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Original poster

I'm going to discharge myself after c-section, can I be stopped?

231 replies

SingingWren · 17/07/2020 21:31

I'm having a c-section on Tuesday, I've been informed by a midwife that my partner will have to leave straight after the c-section. I was tested for Covid19 at their request, so why not test birthing partners too, surely if both test negative, there is no risk on the wards?

My c-section is at 9am, once catheter is out and I'm confident baby and I are fine, I plan on discharging us both and going home to be with partner, where I will undoubtedly get more rest, more help and be far more comfortable.

This may be very late at night obviously, so I'm wondering if they can actually stop me? Surely they can't keep me there if I demand to be let home? Has anyone done this?

Sounds irrational, but I've had two friends give birth at the same hospital in the last month. Both had horrific experiences, short staffed, buzzers ignored etc, both really struggled. Any advice appreciated.

OP posts:
JacobReesMogadishu · 17/07/2020 23:19

@zaffa I’m sure it was done. Hospital midwives have to sign to say it’s been given and community midwives should check Paperwork when visiting postnatal. If you look in the red book you may find it’s been signed for in there as well. Not sure if red books are the same nationwide, but locally we sign in there.

namesall · 17/07/2020 23:19

Could you possibly just stay until the next day when the paediatrician comes to check baby over?

I think they are also quite keen to get C section patients out the next day anyway now.

I had my 2nd C section at beginning of lockdown and they couldn't get me out quick enough, which was good.

Also found 2nd c section pain so much worse than first time (annoyingly), pain was quite intense and was glad for the drugs.

SparkyBlue · 17/07/2020 23:20

Don't make the decision right now. Honestly a lot will depend on how things go. I've had three sections and I've recovered really well and never had issues walking or getting out and about after. My first I had a two week hospital study due to pre eclampsia that got worse after delivery ( but bizarrely I felt great) so unfortunately you don't know how things will go. On my other two sections my babies were in the nicu so I had to go up and down to them so I was up and about more or less straight away . The hospital stay may not be even half as bad as you seem to be imagining

GetTheSprinkles · 17/07/2020 23:20

Doctor checked my baby and my catheter was taken out the day after my c section. I was free to go not too long after that (midwife wanted to wait until DS had peed). It seems they don't want you there for that long anyway!

MrsDrudge · 17/07/2020 23:21

The hospital might offer enhanced discharge whereby you can go home next day if all’s well, and you and your newborn can be followed up by community midwives.
Hope all goes well for you OP

Dogsandbabies · 17/07/2020 23:22

OP I have had two sections. The second time there was something wrong with the baby. It wasn't apparent until 34 hours post section. He spent a week in special care and was fine after that but I shudder to think what would have happened if I had taken him home.

It's most probably going to all go well but are you really willing to take the risk? For an extra 24 hours away from your partner?

pinkgin85 · 17/07/2020 23:26

My first csection was a lot easier than my second OP. Everything went well but the first 24 hours were realy rough this time, I had trouble passing urine after the catheter to the point I was starting to panic and my blood pressure was so low I felt faint when I stood up. They definitely didn't discharge me because of that and I was glad. I went home 36 hours later. I would say wait and see how you get on. In the grand scheme of things a few more hours won't hurt.

Spidey66 · 17/07/2020 23:26

Is a c section on the same scale as a hysterectomy? Only I was discharged 2 days after mine.

I didn’t really want to be, mind. I was enjoying the morphine.

pinkgin85 · 17/07/2020 23:29

@Pacif1cDogwood

BMI, she likely got a Vitamin K injection, not vaccination.
Depending on the area some hospitals do offer BCG vaccinations, I was but declined.
Dinosauratemydaffodils · 17/07/2020 23:31

You are deluded if you think you'll be able to even walk after your major abdominal surgery.

I've had 2, both emergencies. I would have been perfectly capable of walking out of the hospital within 8 hours of both. I know this because I was up, dressed and on my feet by then both times. Recoveries vary massively.

I would however stay one night and make sure the paediatrician is happy with your baby. That was the only reason I stayed one night with dc2. Had they needed NICU like dc1, I would have been discharging myself straight away and my consultant said there was nothing she could do stop me other than to ask "politely" that I stay.

pinkgin85 · 17/07/2020 23:32

@TheWayOfTheWorld

What about your Clexane etc? If you discharge yourself in this fashion you won't have that to take home with you and (from what I remember) you need to take that for a week post C section.
Are those the blood thinners? They sent me home with a 10 day supply which I injected myself
Pacif1cDogwood · 17/07/2020 23:36

Fairenuff,, vaccination offered may be BCG in certain areas of the UK, this may be given from a few days after birth up to 6 months of age typically.

It is not a vaccination that would delay a healthy baby's discharge from hospital though.

FizzingWhizzbee123 · 17/07/2020 23:37

Some hospitals definitely give BCG vaccinations at birth as standard. NCT friend in a neighbouring borough didn’t get it. Our borough was at higher risk so DS was given it (although I’ve read this has recently stopped so I think DS2 might not).

Bathing baby required before discharge? Never heard of this. We certainly didn’t have to do that. DS didn’t get a proper bath for about 2 weeks as we waited for the cord to drop off and heard it was best for their skin to let the vernix soak in properly first.

TwinkleStars15 · 17/07/2020 23:38

@SingingWren I think some people are being unduly harsh personally. It’s completely up to you if you want to leave hospital, no one can force you to stay. I’m sure you know what you are doing. I was discharged 2 hours after delivery (natural) - there was no ‘newborn check’, everyone was happy for us to leave.

MrsCollinssettled · 17/07/2020 23:40

IME of being on a ward with high numbers of patients and minimal staffing I would feel much safer at home with a DP who can be checking on the baby and me all the time, than on a ward where you might only see medical staff a couple of times a day.

Keha · 17/07/2020 23:40

Legally you can leave when you want, unless the staff feel you lack capacity to make this decision (highly unlikely, they would have to show you had an impairment of the mind or brain which meant you couldn't decide). And then they would either have to have you detained under the Mental Health Act (Drs can do this for a short period) or an urgent Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard would be needed. Basically noone can just keep you there or tell you that you cannot leave. This is illegal unless they follow certain legal processes.

For the baby, as I understand it, you have parental responsibility, and it is your decision what happens for the child, it's not up to the staff to decide. Unless they are concerned about you putting the child at risk of significant harm and then you are talking emergency referral to social services and a court order.

However, I'm not sure it's particularly wise or sensible to leave against medical advice.

Hopefulhen · 17/07/2020 23:40
  • Occasionally people retain urine once the catheter is removed. You will definitely have to present to A&E if that happens.
  • If you need pain relief post procedure you will need to go to GP and depending on their view, you may be given a hard time about that.
  • If you develop sepsis, the incision opens up or you start to bleed a lot you won’t be in the best place to get help and possibly you won’t even know how unwell you are.
Silvercatowner · 17/07/2020 23:45

A freind of mine went home the day following her section. The birth had gone smoothly and her partner was very supportive. It was fine.

bythehairsonmychinichinchin · 18/07/2020 00:07

Unfortunately many postnatal wards are unstaffed, and I’m sorry that your friends haven’t received good postnatal care. I’d encourage your friends and any other people reading this forum who have received poor postnatal care to raise a complaint with the hospital they received postnatal care at.

The earliest that it is recommended you can go home after a CS is 24 hours, and this would be only if yourself and baby are well and fit for discharge.

Before a midwife or doctor will feel confident in discharging yourself and baby, you will need to be able to pass urine once you’ve had the catheter out which stays in for approx 12 hours then you have 6 hours to pass 200ml of urine, so that the they know there’s been no damage to your bladder during surgery. If you’ve had pre eclampsia or other complication your fluid input and output may also need to be measured for longer than 24 hours.

Also your baby may need to stay in hospital to have observations for 12-24 hours for example if you have gestational diabetes or pre eclampsia, or if you lost your waters prior to the CS which can cause an infection in both yourself and your baby.

Also your midwife would want to see that you are caring for your baby and that your baby is feeding and having wet and dirty nappies. If you were to discharge yourself home, and their was any concerns from the midwives/doctors it could trigger a safe guarding issue and social services may be informed.

NorthDowns · 18/07/2020 00:08

I went home 23 hours after my 3rd c section for all the reason you state OP. It was madness (to me) to stay in hospital on a noisy ward & sleep deprived. I did go on & on about how much better it would be for me to be at home & given it was my 3rd section in 4 years I was fairly confident in taking care of myself. Doctor reluctantly agreed.
I appreciate this wouldn’t be for everyone but it was great to get home & rest properly.
Good luck

NorthDowns · 18/07/2020 00:12

Should say previous 2 c sections I was in 48 hours & for me it was hellish, so that made me absolutely determined to get out ASAP if all was well with 3rd.

bythehairsonmychinichinchin · 18/07/2020 00:16

Re pain relief and blood thinning medication you will be sent home with these at discharge from hospital.

For baby. The newborn check is done within 72 seconds hours, so you can go back for this if not done before discharge, the newborn hearing screen is also generally done within the first 24 hours but can also be carried out within the first few weeks. The Vitamin k injection is done after birth, but if drops are given they are given at birth and at day 7.

bythehairsonmychinichinchin · 18/07/2020 00:16

72 hours not seconds...

lavenderlove · 18/07/2020 00:21

Please wait until all the tests are done. The doctor most likely won't see you until the next day and I thought my baby was perfectly fine (gave birth at 11pm and was fine overnight) but the doctor found fluid on his lungs the next day so we had to go straight to the high dependency unit for a week. Good luck x

Jenda · 18/07/2020 00:25

If I hadnt had a C-section I would say you were mad but I had a really awful experience in the ward after my section and genuinely felt me and my baby would have been much safer in the care of non medical DP at home.

I know lots of people who have had great experiences though and if I was one of those I would have stayed in for a week 😀