How long should new mothers stay in hospital?

by Kristin Darguzas (Subscribe to Kristin Darguzas's posts) Jan 9th 2007 11:30AM

A New Zealand mother is angry at having been forced out of the hospital before she was medically ready.

Stefanie Hendra said her post-partum stay in Tauranga Hospital was "brief", but that she and her husband were perplexed when hospital staff wanted to send her home a mere three hours after what she described as a traumatic birth.

Stefanie's midwife stepped in and argued with hospital staff, swaying them into letting Stefanie stay a little longer.

The hospital said that a normal stay after giving birth is anywhere from 6 hours to 5 days. The case has elevated discussion about how long women should stay in a hospital after giving birth. Some argue that the woman should have adequate time to rest and learn from the nurses, others say that a woman would probably be more comfortable at home than in hospital anyway.

I don't know anyone who had a hospital stay for longer than two days. I had a c-section on Friday night and was out of the hospital by Sunday morning, sleeping downstairs at my house because my wound was too raw to hobble up my steep stairs. I hate hospitals, so I was happy to get out of there - but I had my Mom helping me at home. If she weren't with me, I think I would have liked a day or two extra at the hospital to heal.

How about you? How long were you in hospital after giving birth, and would you have preferred more time?

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Comments (37)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Christine 1-09-2007 @ 11:34AM

Entitled to two days -- took two days. Arent you entitled to longer with a C-section?

misty 1-09-2007 @ 11:52AM

I was in the hospital for 20 hours in labor. I went home 12 hours after my son was born. I was ready. He had his circumcision, and was doing great, and I didnt want to spend any more time in there than i had to. I had my Mom with me as well, and I wanted to recover in the comforts of my own home.

emily 1-09-2007 @ 2:35PM

I had my daughter on a Wednesday evening and went home Saturday. I loved my hospital stay but I don't mind hospitals, probably because I have worked in them. The food was great, my midwives and nurses were wonderful and my baby was with us every minute. It was a treat to have someone bring me my food when I wanted it (restaurant-style dining), do the dishes, laundry and generally tend to my every need. On Saturday they told me I could leave whenever I wanted so I lingered until 3:00PM!

lara 1-09-2007 @ 1:03PM

I guess I'm a little different. I have never stayed more than 24 hours after delivery. I had my third at 8:45 PM and left a little before noon the following day. If they would have let me, I'd have left the second my epidural wore off.

I hate hospitals. Who can rest with nurses poking at you and your baby constantly to make sure everything were ok?

Cecelia 1-09-2007 @ 12:37PM

I went in on Monday, delivered at 10:00pm, vaginal delivery with no complications. I was released on Thursday morning because my doctors wanted to monitor my blood levels or something (they never really explained this), but my major-Northern California HMO has a policy about not releasing a new mother until the doctor says that they can go, and its a minimum of 48 hours. Since they wanted to monitor me further, my stay was longer. We had moved into our new house a few days before I delivered, so I was more comfortable in the hospital, but I was bored out of my mind.

Ginny 1-09-2007 @ 12:47PM

I had a c-section and was home less than 48 hours later by choice. I didn't have much pain at all, but then I consider myself to be pretty tough. Furthermore, I can NOT get comfortable in hospitals and you can't get any sleep with the nurses checking on you all night. I had to talk my doctor into discharging me so early but he did. Now, my sister in law had my brother carrying her to the bathroom for a week after her c-section. Some people need more time than others.

Christina 1-09-2007 @ 3:01PM

I was given four days in the hospital after my c-section, and I'm glad I had all four days. While I didn't like having my vitals checked when I was trying to sleep at night, it was nice to have the time to rest, have experts right there if I had questions, and have my food delivered and picked up with no dishes to wash. By day four I was ready to leave, but I'm glad I was given that much time there.

jules 1-09-2007 @ 1:23PM

i had my baby at home in water - so no need for hospital at all. after having my baby i walked around the house and welcomed guests with no problem. if you have had an uncomplicated vaginal birth, i don't think you need to stay in the hospital. hospitals make us dependent on them and make us think we need more help than we do. there is no need to medicalize this natural process unless there are complications!

MissyT 1-09-2007 @ 1:00PM

I have had three children, with another on the way. I have always begged to get out as soon as possible. My children's pediatrician has talked me into staying a full 24-hours, but I scoot out ASAP. I can't stand the food, the noise, the bright lights, the smell, etc. Hospitals are not a restful (or healthful!) place for me.

Tina 1-09-2007 @ 1:06PM

Both times-c-sections, I stayed 4 days- no complications, but the law in NY allows 5 days. Many many women may hemmorage develop infections or complications due to the "revolving door" policies of 24 hrs. Babies can be monitored for jaundice as well, and breathing issues. If you choose to go home early, then you should be fully educated on the topic.

Tina 1-09-2007 @ 1:05PM

Oh yes, one more thing- by being in the hospital longer I got the lactation consultant's lengthy visits and much needed help on several occasions with my baby #2 who had difficulty with latching on. They are not covered by insurance for home visits.

Dawn 1-09-2007 @ 3:38PM

I was admitted into the Hospital on August 31st 2006 with Pre eclampsia. There I stayed on hosptial bedrest until I was induced 6am on September 12th 2006. Ryan was born just before 11 that night. The 13th I was on strict hospital bedrest because I lost about a liter of blood due to hemoraging after Ryan was born. I was able to leave the hospital on Saturday September 16th. I was in the hospital for 4 days after Ryan was born, and with him being 5 weeks early, he had to stay in the special care nursery. Thank God when Saturday came, he got to come home with us, weighing a mere 5.3 pounds. He is now 14. 7 pounds, and will be 4 months old on Friday. Although the food was awsome, nurses were very friendly, and everyone was very helpful, I was ready to go home.

Reguardless of how bad all this was, I dont regret any of it. I wish others were not forced out of their room before they are ready. Goodluck to all the New Moms out there!

momma2mingbu 1-09-2007 @ 1:22PM

My first labor was long, about 18 hours, and he was born at 12:46 a.m. We checked out later that day, around 8:00 p.m. I could have left sooner, but being a first time mom I was unsure and wanted to wait a while to see how we were doing. So I stayed less than 24 hours after the birth. I figured I'd sleep better in my own bed and I would DEFINATELY eat better at home.

My second was born in a freestanding birth center. She was also born in the middle of the night, at 12:12 a.m. I think we left around 11:00 that morning, less than 12 hours after the birth.

My third was a homebirth.

Chris 1-09-2007 @ 9:19PM

I had a c-section and stayed 4 days I was told the insurance would cover 5 days and the hospital tried to get me out,I fought them.... they assigned someone else my room without talking to me.... I had a nurse escorting another woman into my room where I was sleeping and she was shocked to see me "Oh I thought you were leaving this morning" (24 hours after my c-section)I don't think so

Carrie 1-09-2007 @ 2:34PM

We went Thursday for the induction. C-section on Friday. Left on Tuesday morning.

For me I think it was too long. When I look back now I think I would have been more comfortable at home. But I was doped up and couldn't get the hang of breastfeeding so I/and the hospital thought it was the best choice to stay an extra couple days. Unfortunately those couple days were extremely traumatic for me.

Tara 1-09-2007 @ 2:05PM

I had twins via c-section and stayed 5 days (4 nights and the following morning). I wanted to stay as long as my daughter was in the NICU. My son stayed in my room. Once my daughter was released from the NICU we went home as a family. I don't mind hospitals. Being waited on hand and foot. Niiiice! I get orders from my doc to not disturb me while I'm sleeping. (no vitals etc) Basically, "don't bother me unless I call you into the room".

maria 1-09-2007 @ 2:51PM

I'm lucky - easy pregnancies - easy deliveries. What's not addressed is how long should a baby stay in the hospital after birth. There are birth defects and problems that are not immediately evident when a baby is born. My son was born w/a serious heart defect. We had the good fortune that it was diagnosed when I was pg - but if he had not been diagnosed, he could have been sent home before the issue became apparent and gotten very sick before he had surgery or in many cases these children die.

It's not just the Moms we need to think about but babies too!

Karen 1-09-2007 @ 3:32PM

I have homebirths. Hospitals are full of germs and I don't want my precious little ones exposed to that unless it is medically necessary. When I delivered at home, my midwife was there with me, got my little one latched on properly, and did home visits for the next two days to make sure everything was fine.

I agree with Jules above, why medicalize a process that should be natural for the vast majority of moms.

Melissa P. 1-09-2007 @ 2:46PM

I had 2 babies with a C-Section both times.
Kaiser Hospital lets you stay 3 days.
I would have appreciated another day.
I had had a difficult pregnancy and birth
experience and was physically drained.
And the second one I also had bronchitis
and was unable to do much at all.
But, we survived it all.

Kim 1-09-2007 @ 3:14PM

I went in for my induction Sunday night at 8pm. Had my son vaginally at 10:20am on Monday. Discharged around 11am Wednesday. My mom was leaving Thursday (she thought my son would be on time, not a week late) so I wanted a little time to get settled at home before she left. Recovery sucked both at home and in the hospital. It didn't matter all that much where I was.

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