Going home after hospital birth

dkneeskern · May 2015

My first DS was born at a birthing center and I went home 2 hours after he was vaginally delivered. Due to several different reasons we opted to have SDS at a hospital. Our goal is still natural child birth but we wanted to be ready in case some of the same complication arise.

My question is, how soon can I demand to go home? I do not want to spend the night at the hospital. I really do hate hospitals and am starting to second guess my decision. Any encouragment is welcome.

Rgriffin91 · May 2015

Normally, the hospital will keep you as long as your insurance will pay for it barring complications (48hrs vaginal, 72hrs c-section). Can you request to stay longer at the birthing center?

dkneeskern · May 2015

I dont want to stay that long. I would like to go home within several hours of birth...

NoSugarCoating · May 2015

This will likely be a hospital-specific policy. Ask them.

pixieprincss · May 2015

This is all theoretical, as I did stay after our one hospital birth because it ended up being a challenging labor, but leaving AMA ("against medical advice") is probably what you are looking at in a hospital setting because of their policies. (It's an irritating term since you know that a mother is quite alert, healthy, and capable in the afterglow of a low-intervention birth.) I would talk to your provider now about what that might look like in terms of your care and early appointments for baby (if elected). Also, you could try to start a conversation with the hospital's ombudsman.

TrendyTina · May 2015

In Florida, it's 24 hours. I would check with your hospital. From my experience with friends, it's not so much the mom they are concerned about as the baby. If you want to go home so quickly, why not look into a birth center? I went home 4 hours after giving birth and it was fantastic.

TrendyTina · May 2015

pixieprincss said:
This is all theoretical, as I did stay after our one hospital birth because it ended up being a challenging labor, but leaving AMA ("against medical advice") is probably what you are looking at in a hospital setting because of their policies. (It's an irritating term since you know that a mother is quite alert, healthy, and capable in the afterglow of a low-intervention birth.) I would talk to your provider now about what that might look like in terms of your care and early appointments for baby (if elected). Also, you could try to start a conversation with the hospital's ombudsman.

IF you check out AMA, it is my understanding that some insurance companies will not cover the full amount. Someone correct me here if I'm wrong.??

pixieprincss · May 2015

pixieprincss said:
This is all theoretical, as I did stay after our one hospital birth because it ended up being a challenging labor, but leaving AMA ("against medical advice") is probably what you are looking at in a hospital setting because of their policies. (It's an irritating term since you know that a mother is quite alert, healthy, and capable in the afterglow of a low-intervention birth.) I would talk to your provider now about what that might look like in terms of your care and early appointments for baby (if elected). Also, you could try to start a conversation with the hospital's ombudsman.
IF you check out AMA, it is my understanding that some insurance companies will not cover the full amount. Someone correct me here if I'm wrong.??

From what I can tell, this is a myth perpetuated by doctors who are misinformed or what to compel a person to stay. Study here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3378751/

Patients have a right to decline medical care. Insurances cannot make you a prisoner of a hospital. If you think about it, a lot of natural birth options are AMA: eating and drinking during labor, declining internal exams or monitoring, declining a heplock, etc. That is what "informed consent" is all about--the provider informing about the benefits and risks and the patient accepting or declining to move forward having considered that information. A parent also has the legal right to make those decisions for their child. I don't think the medical establishment likes to broadcast these rights, but a close look at a Patient Bill of Rights as well as insurance's Evidence of Coverage and related documents hopefully includes such protections. Unfortunately, the real question might be more about how much "fight" a person is willing to have in the midst of a precious and vulnerable time, which is why I suggested having the conversations early to have facts lined up.

sschwege · May 2015

pixieprincss said:

This is all theoretical, as I did stay after our one hospital birth because it ended up being a challenging labor, but leaving AMA ("against medical advice") is probably what you are looking at in a hospital setting because of their policies. (It's an irritating term since you know that a mother is quite alert, healthy, and capable in the afterglow of a low-intervention birth.) I would talk to your provider now about what that might look like in terms of your care and early appointments for baby (if elected). Also, you could try to start a conversation with the hospital's ombudsman.
IF you check out AMA, it is my understanding that some insurance companies will not cover the full amount. Someone correct me here if I'm wrong.??
From what I can tell, this is a myth perpetuated by doctors who are misinformed or what to compel a person to stay. Study here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3378751/
Patients have a right to decline medical care. Insurances cannot make you a prisoner of a hospital. If you think about it, a lot of natural birth options are AMA: eating and drinking during labor, declining internal exams or monitoring, declining a heplock, etc. That is what "informed consent" is all about--the provider informing about the benefits and risks and the patient accepting or declining to move forward having considered that information. A parent also has the legal right to make those decisions for their child. I don't think the medical establishment likes to broadcast these rights, but a close look at a Patient Bill of Rights as well as insurance's Evidence of Coverage and related documents hopefully includes such protections. Unfortunately, the real question might be more about how much "fight" a person is willing to have in the midst of a precious and vulnerable time, which is why I suggested having the conversations early to have facts lined up.

Yes, I have also read that insurance refusing to cover is a myth. You as the patient may sign yourself out AMA, you have the right to pretty much do as you please. However, it is not that simple when it comes to your baby. If they feel you are not acting in the best interest of the child they can get involved and keep you from taking your child home. My SIL is a pedi and when she worked at a hospital there were a few times when she told staff to call security if the parents tried to leave with their child/baby.

I think minimum is 24hrs for uncomplicated, vaginal delivery. I stayed for 36 hours with DD and 48 hours with DS.

nosoup4u · May 2015

There are some tests they run in the baby after 24-30 hrs, hence the overnight stay. Exactly what sschwege said, when babies are involved AMA becomes trickier, in all honesty.

I hate hospitals also, and stayed two nights with DS2 (he was born at 6pm or so).

holli0801 · May 2015

It's not a myth. Please check with your insurance company before taking the risk! I am a medical social worker and I have seen it happen. Especially if you have Medicaid or a state insurance.

I haven't checked with my private insurance yet, but do intend to because I also want to leave ASAP! At our hospital it is up to the doctor how long you stay.

WDDCH · June 2015

You need to talk to your OB or midwife. I had a natural hospital birth and was told I could go home soon after the birth, if I wanted.

IrisApricity · June 2015

Doctors and hospital staff have no authority over you, regardless of what they like to make you believe. You are there paying for a service. You and your healthy baby can leave any time, you can also transfer to another facility at any time or decide against the care plan a doctor recommends.

Just make it known to your care team. It helps that you have had a delivery before and understand what is/is not normal after the fact as far as pain, lochia, etc. They can't keep you. Just expect some push back and weird looks when you ask to be released, the nurses are used to people milking insurance and wanting to stay longer, not shorter

Our families thought it was crazy we were home about 8 hours after our daughter was born but there is no where else I would rather be than in my own bed with my new baby. I can't rest anywhere else. We were not in a hospital though, we were in a birth house.

wintersong · June 2015

I thought I would want to rush home, and I ended up actually enjoying my two nights at the hospital. The key for me was having a care team of mothers and nurses that I respected and respected me. I also found that, at least at my hospital, the family recovery unit was way less hospitally than I expected. I was a ftm bring induced for preeclampsia, and I was pretty nervous, but because of an outstanding care team I was put at ease right away with the change in my birth expectations. Maybe with your lo at home you might even unexpectedly enjoy the break.

I agree with a pp, leaving ama begins tricky when a baby is involved.

ForeverEverAfter · July 2015

In my area (Canada) you can go home after 3 hours if you have a midwife to do a home check up. With an OB it's 24h minimum, and if you live further than 30min from the hospital it's 48h. I know policies differ by hospital though, so you might be lucky.

aimeern623 · July 2015

In Colorado, if you leave AMA - your insurance will not cover your hospital expenses.Now this policy may vary from state to state but that is important to find out. One word of advice - take advantage of the expertise at the hospital!!!