Staying in hospital one night after Elective C Section

[AutumnLeavesandCandleLights]

I had my pre op assessment this morning and will be having my elective c section on Wednesday.

12 months ago, I had an emergency c section and we stayed in for four nights. When we were finally allowed home, I was still very much in pain and found it incredibly difficult getting in and out of bed, on and off the toilet etc.

I asked the nurse today what the standard length of stay is following an elective and was told they aim to get women home the following day...
whilst this is good in some respects as I don't want my 12 month old being apart from us for too long/want things to return to 'normal' as quickly as possible, I'm a little concerned that the following day is a bit too soon to be discharged after a major operation?

I understand that if I can use the toilet on my own, eat, drink and slowly shuffle about, there's not much reason in me taking up a bed on the ward - but honestly, without the morphine last time I was in total agony. I don't see how 'strong' painkillers are going to cut it after 24hrs of being sliced open.

Has anyone been discharged the next day after an elective and felt totally okay/comfortable/as pain-free as possible at home? I'll admit I wasn't comfy on the ward last time and by the second night I was starting to grow quite miserable that I wasn't surrounded by all my home comforts, however, I was quite relieved knowing I had a full team of medical professionals around me in the first few days.

Just a little bit worried that I'm going to be in as much pain as I was last time and then expected to kind of just deal with it.

Elective for me was less brutal and recovery considerably quicker. I was home in 3 days but that due to DS having issues. Emergency cs kept me in hospital for a week

Hi OP, I had EMCS with my first and a had paracetamol and ibuprofen!! Do you know from your notes why you were given morphine last time?

Sorry I've seen your previous comment about it being standard at your hospital - I'm quite surprised by that! I can happily reassure you that it's absolutely fine on standard painkillers

Was in only one night after EMCS and sent home with no painkillers - they told me to just take paracetamol at home. Had to get my mum to drop some in to me!

I found that I recovered much, much faster from my elective section than my emergency one and it was far, far less painful and debilitating. I had metal staples for the first - for my elective she used surgical glue instead which was so much better! It is all down to the preference of the particular surgeon which method they use though, apparently.

I stayed TWO WEEKS after my emergency section. I was fine to go home after one night with my elective (it was more like 36 hours after the op by the time I got discharged). I was going for short strolls to the park after four days, I couldn't believe the difference. I had heard emergencies were harder than electives and it didn't make sense to me as it is the same operation, but in my case at least it was true.

I've had two c-sections and not been in discomfort either time so it does happen. I was on some pretty strong painkillers and I guess they worked for me.
I do remember going to Aldi two days after a c-section and suddenly coming over extremely cold and shivery and DH having to drape coats over me. So I guess I was still pretty rough but not feeling it!

I was offered Oramorph as the standard painkiller (RLI Hospital). With my first it was paracetamol and codeine as standard after the first day (Diamorphine for first 24h) but research showed a risk with codeine in between.

I had an elcs in 2014 and was discharged after 2 nights. It wasn't enough for me - I had lost a lot of blood so was still very weak and grey 24 hours post OP. 48 hours post I was still in a lot of pain. The 45 min drive home was excruciating. I could barely get onto the bed (too high) or loo or sofa (too low). I could have done with 2 more nights in I think. I cannot take diclofenac or those types of drugs so that may be partly why. I also hated having to do my own clexane injections.
See how you feel. I think it really varies from person to person.

Ps I have also had two emcs and found recovery harder from the elcs due to the blood loss.

I had EMCS at 10.30pm, stayed that night and the next. Was discharged with paracetamol and ibuprofen, plus injections to prevent clotting. You may find it easier 2nd time around. Just knowing how to stand up/sit down while supporting the stitches etc makes it easier. I used a pillowcase rolled up in a sausage shape to help with this. It will be fine.

I had an ELCS on 23 Dec 2009 and asked to go home the next day. Otherwise standard was to stay 2 nights. I wont lie it was uncomfortable but bearable. Ironically I was in 3 nights after my first, vaginal delivery because of meconium and 3rd degree tear.

I think it really depends on you and your baby and how you are feeling. I had an emergency and was literally itching to get away from that noisy chaotic ward after 2 nights (hospital's usual time). I was uncomfortable and in some pain but could get about, and everything was a million times better at home. Good luck!

I didn't get any pain relief until I complained and then got paracetamol! TBH I didn't find the pain too bad but I did feel very shakey and ended up staying two nights. (Was meant to be three but they needed my bed!)

Also I went home without my babies which was tough as I had to go back to visit them but also meant that I had a few good sleeps at home!

I was in overnight with my ELCS, stayed in 2 days with my EMCS. Recovery from that was much harder. Also only given paracetamol. Don't feel that being home made any difference to how I recovered - was probably better looked after if anything!

Ive had four c sections and stayed two nights with them all, even an emergency one. My last one they tried to discharge me the next day but I was in so much pain I asked to stay another night, and they allowed me to. I was dreading going home to my other three kids and not being able to care for them, but luckily I was much better after another night.

I was discharged after 1 night after EMCS, with paracetamol and ibuprofen. The trick is to keep on top of the pain relief, not wait til it hurts. My head was all over the place though and would easily have accidentally taken too much, so DH was in charge of keeping a record of what I had and when.

It was fine, certainly no more painful than it would have been in hospital and much nicer to be at home. The worst thing was having to take the blood thinner injections every day, but my community midwife was in most days so I asked her to do it (I'm needle phobic so the idea of doing it myself was awful).

I was home 24 hours after my last crash section. I had a general anaesthetic and no complications for DS2 or me. Felt fine and went to town shopping to get some fresh air. It was important for me to be up and about as I developed the start of a small bedsore on my arse from being sat still for most of the time I was in hospital.

I could have been out the day after my second ELCS. Baby was born at 1pm on the Monday and the doctors were prepared to discharge me on the Tuesday late afternoon as I was fine and the baby was feeding well. In the end, I stayed in for a second night as we have a toddler at home too and the obstetrician said I might want the (relative) peace and quiet (!). Came home with paracetamol, ibuprofen and diclofenac plus the anti clotting injections. Our local hospital also writes up CS patients for oramorph as standard and piriton too for any itching. Didn’t need the oramorph but I had shocking itching which the piriton fixed. Definitely agree with previous posters that staying ahead of pain with painkillers is the way to go. I took the diclofenac for a couple of days and then paracetamol and ibuprofen for a couple more. Hope it all goes well when the time comes.

Hmm I had an emcs after days of induction. If I had another I would definitely be home faster -had a shitty time in hospital.
I was sent home with paracetamol and maybe brufen.

I took them religiously at set times.
I didn't realise you could leave earlier, I was exhausted from the hospital, only.managed t sleep once I got home.

Two weeks ago I had an ELCS (in Switzerland).
Stayed 6 nights and had morphine for 3 days. I think the UK system is barbaric.

I had twins 5 weeks early due to pre-eclampsia, was induced on a Tuesday at 5pm, then ended up having an emcs on a Wednesday at 4am, and went home Friday at 7am. I was supposed to go home on Thursday pm but the doctor was called away to A&E so couldn't discharge me. I was given oramorph to begin with but had to request more, and was also given paracetamol. I was given codeine to take home. This was my first pregnancy. I was really glad to go home, I hated staying in the hospital and felt very much like the aftercare was crap. Was barely monitored/checked so was better off at home where I could at least be comfortable and settling in with my babies.

I've had two EMCS. The recovery from my second (on 21st Dec) has been so much better than my first. I was discharged after 3 nights but only because my blood pressure wouldn't come down. I've found it easier as I knew what to expect/how to move around, etc. I had morphine injections for the first 24 hours and then went on to paracetamol which I've been on ever since.

Hi all
I am having a section tomorrow, first baby so I have no idea what to expect. From the paperwork I've been given they do a checklist to prove you are fit enough to go home! They also said I will more than likely leave after 24 hours. This scares me to be honest and I don't feel as though I have a say if I meet the criteria on the blinking checklist!
I will update you all tomorrow x

No two caesareans are the same.

Dc1 was born by elective c sec on the Friday morning. Didn't get out of bed till the Sunday morning, which was on the advice of the midwives. It was a forceps caesarean so I had been pulled about.

Dc2 was born by elective c sec at 1045am I was walking about (admittedly v v slowly) by 530pm. Would have been happy to have been discharged the following day.