How long of a stay after a hospital birth?

[KarlaC]

It's been a long time since I had my youngest dd, but even 13 years ago they only had me stay over night(both were born late evening) & sent me on my way the next day, usually before noon.

I was just reading the literature from the hospital here(NC) & it seems their standard stay is 2 days for a vaginal birth w/o complications. I'm trying to think of ways to get out of that, I don't myself or my baby exposed to everything the hospital has in it for any longer than I have to.

So I'm wondering about you other mama's & if you're having a hospital birth, how long is your stay supposed to be?

[XanaduMama]

In the 90s a law was passed requiring insurance to pay for 48 hours after vag birth, 96 hours after c/s (mamas were getting kicked out before they were ready). So that's usually standard, I think.

You can request early release if you're good to go--you should talk to your doctor about it. You can always sign out AMA if you're desperate to go and your doctor isn't amenable.

I was all set to leave as early as possible (#1), but had a bad PPH and wasn't in any fit state to leave the following day as I'd planned (ds was born at 11pm). So you never know.

The worst part was that they wake you up SO OFTEN :. I got more rest at home.

[Quindin]

I thought it was insane that they made me stay in the hospital for over 48 hours when I had my 3rd baby in the USA (back in 2003). I was well, baby was well, but when I insisted that I wanted to go home, they threatened to ring CPS. So I stayed. :
And no, one can't really rest in their hospital can they? They wake you up ALL the freaking time!!

I had my 4th in the USA too, but went with a Birth Center. They let us go home as soon as we felt well. We slept 7 hours and left soon after.

Edited to add: I have a friend who had trouble getting insurance to pay for her costs after she left AMA. So keep that in mind...

[petit_bleuet]

I had my son at 2:01 p.m. on the 23rd and we weren't released until around 5:00 p.m. on the 25th. He's aspirated meconium and had a slight fever so they suggested we stay an extra day just so they could keep an eye on him. I was fine with it so we stayed (he roomed, WHO baby-friendly hospital, all around good experience so I didn't mind).

[javilu]

nak

i was at a hospital-affiliated birth center. got there a bit before 2am on feb 28th, he was born a bit after 3am on feb 28th (labored almost entirely at home), we spent the night of the 28th at the center, and went home mid-day on march 1st. so...maybe 30 hours spent there altogether. i was surprised because i thought we'd have to stay two nights. in retrospect, i wouldn't have minded staying another night - it would've cost the same, the nurses were great, and i could've used a bit more time with the lactation consultant there. oh well. it was nice to get home, too.

[herwitsend]

Yeah, insurance is NOT required to pay if you check out of the hospital against medical advice.

My midwife would have released me at 12 hours, but the pediatrician would not consider releasing DD before 24 hours. Turned out she had to stay 48 because of a positive Coombs test (and my pediatrician didn't have privileges at the hospital where we gave birth- we were at the mercy of the on call doc).

[crazycandigirl]

they let us go home after 24 hours of observation.

Baby stayed in our room, we refused the classes and all of that, and the doctor said that it was fine for us to go at that point.

We did bring it up with the doctor way before delivery though. I just mentioned that I wanted the shortest stay in the hospital as possible and that was exactly 24 hours after she was born.

All was well and it was easy with doctors and pediatrician approval.

[the_lissa]

It's not jail. Youc an leave when you want, even AMA. Here, youc an leave after 2 hours if you have a normal birth with midwives. I stayed 24 hours because I had a pph, d&c, and 24 hours of iv abx.

[abigail_b]

You can leave when you want. With my son I kept telling them I wanted to leave early (next day), but when the time came I decided to take advantage of staying the extra night (I was at a birth center in hospital). But this time with having a toddler at home I think I will get out of there quickly.

[Quindin]

No, it is not jail, but as stated before, leaving AMA could mean that your insurance won't pay for your stay. And if you have a nasty staff, they might threaten to call CPS on you (they did that to me - I did not want to have to find out whether they were bluffing or not)

[askew]

They let me leave after 24 hours, but then sent a nurse to my house a day or so later to do a check up on me and baby. DS was born Thanksgiving weekend, so they had a lot of people leave before the 48 hours. DS was born at 5AM Saturday and we left Sunday around 10AM. I think the nurse came to my home Monday or Tuesday. She checked and weighed DS and checked my stitches (3rd degree tear), checked DS latch and asked if we needed breastfeeding help, and then went on her way. I thought it was a pretty nice service.

[KarlaC]

Originally Posted by the_lissa

It's not jail. Youc an leave when you want, even AMA. Here, youc an leave after 2 hours if you have a normal birth with midwives. I stayed 24 hours because I had a pph, d&c, and 24 hours of iv abx.

I realize it's not jail & that I could leave AMA. Seeing how I don't have the funds to pay for the charges that would incur it's not an option.

Everyone else, thanks for the input!!

[MangoMommy]

My hospital is ok w/you leaving after 24hrs as long as your ped has checked the baby out. I haven't decided if I want to stay the 2 days or not. Depends on how I feel I guess LOL!

[the_lissa]

Originally Posted by KarlaC

I realize it's not jail & that I could leave AMA. Seeing how I don't have the funds to pay for the charges that would incur it's not an option.

Everyone else, thanks for the input!!

Look up the laws for where you live. I've read on this forum many times that insurance cannot refuse to pay if you leave ama. You have rights as a patient. Otherwise, you would always just have to do what a doctor tells you to.

Oh and you are very welcome, darling.

[pastrygirl]

I had a c-section and was able to leave a day early (they offered, I accepted!). I checked in on a Saturday morning, had the c-section early that afternoon, and checked out on Tuesday morning. I think I would've had to stay until Monday morning if I hadn't had delivered vaginally on Saturday.

[phoenix78]

I had a VBAC in NY two months ago and got "permission" for early release after 24 hours from Hospital. Only problem was that the second state required newborn screen was supposed to be completed at 36 hours. We went to ped to do it, but it has come back inconclusive twice, so last week we returned as outpatients to hosp for baby's foot to get poked again. Even with that, I was glad to leave at 24 hours. Leave when you feel ready.

[Kidzaplenty]

I was in the hospital for exactly 23 hours; from the time I checked in till the time I was discharged. I just told them I wanted to go home ASAP, and that meant a couple of hours after giving birth. I would have even had a shorter stay if the LO had not been born so late (near midnight).

But, I think they all wanted to just get rid of me, I was not a very compliant patient.

[Charlize]

My OB allows you to leave sooner if it's better for you. Mind you, she delivers the majority of her babies at a small, hometown hospital. For vaginal births, she usually requires overnight as long as you have no complications. For some VBACs and vaginal deliveries with minor complications, it's two days. For c/s and VBACs with complications, it's three days. Since I'm having a repeat c-section, I'm looking at probably four days. She gets overly cautious about those things.

Can you ask your OB and hospital how long they require you to stay after delivery?

[_betsy_]

It depends on your care provider, the pediatrician/s on staff and th hospital's policy.

With my first, they woke me every 4 hours, even overnight, for vitals. They insisted on DD being out of my care for several hours.

With my second (different hospital) I was pretty much left alone for practically the whole stay. Vitals 2 times a day, baby was encouraged to room in with me, no fuss over cosleeping, etc. I could have probably gotten the OK to leave after 24 hours, and I thought about pressing for that option, but stayed their recommended time. (Don't throw any tomatoes!) I enjoyed the quiet time to snuggle with the baby without my toddler climbing all over me.

[Kidzaplenty]

I can not imagine WANTING to stay in the hospital any longer than absolutely necessary. The bed was uncomfortable, the room was too hot and too small, and the food (for the ONE meal that I was actually brought food) was hospital food, and not fit for human consumption.

I could not wait to be rid of that place and run home, climb into my own bed and REALLY rest. Which I did.