step daughter had baby has to stay in for 5 days

fluffnutter

Has anyone actually tried asking the step-daughter??

margaretclare

I admit that my midwifery career is a long way behind now - was made redundant in 1992 - but I would have thought that a young first-time mum cannot be discharged home with a small baby unless there is someone at home to look after her and help her, ideally someone who is a bit older and has some experience of looking after a baby. We would always want to make sure of this before planning a discharge. We used to do 'planned early discharge' after 48 hours but there had to be someone at home - baby's dad, or her mum, or someone adult and responsible.

What do you expect - for her to be discharged straight out of Delivery Suite to cope with everything alone? If you think that, then you have no idea of the effect of childbirth on a woman and the 'learning curve' of learning about care of a new and smaller-than-average baby.

fluffnutter

margaretclare wrote: »

I admit that my midwifery career is a long way behind now - was made redundant in 1992 - but I would have thought that a young first-time mum cannot be discharged home with a small baby unless there is someone at home to look after her and help her, ideally someone who is a bit older and has some experience of looking after a baby. We would always want to make sure of this before planning a discharge. We used to do 'planned early discharge' after 48 hours but there had to be someone at home - baby's dad, or her mum, or someone adult and responsible.

What do you expect - for her to be discharged straight out of Delivery Suite to cope with everything alone? If you think that, then you have no idea of the effect of childbirth on a woman and the 'learning curve' of learning about care of a new and smaller-than-average baby.

Wow, times have changed! I'm due in a few weeks and I've been told that, provided there are no problems, I'm out the door after 4 - 6 hours

honeypop

fluffnutter wrote: »

Wow, times have changed! I'm due in a few weeks and I've been told that, provided there are no problems, I'm out the door after 4 - 6 hours

After my 2nd baby (last year), they gave me 6 hours, to the minute, before I had to leave the delivery suite and go home. I remember laying there and midwife saying 'ok, so time of birth 01.22, you will leave at 07.22 all being well.'

Sadly I was all ok and went home. I say sadly, because after my first, I'd stayed in 3 days as I'd had a CS, and I loved that time of being looked after, 'forced' resting and having on hand help from the staff for those first few days. I loved it and was a bit sad to sent home this time!

honeypop

margaretclare wrote: »

...but I would have thought that a young first-time mum cannot be discharged home with a small baby unless there is someone at home to look after her and help her, ideally someone who is a bit older and has some experience of looking after a baby.

Not sure if I've missed a post, but OP doesn't say she's a young mum, or a first time mum, or that there's no-one at home to look after her or help with baby.

rachbc

margaretclare wrote: »

I admit that my midwifery career is a long way behind now - was made redundant in 1992 - but I would have thought that a young first-time mum cannot be discharged home with a small baby unless there is someone at home to look after her and help her, ideally someone who is a bit older and has some experience of looking after a baby. We would always want to make sure of this before planning a discharge. We used to do 'planned early discharge' after 48 hours but there had to be someone at home - baby's dad, or her mum, or someone adult and responsible.

What do you expect - for her to be discharged straight out of Delivery Suite to cope with everything alone? If you think that, then you have no idea of the effect of childbirth on a woman and the 'learning curve' of learning about care of a new and smaller-than-average baby.

Times definately have changed. I was a young first time mum in 98 - though luckily I had a home birth so didn't need to be 'allowed' out - I was left blissfully all alone with my baby when he was about 2 hours old. With second I was discharged from delivery suite- would have been after 2 hours if they'd bothered to come and weight her but as it was it was 4.

OP there are plenty of reasons related to her or the baby that would mean she has to stay in. If you really insist on knowing the details you will need to ask your SD as the hospital will maintain hers and baby's confidentiality.

fluffnutter

honeypop wrote: »

After my 2nd baby (last year), they gave me 6 hours, to the minute, before I had to leave the delivery suite and go home. I remember laying there and midwife saying 'ok, so time of birth 01.22, you will leave at 07.22 all being well.'

Sadly I was all ok and went home. I say sadly, because after my first, I'd stayed in 3 days as I'd had a CS, and I loved that time of being looked after, 'forced' resting and having on hand help from the staff for those first few days. I loved it and was a bit sad to sent home this time!

My friend refused to leave! She was in for a week both times (they were c-sections to be fair, but even so, she was perfectly well enough to go home).

They kept coming round saying 'Ooh, let's get you home today shall we' and she'd just shake her head sadly and say 'I don't think I'm ready yet'. She said it was great; they made her cups of tea all day

margaretclare

honeypop wrote: »

Not sure if I've missed a post, but OP doesn't say she's a young mum, or a first time mum, or that there's no-one at home to look after her or help with baby.

No, but equally, the OP doesn't make it clear that none of those things apply.

I assume in the cases of 6-hour discharge described by others, someone will have asked the question 'have you someone to help you at home....' If not, then things really have gone downhill. I agree that home is far better than hospital, but coping with a small baby alone while recovering from childbirth is really awful.

SingleSue

My shortest stay was 36 hours...which lasted 4 hours at home before being rushed back in again by ambulance for another 2 day stay.

I played safe (think what happened the previous time spooked the medical staff too), the next time, I stayed for 3 days.

Me and having babies didn't seem to go well together! :rotfl:

flower_72

You're right Margaret, I remember being asked about my situation at home. When they realised, I was living in a very rural location and that my husband would be away from home for 2 days, they kept me in for another night - I was pleased about that.
Then I developed high blood pressure, so had to stay a few more days - I was oh so unhappy about that!
The OP's step daughter hospital stay could be for so many things some trivial, some more serious.