Hospital stay

[Firsttimemumtobe12]

How long do the hospital make you stay in after giving birth? I know it all depends on how the birth goes but for a "normal" labour and birth and first baby. Also if you have to stay in do they allow partners to stay with you, would hate it if me and baby weren't allowed home and my partner could only see us at visiting times, seems like it would be taking that first few precious days away from him.

I think it varies hugely. I had a normal birth, healthy baby but had to stay in 3 days as establishing bf was slow. My DH was able to stay with me the whole time, even on the ward although I think that's rare. You'll need to check the hospital policy. Be open minded about the length of your stay as it could be a matter of hours or a week!

I had a straightforward ELCS, and was out in just over 48 hours. They were understaffed and I wasn't getting any sleep so I was desperate to leave.

A lot of hospitals will let you go home after 6 hours if everything goes well but I have to say I don't have any friends who didn't have to stay the night after their first for various reasons mainly linked to establishing breastfeeding. It would also depend on time of day as they won't discharge you at 3am.

At my hospital partners could visit from 10am - 8pm with everyone else between 5.30 and 7pm.

It wasn't as bad as it sounds. They did dr rounds pre 10am which worked well as I wasn't particularly keen on having my stitches checked with someone else's DH the other side of the curtain!

I won't lie and say I liked staying in but the positive was DH got some sleep so was better able to help when we went home the next day.

Hoping I will be able to go straight home this time.

I went home after 6 hrs with my first. The delivery was straightforward, dd was a stage weight and fed straightaway. It meant DH stayed the whole time.
I didn't even bother with hospital the second time

I don't know what a stage weight is
I meant average

Visiting hours vary between units. Last time I was on the midwife led unit and we had a double bed and en suite bathroom so dh stayed the whole time. We were in 5 days because dc was jaundiced.

I stayed in two nights, as they wanted to check my iron levels before I left after a borderline blood loss and both baby and I were pretty sleepy (I blame the pethedine). Baby was fine, slightly jaundiced but nothing unusual. They did ask if I wanted to stay in that 2nd night and said if I didn't want to I could go home but actually I didn't mind being there. It was a nice transition period. I enjoyed the time I spent alone with my baby.

I'm anticipating being in a few days as I'm having an ELCS and like steff said! I'm looking forward to having alone time with the baby. The thought of being at home and being bombarded with visitors....no thanks

I stayed in for 2 nights due to suspected infection following vb with forceps & episiotomy. Was also desperate to go home! DH couldn't be there for more than normal visiting hrs but as a PP has mentioned, it meant he was more rested when I did come home

I think your going to get quite a range of replies.

If you give birth in a standard hospital partners generally aren't allowed to stay. If it's a MLU or birth centre partners often can stay.

In London,where there is a chronic shortage of beds & midwives, I know of mums being discharged within 3 hours. A friend had a c/s 8 months ago- she was out in 24 hours.

If it's your 1st baby, bf v ff, delivery, bleeding etc all will affect how long you stay in hospital for.

Speak to your midwife or GP. They will be familiar c with the protocol of the hospital your booked into.

Good luck!