Health outcomes of mothers and infants following early hospital discharge

This study investigated the health outcomes of mothers and infants following early hospital discharge. Nineteen women who self-selected early discharge time within 24 hours of giving birth, 20 women who chose discharge times between 25 and 48 hours and 20 women who selected to leave the hospital after 48 hours of delivery participated in the study. At 2 weeks postpartum, the health status of mothers and infants was assessed and information regarding demographics, reasons for selecting the length of hospital stay and women's recall of health care teaching were gathered by questionnaire. Results showed a statistically significant decrease in the incidence of subjective maternal fatigue and fewer postpartum problems for mothers choosing an early discharge time compared with the later discharge group. Women who went home within 2 days of delivery did so because of inadequate medical insurance. Health care teaching and recall of instructions were similar in all groups.