When can I expect to get out?

[rbp]

I need to have a follow-up X-ray with my orthopedist in about two weeks. The trouble is that I am due in nine days, so there's a good chance I'll have to postpone that appointment. However, it's a high priority for me to find out how I'm healing and hopefully be able to start putting some weight on my left leg so I'm not completely helpless. When is a reasonable time after leaving the hospital with the baby (assuming a vaginal birth) that I can expect to get out to an unrelated doctor's appointment?

ETA: I will get someone to take me to the appointment and help with the baby.

[AmyRI]

Can the hospital where you deliver do the x-ray while you are admitted and send it to your orthopedist?

I had no trouble going to pediatrician's appointments with the baby a day after discharge. I don't see a problem with getting out for an x-ray right after, either.

[Deleted]

It's dependent but you should be fine. I took both kids to their 1 week followup, did a few fast errands afterwards and had no problems. If you have to take the baby along, he'll probably sleep through it all anyways. If you want to leave him, tell H or grandma or someone who knows you well.

[sjh722]

I was fine to go to DD's pedi appointments the first week we were home. She was born Thursday night, we came home Saturday night, Sunday I was up for a (slow) walk around the neighborhood, Monday we went to the pedi + the hospital lab for a jaundice draw, Tuesday another jaundice draw, and I'm pretty sure we were at the LC for a weight check Thursday, maybe, and the pedi again? (It's a little hazy, LOL, but my milk took a long time to come in and she lost a lot of weight.)

I had a 3rd degree tear but still felt okay getting around that first week (with help from H or my mom).

[ssmjlm]

We went to BRU after E's first pedi appointment, so I say a trip to get an x-ray will be no biggie.

[MamaMaui24]

You'll be sore and tired, but can make it work a couple days after birth. You'll have to go to pedi and possibly back to hospital for state blood draw as well.

Just don't schedule it first thing in the morning!

If you're nursing, bring baby and DH/mom/friend.

[Deleted]

Assuming an uncomplicated birth, you'll be taking the baby for a 1 week checkup. If you can manage that, a high priority specialist appointment should be fine any time after you're home. It would be nice if you have help, as I would assume you're still in a cast and on crutches which will be more the issue than the actual baby/birth.

[SJ]

I think you will be ok. At least I would plan on it and you can always reschedule if there are complications or you aren't up to it.

We got home on a Friday and Saturday went to a family party. Had pediatrician appt Monday.

[chicago]

The trickiest part will be working around baby wanting to nurse. Dd was nursing every hour sometimes.
Other than that, even if you're not in tip top shape, you should feel well enough to leave the house.

[thebreakfastclub]

I had an unplanned C/S on Monday and went to Target and lunch on Friday. I got out of the hospital on Thursday morning.

[djc315]

I had my C/S late Wednesday, discharged on Friday, and went to the Pedi on Sat morning. It wasn't pleasant, but it was definitely doable!

[rbp]

Jul 24, 2014 10:09:21 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

Can the hospital where you deliver do the x-ray while you are admitted and send it to your orthopedist?

I had no trouble going to pediatrician's appointments with the baby a day after discharge. I don't see a problem with getting out for an x-ray right after, either.

My orthopedist works at a different hospital.

The bolded was my thought process, but I wasn't sure if that was really naive and foolish. I was thinking maybe a week after delivery I could go to the ortho office?

[h]

You will be sore and tired, but assuming an uncomplicated delivery, you should be able to get out pretty much right away. I took my first to the pedi every day for the first three days after being released from the hospital (to check bilirubin levels; they let us take him home despite pretty bad jaundice). It wasn't a problem. I went to Target, out of lunch, etc. within days of getting home with DS2 and DS3 just because. Can your H or another family member or friend go with you to hold the baby and help with everything?

[curbsideprophet]

DS had a pedi appt at 3 days old that I went to. Not sure if DDs was 3 days as well, but it was less than a week.

[tealblue]

I had a c/s, left the hospital a day early (2 days after delivery) and went to the location consultant the day after we got home. Assuming no complications, I think you'll be fine anytime after delivery. You'll be tired and struggling with nursing or feeding but it's not unmanageable.

[Deleted]

I went to target at 3 days, the day after coming home. H made me use the wheelchair. If you have help I think you'd be okay 3-5 days after, just be prepared with extra supplies in case you have a lot of bleeding. And maybe nurse (assuming you'll be bfing) right before you leave and then you can again once your in a room?

Maybe take the first appt of the day so you don't have a long wait.

[Ashley&Scott]

M had a pedi appt at 5 days old, I went & it was fine. (DH went too)

[timorousbeastie]

I had a surprisingly easy recovery. DD was born on a Thursday, and I distinctly remember saying I physically would have been fine to go to work on that following Monday. So I would have been fine with the dr appt. pretty early on.

[MadamePresident]

You can do it. But I will say at 5 days postpartum, I'm still physically pretty weak.

[arch01]

I had a c/s with an easy recovery and was itching to get out of the hospital and house immediately. We were out and about the next day in short spurts.

[AmyRI]

Jul 24, 2014 10:19:50 GMT -5 rbp said:

Jul 24, 2014 10:09:21 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

Can the hospital where you deliver do the x-ray while you are admitted and send it to your orthopedist?

I had no trouble going to pediatrician's appointments with the baby a day after discharge. I don't see a problem with getting out for an x-ray right after, either.

My orthopedist works at a different hospital.

The bolded was my thought process, but I wasn't sure if that was really naive and foolish. I was thinking maybe a week after delivery I could go to the ortho office?

Even if he's at a different hospital, any hospital or private imaging company can take the actual x-ray for you - he is not the one that physically takes the x-ray. For simplicity's sake, I'd see if you can have the image taken when you're already in the hospital and just leave the house once for the actual appointment with the orto. Either way, I wouldn't stress about it. I would probably avoid scheduling pedi visits on the same day, though, so you only have 1 committment per day. The only time I overdid it was when I tried to go to the pediatrician in the morning and an LC an hour away in the afternoon.

[rbp]

Oh--I do have a wheelchair that I can use if I'm feeling weak (though it might be difficult for someone to push me in a wheelchair and wrangle the baby, unless I'm holding him).

Ok, thanks for reassuring me that I will be able to make it pretty soon after coming home. The orthopedist has never had me wait very long.

[Deleted]

I could have gone the day after getting home from the hospital with both kids. We were already going to ped appointments with both of them at that point anyway (both of my kids were tiny despite being full term so we had frequent weight checks at first). NBD. I took DD2 to a specialist to get her hearing checked since we missed the screening at the hospital (long story) when she was 4 or 5 days old. Again NBD.

[pinotgrig]

I think you'll be ok. I had a csection and was in the hospital for 4 days. On day 5, we got out and took G to the pedi. I think I got out of the house everyday after that for random errands or just to get out. Granted I had H and/or my mom with me to carry the car seat and all that.

[barefootcontessa]

I had a terrible delivery with my first child with complications but had to get out that first week for follow-up appointments. I had someone drive me and deal with baby.