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I'm not having a birth center birth (there's not one near me) but I know I would like to go home ASAP after birth, or even be home already (home birth) if that were an option for me.

I just want the time between me and my husband and baby to be quiet and private. I feel like with medical staff constantly buzzing around it'll make me nervous and intimidate me into thinking im doing something wrong and inhibiting me to learn to care for him in a non judgmental setting. Especially for breastfeeding (losing too much weight and stressing me out about it), even though I'll be taking advantage of a lactation consultant in the hospital.

I know they aren't judgmental and are only there to help, and I appreciate that but just with my personality and how I like things, I'd rather go home to comfort as soon as possible.

I've been in the hospital twice thinking I was having this baby (not yet lol) and I hated being there. I hate feeling like I'm having things DONE to me. Poked and prodded and such. They wouldn't let me have any water last time and I knew and they knew that I wasn't even in true labor and would be going home. I thought that was ridiculous. I think it's ridiculous not to let laboring women have food or water ANYWAY, but I wasn't even in labor!

@Foodnerd81: I had J at the Bain Birth Center at MAH, because of complications I had to stay for 5 days afterwards but my friend that had no complications went home within 24 hours.
I wanted to have the option to leave if I felt great (or stay/receive additional care, if needed). At least that's why I chose MAH.

For those that went home hours after birth. Did they check all your newborn's stats, new born screening etc all within that time frame?

I transferred to a hospital from a birthing center for complications, and I can tell you I would 100% rather recover at home.
The staff came into the room every hour or so and woke us up, they pushed oxy on me like five times a day after I made it VERY clear I didn't want heavy painkillers, the food sucked, it was freezing cold, and an alarm went off every time my husband or mom carried the baby to the opposite side of the room (security anklet was way over-sensitive). They were also not at all helpful with breastfeeding and kept stressing me out over how many wet diapers she was having (she was 100% fine) and wanted to give her formula on day 1.

It sucked, and it was not restful at all. Next time I'll check out within 6 hours and have a skilled postpartum doula stay with me for the first 2-3 days at home.

@ShootingStar: I had a very similar hospital experience. I loved our hospital!! It was so relaxing and none of the nurses pushed anything on me. It sucks that more hospitals aren't like that.

I delivers abroad, in a hospital and stayed 4 days after my vaginal birth. I couldn't get out of bed for two days, it was on the third day I managed to walk down the hall, so I have no idea how some women are up and doing target runs 24 hours later!

@Foodnerd81: at NSBC, you can labor and deliver at the birthing center, then you can elect to go home or you can be admitted to postpartum in the hospital for 48hrs. i am kind of obsessed and wish i lived just a little closer so i could go there!
http://www.beverlyhospital.org/locations--services/health-services/maternity,-obstetrics/north-shore-birth-center

I'm waffling between birth center and hospital birth for this LO. I love the idea of being in a more homey place, and the idea of a tub to labor in. But I had a really hard time after LO was born, including a blood transfusion that wasn't even started until almost 24 hours after she was born. If I had gone home after 3-4 hours, things would not have been good. Plus, I look forward to having a day or two getting to know this new baby before going home to parent two children.

@nana87: that's how the hospitals in nYC are! Dads can't stay and private rooms are like $1k more! Mine was only like $50 more and $75 for a suite!

@locavore_mama: oh man, I wish it was only going to be like $50 more!! being in nyc makes everything soooooo much more expensive! I was worried at first that my reasons for wanting to be at the birth center were primarily so we could have a private room without paying the exorbitant upcharge, lol, but I've been leaning more towards wanting a natural birth anyway so now that's just a bonus that is, assuming I don't have complications pop up that necessitate me being in the traditional l&d floor anyway....

@Foodnerd81: I didn't want to leave right away either! I didn't get hourly blood pressure checks though. I was happy to have help from the nursing staff after being in labor for days.

I gave birth in a standard hospital but I did go home four hours after the arrival of DD2 last week. As soon as she was born, I felt like a million bucks and because neither I nor LO had any complications, we were cleared for discharge at the four hour mark (the earliest they will let you leave).

The pediatrician did her health assessment of LO before we left and then midwives came to do home visits the next day (24 hrs old), two days later (72 hrs old), and two days after that. The weight checks, heel prick, and my checks were all done in the comfort of our own home. I do have to take her in for her hearing test today but no big deal.

I stayed in hospital for 36 hours with DD1 and just wanted out of there! With both births, I felt great, had no problems moving around, didn't need any painkillers despite a second degree tear both times, and wasn't feeling massively exhausted or in need of any help. Staying in hospital was/would have been the biggest waste of time. Had I known how awesome it was to go home after four hours, I would have pushed for it last time too. And it was lovely to get home to my toddler as well. We left for the hospital at 4:00 am whilst she was sleeping, and were home by 1:30 pm with a baby in our arms. I don't think she'd even realised we were gone yet!

All my American family and friends were appalled I got out so early but I will most definitely do it again in the future if there is a baby #3!