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Original poster

How soon can you leave the house with a newborn?

60 replies

Saffra · 15/07/2011 13:45

My little baby girl is due to arrive in mid-September, and I'm trying to imagine life with our new arrival.

If all is well (i.e. no complications during labour and baby is ok), how soon can I leave the house? (e.g. going for gentle walks, visiting family that live nearby, etc.)

I appreciate that everyone is different, but would love to hear of others' experiences or expectations on this!

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bilblio · 15/07/2011 22:11

My midwives said the baby is allowed out whenever, but that I would be susceptible to infection until the placenta had shrunk back down behind the pelvic bone, that takes about 10 days. So they said walks and fresh air were good, but if they saw me in Tesco's or where there are lots of people or they would shout at me and send me home! :)

I had enough trouble pottering around the house for the first week though. (I'd badly hurt my back a few days before DD arrived.) DD was born 10 days before my 30th, so on my birthday we drove to a park, had a picnic and a walk. I was exhausted afterwards!

thefurryone · 16/07/2011 07:00

My midwife thought it was highly amusing when I asked her if we were allowed to take the baby out! Apparently you can make such decisions for yourself as parents Blush

Our first trip in the end was to vote when he was 6 days. I had an episiotomy and found walking any kind of distance incredibly painful fir the first couple of weeks due to an infection. In fact I was generally quite taken aback by how physically and mentally drained I felt post birth so just go with what you feel comfortable with, it's absolutely fine not to want to leave the house for days and equally fine not to want to stay cooped up. I didn't really want to go out much so just went in the garden for a change of air.

Valiant1 · 16/07/2011 11:00

i had ds1 on the sunday and went to the local shops on the monday afternoon, ran out of milk. then when i took him to be regesterd i went on the bus, and got off without him Blush. the bus driver stopped me and asked if i had forgotten somthing! Blush With dd i had her on the friday @5 and went home on the saturday @3 i was hungrey and we went KFC for tea. then tesco the next day for a food shop. with ds just did the school run on the monday he was a saturday baby and was flooded with visitors on the sunday. My ds teacher took him out the pram and had a cuddle, we had a metting with her last night as he starts in her class in september she was well in shock lol.

just take things easy hun do what you feel best for you and baby, i due in Sept and am intent on staying in as long as posible x

Valiant1 · 16/07/2011 11:02

that should be ds2 with the scol run x

Muser · 16/07/2011 11:11

I agree it all depends on how you feel. Don't rush out if you're not ready. I walked home from hospital, baby born Tuesday evening and I was discharged Wednesday morning. It's only a 5-10 minute walk, although I walked very slowly so was more like 20 that time!

I think I went out for a short walk most days after that, just round the local park and again very, very slowly. Think my first trip to the shops was at about 3 weeks.

Don't push yourself too far, it's an exhausting time and your hormones will be crazed so you are liable to burst into tears over the smallest thing. Plus, it's good to get lots of cuddle time in those first few weeks. If you're breastfeeding it helps get it established, and even if you're not there's just nothing nicer than cuddling your newborn baby and letting the whole world pass you by because ohmygod look at the tiny fingers!

saoirse86 · 16/07/2011 11:22

Definitely go with how you feel yourself.

When DD was born I was in for 6 days afterwards. When we got home I fell asleep on the sofa so did nothing that day, but the following day we got up and went out for the whole day. We went into work (DP and I work together) and then into town shopping for clothes for me! I think at that point I just needed fresh air and civilisation.

Badgerwife · 16/07/2011 14:09

Well I haven't given birth yet (1 week to go till full term!) so I don't know how it will be but I have no plans to leave the house for the first 2 weeks. I'll probably sit outside weather permitting. It's all about your own expectations I guess. I feel like if I don't expect be well enough to go anywhere or do anything (and no one else expects it of me), then if I feel up to it, I'll feel good about it, rather than feel that I should be cleaning/cooking/shopping/be out and about and getting myself down and getting stressed.

TheOriginalFAB · 16/07/2011 14:11

You can leave when you want as long as you are all okay as baby will already have been outside unless you live in the hospital Grin.

TheOriginalFAB · 16/07/2011 14:15

With dd I had her on Saturday night, went home Monday afternoon and wanted to buy baby things on Tuesday afternoon and the midwife said no.

Original poster
Saffra · 16/07/2011 14:24

Why did the midwife say no, TheOriginalFab?

I wasn't sure if there were any official guidelines because of risk of bacterial/viral infections (for baby)? there seems to be guidelines for absolutely everything else!

I just can't imagine being in the house for weeks on end. I think I'd go stir crazy!

OP posts:
TheOriginalFAB · 16/07/2011 14:29

I had only just got home, my placenta had had to me removed manually and I was shattered. I was oh please and she finally agreed. Now I wonder why I had such low confidence.

suzikettles · 16/07/2011 14:32

Actually, I've just remembered that a friend and his wife stopped off at their favourite restaurant on the way home from hospital with their ds and had a meal.

Makes perfect sense if you think about it - she was still high on post-birth hormones and strong painkillers, their ds was still at the very sleepy newborn stage, and it meant that someone else was cooking their dinner and doing the washing up. What's not to like? Grin

Original poster
Saffra · 16/07/2011 14:36

suzikettles Oh my lord!

OP posts:
TheSkiingGardener · 16/07/2011 14:46

Day 1 hospital (epidural, episiotomy)
Day 2 go home
Day 3 Pub lunch

Totally depends on your birth experience and how you feel. Good luck.

Pootles2010 · 18/07/2011 11:30

One of my closest friends is stubborn as a mule, she decided she was bored in hospital the day after emergency c-section, checked herself out of hospital and went shopping for baby clothes in next Shock

Unsuprisingly she collapsed by the tills and had to be driving back to hospital.

Debs75 · 18/07/2011 11:35

dd3's first proper outing was at 3 days old after being home for 20 hours, back to hospital as dd2 had fallen off the coffe table.
We spent a lovely 3 hours an a&e whilst everyone cooed over the tiny baby.
dd2 was fine by the way.

With the others I was up and about as soon as i got home just dying to try the new pram or sling out.
DSis drove my mum mad when she refused to go out with dd until she was 2 weeks old

MugglesandLuna · 18/07/2011 11:36

I had DS2 on a friday and he came with us to take DS1 to school on the monday. I walked like John Wayne as I had alot of stitches but DS1 was as pleased as punch to show his brother off to his teachers.

NightLark · 18/07/2011 11:36

I guess DD was about 3 hours old, but I'd had a homebirth and needed transfer to the hospital for stitches. She came with me in the ambulance, tucked up in her car seat...

Seriously though, take the opportunity to have a REST with your newborn. Just cos you can go out, doesn't mean you have to. You might find you are surprisingly tired.

superjobee · 18/07/2011 11:36

i got out of hospital when DD was 2 days old and done a weekly shop the next day :) it drained me i wont lie but the satisfaction of knowing a had done it when i got home was great Grin registered her at 4 days was nipping to the local supermarket by a week and shopping in town again within less than 2 weeks hope its as easy this time!

upahill · 18/07/2011 11:37

We stopped and had tea out on the way home from hospital.
The following day we went for a stroll down Lythan St Annes.
The next day I went swimming.

All ok.

Do what you feel like but don't over do it.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 18/07/2011 11:39

Wait and see how you feel.

Even by DC5 I still felt a bit weirdly vunerable. I dont stay in for long because I hate being cooped up but it can feel pretty scary letting the world at your newborn.

For that reason its a good idea to get out regularly even if its for a short walk round the block. The longer you leave it the harder it can be to get out.

I had two easy home births with DCs 4 & 5 and was doing the school run the next day. Not boasting - it wasnt a problem and quite a nice easy walk.

motherinferior · 18/07/2011 11:42

Don't push it. Or feel you have to compare yourself with other mothers.

DD1's birth was a bit awful, and I didn't feel up to leaving our flat for two weeks, at which point I went to post a letter 100 metres away.

DD2's birth was a lot easier, and we all walked through the park to the registry place, around a mile away, two weeks after she was born.

orangehead · 18/07/2011 11:43

ds1 I had a section and was in hospital for a week. The day after I came out went to local shopping mall for a few hours. In hindsight might not of been the best thing but I needed to get out or I would of gone mad plus I had the buggy to support me.
ds2 had a very bad birth which took longer to recover from than section so again I was in hospital for a week. The afternoon I came out I demanded hubby took me shopping again just because I needed to get out. He was a bit more unsure this time as I had been so ill. But we went and all was fine and when I got tired stopped at a cafe for drink and cake

orangehead · 18/07/2011 11:45

Upahill you went swimming? Were you not still bleeding?

LaWeasel · 18/07/2011 11:51

As soon as you feel up to it!

With DD we lost out car shortly before she was born, so I took advantage of my sister visiting on day 3 to go out to eat and buy a few bits we needed more than we expected of.

I got really very tired after about an hour, but the fresh air was wonderful.