Kina

Louise I gave birth to Ella at 2.02am (arrived at 1.15am) and was home by around 10am. We had to see the paediatrician for her checkover, he came round at 7am then we were just waiting around for her NHS number before we could leave.
Nobody can make you stay in - it's your choice. If you want to leave you're well within your rights to do so. They didn't even check if Ella had fed, which was really wrong of them as by the time she was around a week old my nipples were shredded. So it is worthwhile making sure you've got the latch etc totally right before you go home.

Louise

Kina

Ella was full term, she was born at 39+4. I was really anxious to get out of the hospital, but even when I expressed concern that she wasn't latching on they made out that I was just being daft and that I should calm down about her feeding. Noone watched her feed etc. Because Alex was born early at home and we were left to go to hospital under our own steam it was easier to refuse, though we did get several phone calls which I asked DH to deal with. I can't lie, it was stressful with the MW keeping on at me, but staying at home was best for me, Alex and the rest of the family.

Cheyanne

Hmmm..Kassidy was 32 wks and 3lbs 11 oz. She had absolutely no problems. She was in regular nursery and treated as a "normal" newborn. The only requirement, because of low birth weight was that she had to gain three ounces in three days consecutively. Sounds easy, but new borns lose weight in the first few days. She dropped to 3-8, then back up and down one or two. lol So, it took 12 days to accomplish. We actually stayed 18 days due to my pre-eclampsia and other issues. Bailey was 4 lbs 15 oz. We came home after three days. That's the general stay for a c-section and I had one with both. There are sooo many factors though. Baby's health, your health, your doctor's mood, hospital policies, etc. No one could believe I was allowed to bring home a 3lb 14oz baby, but we did..with strict instructions and she flourished immediately.

Louise

My friend was telling me last night that a girl she knows has just had a baby, and she only weighed 3lb, too. She also was allowed to bring her home which I thought was kinda weird.
Was ur 32 weeker tubed up to machines, etc The thought of that really scares me. I would HATE to see my child in that kind of way, whether it only be for one day or ne hour, I wouldnt be able to stand it.

Tilly

Thats a hard question to answer. Bethanie was born at 37 weeks and 6 days, yet she had hypoglaecemia and polycythaemia (low blood sugars and her blood was too concentrated basically) so she had to stay in SCBU for a week, when I was expecting to take her home the next day.

We also did a tour of the unit, maternity ward, SCBU etc.. and I saw all the little premature and ill babies and wanted to cry, never did I think my Bethanie would end up there, it's an emotional place to be honest.

Edit - Just saw what you said about tubes etc.. Bethanie didn't have loads, but I remember she had one in her nose and I panicked as soon as I arrived, when I got to hold her for only a few minutes I just wanted to cry. We also had to see her having a lot of blood tests and seeing your new babies blood when you just want to take them home is dreadful.

Dippy Yvanne

chloe had a tube for bein fed, i learnt how to change em etc, she was also strapped to a few machines, but she was a giant compared to most babies in scbu as she was late, not early, some were just tiny!

Pumpkin

I have seen 41 week babies have to stay a day or 2. Really depends on what is going on with them, not when they are born,

Tilly

Yea we saw some tiny ones and it was heartbreaking. The worst thing is them being in the incubators bless them. Sounds like you were involved a fair bit.. I really feel I missed a special time with Bethanie because we were just treated like the neighbours popping round to say hi.. even got told off for cuddling Bethanie once even though she was only still in hospital because she wasn't feeding well. Never heard anything so silly in my life, babies need cuddles.