Early postnatal hospital discharge
Encyclopedia
A definition that has been used for early discharge from hospital after childbirth
is discharge of mother and baby within 48 hours of the birth.
The length of postpartum stay in hospital decreased gradually over several decades in the US, initially because of consumer desire for a reduction in medical intervention
associated with childbirth, and later in an effort to reduce costs. A similar gradual shortening of postpartum
hospital stays occurred in Canada. Early discharge has also occurred in the UK and Australia.
There has been controversy over the practice
and the relationship with followup care
, cost and maternal and newborn
health may be complex. A 1995 review found that available studies were insufficient to shed much light on the consequences. A study concluded that early discharge is safe if it is part of a program involving postnatal care outside the hospital.
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
is discharge of mother and baby within 48 hours of the birth.
The length of postpartum stay in hospital decreased gradually over several decades in the US, initially because of consumer desire for a reduction in medical intervention
Natural childbirth
Natural Childbirth is a philosophy of childbirth that is based on the notion that women who are adequately prepared are innately able to give birth without routine medical interventions. Natural childbirth arose in opposition to the techno-medical model of childbirth that has recently gained...
associated with childbirth, and later in an effort to reduce costs. A similar gradual shortening of postpartum
Postnatal
Postnatal is the period beginning immediately after the birth of a child and extending for about six weeks. Another term would be postpartum period, as it refers to the mother...
hospital stays occurred in Canada. Early discharge has also occurred in the UK and Australia.
There has been controversy over the practice
and the relationship with followup care
Home care
Home Care, , is health care or supportive care provided in the patient's home by healthcare professionals Home Care, (also referred to as domiciliary care or social care), is health care or supportive care provided in the patient's home by healthcare professionals Home Care, (also referred to as...
, cost and maternal and newborn
Infant
A newborn or baby is the very young offspring of a human or other mammal. A newborn is an infant who is within hours, days, or up to a few weeks from birth. In medical contexts, newborn or neonate refers to an infant in the first 28 days after birth...
health may be complex. A 1995 review found that available studies were insufficient to shed much light on the consequences. A study concluded that early discharge is safe if it is part of a program involving postnatal care outside the hospital.