Can you request a longer stay?

[rach971]

To cut a long story short - I have existing heart problems which got worse towards the end of my last pregnancy. I had an elective c-section and a few hours later my heart didn't feel right. Had an ECG done and it showed my heart was skipping beats all the time and they put me on a drip (which seemed to sort it).

I was sent home around 32 hours after my section, but ended up in hospital a day or two later because I was extremely lightheaded. Didn't feel right at all. Midwife wondered if I had a blood clot and told me to go to A&E. A&E did ECG and bloods and all came back fine so sent me home but I still didn't feel right, could hardly walk or do anything really.

They did say on maternity ward I could stay a little longer if I felt I needed to, but when I requested to they said no get yourself home you're fine you don't need to stay.

I'm now pregnant again (first trimester). Is it possible to request in advance to stay a bit longer? Is this something they allow? With my heart problems and ending up in A&E so soon after going home last time, I'd prefer to just stay in hospital an extra day or two for my own peace of mind really. I do also appreciate they have a high turn over of people so want people out asap but yeah 😫

Are you under consultant care? Speak to your midwife about your concerns. I would have thought they would want to keep you in, in view of what happened last time.

@Nain2026 I haven't even had my booking appointment yet (was supposed to be today but they forgot about me 🙄). I'll definitely be under a consultant though. I was going to ask the midwife about it today and it's been on my mind, so I thought I'd ask here until I can hopefully actually have my appointment 😂

I have mitral valve prolapse (largely asymptomatic) and was seen in a joint obstetrics/cardiology consultant clinic at the hospital throughout pregnancy. I had echocardiograms and ECGs in each pregnancy.

Their protocol actually dictates two nights in after a C section even if there are no symptoms ( there weren’t in my case). I was in for 2 nights after both my sections.

I would definitely ask the midwife if you’re under midwife care or the consultant if the latter. If you’re not under consultant care, you may want to check with the midwife why not given your heart condition.

Just saw you will be under consultant care. I would flag it to both midwife and consultant as early as possible.

@EarlGreywithLemon I was diagnosed with that after pregnancy, but I don't have it anymore? It's weird, I thought once you had it you had it for life but it doesn't show on my echoes now.

Mine is SVT and LBBB but although I've definitely experienced the symptoms of SVT for 15 years, it was never been caught on an ECG until pregnancy. I'm under a cardiologist now (since after having my little girl), he's seeing me in June and he knows the consultant at the hospital so I'm hoping I'll be more closely monitored this time, now they know everything from the start.