Up and about after giving birth - how soon for you?

Watermeadow you were lucky to get 10 days in 1970. Several friends in London, having children in the late 60s were home in 6 hours.

My first child was born in 1971, out of London and I got a week in as a concession because I was an elderly primagravida (28!!), younger women were out in 2 - 5 days.

Two years later, with my second child I was in and out in 9 hours, it should have been 6, but that would have meant discharging me at 7.00am and the night shift weren't geared up for early morning discharges and the day shift were too busy to do discharges first thing.

When I had my first in 1970 we stayed in hospital for 10 days. The next two were each in Special Care Units for 10 days though you only stayed 48 hours if all was well. The last one was born in 1978 and at last I got out next day and resumed all care of four children. My husband had no time off at all.

In hospital for a week before the eldest was born, then 10 days after, 10 days stay with second which I did not need but was the norm and then seven weeks before birth of third and 10 days after. There is a lot of talk about everyone's mental health now I can't begin to say what mine was like after number 3 that was it.

My c section scar is the longitudinal one from just below the belly button to just above the front bottom as well.
Have had two, 1969 and 1972.
It looks like a tummy tuck now.

47 years ago tomorrow I gave birth in hospital to my DS. Moved to a maternity home the following day for a couple of weeks. Yes 2 whole weeks. ?

Got told off for watching the tennis at Wimbledon whilst my son was ready for his next feed. Still love the tennis ??

Goodness, some husbands sound very unhelpful. I'm amazed how quickly some of you were up and back to normal.
I had my first in 1971. In hospital for a week . What I liked was that babies were taken to the nursery each evening and brought back in the morning. Can't remember what happened if they were breastfed, but I enjoyed the rest.

cornergran

Had my first baby at home, mid 1970’s, was wandering about a few hours after, out and about in a couple of days. The second was a hospital delivery two years later, persuaded it was best as he was late (has been for everything since!), went home the day after. We all walked in the park two days later, I still recall the crunch of leaves under the pram wheels, it was a beautiful, mild Autumn. Mr C had a week off work (annual leave) each times, I don’t recall being very much different to anyone else, all felt very ‘normal’.

I myself was born nine days late and have been struggling to get back on schedule ever since

I had a four hour discharge with my first, got home to find a house full of visitors that my husband had arranged and I had to run after, having been up over 24 hours and given birth during that. Personally all I wanted was a nice bag of chips, a good cuddle with the dog and a good sleep.

Promptly returned to hospital 24 hours later after this circus with a hefty haemorrhage. Frankly I could have done to have lain in a bit longer!!

I had the naval front bottom scar both times for my c-sections. Ex H did absolute diddly squat and DM was too busy visiting DF in hospital who had suffered numerous strokes so I did it all myself, second time with a 3 year old and new born twins. It was auto pilot really but looking back not sure how I managed!

1st born a few days in hospital then home , husband was in RN worked long hrs so just got on with it, 2nd born stayed in hospital 24hrs husband had to leave next day to go back to sea for 3 months so had a new born and 4yr old did it all myself!

Had my first baby at home, mid 1970’s, was wandering about a few hours after, out and about in a couple of days. The second was a hospital delivery two years later, persuaded it was best as he was late (has been for everything since!), went home the day after. We all walked in the park two days later, I still recall the crunch of leaves under the pram wheels, it was a beautiful, mild Autumn. Mr C had a week off work (annual leave) each times, I don’t recall being very much different to anyone else, all felt very ‘normal’.

With both of my boys I was up and about within 2 or 3 days and was back at work within 5 weeks of having the first but I had 14 months before returning to worth the second time around.

Yes, that was a big difference by late nineties onwards, they changed the C-section 'cut' to the smaller incision above pubic bone- but a friend had had one in 79/80 and had the navel to 'front bottom' scar you mention Unigran4!

Have had 7 children, all different 'rules' after giving birth, as the times changed, first one, 1980, told to stay in hosp 10days(but not confined just to bed) but i signed out after 5- 2nd one advice was 5 days, 3rd i was home after 48 hrs- fourth was a 'DOMINO' Delivery, a new idea then, where you went in, had baby, went home after 6 hours with same midwife who delivered, that was the theory, (but had to change over as her shift was over!)5th one, DD was a month early so she was under lamp a couple of days for a touch of jaundice so I was in about a week, 6 & 7 were very prem so c- sections and i was in weeks before and a couple after, but babies stayed in hosp another 3 months.But after both was expected to be up & about asap- they didn't condone 'lying-in' anymore because of dvt risks.

First baby in the early 70s. Emergency Caesarian. Followed by serious infection in navel to "front bottom" scar. So in hospital for nearly 5 weeks. Second baby presented breach so second Caesarian planned, but she turned the right way up (down?) at the last minute, popped out several hours later, another 12 hours in hospital and then home.

No help, ex-OH very "hands off" so back to playschool run immediately, along with all chores. But I survived and just had to get on with it.

I had a planned C section in 91. My letter from hospital told me I would be in hospital 10 days but home on day 3. Husband had one day off then back at work. I was living 300 miles from all family. Sore but managed alone.

I was in hospital for 5 weeks with my first and had a home help for 6 weeks when I got home and daily help with the baby for a few weeks. When I had my second, three years later, I was in hospital for 2 weeks but had no help when I got home except for my lovely health visitor who called every week for a while.

My children were born in the late 70s/early 80s. With the first I was 'confined' in hospital for a week; with second it was 5 days; and for the last one two days. When I went home with my youngest I had no extra help at home, DH was working. I just launched back into our usual routine the following day - taking the eldest to school, middle one to playgroup, and doing the shopping etc. My midwife used to park near the house and watch me come dashing round the corner with the pram and a toddler in tow hoping to get home before she knocked on the door. She just said "If you feel up to doing it just carry on, the exercise will do you good, but make time to eat!"

Backtrack thirty-odd years when I was born (via ceasarian) my mother was told she could not get out of bed for two weeks. She died 10 days later from a thrombosis. That might not have happened had she been allowed some gentle exercise.

Both of mine in 70s . A week in hospital with first . With the second I had to have stitches afterwards but was less than 24 hours. Some home help for month after but as I already had a toddler not a lot of rest really

My daughter was born at 4.40am back home at lunch time the same day . There was no rest for the wicked a 3 year old to look after , dinner to prepare , housework to do . To be truthful I wouldn't of wanted any other way .

My first was born in 1991 and I fitted within ten minutes of the birth so the next thing I really remember was being on the ward hooked up to a drip. I stayed in hospital for six days. My second and third babies (1993 and 1996) were spine to spine (agonising) so l had epidurals with each of them. I was always taken to the postnatal ward on a trolley because of this. As I had had the complications with the first birth l stayed in hospital for two days after the second and overnight after the third. I had easy pregnancies but more difficult births. My mum stayed for two weeks after each one to help me. I was very lucky.

First baby in the 80s we all had to stay in bed for 10 days! And I was told if I wanted to discharge myself before it would be my responsibility if anything when wrong with the baby, so reluctantly I stayed in hospital for the full 10 days. Baby number 3 home next morning.

Five days in hospital with all mine - no sleep, as the staff insisted the ward lights had to stay on, and walked about talking. No help from OH - can't say I enjoyed the experience, sadly, because I was exhausted for months.

I was up the same day caring for my 3 year old took her to nursery on day 3 then back to normal.Please 11 days, lazy mare.

Both births in 70s. Complications with lst kept for 10 days. Second I was in hospital for 6 weeks before birth of twins. In hospital for two weeks and even then only released with DM travelling to help out and a home help arranged. Once home I had to only care for babies until I was back up to speed. Took another 4 weeks.