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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

How long to stay in hospital after an elective C/S?

35 replies

mags98 · 07/04/2009 22:49

I am currently 34 weeks and having an elective C/S at 38 weeks on 7 May.

I had been working on 2 or maybe on a bad day 3 nights in, but I really don't want to stay in longer than needed.

In the last week I have have conversations with two different women who both had elective C/S at the same hospital as I am booked at and both went home the following day, so after perhaps 36 hrs later, and had no problems at all.

The hospital runs a system where even as an inpatient they just give you your medication in the boxes and you take it yourself as needed - both of these women said that was the only thing being done in the hospital by that stage, so going home made no difference really. They were both using very little analgesia by then anyway. They found it much better to be at home with their own bed and bath, better food etc.

What were others experiences? How long did you stay in?

Am keen to go home the next day if this is realistic! Of course I don't know how I will feel or if there will be any problems but it sounds great to me.

OP posts:

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McDreamy · 07/04/2009 22:53

I went home after 36 hours after my last section and 48 hours after the previous 2 but everyone is different. In all 3 cases I could have stayed longer if I'd wanted but they weren't doing much for me so I wanted to go home asap.

kittykat21 · 07/04/2009 22:56

I've had two c-sections, one emergency one elective. With my first I stayed in 3 days, with my 2nd I stayed in 2 days and couldn't wait to go home! Don't rush it though, make sure you're strong enough to walk comfortably without your tummy hurting too much and make sure you have at least one person around to help you at home. My DH had to help me pick up my baby, get in and out the shower etc... I felt so much better recovering at home though!

For me my scar/tummy was still quite sore when I went home but I was quite confident that I'd be ok, although it did take some persuading for the midwives to let me go home!

MintyyAeroEgg · 07/04/2009 22:59

I was unable to walk for at least 36 hours after both my sections. I stayed in for 4 or 5 nights after the first one (but dd had some special care and it was probably her being kept in rather than me iyswim) and 4 nights after the second. On both occasions I was amazingly lucky and had my own room. Had I not I'm sure I would have been keener to get out of hospital sooner.

cupofteaplease · 08/04/2009 09:08

4 nights with my first, 5 nights with my second- but dd was in SCBU, so it wasn't appropriate to leave sooner, despite being physically able the day following her birth. I was walking very soon after both my sections.

Wheelybug · 08/04/2009 09:13

My hospital have reduced standard c-sec stay to 48 hours. They say its because the best place for you is with your fsmily but i strongly supect its to clear beds. That said, I did leave 48 hours exactly after dd2 was born much to my relief as my biggest dread was a long hospitall stay (I had been in 8 nights pre, during and post with dd1) and to be honest because the ward was busy and massively understaffed I was better off at home.

tryingfornumber2 · 08/04/2009 09:15

I left after 48 hours with dd, she is my only child. I had to pester them a bit though.

tiggerlovestobounce · 08/04/2009 09:20

I went home the next day both times. I had support at home, and the hospital wasnt very clean, so I thought that I would be better off at home. It was so much nicer to be in my own home rather than being stuck in a bay with all the other mums, screaming babies and visitors.

poppysocks · 08/04/2009 09:21

I left 48 hours after my emergency c/s and that was way too soon. Still utterly shell-shocked and in a lot of pain.

I left 36 hours after my elective c/s and that was plenty of time. The difference in my recovery was huge because of the psychological preparation and not having to recover from having been in labour too.

Although I don't think they would have allowed me to leave sooner, second time round it was really only the bf support that I needed once the catheter etc was out.

reikizen · 08/04/2009 09:22

It really depends on how you and baby are. Whether you have any post operative problems, if you need help with breastfeeding, or baby need phototherapy etc. Our hosp has 3 days as the average, but some go home before then and some after, see how you feel.

AlistairSimnelcake · 08/04/2009 09:26

I've had an emergency and an elective and went home 24 hours after both.

I knew I would have more help at home and be more comfortable.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 08/04/2009 09:28

3 days for both. The first one was probably ready to go earlier the second one was about right as had rampaging toddler at home.

Highlander · 08/04/2009 09:44

4 days with first - thought that I had to stay.

36 hours with second - boy, was I glad to veg on my own sofa!!

I had planned to go home within 24 hours, but I had forgotton about the long walk from hospital bed to car etc. I think an extra night in hossy was better.

Fanfare · 08/04/2009 10:21

Just 24 hours here, I suspect because they were pushed for beds. They encouraged me to get up and in the bath after 8 hours, I was able to move about and hold/feed the baby, and had no obvious problems. I feel it was very quick and had anticipated a longer stay, but was secretly quite thankful that I would get a better second night's sleep at home. Everyone's recovery seems to be different and you should just do what is best for you at the time based on how you are feeling and what they recommend. Good luck for May 7!

MrsMattie · 08/04/2009 10:24

4 days with first section (they wanted to keep me in an extra day but I discharged myself early as was so unhaoppy with the horrible staff and filthy hospital).

Exactly 48 hours with second. I would have liked an extra day this time, to be honest. Hospital was lovely, staff nice, very cosy, didn't want to leave my little cocoon!

ShowOfHands · 08/04/2009 10:24

I had an em cs at 10pm at night. Discharge papers were signed he following morning, about 12 hours later. The ward was heaving though and they wanted the bed.

I didn't use any pain relief afterwards. Had a spinal that had worn off by the time I left recovery and that was it.

meep · 08/04/2009 10:31

My first was an emergency section and I stayed in for 3 nights - in hindsight I should have stayed in longer to get help with bf.

Just had second section (elective this time) and I stayed in for 4 nights because I wanted lots of help with bf and because my wound wasn't healing. Found it a much calmer experience - I got lots of sleep (had a miracle sleeping baby for the first few days) and was really ready to go home at the end of it.

I was lucky that there was no pressure on me to leave the hospital and also no pressure to stay. I think 3 nights is pretty standard for sections in my hospital.

I used more of my prescribed painkillers second time round and have been letting myself recover more slowly.

With my first I was trying to run before I could walk and be superwoman - it didn't really work and I just ended up exhausted with a very bad case of the baby blues.

So be kind to yourself and take each day as it comes.

Frillysocks · 08/04/2009 10:43

EMCS here - was told I had to stay for 3 days but they more or less kicked me out after exactly 48 hours to the minute, 48 hrs is their policy minimum that a patient can stay after a CS.

They said it was because I was doing so well but I think they needed the beds

Would have liked to stay for another day just to have the monitoring and help from MW re BF etc (is 1st baby) but on the other hand it was nice to get started on our family life at home and doing things our way etc.

Also nice to go home to have help from DH in the night as MW very busy in the night so getting up to see to the baby was v hard on own.

For example, had the CS at 6pm, settled in ward at 8.30pm, baby started crying at 11pm so MW came round and stripped him off for skin to skin BF lying on my side, then she disappeared and didn't come back.

Still attached to a drip and a catheter, I had to carefully detach DS from the boob, sit up, dress him (clothes were in bedside cot a good stretch away), wrap him and put him back in cot all of which v awkward.

So you might want to go home as soom as poss anyway

cherrylips · 08/04/2009 10:46

4 nights with both. First cs was emergency and 2nd was planned. Take it slowly to recover physically.

Meglet · 08/04/2009 10:47

I stayed in for 3 days after my em cs and 3 days after my planned cs. My hospital policy is that you can go home after 48 hours, but following the planned cs i was rather enjoying a private room and the time to recover so I didn't ask to leave until day 3.

After my em cs the head midwife said mums are encouraged to get moving as they want the beds . So second time around I stood my ground and got the nurses to help more for the first 36 hours, by that time I felt a lot better and got on with it myself.

IME hospital stays aren't always bad if you can get a private room, stand up for yourself and ask the midwives for help and plan ahead.

Frillysocks · 08/04/2009 10:52

Second the advice to take thing slowly

After a few days if things have gone well you will feel ok.

It's easy to confuse "ok" for "fine". Nobody can be completely fine two weeks or even four weeks after a CS. You might physically feel ok, and the scar might be sealed and healing very nicely, but believe me it's only when you are 8 weeks down the line you can look back and understand that NOW you are fine!

I would say bending and stretching are the worst things to do. If you drop something let someone else pick it up or leave it there. Do everything Slooooowly!

JemL · 08/04/2009 16:49

I stayed for 3 nights after emergency section with DS1 and this was about right - I could have gone on to a birth centre for another few nights if I had wanted, but went home. At the time I was living in a very small falt at the top of lots of stairs, and was probably better of in hospital, as soon as I got home I started doing loads, whereas in hospital I had nothing to do but sit around with the baby!

This was with DS1 though, might feel differently this time with him at home.

Highlander · 08/04/2009 19:50

Meglet, it's actually v impt that you do get up and get moving to reduce the risk of a DVT or PE.

Claire2009 · 08/04/2009 19:53

Had DS Weds morning, Left Hospital with him Sunday morning.

anjlix · 08/04/2009 19:56

I was unable to get walk for nearly 2 days and found it very hard to get in and out of bed for another 2. Was discharged on the 5th day after em c-section. Every one heals at a different rate.

Gillyan · 08/04/2009 20:08

I'm having an elective section this time too and like you will be dying to get home after spending 6 days in last time with a bad 3rd degree tear.

My SIL was home in 3 days after firts emergency one and 2 days with 2nd pplanned one. I will be aiming for 2 days as long as everything is okay.

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