how long to stay in hospital after c-section?

katiesmummy

i am being booked in for a c-section next month although i'm not due till end of oct, as drs are trying to avoid the probs i had with dd.

my question is how long will i have to stay in hospital after the op? if everything is ok can i ask to go home after 24 hours? i really dont like hospitals and would much rather recuperate at home where oh will be around to help iykwim. is there a minimum amount of time you have to stay?

thanks

Sagaris

Not sure how long you would have to stay, but a C-section is a major operation and you will probably need to rest and have some stronger pain releif for more than 24 hours. I think it's about a 4 day stay now - in my day I had to stay for 10 days!
Can you ask your midwife?
Good luck with the baby!

sunshinegirl_3

I was in for 4 days. It's a major operation and you'll have a catheter in for around 24 hours, then you have to recouperate enough to move around freely.

Good luck

Spendless

In 2000 I had DS on a Saturday and came out the following Saturday. In 2003 I had DD on a Monday and came out on Friday. Reasons for me being kept in, seeing how well I could breastfeed-as I was struggling. An infection in my wound (2nd c-section) and both babies being born after midday (by 7 minutes in DD's case:rolleyes: ) which meant that the following day counted as Day 1 in hospital.

rio

I had a C section in 2002 and was in for five days. Everyday I was given an injection to prevent blood clots. I wanted to go home but I was told that I could not leave until I had finished the course of (five) injections.

katiesmummy

thanks for that girls.

i would ask my midwife if i knew who she was! i have been under a consultant cos of my history and only saw a midwife at my booking in!

i wasnt sure if it was different for a planned section as opposed to an emergency one iykwim. i had an emergency section with dd and was in for a week, but was quite happy with that as dd was in scbu so i didnt ask to be discharged any earlier. i am hoping that i wont have to stay any longer than a few days this time round!

chalky_75

A friend of mine came out the same day and she had a 4 year old at home. I was horrified but she was fine

bestpud

I was in for 3 nights when I had dd in 2001 - she was born Monday afternoon (3pm ish) and I went home on the Thursday (late morning).

For DD1 in 1992 it was 5 days (the norm then).

For DS in 1990 it was supposed to be 6 days but I went home after 4. They made me discharge myself though and convinced me I'd be back in theatre within a couple of days, for my stupidity!!! Funny how things change!

The consultant should be able to tell you - mine did anyway.

As an aside, I found it much easier to recover from my second two c-sections (first was an emergency one, second two elective). I think it's because I knew what to expect and didn't worry I'd fall in half if I coughed or moved too quick!

Js_Other_Half

I was out in less than 48 hours after my CS last December. It wasn't an elective, but I'd never gone into labour, and they wanted him out due to my gestational disabetes.

I was desperate to go home by then, and made sure the staff knew I was able to walk,go to the toilet, lift up and change DS (albeit very slowly!) and that DH was going to take care of us.

margaretclare

Hello, ex-midwife here.

I agree with those who say 'remember it's a major operation'. In my experience that tends to get forgotten. You should NOT lift - actually no new mother should - because of the abdominal incision. With a normal delivery, it's your pelvic floor that needs care and attention.

It's possible you would be safer at home, less risk of hospital-based infection, but you HAVE to be sensible about it. Any other major abdominal surgery and you would be off work for 3 months. A C-section, and you're handed a baby to take care of 24/7, which is a full-time physical job however you look at it. Take advantage of every scrap of help that is offered you, and if the people around you are too busy cooing over the baby to offer help, then ASK! There are no medals given for just battling on.

You do need to mobilise to avoid the problems that come with lying still, but you also need lots of rest and don't stand on your feet for too long. Walking - good. Standing - bad.

HTH

Margaret

crispeater

with my 1st section i was in 3 weeks as unfortunately i did get an infection and had to have another 2 lots of surgery to remove it.
2nd section i was in tuesday night labour started wednesday night ended up section thursday morning and out sunday morning.
i was lead to believe that once your able to cope on minimal amount of pain relief and move well you could go home.