How Long You’ll Stay in the Hospital After Birth, According to OBs

Odds are you’ve been doing a ton of research to prepare for labor and delivery. You know the signs of labor to look for, what to pack in your hospital bag, essentials to get for postpartum recovery and more. But there might be some things you’re unsure about—like how long do you stay in the hospital after birth? In short, this varies for each person, as the labor and delivery experience can be wildly different for everyone.

The Bump community member mindingpandq stayed for 48 hours and called it “hard.” She adds, “We wanted to go home!” Another community member, Rachel&Joe stayed in the hospital “from Wednesday morning to Monday afternoon.” (Quite the staycation.) Finally, atc282 noted that it wasn’t really up her or her medical team, per se: “My insurance said ‘96 hours’ for a C-section. Be sure to double check with yours because of the fine print.”

So how long do you stay in hospital after giving birth—and how can you best prepare for your time there? Here’s what experts (and real moms!) have to say.

Key Takeaways

• How long you’ll stay in the hospital after birth will vary depending on your personal circumstances, your insurance coverage and other factors.
• For natural and induced vaginal births, you’ll typically stay at the hospital anywhere between 24 to 48 hours; for C-section deliveries, you’ll likely be discharged after 48 to 72 hours, but it may be longer depending on your circumstances.
• If you experience any complications during birth, you may be asked to stay at the hospital for an extra day or two, even up to an extra week.

How Long Do You Stay in the Hospital After a Vaginal Birth?

According to Nagaeda Jean, MD, FACOG, an ob-gyn in New Jersey and advisor with Lubify, for most women, an average hospital stay after a vaginal birth will range between 24 and 48 hours. However, this will depend on your personal circumstances, including your prior and prenatal medical history, whether there were any complications during delivery, how well you’re recovering postpartum and what’s covered by your insurance.

According to the UPMC, this 24- to 48-hour period allows time for your healthcare team to monitor your vitals, postpartum bleeding, return to normal bodily functions (such as urination and bowel movements), as well as provide support as you and baby learn to breastfeed.

How Long Do You Stay in the Hospital After a C-Section?

The hospital stay following a C-section is a bit longer, between 48 and 72 hours, says Diane Ortega, DNP, CNM, co-founder of the Willow Midwife Centers for Birth and Wellness AZ. Again, this will vary depending on your circumstances and insurance coverage. If you had an “easier” experience, you may be discharged sooner. If you had prenatal or labor complications, your team might want to keep you for monitoring.

During this time, your team will want to keep an eye on your vitals, monitor postpartum bleeding and check other aspects as they would in a vaginal birth. However, for C-sections, they’ll also pay attention to your recovery from a major surgery, how your surgical site is healing, pain management and more.

How Long Do You Stay in the Hospital After an Induced Birth?

If you have an induction, how long you’ll need to stay in the hospital will depend on whether it was an induced vaginal delivery or C-section, Ortega notes. Again, for vaginal deliveries, you’ll likely stay in the hospital for the same range of 24 to 48 hours, and for C-sections, you’ll likely stay between 48 and 72 hours.

How Long Do You Stay in the Hospital in Case of Complications?

Again, this will depend on the nature of your complications; in most cases you may be advised to stay in the hospital an extra day or two, potentially up to a week-plus in extreme cases. Per Mayo Clinic, some complications following birth that could extend your hospital stay include infections, blood clots, preeclampsia and postpartum hemorrhage, among others.

In instances where you may be required to unexpectedly stay at the hospital for longer, it’s best to communicate with or have an advocate communicate with your provider about the nature of the complications, treatment plans and what to expect, advises Jean.

When Will I Be Able to Go Home After Birth?

Before you’ll be ready for discharge, there are a few things your providers will want to make sure of. “Most facilities have tests that are recommended and/or required for both Mom and baby prior to discharge,” Jean says. She says providers will look to make sure you:

• Can walk around without support
• Can go to the bathroom alone (i.e. without a catheter)
• Have follow-up appointments scheduled
• Are comfortable with the instructions and precautions provided
• Feel mentally and physically read to go home

If you’re not yet ready to be on your own with baby, talk to the medical staff, Jean says. They may allow you to stay an extra day or be able to offer resources to help ease the transition.

Similarly, baby will also have screenings before they’re ready for discharge. Providers will want to ensure baby has:

• At least one bowel movement and pees in their diaper
• A congenital heart defect screening
• Hearing, jaundice and metabolic screenings
• A vitamin k shot and other immunizations
• Weight checks

How to Prep for Your Stay in the Hospital For Birth

One of the best ways to prepare for a hospital stay is to be diligent about what you pack in your hospital bag. After all, it’s worth it to be prepared with all the comfort items you’ll need and want. Ortega recommends bringing your own pajamas, slippers, a soft blanket and some favorite snacks.

Jean also recommends booking tours of the hospital units and attending any prenatal classes that are offered in advance. Finally, chat with your provider about what to expect, common practices and policies, what items they’ll provide, what you should bring and more. Thinking through all the logistics with a birth plan can help you feel more prepared for what’s to come.

To Sum It Up

After birth, you’ll likely stay in the hospital anywhere from one to three days, depending on whether you had a vaginal or Cesarean delivery and your personal medical history. To best prepare, reach out to your provider with any and all questions you may have. Remember, the hospital stay after birth will be a “deeply transformative experience,” Ortega says. “You’re still in the early stages of healing and recovery, and it’s important to listen to your body during this time.”

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.