Checking out of hospital early?

[2sweetboysmom]

Both of my births have been in the hospital. DH and I strongly disagree on this as the place to be to give birth. : DH has bought the notion that the hospital is always best. Also insurance covers a hosp birth with only a $200.00 copay for the entire pregnancy. DH is a CPA, (that's Certified Public Accountant, not Cheap Pain in the A**! )
Anyhow, I was wondering if anyone has tried to check out of the hospital early after a uncomplicated delivery with a healthy mom and babe? I am considering this for the future (I'm ttc) I figure we can go in really late in labor so that they don't have time to mess with me. But I abhore the obligatory overnight stay just as much. I would be willing to stay for 2-4 hours after the birth so they can observe me and babe for a few hours but then I want to go home, and be with my family. I realize we would need to see the ped. for the pku stick at some point. I really don't want to do the whole hosp. thing again.
I am seriously starting to think about not telling DH when I am in labor and having our next babe on my own and then just say " whoops, that happened sooooo fast!"

[Babytime]

I checked out of the hospital early, actually at the suggestion of my OB. There was no problem with it! Good luck!

[SoCaliMommy]

I checked out when my son was 6hours old the hosp care was horrible and they PP room was a shared room with a very tiny bathroom* gross*. I had the ped try and talk me out of leaving and blah blah blah and how they want ppl to stay min 24hours. I wasn't about to fork over another $200 to stay in a shared room: heck we even got out without paying them any money at all wonder how long it will take them to realize we owe them $200 for the 1 day i did stay which was when i was in labor and wasn't even a real full day.

[DreamsInDigital]

My DS was born at night, I checked out at noon the next day.
But rather than settling for a birth place you don't want, why aren't you at least fighting for a homebirth? : Is your DH the one giving birth?

[BetsyS]

Mine is a little different; I had a c-section, but went home at 38 hours (normal stay is 72-96). No problems at all going home at that point.

[maxmama]

My patients go home at less than 24 hours all the time. I left (same hospital) 36 hours after my section.

For first-time moms, sometimes it can be helpful to have them stay the full 24-48 for BF help (all our labor nurses are BF trained), but multips often go home 12 hours or so pp.

[2sweetboysmom]

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

But rather than settling for a birth place you don't want, why aren't you at least fighting for a homebirth? : Is your DH the one giving birth?

I'm working on him. And If my efforts are to no avail
I do really love the idea of UC and am not the least bit fearful. Dh is a very sound sleeper soooo....,

[pageta]

I stayed 36 hours with ds and would like to leave ASAP with this child. I have spoken with both our pediatrician and my midwife about my desire. My midwife wants me to stay for six hours for observation (due to risk of hemmorage), and the pediatrician has said he will come after he is finished seeing patients if he doesn't see us first thing in the morning (he has to examine the baby in order to discharge him or her). He also told me which tests they will require before we leave and which ones we will have to do over due to doing them early.

So my theory is that you just need to ask your providers and make your wishes known.

[MsElle07]

I was not able to leave until the baby had been observed for 24 hours. My MW was fine with letting me go after six hours, but the ped was not. Of course, I could have left anyway, but would have been signing out AMA, and insurance would not have covered the birth.

I agree with the pp, your DH does not need to give you permission to have the birth you want. It's his child too, but the birth belongs to only you. I informed my DH of my birthing plans, and told him he could be there or not be there, but I was having the baby at home.

[jenmamahen]

2sweetboysmom---

Is there a birth center nearby that you could go to instead of a hospital? I too would LOVE to have a homebirth, but dh is really uncomfortable with the idea. He just can't get past all the "what-ifs". My feeling on this one is that we created this baby together, we need to both be comfortable with the birth. So for us, a birth center is the answer. I did tell him that I have a gut feeling that this baby is going to come fast, and we might end up with a home birth anyhow, but I'm not sure he really believes that could happen. I can't say I'd be upset at all if it did though.

[the_lissa]

Where I live, if you have a midwife and a normal, vaginal delivery, you can leave 2 hours pp.

[2sweetboysmom]

None of the close hosp's allow midwife attended births. The standard stay around here is 24-36 hours. The nearest mw friendly hosp is Loma Linda about 40 minutes away. As for birthing centers There is Redlands 45 min in good traffic, Fullerton 1hr in average traffic, and Pasadena 20 min to 1hr on the whim of traffic. So none of these are really too far. I'll look in to it.
I had pih with my first, and was induced with pit, but had a normal delivery @39w with only a shot of nubane. My second was a normal uncomplicated delivery. I really don't think I'll need to be in a hospital this time. Now I'm waiting on a sticky babe! Thanks for all of your thoughts.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by MsElle07

f course, I could have left anyway, but would have been signing out AMA, and insurance would not have covered the birth.

I have heard this is not true- just something that hospitals say to scare you into staying. Does anyone have first-hand knowledge of this actually happening to anyone?

-Angela

[MsElle07]

Originally Posted by alegna

I have heard this is not true- just something that hospitals say to scare you into staying. Does anyone have first-hand knowledge of this actually happening to anyone?

-Angela

I wouldn't be surprised if it is used as a scare tactic. But I do know of one person who declined the recommended course of treatment for a serious medical condition, left the hospital, and received a bill for $40,000 for her stay. Apparently, the hospital did not even bill the insurance company because of their AMA rules. She called the insurance company, and there was nothing they would do without a bill from the hospital. She finally threatened legal action if they wouldn't bill her insurance, and they relented. Her claim was denied. (She is still fighting this legally, BTW.)

[cchrissyy]

I stayed 10 hours last time and nobody batted an eye.
This time, I plan the same (get a nap/overnight then outta there!).
I asked several local L&Ds and everyone I called said it just depends when your providor signs off... so it's ALL about having a doc/mw who's comfortable with it AND a pediatrician who'll sign the baby off too.

without that, you could still leave AMA. but better to just orchestrate your care providers better in the first place

[DreamsInDigital]

Originally Posted by 2sweetboysmom

I'm working on him. And If my efforts are to no avail
I do really love the idea of UC and am not the least bit fearful. Dh is a very sound sleeper soooo....,

Maybe it would help to get him some hard facts on the safety of homebirth? We have lots of links and great books for you to direct him to.

I'd hate to see you settle for a less than ideal birth just because of a stubborn hubby!

[StrawberryFields]

I checked out early! My family practice doc delivered ds and knew we had attempted a homebirth. Ds was born on Friday and we checked out right away on Saturday, no problems. I would have gone crazy if I had to stay there another day.

[2sweetboysmom]

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

Maybe it would help to get him some hard facts on the safety of homebirth? We have lots of links and great books for you to direct him to.

I'd hate to see you settle for a less than ideal birth just because of a stubborn hubby!

Thanks. That is a great idea.
What is so crazy to me is this: Dh really did not like the hosp births. He felt that both times the nurses tried to play on his emotions to make him feel that I really needed an epidural. They really wore us both down the first time. And he also felt that he had no real place at the birth. Now in all honesty dh was not much help, but I think he would feel perhaps more responsible and therefore be more involved in a home birth. Or at least he could go downstairs and putter around, or keep an eye on the kids. I recently read Spiritual Midwifery and A Midwifes Guide To Childbirth. I love them both btw. I really feel we could have something more like that if he felt more needed and involved.

Edited for overt spelling and gramatical mistakes!

[1babysmom]

I had an uncomplicated, but medicated (went for the dang epi!) birth, but was only in the hospital for a little over 12 hours, while my hospital has a "minimum" stay period of 24 hours. It wasn't even AMA...my doctor said it'd be fine if we left. Oh yeah, and my insruance never questioned a thing.

[hopefulfaith]

Originally Posted by alegna

I have heard this is not true- just something that hospitals say to scare you into staying. Does anyone have first-hand knowledge of this actually happening to anyone?

-Angela

Yes. I used to work for an HMO in clinical review, and it was standard policy to deny AMA claims (another reason why I quit, since I couldn't live with myself).

Bottom line to the OP - check with your insurer -- write them an inquiry and ask for their reply to be in writing. Don't just call the customer service line and take their word for it - they don't always know the ins and outs of the clinical review guidelines.