Pregnancy Support Group

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Porphyria 10/21/2010

Hi all,
When I had my first baby a couple years ago the regulations (by law) were that you could stay in the hospital for up to 2 days (48 hrs) after a vaginal delivery and up to 4 days (96 hours) after a c-section.
I'll be having my 2nd baby next month and during our hospital tour the nurse said that now they have you stay one day after a vaginal delivery and 2 days after a c-section. That just doesn't sound right. Things are going backwards instead of forward. That's drive-thru surgery. She said the change just took effect last month. I forgot to ask if this was their new hospital guideline or if the law has actually changed. Does anyone know about this? And does anyone know where I can find a copy of the most recent California hospital stay laws?

N79 10/21/2010

I thought for us in 2009 it was 2 days as well IF ur doctor released U...I had a csection and was there for 3 nights..per doctor's orders.

truststhelord 10/21/2010

I'm being told 48 hours for a vaginal delivery and 72 for a csection from my ob and hospital tour info....maybe call your insurance and
see what is covered.

deleted_user 10/21/2010

I would call your insurance & see what they cover. Our hospital has been doing the 1 day after vaginal & 2 days after c-section & I've done both & been fine. However, our insurance will cover 2 days after vaginal & 3 days after c-section, but if we call them while at the hospital they will cover as long as medically necessary.

deleted_user 10/21/2010

I'm not exactly sure what the laws are and I don't live in CA but I know that some insurance companies actually have guidelines for your stay, as well. I would check into that, too. My insurance is really good and with my dd they required that I be kept for two nights in order for them to pay for the delivery. I had a natural delivery so I think this is just to cut down on costs of complications that could arise... ? not sure. But, for my hospital, a natural delivery you are kept for two nights and a c-section (providing there are no problems) it's three nights.

deleted_user 10/21/2010

I live in CA. Last time I was kept for two nights. This time I'm going to a different hospital and I asked and they said it's 24 h for a vaginal delivery. I actually plan on leaving sooner if the doctors let me - the hospital said if everything's good you can leave 12h later. All this is from the moment of the delivery. Last time we stayed the whole time and it was really annoying with nurses coming and going each hour. This time since we have a toddler at home I'd really like to just get back home as soon as possible.

deleted_user 10/22/2010

I think the 24 hour timeline is driven by insurance companies and supported by hospitals who don't want to have to fight for the stay to be covered. I have a little experience with dealing with insurance companies and it can be a time consuming nightmare. Not that it's a good reason or evdience based practice. Our health care system is in a very sad state.

Kris19 10/22/2010

As long as my delivery goes good, then i like being out after 24 hours, i don;t like being at the hospital for very long. With my last 2 kids, i was in for 2 days, once the one night was over , i just wanted to go home and be with my family, the hospital stay was alright, i just rather be home. Tho i think after a c-section the mother should be there 3 days, thats surgery.I am having a home birth this time and hoping all goes good :) i'm 15 weeks

Porphyria 10/22/2010

Thanks for all your replies. I agree with those of you who say you wish to go home as soon as possible, but only if I were to have a vaginal delivery. I just remember after my 1st c-section, I couldn't even walk til the 2nd day, and it surprises me to hear that they would actually send a c-section mom home on the 2nd day. You don't realize how much you use your abdominal muscles for EVERYTHING until they've been cut. For a good couple weeks I felt like I had been hit by a truck.

After talking to a couple more people, it seems that the sending home early thing is just this hospital's practice and not a change in the law. By law you still have the right to stay up to 2 days following a vaginal delivery, and 4 days following a c-section if you feel the need.

Good luck to all you ladies & your precious bundles.

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