Time spent in hospital after birth?

[DJBebe]

For how long do they keep you in hospital after giving birth? (Planning for my maternity bag)

It really depends OP, can range from a few hours til a few days. I packed my 'main' bag with stuff for one night, and then another which was kept in the car with some extra bits in just in case. Ended up staying in for 48 hours so glad I did.

This can vary a lot. With a first birth that went smoothly you could be out the next day. With my first birth that ended in a caesarean the standard then (10 years ago) was to stay in 3 nights but my son had lost more than 10% of his birthweight so they kept us in another night. I was in 3 nights before he was born having a failed induction so I was in 7 nights altogether which was awful. Second son planned caesarean and we were out after 2 nights.

I suggest pack light-ish and a partner can bring mo clothes if needed. But mentally prepare for all possibilities.

Good luck!

Totally depends on your birth. 3 days with my first, a few hours with my second.

You just dont know until you've had your baby,

1st natural birth was in hospital for 7 days
2nd natural birth left the birthing centre 2 hours after having her
3rd natural birth stayed in for 24 hours

You just wont know until you've given birth

Of pack for a few days just incase x

Depends how the birth was, how you are and how bub is. I had a pretty straight forward birth, no issues, I was fine and bub was too. We stayed two nights.

Baby was born at 3am. I stayed that night and the following night ( lost too much blood so they wanted to monitor me). I was allowed to go home after that but choose to stay another night. I was struggling breastfeeding and my hospital has incredible support.

Just under 24 hours with my son, emergency section but we were both healthy and well. Had him at 5pm and home by 3pm the following day😊 I would have stayed another if I felt I needed to but he was feeding really well and the ward was so hot!

Went in at 6am Tuesday and out 7pm Thursday. Pregnant with DC2 so I know I won't want to spend as long in this time. First time I could have left earlier if I asked I'm sure but they were quiet and I appreciated the help with breastfeeding

As everyone says it varies depending on how the birth goes. I would plan for at least 1 overnight.

With dd I gave birth at 2041 but she didn't pink up the way they wanted (lazy) so they kept us in over night as they wanted 12 hour obs.

As a minimum at my hospital they don't allow you to leave til they have seen you feed baby, watched some video on shaken baby syndrome and another on something else that I can't remember and done the heel prick tests

With my first he was born at 1am, I was home for 5pm the same day. The second was born at 8am and I was home for 4pm the same day, so not long.

I was in 1 night with my 1st a few hours with my second was in 2 days before my 3rd and stayed 2 nights due to my blood pressure and was out the same day with my 4th so it all depends on the birth I think..

My first child I gave birth 4pm on a Sunday, I felt fine to go home after an hour or 2 but with it being a Sunday no one was around to sort out discharging us/do the newborn check. I went home 3pm the next day, literally sat waiting from 8am dressed ready to leave!!

Second baby I gave birth at 8am on a Friday, again I was fine to leave a few hours later, I was discharged at 12 but had to wait for the paediatrician to check the baby he didn't appear until 2ish so we left about 3pm. I found it so frustrating waiting to go home, I'd happily have gone home within 4 hours both times. I had straightforward births so there was no need to be in there taking up a bed space.

I packed a bag with enough stuff for me and the baby for 1 night which is what I took in with me. Then in the car I had a bag that had extra everything packed, more baby clothes, more clothes for me, the rest of the pack of nappies etc etc. So if I did get stuck I wasn't having to send my clueless husband home with a list of things I needed and where to find them 😆!

I was in for nearly 2 weeks with DS1 so varied a lot! I think two bags is the way to go.

I’d check with your hospital/midwife. I am planning on the two bags idea (One left in car), but at the minute (with covid) at my hospital, Once you are taken to the post natal ward your partner is asked to leave and can’t come back until you are discharged, so I’m now unsure what to do on the bag in the car situation.