[*krista*]

My doctor told me something last appointment that surprised me. They have a standard stay in the hospital of at least two days after birth, no matter how you give birth. I can understand if it is a c-section, but is that really necessary for a vaginal birth with a healthy mom and baby? How long did everyone stay at the hospital?

Can they force me or the baby to stay if we didn't want to? I don't know if it would come down to it, but if I wanted to leave then I don't want to feel like a prisoner at the hospital.

[Frozendesire]

I've left early with both boys. I just came back to do blood work with the baby.

Dustin was born 2pm and we left early the next morning. Curtis was the same thing. Born in the morning and we left early the next morning.

[greeneyes]

Most hospitals have a required minimum stay because they want to make money off your insurance. All of my OBs had a policy that they would let me leave after 24hrs if both baby and me checked out ok. Keep in mind that if your OB won't let you leave early and you do so anyway "against medical advice" then your insurance provider will most likely deny you coverage for your delivery and hospital stay.

[~*sierra*~]

SIL had her baby at around midnight and we left late the following afternoon (even though they said we could leave at lunch! grr). it was so boring sitting around the hospital.

[ShannonMVT]

I'd ask your OB, it may be if you get everything "done" they might let you go early. You will have to do a hearing test for baby and a heel stick.
I was happy to stay there as long as I did since I was pretty tired and sore. I stayed about 36 hours.

[SandKmommy]

Ours only does 24hrs after a vaginal birth(unless problems like me), but I believe you can sign a waiver saying you understand this and that and discharge yourself early.

i was in for 3.5days with Seamus(vaginal birth) plus a day of being a boarding mom (monday 7/8pm till Friday 6pm) and like 50-60hrs with Kieran(c-section)(Wed at 5am till Friday at 1pm)

[Chelnae6]

My hospital recommends the mother stay 2 days b/c the baby has to stay for 2 days. But I couldve left after 24 hours. I opted to stay for the 2 days b/c I didnt want to leave without her.

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

Ours w as 24 hours, but I had to stay 48 because of my problems or whatever. But like Kate said, you can check yourself out AMA but be prepared that your insuance may deny you.

[Oriyan]

I was able to leave 30 hours after he was born. (Would have been sooner, but we had to do some discharge class at noon which was basically instructions to call 911 if you feel the need to shake your baby, this is how to care for your vag, and where to stop on the way out to get the baby's low-jack taken off, and that was all really.) The only way they would let J.J get discharged with me was if he had a ped appointment the next day (he lost 10oz from birth to 30 hours), so we got an appt and we got to leave. I went home on a Friday night, my induction started on a Wednesday morning.

Generally if you are ok, and baby's tests are ok, and you request to leave early, there should be no reason for them to say no.

They kept my SIL for 6 days because she had Pre-E and her liver enzymes kept increasing. They can also keep your LO for the 48 hours and not discharge them even if you want to leave. A lot of hospitals will try and pull that number on you (well, we can't discharge your child for 48 hours but you can go...) which again is nonsense. Try and have your ped affiliated with the hospital so this way your ped can give the ok and not the staff peds. The staff peds tried to tell me J.J would have to stay since i never got the rhogam shot when i was pregnant and he could have RH incompatibility disease (he was fine since he was my first).

ETA: At my hospital they have mandatory 48 hours for c-sections. After that if you are up and about, you can leave. You can stay for 96 hours if you need though.

[~*Bethy*~]

My hospital I had my c-section at required 24 hours but suggested 36. My csection stay was 4 days counting the first day

[.Brandi.]

I don't remember since it's been 5 years since Edward was born and I had a c-section anyway. After both c-sections, I had to stay 3 days. With Edward, I was admitted to labor and delivery at about 1:30pm on Thursday labored for 36 1/2 hours, he was born on Friday morning at 6:33am and I didn't leave until around the mid to late afternoon the following Monday. With Preston, I was admitted to labor and delivery at 11am, walked to the OR at 12pm, Preston was born at 1:05pm and I didn't leave until about 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

[Resi]

woah! I'd stay for the 48 hours so I wouldn't risk my insurance denying coverage. Can you imagine the shock of that bill? How crazy. I didn't know they could do that. You'd think in the long run it would save the insurance company money to leave a day early.

[szczepanski]

Since I had Nolan at 2 am, we had 2 full days there. Prior to giving birth I was adamant that I wanted to get home ASAP. Even with having a natural birth and being up and moving moments after and getting around just fine.....I so wasn't ready to go home, hahaha. We were so clueless with Nolan it was nice to have a button to push to get him all checked out and answer our questions.

Maybe it was just me but I was worried to even burp him...our poor nurse.

[ShannonMVT]

Oh and Krista I think you are using hte same hospital "chain" as me so since I didn't stay a full 48 hours I wouldn't think you would have to. I had Matthew at 1:22 a.m. on a Thursday and we left sometime Friday afternoon.

[*krista*]

Thanks for all the info ladies! Does anyone know if the insurance will deny coverage in any case that I decide to go against medical advice? That really sucks.

[soImarriedAnerd]

I don't know one person who signed AMA that they DID cover you.
Also its usually a hospital policy so the Dr don't get to over ride it alot of places. And its mainly because the maternity care in the USA is INSURANCE based....meaning no matter if its best for mom/baby or not if it can protect them in a lawsuit its the routine. This is one of those things. Someone sued them the and won and so the policy was changed.
Also FYI did you know that 60% of a hospitals income is from the Maternity unit! Its the biggest money maker!
One thing you could do is check with your insurance....some DON'T want you there that long and if the hospital know it will not get paid for extra time then they don't really ilke to keep you LOL

[greeneyes]

Originally Posted by *krista*

Thanks for all the info ladies! Does anyone know if the insurance will deny coverage in any case that I decide to go against medical advice? That really sucks.

Pretty much if you sign out AMA, your insurance is flat going to deny coverage. I know how much it sucks, trust me. When Violet was born we were told we could be discharged after 24 hours but then there was this weird "screw up" with my GBS test coming back positive (long story) and they were threatening to put Violet in the NICU if we didn't stay the full 48 hours. We were surrounded by people who were downright rude and mean to us and had to endure an extra day of it or check out AMA and pay thousands of dollars. Obviously we endured the extra day but it was stressful as hell.

[soImarriedAnerd]

Oh and YOU can sign out AMA but I think they normally get a court order that you CAN'T for a newborn. (if they want to be jerks)

[Adriana's Mommy]

I was in post partum for less then 24 hours.. I wanted to leave as soon as I could because I didn't want to get charged for another day... I know.. I'm cheap.. lol

[Nami]

Wow, that's crazy, we only have to stay for 5 hours after birth here, after that you're free to go as long as you can go pee before leaving.