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Some SA mums are being sent home only 24 hours after giving birth by elective caesarean in a new trial.

Researchers from the Lyell McEwin Hospital and University of Adelaide found the new program had no significant impact on either maternal or neonatal readmissions.

As well as saving $1300 a patient, it puts less pressure on public hospital beds following the first trial of the Enhanced Recovery Elective Caesarean (EREC) program.

The EREC program prepares eligible C-section patients for discharge 24 to 30 hours after birth, compared with an average three to four day hospital admission, shares Adelaide Now.

Lead researcher Adelaide University Associate Professor Lynette Cusack said most of the women in the trial were organised, keen to get home as soon as they could and had help at home.

“They reported that they felt safe, supported and were satisfied with the experience,” Prof Cusack said.

“The aim of the EREC program is not about early discharge or reducing costs, but about giving mothers more options to have the same care safely at home,” she said.

Women who are not first time mothers and have low-risk pregnancies are eligible for the EREC program. They will receive additional visits from midwives post-discharge.

Did you have a c section? Would you have felt ready to go home 24hrs after?

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  • ive never had one so not sure how I would feel.
    I guess it really depends on the support you will have. Some people have amazing husbands who will be there to help …..my husband was pretty hopeless…I can count on one hand the number of times he changed a nappy with all 3 of our kids combined.

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  • Just seems like so much could go wrong.

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  • It may be an option if the Mum has plenty of support – physically As well as emotionally.
    Who is going to lift the heavy wet washing out of the washing machine and hang it on airers (no you’re not allowed to reach up high enough to hang it on the line or get it off) or put it in a dryer?? If your baby is heavy you may have difficulty lifting him/her too.
    Most Mums don’t go home for 24 hours after a routine natural birth, some longer.

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  • I don’t have a problem with this if it really is voluntary and they have had a previous caesarean before so they know what to expect. It is major surgery and despite being portrayed as the easy option the recovery is far from easier.
    My big issue with this is that it will (as a cost cutting measure) turn from voluntary to compulsory and women will be bullied out of hospital before they are ready as often happens already after a natural delivery.
    And while the trial authors mentioned that it did not increase representations, it makes no mention of the significant link between PND and early discharge. Women need to be taking better care of themselves and getting adequate rest to let their bodies and minds recover after birth (however the baby is delivered).

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  • That is ludicrous! That is far too soon. Just shameful.

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  • I had an emergency C section almost 48 years ago, and would have been horrified at the thought of leaving hospital so soon even though at-home help had been arranged. I had great difficulty getting out of bed about 24 hours after surgery. Of course the cut was much longer in those days – about 10 inches! I think this may be because of the prevalence of infection in hospitals now.

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  • Hmmmm… I did not have a C-section so I don’t feel informed to comment. I would ask many questions though. Mum’s recovery and mental health and safety would clearly be most important, and her confident ability to care for her baby once she’s home.

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  • That’s just the most dangerous thing I have heard what happens if there are complications and the Mum is at home .its asking for a law suite if you ask me

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  • As long as it doesn’t compromise the health or safety of the new mum and Bub. Well-being should not be rushed. You can read all the books out there but first time mums need to find their feet.

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  • I didn’t have a C section, but there were complications with my first born. Honestly, I was relieved to have a catheter and not have to get out of the hospital bed for the first day. I tried twice and almost passed out. I stayed for 3 days but in that time, I got to speak to several midwives, doctors and the lactation consultant multiple times. I gained so much info and confidence with their help, going home I would have missed out on that.

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  • Yes, I went home 24 hours after the C-section with my son.
    Different hospitals, different polocies tough, with my eldest I had to stay for 5 days even though I didn’t have any complications !

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  • I couldn’t walk or do anything for myself, dumbest most dangerous idea ever

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  • I can’t imagine going home so early. I loved having the support readily available when I had concerns or needed help

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  • I went home, the same day when i had my 3rd c-section, i had my daughter at 10.30am and left at 10pm that night, i felt fine, my previous c- sections went well, i was up walking within an hour/hour and half after surgery, and only on panadol within the first day, my son at home was distressed so i asked to leave, they felt i was doing well and agreed, i have now had 5 c-sections, and stayed 4 days with my last, because i was high risk with other complications, but again i was walking around after about an hour, so for some women not all, but some i think it is great idea.

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  • I had 3 c-sections and no way would or could I have gone home the next day. Seriously I am totally dumbfounded that health care workers are agreeing to this. The pressure for beds must be immense, but it should not be like this after what is a major operation, elective or not. It’s not like you can just go home and look after yourself and not have anything to do, what if there are other children at home. I’m glad nothing has gone wrong, but then why risk it? Not a fan.

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