What is the shortest time you need to stay in hospital after giving birth?

[mama2moo]

With dd I stayed one night but that was because she was born at 7pm and they were busy.

This time I want to be in and out (if all is ok that is)

I would have had a home birth but our house is so damp and cold I didnt think it was the best option.

So, if all goes ok and baby is ok can I avoid going to the ward altogether? Surely they cant stop me because if it was a home birth I would be home anyway.

They used to do a 'DOMINO' thing which let you out in 6 hours.

My info is a few years out of date though so someone will probably be along who knows better. I have a feeling you'd still probably have a fight to get out before 6 hours is up though.

6 hours

usually getting the baby checked over is the time limiting factor but you can leave without doing this and get it done at your GP

My hospital were happy for me to go as soon as all the paperwork was complete. I had my dd2 at 5.40am and they were aiming for me to be out at 9am. Unfortunately it was so busy I had to wait around until 10.30am in the end. It was my 3rd child though and I had a very quick, easy labour with no tears so that might have had something to do with it.

My dd1 I stayed overnight like you (had her at 7pm too) and my ds I had him at 6.30pm and was home by 11pm (again no stitches though).

Good luck

Yes, I think 6 hours is the standard, but a hospital is not a prison so I imagine you could actually walk out at any time, but be sure to get baby fully checked over with gp.
I'd have thought that with a home birth, the midwife would carry out all essential checks on baby and advise you as to follow on care, so as long as the same is roughly done, you'd be ok

X posts with you Eldon, yes with dd2 and ds I took them to the gp the following day for their newborn checks... and also had to go back to the hospital the following day for my anti-d jab.

with my firstI had planned a homebirth but had to transfer in (meconium in waters). I had dd1 at 12.40am and we left at 4am. It would have been earlier, but dd1 and DH were both asleep! I never went onto the ward, just delivery suite.

Not sure if it was different as we'd booked a homebirth though.

with my second he was born at 6.15am and were home by midday. we actually could have gone at 10am as the paed had been by then and was happy to discharge us there and then. however we asked to stay a little longer(!!) as dd was very excited to come to the hospital to 'collect' her new baby brother, and she was being brought at midday.

I had dd2 at 1:40am and was so high I couldn't stop pacing the ward while dh crashed out on the bed. They persuaded us to stay until breakfast at 8 so I kept phoning my friends who were very pleased about that at 6am

I took her along to the GP midmorning which was fun. All the receptionists made such a fuss of her

With ds' homebirth, the midwife stayed on for about 2-3 hours.

Somebody in the paper at Christmas was in for 1 hour post birth. She made the papers because she went into labour whilst preparing Christmas lunch, gave birth in hospital and was back home in time to serve Christmas lunch by 3pm.

That must have been some post-birth high she was on!

Thanks all. I just dont want to go to a ward with other women and babies, I like my privacy and would rather come home.

With dd I was in a different hospital and had my own room from start to finish.

I think I will discharge myself asap if all is ok.

1 hour sounds lovely

My SIL stayed 2 hours.. And it was her first!
They let her go as she had about 15 visitors in the waitingroom and they figured she had enough support.

I had meconium when waters broke and they made me stay in 12 hours after delivery (only 2 hours after waters went). This included 4 hours in SCBU but we legged it after the 12 hours were up! Can't stand being in hospital!!

Oh and that was my first. I would have been allowed out earlier but forgot to say, my blood pressure rocketed for a few hours too, unexpectedly.

6 hours is the recommended but as others have said if there have been no problems and someone is around to do the baby checks then no reason to not get an earlier discharge.

Good luck xx

I just looked on the website for the MLU at my hospital. It says 2-6 hours after the birth if no complications.

I think it depends.

for dd1 I stayed overnight

for DS2 and DS3 I gave birth in the night and was asked to wait for them to be seen by pediatrician before going back home. Was discharged at lunchtime both times (6/8 hours after giving birth)

for DD4 I gave birth at 7pm and was back home at 10ish because there had been no complications and the MV thought I was by know "experienced" enough. They sent the MV the following day to check things still fine, they were.

2 of my friends have just had their second babies and both were out after 6 hours. Both "easy" births though with no complications.