutterbug · 24/08/2021 14:29

I’ve had 4, stayed 5 days after first as she had jaundice and feeding issues but 24 hrs for the other three.

passionfruitpizza · 24/08/2021 14:31

24 hours with my second. My first unfortunately 7 days as baby and I had infection from labour.