UK question: Mums - do any of you feel that you were hurried out of hospital after giving birth?

Question

My sister gave birth to her first child in 1986. The borth was normal and the babywas healthy, yet I think she said that she was in hospital for about 10 days.

Fast forward to today. I gave birth in Oct 2007. It was less than 24 hours later when they were asking me to leave. I wanted to have a bit of sleep before leaving, as I also have a toddler to care for and didn't think I would get a chance to catch up on sleep once I returned home.

What are your honest opinions on this?

Answer 1

Im not a mum but I am a dad. When my partner gave birth it was traumatic for her and was exhuasted afterwards. We had concerns about the child (it was healthy) as it had not had a full feed yet. Yet the hospital wanted her out as quickly as possible (to be fair i think she wanted to leave as the care was non existant on the ward). I think the NHS are just after the beds and meet the targets the government set them. They do not really care about care on most wards anymore.

Answer 2

Yeah I felt I wasn't treated very well at all.

I suffered a 3rd degree tear and was just left sat in my own blood for 5 hours - Not exaggerating!

Then I was finally wheeled down to theatre to be stitched back up.

I had to have a cafiter fitted because I needed a spinal for the operation. The next morning I was absolutely starving but still had to leave my baby unattended and walk down to corridor carrying my cafiter to get some breakfast!

There was more bad stuff but I could go on all day!

Next time I think i'll go for a home birth!

They said I should stay another night but I wasn't even looked after so I just discharged myself and went home

Answer 3

I had my daughter in 2004 and they kept me in for six days as she was small, not life threateningly but smaller than they had thought.  i had an epidural and otherwise a natural birth.   My sister had kids in 2000 and 2006, cesareans both times and home in 4 days which is quick for a c section.  I'm 27 weeks pregnant and this time i'd rather be home as fast as possible!

Answer 4

Hi i had my first child 28 years ago and was in hospital for a week then my yougest surprise was for years ago and after 6 hours i was told i could go home i was shocked i think at least 24 hours should be standard after 16 hours in intensive pain

Answer 5

i had a c section in 1994 and was in for 5 days the midwifes were all agency and didn't care. 1995 i had another c section and i discharged myself after 2 days stitches and all. and 1999 i had my final one and the staff knew i had previous kids and got me to help out on the wards as they didn't have the time or staff. it is disgusting the way women are treated they push you to have c sections and other procedures and they have no staff to treat you. if i had my time again i would go private.

Answer 6

I think if you are fit and the baby is healthy then get out of the hospital as soon as possible. Maternity wards are so overcrowded that you could be depriving someone else, who may have had complications, of a much needed space. Also i wouldn't risk staying in hospital too long and picking up some nasty bug!

Having a child is not a serious illness and if you're not sick then you don't need to be in hospital. Family such as grandparents and the father should help you at home if you need some rest.

** If you dont have any parents to help you or you're a single mum then do what everybody else does and get on with it, hospitals are not hotels where you can have a rest from the children you chose to bring into the world!**

You wanted an honest answer.

Answer 7

The after- care across the board in the NHS is a joke. There simply isn't the bed space and patients welfare is compromised because of lack of resources. It is worrying. I understand how you feel. Although if your well enough to go home you should be able to, but one should also have the option to stay a bit longer if they feel they need to.