Hospital Stay After C-section

With my first c-section I stayed in the hospital for 4 nights, my second I was in for 2 nights and my third that was a month ago I stayed for 3 nights. All were in the same hospital. Each recovery was different for me so that is why my doctor let me leave when I was ready.

I think a lot has changed over the last 10 years. Insurance companies don't really want to pay for you to stay that long any more. They pretty much dictate how long you are in the hospital. I had pre-eclampsia with my son. He was born on October 17, 2007. I had to have him early due to the pre-eclampsia so it was a planned c-section. He was born 4 weeks early also. I went in on Wednesday and was discharged Saturday morning (3 nights). My doctor said he would have discharged me on Friday (after only 2 nights) but my son was in NICU so they let me stay until he was discharged. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield.

I too have had a lot of complications (I did wonder if it was caused by the epidural or spinal)....25 doctors later found out I have fibromyalgia. It probably developed when I was pregnant. Feel free to message me if you have any questions.

I never had a c-section in Kansas. We are military so I have had all my kids elsewhere. However, all of my stays have been at least 4 days after the surgery... with the exception I had to stay in a whole two weeks with my last baby due to his breathing complications.

However, it may not all be the hospital's fault. It could very well be your insurance. There are different policies with different insurances about how long your stay can be in the hospital. Each person has a different amount of time their insurance will pay. If you stayed any longer, they may not have covered or paid for anything else.

That is something you may want to call and ask your insurance company about. And if you are having problems, you really need to see your doctor.

i think it just depends on your doc and how you are recovering. With my first c-section I had her at 7:30 am on a Saturday and went home Tuesday by noon. So just a little over 3 days. But with my second I had her on a Tuesday at 1:00pm and went home Thursday afternoon. So I really it was like 2 days. I felt like my recovery was faster and so did my doc so they sent me home pretty fast. but I felt like that was fine.

36 hours seems very fast to me; however, most insurance companies generally allot a specific number of nights that you can stay in the hospital. Since your son was born at 10:16 p.m. on Friday, then Friday counted as your first night. If your hospital only allows a two-night stay, then unfortunately, you were discharged at the "correct" time. Many insurance companies allow for 3-4 nights though following a c-section. Seven days is definitely not the norm anymore.
Had your son been born at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday morning, you probably would not have been sent home until Monday, essentially giving you an extra 24 hours for a birth that came only two hours later.

I was in from Monday to Wednesday with my first. My 2nd was a vbac so I only stayed for 24 hours.

I don't know. I went in for my second c-section on a Saturday morning and came home Monday morning. I didn't want to be in the hospital anymore and I was healing well, so my doctor agreed to let me go home.
With my first c-section (an emergency) it was a bit longer. I had my daughter on Wednesday morning and stayed in the hospital till Saturday morning. Seven days seems like a long time to stay in the hospital. Were there extinuating circumstances the first time? Did you have complications?
What kind of complications are you having? I would suggest you see a doctor (a different one than the one that did your c-section) and explain your complications to them and see what they say. If you had poor care, another doctor will be able to tell you.
As long and you were recovering well, there's no reason for them to keep you longer than 36 hours.
I can't help on the insurance, sorry

Hi! My oldest is now 22, & I had him by C-section. I know that was a long time ago as compared to yours, but I had him on a Wednesday evening & was out on Sunday. The doctor had mentioned that I could be released a day earlier that I was, but he kept me in because it was better & the insurance covered it. I've heard 3 or 4 days, but I've also heard of people being released sooner than that these days.

I hope things get better for you! Take care!

It has more to do with the insurance companies...they allow you to stay three days. I'm a little surprised they discharged you on Sunday instead of waiting until Monday though.

Especially because of the changes being forced on hospitals right now, they are trying to get people out of the hospital on time or before the insurance company quites paying. The only way the insurance company will pay for you to stay long is if you have some complications while you're there that require you to be in the hospital.

I had a baby 2 years ago in Kansas (but live in MO) on a Friday and they wouldn't release me until the Monday after. I'd ask the doctor why they released you on Sunday/so early.

that sounds kind of early to leave especially with the transfusion and all. i stayed in 5 days when i had mine.

Thirty six hours seems short. Seven days would be longer than average depending upon whether you had complications. The University of Ks hospital states on their website that on an average women are released 3-5 days post surgery.

According to the national conference of state legistures website -

http://www.ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/Health/FinalMaternityL...
"The Federal government has published final rules governing the length-of-stay requirements for a vaginal or cesarean delivery of beneficiaries covered in a group or individual health plan. The rule will implement changes to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) made by the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996 (the Newborns' Act). The Newborns' Act prohibits the restriction of mothers' and newborns' benefits for hospitals length-of-stay in connection with childbirth to less than 48 hours for a vaginal delivery or 96 hours for a cesarean section. The final rules make no substantial changes to the language in the interim final rule published almost 10 years ago. The final regulations become effective December 9, 2008 and will apply to the group and individual market plans with coverage beginning on or after January 1, 2009."

States can make their own laws. However, it would have to be longer not shorter.

A great resource for cesarean recovery support and information is the International Cesarean Awareness Network.

Good luck.

That is pretty darn quick. I have had two c-sections in Kansas and stayed 4 days after one and 3 days after the other. On the flip side, it is not as if they really did anything in particular when I was there for 3 days - I just sort of laid around and recovered while they monitored me, so I don't know that being there prevented me from having any complications. I suppose it wold depend on the problems you ended up having as to whether or not the extra 36 hours in the hospital would have helped.

My daughter was delivered at 9:19 pm on Friday, they allowed me a "grace period" till Monday am because our daughter was in the NICU. I got the impression that I would've been out on Sunday if she'd been able to come home with us. I won't even get started on insurance companies and what they do and don't cover. Hope you're doing well now!

As far as I know, your insurance company is required to cover a 96 hour hospital stay after a C-section.
from the US Dept. of Labor website:
"The Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act of 1996 (the Newborns’ Act), signed into law on September 26, 1996, requires plans that offer maternity coverage to pay for at least a 48-hour hospital stay following childbirth (96-hour stay in the case of a cesarean section).
This law was effective for group health plans for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 1998. "
That is a federal law, so the state in which you gave birth was irrelevant.
Most of the moms I know had shorter stays after 2nd or subsequent C-sections than they did with the first. My guess is that you were discharged because you were ready medically to leave, but that's just me. Were you having any problems at the time you were discharged? Did you see you OB/GYN as scheduled for follow up care? Did you follow post-op instructions regarding restrictions on your activity? Any one of these could have contributed to your complications, or they could be due to something else entirely.

I have had two C-sections, one 3 years ago and the other 10 months ago. The first one I was discharged after 3 days because that's what my insurance covers. The second I was scheduled to go home on Sunday, but there were some issues with our daughter's breathing, so we were allowed to stay one more day and I went home on Monday. My understanding is that it's pretty much up to the insurance company. That said, doctors usually have a way of working things out so that you can stay longer if you feel you need to. The only person I know who has stayed more than 3 or 4 days is my mother-in-law, and of course, her C-sections were 30ish years ago. And then she was only there 10 days. I think it has to do with the time/era you delivered before than the state.

By national law insurance companies must cover 96 hours for a c-section; however, they will get you out sooner if they can. I recommend knowing your rights for the future. My first son was delivered by emergency c-section at 11:36pm on Wednesday night and I was released from the hospital on Saturday morning after having been given magnesium sulfate for HELLP Syndrome. I should have been there longer! With my second c-section, I left the hospital after less than 48 hours because my son had to be transferred to a NICU at another hospital an hour away. I said if they didn't release me that I would leave against medical advice. I was really looking forward to that 96 hour stay! Baby 2 was born in Kansas.

I only stayed 2.5 days with mine. They wouldn't let me go home until I ate, voided, and walked. And made sure baby was fine too. Some insurance carriers do limit your time in the hospital to what's medically necessary. Only if there were severe complications would you have been in for seven days. It's not so much your insurance, but what plan the employer or you chose with aetna. Was the hospital out of aetnas network maybe? Does your plan have a deductible? was your prenatal care split between two doctors or midwives? Did you have aetna all the way through the entire pregnancy? These factors can all make your bill higher. Call aetna if you have questions about what or how much was paid. And definitely see a new doctor if you are having problems!

There is much to say about the misguided motives driving the health care and insurance industries in the US today. These industries need more than reorganization. They need re-humanization. It is not an impossible goal. Sweden and Australia provide lovely examples of intelligent and caring pre and post-natal care for mothers and babies.

As far as your question goes, you do not provide enough information to be able to offer a practical answer. Your issues may have more to do with changes in anesthesias, having a different surgeon, or not being offered good advice about often needed physical therapy following a C-section.

Another thing that women need to understand is the need for good chiropractic care during and after pregnancy. When pregnant, the woman's body produces chemicals that soften the ligaments that hold our joints together. This happens so the bony structure can adjust for bearing and birthing a child. It is much easier for joints like hips and shoulders to become unstable during and after pregnancy. It also allows the spine to more easily mis-allign, which can inhibit healthy nerve conduction. Within a couple of months after delivery, the ligaments re-harden. So, the spine and joints are allowed to settle into permanent position while the muscles of the abdomen are jelly and we are doing everything with a baby in one arm or a diaper bag strapped over one shoulder. It is so easy for these joints to settle into imbalances that leave us with hip, back, shoulder, neck, knee, elbow, wrist, or ankle problems. But, this has nothing to do with early release from the hospital. It has to do with the lack of scientific cooperation between MDs and DCs. All Ob-Gyns should be at least recommending chiropractic care to help women prepare for deliver and to make sure they are not left with permanent joint and back problems following delivery. If we were intelligent about these things, hospitals would provide chiropractic care as a natural part of post-partum care.

I had a C-section followed by two ectopic pregnancies. The first two operations left me with only a scar and no other physical difficulties. However, when the third surgery occurred, I was not able to enjoy the benefits of having my chosen surgeon. The surgeon decided to conduct an experimental procedure that caused me to require a second surgery a week later. I still have problems with the side of the abdomen that surgeon worked on, as well as problems with the hip on that side. Most of these problems are the result of adhesions.

There are therapists and doctors that know how to help you learn stretches and massage techniques that can help with such issues, but I have never heard of an Ob-Gyn that bothered to explain or recommend these therapies.

So, although you did not tell us what sort of complications you are experiencing, there is a very good chance that another day or two in the hospital may not have really helped as much as an exceptionally good massage therapist or a chiropractor could have.

I had a bad case of scoliosis before having my son at the age of 28. Because the pregnancy softened my ligaments, my chiropractor was able to adjust my spine as if I were as flexible as a 3 year old. At 52, I have still have a straight spine and do not suffer from the back pain I had in my teens and early 20's. It seems almost criminal that we are not making sure our daughters understand this before graduating high school. It is so important to women's health and there is no good reason why most women are still ignorant of this.

So, I don't know what your symptoms are, but I hope you are able to find good solutions.

There is a law that all insurance companies must guarantee coverage for at least a four day stay for women delivering via c-section, but I'm not sure if that's state-by-state or federal. I doubt that your complications would be due to lack of care unless you started having issues right after you came home and before the third day was up.

I gave birth in Overland Park, KS and had a c-section - I was in the hospital for 4 days. Sometimes I think it's up to the insurance company = what they will cover. Sorry to hear about your problems - hope it works out.

I know i'm late, but the thing is that ppl don't take c-sections really serious. Its a serious hard core surgery but nobody takes it seriously anymore. Not like they use to 20 or 15 years ago. I had a c-section and i was in the hospital for three days after my surgery, and they asked me how i felt, if i wasn't ready i could stay longer. they did the same to my mother, who also had a c-section , again 20+ years ago. I'm sorry you're having complications now. To prove it was due because of your early discharge will be hard to do, i think. Good luck.

i went in on sunday evening to be induced the next morning (monday) ended up having a c-section at 7pm monday nite. i left the hospital on thursday - they said i could have stayed till friday but i was ready to be home in my own bed. this was just 2 years ago october in missouri and i think that i had coventry insurance. everything was just fine with me and my daughter so maybe it could just be with the insurance companies.

I was under the understanding that with a c-section you should have gotten an extra day. When I had my first, he was born 2 minutes to midnight on a friday, and we were discharged on Sunday afternoon. I was SO NOT READY! He was 11 pounds and caused quite a bit of damage. I passed out 4 hours after having him and later found out if I had held him in those 2 minutes, we could have stayed until monday! AGH! Anyway, 36 hours was all I got with him, but it wasn't a c-sec. So sorry you are still having problems. I had my third in Oct. last year.

Last year I worked on a mother/baby unit and most of our c-section moms went home within 48 hours if there weren't any complications. From personal exeprience, after my 1st c-section I went home with in 48 hours, with my second there were complications and I stayed for 6 days.

I had 3 c-sections. 1st born 1992 and was in California hospital for 5 days mainly because I was very anemic and had complications.
2nd was born in 1995 in Missouri hospital. Everything went very well and was out in 48 hours.
3rd was born in 2000 in Tennessee hospital and was out in 48 hours.

I don't think this was because they discharged you early. As I know you must be aware c-sections come with a variety of very real risks. I have had three births this way. The first one was an emergency after 31 hours of active labor without any progression after 4 centimeters. I stayed in the hospital for five days. A week after discharge, so two weeks after the delivery, my wound opened and I had to run to the emergency room. A home nurse was sent to my home every day to pack the wound for four months while I healed.

Three years later, I had a second emergency c-section. This time I had preelampsia. I stayed in the hospital for five days. A few days home, again my wound opened and I had a home nurse come for four months to pack the wound while it healed. Once healed, I experienced pain in that area like my muscles were contracting wrong. It turned out that my uterus was stuck to my abdomin wall and bladder. I had to have a surgery to separate my uterus from the wall of my abdomin but the doctor could not separate my uterus and my bladder due to concerns about nicking my bladder. I also had problems during intercourse. My husband said that it was like a bear trap; not what one wants to hear as you are with the one you love.

Seven years later, oops, I received the best surprise of my life. Amazing if you think about the previous paragraph. I was pregnant again. I finally experienced a planned and non emergency c-section...way better experience! I demanded that he sow me up instead of using staples. I went home within 36 hours of having my beautiful baby but I did not experience the previous problems even with my bladder being attached. In fact, the intercourse problems are completely gone too.

So, your problems are not necessarily because of the time not spent in the hospital. It is probably how they finished the surgery. Do not let them tell you there is nothing they can do for you. Keep going back and get this fix.

Good luck!

S., I'm concerned. It's been nearly a year since you gave birth and you are still having complications? It may be time for a new or different doctor.

Like some of the other posts said, the state you gave birth in is irrelevant, it sounds more like an insurance issue, which just stinks. I would check with your insurance company to see if they would cover a specialist. If you are still having complications, something needs to be checked out.

My births were both vaginal, and I was out as fast as they would let me go. My friends that had c-sections were all out after three days with no complications. After what I've read, it looks like that is pretty standard care.

I'm so sorry that you are going through this. It's hard enough to care for two children and not feel well on top of it all. I hope it all works out for you and please let us know what happens. Good luck.

At least at my hospital the routine stay for an uncomplicated vaginal birth is 48 hours and 72 hours for an uncomplicated c-section.

Side note: Your hospital and your doctor both sound whacked!

I am from CT and I was able to stay only 4 days, I also had major complications and my DD lost 10% of her body weight and both our DR said that we should have stayed longer and they should have taken better care of us, in so many words, my BFF just had one this week actually and she was out in the same time. got to love insurance.

I was always under the impression that your hospital stay starts when you get admitted into the hospital, not after you have the baby. Which is why they want you to wait as long as you can to go to the hospital. For instance if you labor for a while then have to have an emergency C all that time counts toward your 96 hours in the hospital. So if you have a scheduled C you will probably be allowed to stay in the hospital longer because you were only there a few hours before baby is born. If you have a long labor they have to have reasons for you to stay longer... On a side note in Florida where I had my first 3 children, they allow you to be released 24 hours after birth if everything is ok and you want to, but you have to sign a waver saying you will bring baby back to the hospital the next day for their 48 hour tests. Or you can stay the whole 48 hours afterwards (I did).

I know insurance has something to do with it and so do doctors, but my section is scheduled for Friday and my doctor told me to plan on going home Tuesday, maybe Monday if I really wanted to, but not before Monday. I'm having him at St. Luke's on the Plaza.

I delivered one of my twins via C-section 5 1/2 yrs ago and only stayed 36 hrs after she was born. They don't keep you long at all now due to insurance issues.

Alot has changed but typically the stay for a C-section is 3 to 5 days. To me, it sounds like you were discharged early...have you talked to your doctor? It may be that they considered Friday one day, Saturday the second, and Sunday as the third day...I disagree but...

I had my last 2 by c-section in the am on Fridays and was released mid-day on the following Monday. Approx. 3 days is the norm, but 2 days is not unusual either. Insurance companies generally allow 3 days stay after a c-section. I had United Health Care for the first and Blue Cross of Arkansas for the second. I am not familiar with Aetna, so I don't know what is allowable. Seven days is completely unheard of unless there are some serious complications.

I had my dd a little over a year ago July, emergancy c-sect I checked in a little after noon on Wednesday and was able to go home Sat morning. I could have stayed one more day but my dd and I were doing well so I was able to go. My ins covered everything except the phone and t.v. If your doc thought you needed to stay he would not have let you go. Call your ins and find out.

I had 2 sections and was home within 48 hrs. for both... wanted to be home after 24. My husband is a nurse. I hated being in the hospital. 48 is the norm, unless there are complications.

I had my first c-section march 2011, it was Saturday night and I was home Sunday night (I had to beg my dr to send me home because I wanted to get to reality), I am now 5 weeks pregnant again and I think I have to have a c-section again but I think I'm going to stay as Long as I can this time LOL