A RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED EVALUATION OF EARLY POSTPARTUM HOSPITAL DISCHARGE

At approximately 37 weeks' gestation, 131 women were randomly assigned to one of three postpartum hospital discharge times: 12 to 24 hours, 25 to 48 hours, and 4 days. Depending on group assignment, the women received from one to five home visits by a maternity nurse clinician during the first 10 days postpartum. The results indicated the maternal and infant morbidity were low regardless of discharge time, although sample sizes were too small to detect significant differences in the outcomes. More early discharge mothers were breastfeeding without supplement at 1 month than were mothers in the long stay group. Mothers in the two early discharge groups were significantly more satisfied with their care than were those who remained longer. Those hospitalized longer scored higher on measures of depression and lower on scores of confidence at selected time periods.