When you have a vaginal birth, how long do they keep you in the hospital for? Do you think this is enough time?

I have C-sections so my hospital stay here is 4 days. Throughout those 4 days they ensure that I am healing properly as well as that breastfeeding is successful. And because of it, I've never had issues breastfeeding my babies.

However, with vaginal births, they pretty much shoo the mothers out the door super fast. Some within 6 hours.

Now a mother, especially first time moms, are being frustrated because they are having issues breastfeeding, and they haven't had the proper rest or support. And I have to wonder too if the short hospital stay also helps bring on postnatal depression.

I live in Washington and it's 24-48 hours for a vaginal birth and 3-5 days for a c section.

Here in London you have to stay for at least 24 hrs, but they prefer 2 days (which I plan on doing).

24-48 hours...I plan to leave ASAP..if I don't my house will be a DISASTER when I get home and who knows how the pets will be (DH does NOT like scooping litter).

Here it's 48 hours. I actually read something that said that Mom's that are sent home prior to 48 hours have more problems breast feeding, higher rate of PND and have a higher risk of infection (I don't necessarily think this is the only thing that causes this increase, I also believe that most women that deliver in hospitals aren't educated about what it's really like to breast feed and have a baby and so they leave the hospital very soon knowing nothing about what to experience).

In the US the insurance companies are required to pay for 48 hour stays. I am going to take full advantage of having someone else to help with the baby!

Must be our free health care in Canada being the reason that our hospitals, especially in my area, kick women out of the hospital so quick treating the delivery of babies like an assembly line.

My hospital is minimum 48 hours.

well im in the midlands in the uk and have been warned by my midwife that the hospital i am going to give birth in dont mess about and they have you in and out in a flash like 4-6 hours for vaginal births, how scary!!

with my first son i was kept in for 3 days but that was a different hospital, the one im guna give birth in now has just been built and very hitech, but i still think it should be at least 24hours so its not rushed

I find it appalling that they do that. "Here's your baby, good luck and good riddance."

If you've had a child already, mostly you know what to expect. But for first time moms, it's like shell-shock.

I had my first daughter in a free standing birthing center and we got to leave after 5-6 hours. I'll be ready to go asap with this one too. Just my personal preference as I am a very private person and like to be home. I would do a home birth this time but we live an hour away from a decent hospital and I'm not quite that adventurous. I'll find out tomorrow exactly how long they will keep me in this hospital.