Hospital birth? How long did you stay? - Page 2

[Doula Gina]

I stayed about 15 hours after my last was born. But I'm pretty stubborn and loud; it wouldn't have been easy for most people. I've had several clients leave within 6-10 hours after normal vaginal births. The main considerations are that you will need to get dismissal from your midwife or doctor, and the baby will need to get dismissal from it's doctor or the hospital ped. Once this is done, no reason to stay! The most irritating thing about the hospital after the birth is the constant interruption from nursing checking on vitals every 2 hours or so, and the poor breastfeeding information at most hospitals (unless you request consultation with an IBCLC). If you have care at home, your own bed is a very nice place to be after the birth. If, however, you are the kind of person who will be up and cooking and taking out the trash if you're home just because you're home, stay in the hospital until the fatigue sets in and you'll be forced into bed when you get home .

Gina

[lifescholar]

I went into the hospital Tuesday @ 4 pm, gave birth on Friday just before 8 am, and went home on Monday around noon.

So, in total we were there for 3 days and 4 hours after he was born.

He was a bit dehydrated at birth, and was basically starving for the first couple of days. I was using the hospital's electric pump to help encourage my milk to come in, so I didn't want to leave that behind! lol

Also, he lost 7 % of his birthweight the first day or 2 (can't remember, it's all a blur now! lol).

Sunday night, my milk started to come in, and his weight loss had all but
stopped.

They gave me the option to go home on Sunday, but I opted to stay until Monday, because I just felt better. Plus, my nurses were AWESOME, and I was very glad to have their support. If I'd had an electric pump and a husband at home, I may have been more inclined to leave earlier....

Oh, and I'm a freak...I LOVED hospital food!

[the_lissa]

My first was a hospital transfer. If everything had gone normally, my midwife would have discharged me in 2 hours. I had a hemorrage and d&c though so I stayed for 24 hours of iv abx, but I was out of there as soon as that iv was out of my arm, and it couldn't come fast enough. If I ever have to have a hospital birth, I would definitely leave within 2 hours. Of course, my midwives do home visits, etc, so I don't need to worry about support.

[KrystalC]

At my hospital, you're required to stay for 24 hours. I could have stayed through the second night, but I wanted to go home ASAP. We stayed 24 hours and 15 minutes.

[MidwifeErika]

My first I stayed for 3 days, but she was in the NICU, so I wass happy to stay and be close. My 2nd was a homebirth. My 3rd was in the hospital again and I gave birth that morning and was able to leave that afternoon. It was a family practice doctor who was really laid back and knew that we had wanted a homebirth. He also knew that I was quite comfortable with breastfeeding and he really just seemed to understand our desires to take our sweet little one home and get comfortable in my own bed. It was a good thing because I didn't sleep at all the whole time in the hospital and my tail bone hurt so badly that I couldn't stand being on that hospital bed, I was so happy to get home to my own pillow top mattress!

[Ahava]

i just had my babe on Friday and we were a quick in and out by our choice. I got to the hospital at 7am, had the babe at 11:01 and then we were home by 7pm that night. We did not have to sign out AMA or anything like that - we're having a viisting nurse come tomorrow to do the PKU and we're all doing excellent right now. I was so happy to be able to spend the night in my own bed!!