time in hospital after birth

[goobergrl6]

I am about to have #3 and I am one that likes to leave ASAP. I know the hospital says 24 hrs but it never works out like that. By the time everyone releases us it is always longer. I had 7 and 8 am babies was out at like 2 or 3 with #1 and 7 or 8pm with #2! I was going NUTS! Does anyone know where I could find out if it is a LAW that I (and baby since I would not leave him there) HAVE to stay 24hrs or if I can leave sooner. I am in Maryland.

[Beeblebrox]

I always thought you could leave whenever, but you'd just have to sign an AMA (against medical advice) form. :

[minsca]

I don't know if it's law or not. I was able to leave in 12 hrs after having dd. I asked the dr if I could leave. She didn't see any problem as both I and baby were doing fine. But it could be a totally different story up here in Alberta. They are short beds and want you to leave ASAP anyways. My friend was able to leave in 3 hrs. This time around I'm going to ask as soon as I give birth!

[DayDreamer]

When I had my third I didn't want to stay at the hospital at all. I actually wanted an UC but that didn't happen.

So right after he was born I wanted to go home and they were going to let me. As the nurse was getting the discharge papers I changed my mind and decided to stay. It had to do with them really respecting me and I needed to rest and knew I wouldn't get that at home.

I was out of there exactly 24 hours after DS was born.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

You can leave whenever you want. They don't own you.

[Mom2Lex&Cay]

I've had the same problem with both children. I just do not function, bond, or sleep well in a hospital at all. I'm much more comfortable and relaxed at home with my children.

Anyway, I was told that signing an AMA meant that our insurance did not have to cover expenses. After the fact I realized that's probably the case IF something happened after we left, not the delivery, but I bought it at the time. Will be going a different route with our 3rd. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me...no 3rd hospital birth for me! *L*

[wannabe]

My midwife does homebirths so she's totally fine with seeing me at home. I have to see about the paed, but I suspect they'd be fine with me bringing the baby to them for a once-over.

why don't you ask you care provider, and then call and ask the hospital? As a PP said, it means they can turn over a room faster, so I'm sure they won't argue.

[Graceoc]

I just gave birth on Saturday. I made sure to clear it with my midwife and pediatricion to check out early. The key was that baby needed to be cleared in order to go - and my ped is WONDERFUL and came to check her out on his day off. I had to sign her out AMA because we refused the PKU test in order to leave (but went in today to have it done). She was born at 9am and we left at 4pm. It would have been sooner but it took my placenta 6 HOURS to come out (but I am happy they waited for me, no intervetion AT ALL)

[alegna]

There is no law. Just like it's not a law that you have to birth in the hospital in the first place

-Angela

[mama_y_sol]

My MW said the main reason here the hospital wants you to stay for 24 hours is for the PKU test...but that doesn't mean you have to stay. You can leave the hospital here sooner and just come back the next day for the PKU, like pp mentioned.

Definetly talk to your care provider, as well as your ped. Both mine have said that as long as there are no serious complications, we don't need to stay for 24 hours.

[goobergrl6]

yeah with #2 the reason we were so late was because of the PKU because he would not nurse so they had to wait on the pku.....I just am so much more relaxed at home.

[4 in 2005]

I was told flat out that if I sign out AMA insurance WILL NOT COVER. I just can not afford a full hospital stay and delivery. So that is something you need to look into before you sign out AMA. I would not want someone to get a suprise.

I don't plan on birthing at the hospital this time but if I have to for some reason I know that I will have to be there for 24-48 hours. The Obs prefer 48 but if everything is OK they will agree to 24.

Jennifer

[CallMeMommy]

Originally Posted by 4 in 2005

I was told flat out that if I sign out AMA insurance WILL NOT COVER. I just can not afford a full hospital stay and delivery. So that is something you need to look into before you sign out AMA. I would not want someone to get a suprise.

Can anyone verify this? I swore I saw somewhere here that they HAD to cover services already rendered, but didn't have to cover you if you were re-admitted for a problem related to the visit where you AMA'd.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by 4 in 2005

I was told flat out that if I sign out AMA insurance WILL NOT COVER. I just can not afford a full hospital stay and delivery. So that is something you need to look into before you sign out AMA. I would not want someone to get a suprise.

This is absolutely not true. Though apparently hospitals say so all the time. : Insurance is going to cover anything that already happened. The only thing they could decline to cover is if something went wrong because/after you signed out AMA. But anything already done they will have to cover.

-Angela

[mamabearing]

here is what I would do

I left 4 hours after my last baby was born..the policy is 6 hours...but I work there and it was late!

Anyway...#1 call and talk to the manager of the maternity unit and see if there is an early discharge policy. If there isn't...then you could be stuck with those AMA issues. But I know many hospitals ( we do ) have a policy for mom's who request early discharge and it ISN'T AMA.

Then you need to make sure your OB is fine with it. The most important person ( I find ) to object is the pediatrician. So you need to tell your ped well ahead you want this and ask in no uncertain terms if every thing is fine will you come in and discharge the baby ( possibly at an off hour ). MANY peds won't do it. So this is I think the key to success.

Very few moms seem to want this anymore but I felt just like you do and love helping a mom who wants to get out and is fine do so because I can relate.

Good luck!

[Marielena]

I left ~10hrs after my 2nd and hope to leave even sooner this time! I had called insurance during my last month of pregnancy and they were very confused by the question - they didn't mind at all if I left early! They said AMA would not matter at all. I did ask them to make a note in my file just in case, but it all worked out fine. Actually, the midwife had no problem signing me out early but the ped wouldn't sign ds out. (this was right after he had pronounced him perfectly healthy - grrr) So, I asked for the ama form, the pediatrician smugly announced that I shouldn't do that as insurance wouldn't cover it, and he had nothing to say when I told him that I had already called! I really don't know why he wanted us to stay so bad.

[goobergrl6]

I do not see my OB having an issue with it at all.....he knows me and would expect this from me LOL I will have to talk with the pedi though as that is where I see the issue the most.