How long was your hospital stay after c-section?

[MinesALatte]

I’m currently 34 weeks and down to have an elective c-section (date not booked yet) but just wondering what everyone’s experiences were of how long you stayed in hospital?

Just to add she was my first, and like PP I'd probably stay longer with a second baby.

I'd also had a failed instrumental (suction & forceps) so I was a bit battered and bruised but knew I'd feel more comfortable at home

Had baby in March 2 days into UK lockdown. Had him 3.53am Wednesday was out 4pm Thursday. They want you out ASAP if all is okay due to covid. A friend of mine had baby on a Tuesday at 3pm and was put at 10am the next day. This was in June X

2 nights. I was well enough for discharge after 1 night, but they gave me the option of a second night, and I accepted as I really liked postnatal and wanted to be sure I was ready.

Elective cs at approx 5pm, sent home by midday next day, and only paracetamol for pain killers. Would have loved more time to be cosseted in hospital, but the ideal is a million miles away from the hot noisy post-natal ward with 7 other newborns/new mothers, including a permanently screaming baby in the next cubicle who screamed the whole 13 hours i was in whilst his mother sobbed with helplessness and the nurses/midwives showed up approx every 3 hours to say uselessly “oh dear, yes that is bad isn’t it” and leave again. For me it was dc2 so i wasn’t so shellshocked, but for first-time mothers it would be pretty horrible.

When i read about countries that have universal post-natal stays with support, quiet private rooms, breastfeeding help, and interested/ engaged nurses i could cry with envy.

I particularly resent that the push to get mothers home in under 24 hours with minimal painkillers and no thought of how you are going to lift a baby repeatedly for breastfeeding from a prone position, is labelled “Enhanced Care” by the NHS.

My emergency section was 4days afterwards but my planned one was 36hrs it would have been 24 but they couldn't find a senior enough consultant to sign off (as I have a complicated medical history and existing condition)

I’ve had two ELSC and both were 2 nights / 3 full days. I couldn’t have managed to go home the day after ! I wanted to mentally but wasn’t ready physically.

Interesting about painkillers. Both times I took liquid morphine home with me. Amazing stuff !

Please please
...do not try and do anything when you get home xx I did and ended up poorly xx let people help you and even if you feel like you can do it

DONT!!! Xxx

Out the next day, about 24 hours after the birth. I felt ok and was desperate to get out and hand my baby off to DP so I could get some proper sleep!

Five days as I had sepsis but I'm also high risk for post partum psychosis so they had to keep an eye on me (was fine in the end)

4 nights

Most UK hospitals encourage enhanced recovery which involves being out of bed after 6hours, and home 24-36hrs.

It will depend on a multiple of factors however, reason for CS, feeding, baby, blood loss, medication to name but a few.

I was in for 11 days after my CS (fit for discharge by day 6 but baby in NNU). I had infection, need transfused.
For my VBAC when I lost 2.5L and he 3B tear I left after 36hrs (also required transfused)

I had mine in the early hours of the morning so if I don’t count that night I stayed in 1 additional night would have been able to go home the day before but the hospital lost my blood test results 🙄

@MissSmiley

Thanks! They don't let twins go over 37+6 at my hospital and when I was admitted for a few days last month most of the twins were being whipped out at 36 weeks but means they are smaller and needing at least SCBU

I'm in two minds whether I would prefer to stay in 1 night or more - no visiting hours either at my hospital so won't have any support from DH

My healthcare care cover from work also pays out £100 per night for every night I stay in an NHS hospital after my c section......!

8 nights, private room (everyone had a private room). Not in UK.

8 days
(3 for me, then a further 5 in NICU and SCBU with ds)

Thank you everyone for sharing your stories, experiences and advice! Definitely a mixed bag of times! It’s looking like they’ll try and kick me out around 24 hours due to covid so fingers crossed I’ll be ok!

2 days and I had to push to go home, not because of any complications but mainly because the wards were so busy and no one had time to do my discharge papers as all the mums were wanting to leave ASAP. It’s very difficult to recover from a section with your newborn without anyone else being allowed there to support you. I had much more support at home

Had emergency c section 3 weeks ago. Spent two nights in hospital. Depending on antenatal care, you may find it a useful time. All classes around here were cancelled, so my time in hospital was useful to learn how to look after her and to establish breast feeding. I was also quite tired, so appreciated on the 2nd night as the ward was quiet when one of the midwives suggested taking dd up to nurses station so I could get some sleep.

The next day after all three emergency sections. Took four days after my elective section.

Ps, don't try and do anything when you get home, build a nest on sofa so you have everything to hand such as phone charger, water, tv remote. Get a feeding pillow, it will cushion your scar. make sure you build up a supply of paracetamol before hand. I went through a couple boxes in first few weeks. Ask for stronger painkillers if you need them and get them to discharge you with some of needed.

48 hours. Only because he was a bit jaundiced but it was end of March so they were struggling to find someone to check and sign him off. I eventually insisted on being discharged at 4am when they did. They asked if I didn’t want to wait until morning - umm nope. I’d been there a week for failed induction as the world went bonkers around us!