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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

First baby - how long did you stay in hospital?

87 replies

Paradisefound · 19/02/2013 15:12

How long did you stay in hospital after giving birth to your first child?
Currently 32 weeks and would love to know other peoples experiences.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

TobyLerone · 19/02/2013 15:14

Overnight, and that was only because there was meconium in my waters. Otherwise I'd have been out of there like a shot!

looneytune · 19/02/2013 15:20

Had DS1 on the Friday, came out the Sunday (Mother's Day) but from what I can remember (was almost 10 years ago) it was more to do with establishing BF.

DS2 was born at home. I had maconium in my waters which they discovered when they broke them but then I pushed him out in 1/2 pushes once I knew so he was fine - not sure if they keep you in for that as standard when in hospital or if it depends if baby has problems? (we could stay at home after).

I think it really depends on a few things but I THINK 1st babies are usually 1-3 days unless complications.

MirandaWest · 19/02/2013 15:23

DS was born early Saturday morning and I left Monday afternoon. Tbh I should probably have stayed in longer due to various things during the delivery but I'd been in and out of hospital for three weeks before he was born and I was a bit fed up! Both of us were fine although DS more fine than I was

gardenpixie32 · 19/02/2013 15:26

In Friday morning and out Wednesday afternoon

SuckingDiesel · 19/02/2013 15:29

24 hours exactly. It would have been less but DC needed 24 hours of observation before they would release us. They would have discharged me about 6 hours earlier were it not for the obs. I had a very nice en-suite room and would have been happy to stay longer.

lyndie · 19/02/2013 15:31

First, 3 days but had preeclampsia and big haemorrhage.

Second and third got out same day.

pixi2 · 19/02/2013 15:32

Almost a week with both because of problems with my iron levels. Funnily enough, one night shift midwife said I would have to stay in longer till my iron levels were at least 10. After the shift swap the next midwife discharged me even though they were only 8.

TheSecondComing · 19/02/2013 15:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fishcalledwonder · 19/02/2013 15:33

DD born at 3am and home by 3pm. Was too noisy for me so I nagged until they let me go!

givemeaclue · 19/02/2013 15:34

A month.

It wasn't very nice. I know I could never do jail time!

But that was twins and I was ill after

I was encouraged to go out for dinner though bizarrely, for a change of scene. Max 2 Hours per day. Took the machine I was attached to with me!

KatoPotato · 19/02/2013 15:34

Five days. C-section, jaundiced DS and milk not in yet.

When I went in it was snowing, when I got out it was sunny. I skipped to the car like a released prisoner! 'Oh wow, look, a bin!' (I was slightly hysterical)

rcs19 · 19/02/2013 15:35

I had dd1 early hours of Monday morning and came home Tuesday afternoon. Dd2 was born on a Friday but we didn't come home until Tuesday as I had blood clots in my leg.

lynniep · 19/02/2013 15:35

My first was in SCBU, so was in a private room for a week.

My second was a more run of the mill birth, and I was kept in overnight on a ward. Discharged after 24 hours, which was just before lunch

afterdinnerkiss · 19/02/2013 15:35

I was in a baby-friendly hospital, and even though it was, thankfully, a near-textbook natural birth with no complications i was there for five and a half days - this is standard (in Germany) unless you opt-out, so you can be cared for in your own room (state hospital btw), supported in bonding with baby and breastfeeding can be securely established. I understand this may not be possible on all health systems but I was very grateful for the round-the clock expertise and intimate time with pfb so as not to be sent home nervous and flabbergasted. And the midwife then visited twice a week for the next six weeks which was also a major reassurance.

Meringue33 · 19/02/2013 15:38

60 hours, due to needing support to est bf. Tbh the care was really patchy and ended up discharging myself against advice. Was the right decision as community midwifery team were able to support at home much better.

Whyriskit · 19/02/2013 15:39

Two days with DS1, we got out on Xmas Day after a emcs on the 23rd.

stargirl1701 · 19/02/2013 15:39

4 days in midwife unit. I wish I'd stayed longer.

SneezySnatcher · 19/02/2013 15:40

Two nights after delivery. We were both fine but they wanted to monitor DD's blood sugar because I'd been given labetalol for high BP.

This time I'm pushing for six-hour discharge!

sleepyhead · 19/02/2013 15:40

Ds was born at 6.30am and I was out by lunchtime on the third day.

I thought that I'd welcome being in hospital with people to show me how to bf and take care of ds.

The reality was that other than dh, the odd visitor and the routine checks, I didn't get much help (staff far too busy) and the nights were very isolating, long and lonely. I'd have been much better off at home with the community midwife coming once a day and dh there at night.

I'm hoping this time round to be home same day. Fingers crossed.

lottiegarbanzo · 19/02/2013 15:43

8 hours, dd was born after 2.5, then stitches, checks, toast and home, never left the delivery suite. It was morning, home for lunch. Had it been evening I'd have stayed over.

Dd's one successful attempt at BFing was a couple of hours after birth, so they ticked that off the list... 5 days and many unsuccessful attempts later we were back, as she'd lost too much weight. I do wonder whether, if we'd spent a few hours on the ward, if they'd have kept us there until feeding was sorted out, one way or another.

HappyAsASandboy · 19/02/2013 15:44

In Wednesday morning, out Friday night. With twins, iron levels of 7 whatever they measure it ins, and a C Section!

Completely daft - they let me go too soon.

Habanada · 19/02/2013 15:52

4 days - C-Section and then milk not in yet so DD lost 10.1% of her birthweight by day 2 and they wouldn't let me leave with her until they'd filled her full of formula. I am still very angry about this.

I then spent another 2 days establishing b-feeding despite everything, during which time my bp was sky high (was already high due to pre-eclampsia) and I was stressed as f about everything. So they then kept us in because of me rather than her.

On day 4 my DH walked in with the car seat and raged until they let us go home.

It was a horrible experience, and I am aiming for a VBAC this time in the hopes things go better.

StrawberriesTasteLikeLipsDo · 19/02/2013 15:54

DS1 born by EMCS at 38+4, in one night before, and two after. (2009)

DS2 scheduled CS, 37+6, in night before, DS born am of 21st dec i was home 4pm 22nd (2012)- couldn't bare to spend any longer in hospital and christmas was coming!

space21 · 19/02/2013 15:58

5 days of genuine bed rest and bonding with my son. Nice food (I'm in France btw) and en suite!
Got so much help and guidance with breastfeeding and general newborn care. I found it invaluable.

HPsauceonbaconbuttiesmmm · 19/02/2013 16:03

Got to hospital at 3.30pm, had DS at 1810, straightforward delivery, stitches etc, onto postnatal about 2200. Would have been discharged at 8am next day but I chose to transfer to a local midwife led unit for postnatal care and help with bf. single ensuite rooms. stayed there for 4 days. Fab decision, amazing help and support. Continued to bf successfully for 7 months, and I think I may have given up if not for their guidance.

On the hospital postnatal ward overnight no one came to check on me at all. Not a single peep in the room to see if I needed anything. If that had been the only option I'd have gone home and been in less than 24 hours.

The mw led unit was 30 miles away but equidistant as the hospital from my house. They offer postnatal care provided they're not full with their own patients. Worth a thought if there is one near you.

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