What can I do to improve my chances of getting home from hospital asap after childbirth?

[TheArmadillo]

Expecting dc2 (32 weeks tomorrow) and want to have as short a stay in hospital as possible. Home birth is not something I want to consider for various reasons.

Had difficult birth with ds and was in for 5 days - had every drug going including epidural that was topped up multiple times. Also had blood transfusion, ds in scbu (briefly) etc.

Spoken to the consultant and am at no higher risk of the same happening again as I was last time so could/most likely to all be fine. Not worrying about it.

However the one thing I did have a problem was I hated staying in hospital for so long - cos of issues it was worse than the birth (not getting washed, not being given food amongst other stuff) and want to be out asap this time as have a lot of support at home.

I am on medication that can cause problems so may have to stay in a day or two depending on how stuff goes, but want to keep my chances of getting home quickly as good as possible. I.e. 6 hours after birth if possible.

WRT to epidural - would that automatically mean a longer stay in hospital. What other drugs would have an effect on staying in? Basically what can I do to improve my chances of getting home as soon as possible?

TIA

Armadillo... get a doula. You may be able to find a student one or a volunteer doula if funds are limited. She will sit with you and calm you down. She will also maximise your chances of a natural, unmedicated delivery if that is what you want which will help you get out quicker!

I had a VBAC in hospital at 1:30am and was out first thing in the morning. (I was phoning, nagging my family to pick me up at 6). Basically, get as natural a birth as you can. If you feel ready to go, say you're leaving asap. Get yourself showered and look like you're ready to go. Don't wait for the paed. I got discharged, went home for a cup of tea, then took DD2 along to the GP's office. We were all done and dusted by lunchtime. All the receptionists made a HUGE fuss of the hours-old baby

unless there is a medical reason for either you or the baby to be there, just leave! its not a prison.

just go! I had epidural and gave birth at 3am, stitces the lot. I will still able to leave at 4pm that same day, so not sure where this "nautral" malarkey is about?

I just went down, did the major tests and got the fuck out of there

I could barely walk, but agree that you need to get dressed, put some mascara on and look ready!!

Tell your OH to get you and baby out of there or he has to stay too and avoid drugs other than gas and air

with my 1st I went in mid afternoon and he was born after pethadine at 7pm - took me until lunch time 2 days later to escape...

2nd time around went in at 6.45 am, DD was born at 7.08 am and we left at 10 am - OH had baby in car seat and ready to go before I was out of the shower

Community midwife did home visit to do newborn checks that afternoon....

I had my baby 4 weeks ago but am already worrying about "next time" because of how long I was forced to stay in hospital after my EMCS (14 days) - and for so many pointless reasons that could easily have been sorted at home (e.g. baby needed antibiotics which could have been provided by me and partner).

My problem was I just wasn't assertive enough. I didn't tell them, "No, we're going home" and I should have done. I knew I was within my rights to, and wish in hindsight that I had. I've resorted to promising myself that "next time" I'll go in there full of fight and go home when me and baby are ready no matter what it takes.

I told my health visitor and she agreed, saying: "Obviously the ward staff don't like the kind of woman who goes in fussing, but at least that woman gets what she wants, and little old you got ignored because you were all 'yes please' and 'no thank you' and 'I don't want to cause any trouble.'"

Not post-childbirth but the morning after an operation I wandered up to the nurses' station at 8am and stated - with a big smile - "I'm going to start hassling you about going home". So they called the consultant straight away, who came to discharge me before she got tied up in theatre for the whole day.

To be fair I had had an identical operation the previous week and had been sitting around all day because I was too polite to ask what was happening. So I knew the drill by then!

So I suggest, if you wake up and decide that it's time, to go to them early in the day and say just that. They'll be only to glad to get rid.

Just wanted to add a positive story.

I had a rubbish birth, with hormone drip, epidural and forceps. I was still out within 15 hours of the birth.

I just made a big fuss from the moment I got the feeling back in my legs, demanded the catheter was removed, stood up as soon as I was confident I could and moved around a lot.

I also took no notice of the midwife on the post natal ward who said you had to stay in at least one night with an instrumental and sent her off to see the ward sister.

If you have an epidural you are not going to get a 6 hour discharge (probably not realistically at least), but there's no reason you can't get out quickly if there are no additional complications and you have a big loud mouth .

Oh, also check out the ward round times.

You will find it harder (but as others have said, not impossible, it ain't a prison) if they want the paed to see the baby or the registrar to check you and they haven't.

In my hospital at least, they only come round the post natal ward in the afternoon to do routine checks like this. So, if you give birth first thing, you are fine provided you get a move on. If you give birth in the afternoon, you need to start making a fuss ASAP so that they either get someone to you or agree the alternative arrangments.

my ds 2 was born at 37 +4 and after a natural birth, labour only lasting a hour and a half we were discharged after approx 3 1/2 hours. wasnt particularly asked whether i had good support at home, i just made it clear that i wanted to go home asap as long as all was well with me and bubs.

i personally recommend if you are feeling upto it going home asap, been in your own home is so much better. obviously follow the advice given by the staff in hospital, when i had ds1 i wanted to go home straight away but they said i could if i wanted to but they
recommended i stayed a night or 2, which i did.

good luck xxxxxxxxxxxxx