staying in hospital for birth

You can have a wonder. And yes they will provide food for you xxx

Ive seen them bring food to the wards and people go for wanders , the smokers go in and out as they please I’m sure as long as you’re not walking out during the middle of the checks then your free to roam around

I was in for 8 days total before and after birth plus 3 stays throughout my pregnancy due to complications and I'd regularly go off the ward as i don't like hospitals so would go to the canteen and for a walk around the grounds. If i was due to see the doctor I'd let the midwives know so they could call me when they showed up. I'd pop outside for fresh air if i couldn't sleep at night too and they had no issue with it.

@chloe that’s good to know thanks so much! i hate being restricted and i can feel myself going absolutely crazy in there, it’s just boring in my opinion haha, with my first i had the option to stay even longer but i just told them when i was ready to leave and that was that, and it wasn’t long after birth because it was done, we were healthy and i didn’t see the point staying any longer x

You can wander but they won’t let baby go off the ward with you. Meals are all provided but they’re generally not the best and snacks are none existent so definitely take snacks!

You are able to wander but you’d be leaving baby… there’s no one to watch it and you can take baby on a wander… You’ll be fine for 24 hours… I was in the long with a section and it went really quick… just enjoy that peaceful time with baby as you won’t get that when you get home! You’ll probably be out sooner, it’s only a guide. But if being monitored you’ll need to stay in the bed/ward

@Sinead yeah i hate being restricted too but the midwives were really understanding. After i had my son i just want to stare at him haha, but i had my kindle and headphones before he was born so i had something to do. I was lucky that my hospital allows partners to stay overnight so i could go out for fresh air while my partner looked after our boy. I'm also the fuethest from a fussy eater so didn't mind the hospital food but i know a lot of people don't like it so I'd definitely take snacks either way

yes to the two comments above chloe’s saying i’d be leaving baby, my partner is staying in hospital with me the entire time so he’d be able to have baby whilst i get a breather, my first born will be at my mums ❤️ i know it’s “only 24 hours” and ill “be fine” im not being dramatic, im a doer and i can’t just lay and do nothing, im only being monitored for blood sugars so i think thats occasional testing as my son will also be tested at 4 and 8 hours old, i just wanted to see if being able to get some fresh air would be an option as i would start to feel claustrophobic personally, i would feel stuffy and isolated, this is just me personally. so im glad to know that having a wander even if its just ten minutes is an option for me, thank you! X

I had GD during birth ect , I was aloud off the ward for fresh air or to the shop they even kept eye on baby for me and yes they provided meals also like they do in general hospital x

@Sinead it sounds like you already know, but just thought i’d say - defo double check your partner can stay the whole time. i stayed in the postnatal ward for a day after giving birth but partners were only allowed to stay for visiting hours. the only time they could stay overnight was when their partners were in actual labour. i believe it varies from trust to trust!

I think it depends on the hospital but at mine you can go for as many walks as you want, they encourage it. Even if they are due to do checks, they can just ring you to sort out a time to come back. You just have to let them know you’re leaving. Food is provided and there’s a snack room at mine with fruit, drinks, crisps etc. They have showers and provide fresh towels. X

@Hannah ah thank you, i’ll check with the hospital at my 38 week appointment on wednesday. it does say on the hospitals website for where im giving birth that postnatal ward has set visiting, there’s 24 hour visiting which is the birthing partner which you can alternate between two but can’t have both there the same time, then there’s family and friends visiting and children of patients visiting, so i’m hoping the 24 hour visiting means my partner can stay the whole time xx

I had to do this. They test the baby's blood sugar EVERY HOUR for the first 12 or 24 hr So don't expect to get any sleep unless you have someone there with you. Most hospitals had food cafeterias but my husband just brought me food if the cafeteria was closed. They did let me leave the floor/ward to go get food/even coffee from the hospital (didn't leave the hospital obviously) and I just had my husband/ sister in law there when I did.