Hospital Stay After Delivery

HI V.,
I stayed in the hospital for 3 nights after my 1st and 2nd c-sections. The first time they said I could stay another night but I couldn't stand being cooped up in the hospital any longer so we decided to go home. The second time I was determined to only stay 2 nights, but they advised me to stay another night to rest. I did go home after the 3rd nght. I was much more comfortable at home. Hope this helps. Good luck.
C.

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V.,

I had my C-Section at 9 am on a Friday morning and went home by mid-day on Sunday. My doctor said as long as I could get up walking, eat solid foods, and have BM's I could go home. I had no complications so that helped. Also- I used a belly band/support post-op and that helped a lot with being able to move and get out of bed. Take you pain meds as prescribed- that also makes a huge difference!

Best of Luck and Congrats!

M.

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I only stayed two days, also. you have to be able to walk unaided, pass gas, and the most important thing...you have to poop before they will let you leave. that said, keep in mind that if they give you vicadin for pain, it constipates you..so make sure you drink plenty of water and perhaps take a gentle stool softener and eat lots of fiberous food. keep this up when you get home too, cause being constipated after a c-section really sucks!! good luck and congrats!!

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Yes, I was outta there, with number 2, as soon as my OB checked me out on the second day. The nurses kept saying, 'You'll stay and take a rest, won't you?' (like it's so restful in a hospital!), and then my son's pediatrician came and said, 'You'll be going home tomorrow, won't you?' and I realized there was no reason to stay, and lots of reasons not to. And everyone was happier once I was home-- Big Boy didn't miss his mommy, Little Guy slept better in a warmer room, and I was happy with company and *not* getting woken up every 5 minutes to check someone's vitals. Good luck with everything!

Hi V.,
congratulations first of all on your new little one. my youngest is 21 months and was a c-section. I didn't have any complications and was able to go home after 2 days. however if you have the baby on Thurs or Fri they don't typically let you go home until after the weekend is over. I insisted though so they let me go. good luck.
S.

Hi V.,

I admire your motherly love for your preschooler! She'll be just fine!

However long you stay in the hospital, REST REST REST! Pack earplugs in case you get a noisy roommate at thelast minute. Truly, in the hospital is the only time you get major help, so take advantage! You want to be as rested as possible before you return home to handle both of your children.

Congratulations on your growing family!

~N.

Rather then just thinking about the time being spent away from your little one at home, really think about this as the only chunk of time this new baby will get you all to them self . Life demands of us as soon as we step through that door no matter how much help everyone tries to provide. It's not the same. I would encourage you to enjoy every minute with your new baby. Best wishes

V.,

I went home after 2 days with a c- section. I couldn't rest in the hospital and I really wanted to go home to my 3 year old! I would just make sure that you have help in place for you when you get home--the transition can be rough especially in dealing with pain and your first born's reaction to baby. Good luck!

M.

I had a C section and was able to go home after 2days. If there aren't any complications, they may let you go home in 2 days. I went home on the two days later around 2pm. However, I had gone in on the initial day at 3:30am. So not sure if that's why they let me go home two days later in the afternoon. Ask your doctor and call your hospital. Good luck and congratulations! By the way, if you've never had a C-section before, I recommend you take the pains meds they offer and set an alarm for the first two nights at home to take the medicine int the middle of the night. I didn't do that the first night and I paid for it. I could barely get out of bed in the middle of the night and was in so much pain I could barely walk to the baby or the bathroom. It was just the first two nights home but still I would recommend it.

V.,
Your length of stay really depends on not only how you are doing but also the typical length for that hospital. I am an RN that works in post partum and have had 2 C/S myself. Our vaginal deliveries stay a minimum of 24 hours and have the option to stay the 2nd night. Our C/S patients usually stay 2 nights, 3 if they would like or if they are having any problems, and very rarely 4, but only if they are having issues or they REALLY insist. With my fist I stayed 3 nights because I delivered at 10 at night and went home in am on day 3. With my 2nd I was home after 2 nights. I have had friends that delivered at other hospitals and they had vastly different lengths of stay. 1 friend said the minimum stay for a vaginal delivery was 48 hours and another friend went home after only 12 hours, both having their first babies. Oh and our hospital doesn't require you to have a BM before going home, so not all do. Good luck!

Dear V.,
Congratulations on your new baby in advance!
With my first baby, I had no episiotomy, no tearing, zero drugs or epidural and I was out of the hospital the next morning. I felt fantastic.
My second baby was a different story. He was much bigger, nothing went the same and I was in the hospital for what felt like an eternity. But, there was no way I could have gone home early that time and I just accepted it.
All births are different and we can't foresee what will happen. But know that the doctors won't keep you longer than medically necessary and depending on the birth situation, they will release you when it's safe to do so. If you do have a C-section, you might be thinking differently about getting out of the hospital so soon. It's not like having a tooth pulled, you do need time to recover.
Hopefully, everything will go smoothly regardless and you will enjoy your birth experience however it happens.
Just try to relax and not pre-determine things too much.
The first thing is for you to take care of yourself so you can take care of both your babies.

Best wishes and let us know when your baby arrives.

I was able to get released after 3 days as an early release, but I don't think they ever gave me the option of a 2 day release. If memory serves me, I don't think they take the catheter out until day 2 and they have to make sure everything works after that.

I've never had a c-section but when I had my second daughter back in May my 2yo was allowed to visit me all day after delivery. As long as they are yours and not sick. As far as leaving early, probably not, maybe a day early. Make sure you do what your told and they might let you out for good behavior. :)

Hi V. -
congrats on your upcoming baby. I gave birth about 2 months ago via c-section. I also have a almost 2 year old and I wanted to come home early because I couldn't see her at all. The hospital had a rule that no kids under 13 were allowed because of the swine flu scare. I came home after 2 days in the hospital. I was fine but I had lots of help at home. The only thing that was really hard was using stomach muscles to get in and out of bed. I wished I had stayed one more night in the hospital to have that bed that rises. Otherwise it was nice to be home. Good luck.

We had twins and wanted to come home a little earlier. After it was too late, we were told we could do a self check-out. So unless there's some issue with the baby you do have the right to make your own decision.

Yes you can go home early if you meet the medical requirements. However, you might want to think about this as a mini vacation. It is the only time you will be allowed to be responsible for just the new baby. Once yoou get home, you have all you other mom responsibilities back. Think of it as a minivacation to let you bond with the baby.

S.

V.,

Stay as long as they will allow. A C section is major surgery and you need time to rest and heal. You have the rest of your life with your baby. In order to take the best care of others, one needs to take the best care of themselves.

Blessings.....

I've had 5 kids, 4 vaginally and 1 c-section. With the first I was very ill before he was born so that was my longest stay but the next three I was headed home within 24 hours of birth. With number 5 I had a surprise c-section and was shocked with how much it knocked me out. I ended up staying 5 days and it was worth it. My youngest at home at the time was 18 months and she has chronic health problems which made being away from her hard but when she came to visit she wanted to lay on me non-stop which made me realize I would be miserable at home. We alos have a two story house and I personally could not have handled the stairs. I had a spinal headache which compounded things. I actually even had my in-laws take my 18 month old and preschooler home with them for two weeks since my husband had to return to work 1 week after the baby was born. I would take it as it comes and see how you feel. I was able to recover from my vaginal deliveries very quickly but the c-section for me was much different.

I was outta there quick-style. I had to make an appointment to have my staples removed (that sucked). My husband was home with my 2 year old, and I just really wanted family time. Happy birthing!

Hello,

Congrats on the new baby. I had a c-section (twins) and I had them on a Tuesday night and went home on Friday. I was scheduled to go home on Sat. but asked to be released. Since both the twins and myself were healthy both doctors released us. My doctor made sure that I was able to use the restroom first. Make sure they give med to be able to go to the bathroom, they forgot with me.

Good Luck,
M

Greetings V.,
As the mother of 5 let me encourage you to rethink not staying as long as you can at the hospital.
When you have a C section, you are just not going to be able to take care of the newbaby and your little one right away so it is nice to have the help of the nurses in case of infection or trouble,& people to see that your needs are met even if for a few days---- it may be the last spoiling you get for awhile!
I have found that if you prepare your little one for staying with Grandparents, Special Aunt or Friend, they are ok until Daddy can pick them up and take care of them. My husband always felt that it was his time to bond and cherish the children.(He also let them do things I wouldn't so that made it fun for all of them). Also I have found with my daughters that their other children could stay in the room with them and visit as long as they wanted so it worked out well.
Just start preparing now! Good Luck with your baby and enjoy every minuet- get lots of pictures. Nana Glenda

I am sure that if you are medically ok they will let you go home. When my daughter was born premature, I had two others at home (and hadn't been home in a week since I was hospitalized before the birth). I had her at 3am, and asked to leave when I saw the doctor at 5am the following morning (26 hours later), since I knew she wasn't coming home for a few weeks anyway. Since I was medically fine, I was able to go a couple hours after that...even though they usually keep you two days.

V.-

I worked in OB for years and had a c/s myself. If all is well with you (remember it is MAJOR abdominal surgery) you will most likely be let go at 3 days if you ask. 2 is possible, but do not push yourself please. Things went very well with me, but I stayed the 4 days even with 2 preschoolers at home (twins stayed 7 due to being early). The child at home will survive fine even if you are there the full 4 days, what they need most is a healthy mommy and it may be better for you and child to stay to not complicate matters and be back for longer.

Just take care of yourself so you are able to take care of everyone else, you'll be doing it a long time!

Congrats to your family on the newest addition!
D.

I had my C-Section at 2:00 am on a Wednesday morning and left on Thursday afternoon. As long as there are no complications there is no reason why you should have to stay. Congrats and good luck!

I had a repeat c-section just a couple of weeks ago and was glad to stay in the hospital for 3.5 days with my husband and new baby. Our 1st was home with Grammy and would come to visit everyday. I had a pretty miserable time those 1st few days, couldn't really walk or even go comfortably from a reclining to sitting position without help from the hospital bed. My swelling was pretty bad and no amount of water brought it down, just laying on my left side...which I needed the handles on the bed to do.

My 1st c-section didn't leave me feeling so bad so I was also hoping not to be in the hospital for long. I'm glad that my Dr made me stay though and you may find once you are there, you'll appreciate the extra recovery time if you need it. If you don't, then great!

My 1st child thought visiting the hospital a great novelty and loved the anticipation of seeing the new baby each day. The going home count down was fun as was the visit with a Grandparent (who I'm sure spoiled him mercilessly...LOL). Yes, I missed seeing my big baby, but it was nice also to uninterrupted new baby time too without having jealousy issues right away.

Just take it easy...major surgery recovery shouldn't be rushed.

Oh yeah! I made sure my hospital had separate rooms for every mom...allowed the new baby and husband to be in the room with me (not in a separate nursery) and that I could have visitors whenever I wanted as long as they weren't sick. That way I could close the door and not have to deal with the other stuff going on. As far as a maternity ward went, you barely knew that women were giving birth as each room was sound proofed. Very quiet. Not all hospitals are so restful.