Has anyone ever not had to stay the night after a c section?

[cantthinkofaname2021]

My c section is on Wednesday morning, I'm panicking about having to stay the night (which might sound ridiculous) I did want to get a private room but still not sure if it's possible. Has anyone ever gone home the same day after having one? X

I think it's madness to be let home after one night. Many people don't seem to realise that a c-section is major abdominal surgery, they just think it's an easy way of getting the baby out. I had a drain in for a couple of days after one of mine. No way was I going anywhere with that.

It’s madness to discharge women who aren’t ready for discharge
But as plenty of women on this thread have attested, it’s perfectly fine fine for straightforward cases to be at home as soon as they feel able.
For me, it was a very easy way of getting the baby out.
I was back home, comfortable and back to normal very quickly
It’s just not true that recovery is a slog for everyone

It's major surgery. Was 5 days minimum when I had dd. You won't want to go home the same day

Again unlikely as you need to be discharged by ward doctor who sees you the following morning.

I was in 34 hours, had my baby at 1am, on the ward by 3am on a Tuesday morning. Left at 11am on Wednesday morning.

In my hospital curtains were all closed for covid reasons so I did get privacy. I don't think you will get a private room after a c-section as all post op patients are together to help the nurses who are helping you.

Also at my hospital - private rooms were kept for isolating covid mums.

To help escape quickly - I wanted out as quick as I could that morning - I did my own blood thinning injection to demonstrate I could do them. When the midwifes did their morning hand over round I asked what I needed to do to be discharged and made sure they were firmly aware I wanted to go home and had support at home.

For them as long as baby was fine and feeding - they were happy to discharge once the doctor had discharged me from his care.

Hope that makes sense

I got told that for DD, due July, that if it was a planned c section they would try to send you home that day!
I stayed in two nights with Ds, emcs, first night as I was in recovery til 4am, second as I was still on a drip/antibiotics/the Dr wanted to check him the next morning. I wanted to go home!!

@Pumpkinbrew

It's definitely not scaremongering someone saying it was incredibly painful!

I had a planned section and the pain was horrendous for me afterwards and moving was practically impossible.

I've had numerous vaginal births including one that required forceps and that felt like a walk in the park to me compared to a section. Also no time for pain relief on other occasion etc. Still beats the aftermath for me of c section!

Everyone is an individual. Therefore some will find it much harder and more difficult than others.

Same. I actually think telling people it’s normal to go shopping and to lunches 4 days after major surgery is more harmful. Even if you feel fine, you should not be out shopping 4 days later. The wound has only just begun healing and there is a big risk of rupture. No one should be driving before 6 weeks either. You may feel healed but if you have an accident again there is risk of huge damage because you are not healed enough until then. I had a planned section which went fine, but after the spinal wore off, I felt incredibly sick and the pain was far worse than my no pain relief vaginal birth. Getting up to shuffle to the shower the next day was excruciating and took ages for me to walk 10 paces. It really took until day 3 before I felt I could walk even half normally. Yes I did have a 2.5 year old at the time, but being in the hospital with a mechanical bed, pain relief and midwives to check the baby and I were ok was worth the 3 nights away. I would advise doing everything you can to get a private room if possible though

I’m high risk so for my first had to stay in for three night (begging to go home) I also wasn’t allowed a private room as I needed to be near nurses station to keep an eye on me. For my second I went home after one night had baby in the morning & left afternoon then next day. They where very busy and I think needed the bed more. And they knew I had husband and MIL at home.

I’d be surprised if you would be allowed out same day - catheter and monitor pain relief etc I was up and about the first day evening but still a little wobbly!

What pressure does pottering round some shops and having food at a café put on my incision? It's not like I was running a marathon or doing star jumps or skydiving.

And if you are happily driving over speed bumps without wincing and able to do an emergency stop fine, then why on earth would you wait for 6 weeks? If it's because of the risk of being in an accident, then postnatal section ladies shouldn't be driven in a car either, and no one is suggesting that.

I think most people just follow their own bodies when it comes to recovery. Some people will feel fine earlier than others, and stitches are strong enough to withstand basic walking and getting up and down from chairs exactly the same if you are pottering around at home or in a cafe.

I don't criticise people who choose or feel they have to take it very slowly after a section, but equally I don't think it's right to criticise those who found getting back to normal pretty quick. We are all different and part of the spectrum of a normal recovery.

No one should be driving before 6 weeks either. You may feel healed but if you have an accident again there is risk of huge damage because you are not healed enough until then.

Just because you took ages to heal doesn’t mean everyone does though.

I was back running after 8 weeks. Everything was healed, I had been able to do a few weeks of core rehab exercise and was absolutely fine

I was easily able to drive by 6 weeks. I think I first drove at 4 weeks after my section but only because Dh was on paternity leave and doing all the driving up until then. It could easily have been sooner

Some people heal faster than others. We don’t have to go with worst case scenario for everyone, nor do we have to force everyone to get back on their feet at the speed of the fastest

But the stupid blanket statements that ‘no one’ should do this, ‘it’s madness’ to allow anyone to do that - helps no one

I find the positive & quick healing posts very helpful (equally as helpful as those who took longer to heal) though I saw someone say elsewhere they were shopping in b&m the day after their section
My mum had me by section 30 years ago and she got an infection and had to stay 10 nights, my MIL keeps telling me I will have to stay in for 4-5 nights because people she knows had complications with theirs. It's good to hear some positive posts too x

@cantthinkofaname2021

So does everyone have to have the blood thinning injections? I've honestly never heard about it (another reason to panic as I hate needles but I have no choice about having the section) I haven't had to have them during pregnancy Thank you for posting good experiences! It's very helpful x

Not everyone gets the injection. I had my third section 3 weeks ago and have never had the injections. I have a blood condition so I always make sure to remind them not to give me. With regards to wards maybe due to covid but my ward (two person) was very quiet. I came in a Friday and the lady left on a Saturday. I was on my own until Monday afternoon when I was getting ready to leave and another lady got put in the room. You could have similar. Pre covid on my two births ward was manic and busy. Hope your section goes smoothly.

Not technically an overnight stay for me. I had a c-section at 4:05am and was discharged at 12pm the following day so it was less than 24 hours. Was all complication free once baby was out.

Hi OP,
I know it is tough but try not to focus on what the experience will be like as it will be a few days max and then as soon as you are home it will be a distant memory. I had an emergency c section 11 years ago and an elective 7 years ago. I stayed in for 3 nights with both (weird blood results and jaundice for my first baby and needed a blood transfusion with my second). Both times the wards were fine. Quiet and really helpful other mums. Having a baby can be a bit of an isolating experience so sometimes it is nice to be around others. During my first stay the others really helped me out when I struggled to get out of the bed etc.

@GappyValley

No one should be driving before 6 weeks either. You may feel healed but if you have an accident again there is risk of huge damage because you are not healed enough until then.

Just because you took ages to heal doesn’t mean everyone does though.

I was back running after 8 weeks. Everything was healed, I had been able to do a few weeks of core rehab exercise and was absolutely fine

I was easily able to drive by 6 weeks. I think I first drove at 4 weeks after my section but only because Dh was on paternity leave and doing all the driving up until then. It could easily have been sooner

Some people heal faster than others. We don’t have to go with worst case scenario for everyone, nor do we have to force everyone to get back on their feet at the speed of the fastest

But the stupid blanket statements that ‘no one’ should do this, ‘it’s madness’ to allow anyone to do that - helps no one

It’s not about ‘feeling absolutely fine’. Many insurance companies require 6 weeks after the OP unless you have a GP’s letter. Many women are also on pain medication which contradicts driving. So many women feel pressured to resume normal life days after having a c-section, or are made to through lack of support and understanding. By not resting enough after major surgery, you are risking complications and another stay in hospital. Not great when you have a baby and possibly other children who need you (esp if you have been away in hospital for 1-3 nights that week!) Why risk it for a potter round the shops? That can wait surely until the following weeks? You may well be absolutely fine, but far less risk waiting and resting / healing for longer

@cantthinkofaname2021 I'm another who healed quickly, signed off by the gp to drive before 6 weeks (not that my insurance company were bothered). I had to take older DC to school which wasn't walking distance. No scar or pouch for me either.

So much conflicting advice on here such as 72 hours being standard, whereas my experience was 24 hours in both England and Wales so I do hope you're not feeling overwhelmed by it all.

Once baby is here time will move quite quickly anyway so even if you're kept in longer than you'd like hopefully it'll go quite quickly. I just tried to keep telling myself oh it's only 1 night.

@OnTheBrink1

The 6 weeks for insurance purposes thing is a total myth
It was on the FAQs of my insurance company’s website that you were insured if you felt safe and if a medical professional had signed you off

If you won’t risk going to the shops, why risk anything? You might as well stay in bed for a year ‘just in case’ with that attitude

Many, many mothers have to be back driving within a few weeks to do the school run, go to the shops for, y’know, actual food, and to get out of the house for their sanity

I’ve never ever heard of a crash caused by someone driving too soon after a section. And it’s the sort of thing the Daily Mail would LOVE to report so I think we can safely assume it just doesn’t happen

It’s lunacy to be sat at home bored out of your mind because of a few far fetched ‘just in case’ scenarios

Of course not everyone heals well, but why on earth assume everyone is struggling for a month or more?

Hi op I’m nearly 7 weeks post c section and from what I recall we couldn’t be discharged until baby had had a number of checks, done a certain amount of wet nappies and until had either passed wind or had a poo! My DS was born around 6am and my catheter wasn’t removed for 12hrs after, then it’s up and about but I was very sore and having the hospital bed that you could recline etc was a godsend. I was home the following evening though. To be fair what with baby needing feeding I didn’t really get much sleep that first night but the midwifes were there to help and give tips on feeding at a touch of a button, I really needed that support for the first 36 hrs

[quote GappyValley]@OnTheBrink1

The 6 weeks for insurance purposes thing is a total myth
It was on the FAQs of my insurance company’s website that you were insured if you felt safe and if a medical professional had signed you off

If you won’t risk going to the shops, why risk anything? You might as well stay in bed for a year ‘just in case’ with that attitude

Many, many mothers have to be back driving within a few weeks to do the school run, go to the shops for, y’know, actual food, and to get out of the house for their sanity

I’ve never ever heard of a crash caused by someone driving too soon after a section. And it’s the sort of thing the Daily Mail would LOVE to report so I think we can safely assume it just doesn’t happen

It’s lunacy to be sat at home bored out of your mind because of a few far fetched ‘just in case’ scenarios

Of course not everyone heals well, but why on earth assume everyone is struggling for a month or more?[/quote]
I just think 4 days is too soon to be shopping, even if you feel ok. I can’t imagine any consultants recommending that. In my opinion it’s reckless and the argument of ‘well you could stay in bed for a year as everything poses a risk’ doesn’t even make sense. If it were a childless woman coming out of an operation and risking her health then so be it, but after a csection you have a baby and a huge responsibility to keep yourself safe and well for that baby. Going shopping 4 days post csection isn’t doing that. Oh and if you are going ‘out of your mind’ with boredom after 4 days with a new baby then I think there are some deeper issues

When I got to ask yesterday they said in the hospital I am having my c section in, if all is well they aim to have you home within 24 hours, I have to be there at 7.30am tomorrow and there's only 2 others on the list, hope I get to be first and not have to wait too long! fingers crossed all goes well

Good luck, OP!
Wishing you a wonderful and calm birth, and an uneventful and speedy recovery

My post section top tip:
Tie a dressing gown belt or similar to the headboard or foot of your bed, and use it to pull yourself up with your arms when you want to roll over or sit up in bed
Takes all the strain off your abs and lets the recover in the early weeks

And a stool for your feet for the first post birth poo 💩

Hope all went well this morning!! Let us know how you and baby are doing xx

Well it's not going very well :( got here for 7.30am I was first on the list, still waiting...
It was agreed I have the c section due to previous traumatic birth and this was signed off and booked about 10 weeks ago. It was also said As I have the ovarian mass and they couldn't determine if it's malignant, they will deal with this at the same time (Removal/biopsy) they couldn't see it in my last mri, so they gynaecologist said last week don't bother having a c section and just try for a normal birth - I said I can't do that etc. But I'm sure the cyst is still there as it was at the previous scan, I still have pain, and the obstetrician said the baby could have been obscuring the view etc.
So I got here this morning after my pre op on Monday, the midwives were all talking about me and didn't know I was in the bay saying the gynaecologist said why is she here, she is supposed to be having normal delivery there's no reason for this
I was at the top of the list, then there was no beds available..they tried to convince me to not have the section but I said I really need to go ahead. I'm now at the bottom of the list and still waiting, so hungry thirsty and dizzy it's nearly been 12 hours without food or drink

Oh OP that’s really tough. I hope you are seen quickly. Do you have someone there to support you?

That’s horrible. Call PALS now and tell them what you’ve just written - please. They would be horrified.

Yes, my husband is here, he went to ask what's going on and they said they don't know
What can PALS do to help right now? :(

Honestly feel like just going home now
They said they're still waiting for a bed, but if I'd still been on my place in the list I'd have been out by now :( they just came and said they might have to move me until next week!!