Why cant you go into hospital to have your baby and leave as soon as you have had it? If you have a home birth its perfectly fine to be at home but having it in hospital as a precaution and is born perfectly healthy they insist on keeping you there a few days, I hated it, i couldnt sleep as it was too hot and just wanted my own bed, but for my next baby I want a home birth but at the same time im scared in case of anything going wrong but then im held in the hospital. Why cant I have the security of being in a hospital during birth but be allowed to go straight home and rest? Being in hospital I could not rest at all!!
2007-07-24 09:23:56 · 35 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Because babies are very susceptible to diseases and the doctors just want to make sure that there are no complications with you or your baby.
2007-07-24 09:28:12 · answer #1 · answered by ☆Zestee☆ 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are several reasons you may be kept in the hospital after having a healthy baby. First of all, you may have had a long or difficult labor and you need rest. Secondly the nursing staff is trained to monitor the progress of your uterus and bleeding. As post partum hemmorhage can happen within 24 hours of birth. You may have an Rh factor that could affect the birth. So there are any number of reasons why. However, many hospitals today do allow new mothers to go home about 6-8 hours after giving birth is all is really well. So next time check out your hospital and let your doctor know that this is what you want. Just remember every pregnancy and delivery is different.
2007-07-24 09:34:26 · answer #2 · answered by Diane B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you will feel safer in the hospital, then why can't you simply discharge yourself after the birth? I know it won't be easy because there'll be some mumble about hospital policy etc. But you can always call in again the next day for check-up if you want.
I myself are hoping for a homebirth, whenever I get pregnant and I found this website most useful and informative.
www.homebirth.org.uk
This site talks you though the 'what ifs' that might happen in labour and it has certainy put my mind at ease.
After reading some of the other answers about checking that you or your baby don't become ill, what about the risk of infection in the hospital itself? Surely, your baby would more likely to pick up bugs from the hospital where all the sick are, not to the mention the hygiene standards, than your own home.
2007-07-24 21:37:29 · answer #3 · answered by Sandie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is not so much for you but for your baby, even though a baby may seem perfectly normal at birth they can develop respitory problems or may have digesting problems that might not be apparent imediately. Typically the pediatrican doesn't visit the baby until the following day, also it takes away to get any blood work back. But ultimately they keep you 48 hours after delivery, depending on birth type and health of mother and baby, because that is as long as most insurances will allow them and because they don't want any malpractice lawsuits, because they weren't thorough enough. If you were going to do a home birth make sure you have a mid wife who can make sure all is well, and if she sees any complications she can get you to the hospital and explain quickly. I wanted a home birth for my 2nd child but she was breach and I needed a C-section and then because of that no mid-wife would allow me to have a home birth, to many chances for complications.
2007-07-24 09:44:09 · answer #4 · answered by Deb 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter was born in April 1960.
I was lucky - because she was born before miday, that counted as a whole day so I was allowed to go home after nine days instead of the usual ten!
You could take your own discharge, but if you did that you went home without your baby who could not be discharged till it was 10 days old!
Home births were different because you already had a midwife assigned to you and she continued to call after your baby was born. If you went home early, there was no midwife available to oversee the new Mum and baby.
Maybe this is the reason why you are expected to remain in hospital till the medical staff are sure that everything is OK with mother and child because there is no follow up available in the community.
2007-07-24 09:38:00 · answer #5 · answered by Veronica Alicia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You kind of answered your own question. You are nervous to have your baby at home because there are real risks in having a baby. Technology has brought us very far, but many women and children still die during child birth and babies still grow up with severe disabilities due to complications. That is also why OBs have such a high malpractice insurance rate.
After your baby is born, there is a very high risk of hemmoraging made worse if you don't take it easy. I understand that being in the hospital can make you go batty (I was in 1 week before the birth of my twins and 4 days after), but try to understand that it is usually only 48 hours max. Not a big price to pay for a healthy child and a healthy mom!
2007-07-24 09:33:21 · answer #6 · answered by Clarissa N 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends on the hospital. I had some complications and they kept me there for four days because they were not sure what would happen if I had left. They acutally almost sent the baby home with my hubby without me. They will most likely not let you go if they are unsure of your condition. If you are ok, they should let you go 24 hours or after giving birth. Talk to your doctor about the hospital policies.
2007-07-24 09:31:33 · answer #7 · answered by Jess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had induced births and both times my doctor told me I could go home about 24hours later.
I'd definitely speak with your doctor and the hospital. Find out their policies and make your wishes known.
Some new mothers WANT to stay in the hospital for a couple of days so they can have a couple night's rest before they forget what rest is for a few months. I slept great in the hospital I was in.
2007-07-24 09:30:59 · answer #8 · answered by dashelamet 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the hospital . With my last delivery i had extreme bleeding 6 hrs after giving birth and had a code blue, and almost died due to blood loss. I enjoyed my hospital stay. It's nice to rest before you go home. I am now preg with my 4th and look forward to my mini vacation. Maybe because i have 3 other children at home. Anyways its good to have the medical care offered to u just incase something does go wrong.
Good Luck
2007-07-24 09:47:43 · answer #9 · answered by Kasey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on the hospital. With my first son I had to stay 48 hours but you can sign a waver that you wont hold the hospital liable for any complications you may have and leave when you want... they can not hold you there. With my second son who was 9 pounds 2 oz very big baby for me as I am small they only kept me in for 18 hours and practically kicked me out.
2007-07-24 09:29:49 · answer #10 · answered by Indiana Raven 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know you can go if you want and you are an able mother. It aint prison. Most women stay as its a chance to rest up and get fed etc. My husband wanted me to stay a bit longer so he could tidy the house before I got home! I told him to naff off and just made him take me home as soon as the consultant saw that all was well. I don't like the heat and waking people up because I'm blindly trying to find a babe in the half light to feed! And the food was rubbish too....
2007-07-28 09:28:35 · answer #11 · answered by AUNTY EM 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋