toh

March 28, 2014 — The Ottawa Hospital has not changed its discharge policy for new mothers. The current practice is to allow mothers and their babies to leave based on their readiness and that will not change.

How long should you stay in hospital after giving birth?

Some mothers stay 48 hours or longer, while many mothers leave hospital earlier if they are ready. For example, midwifery patients often leave hospital after four hours.

The key is ensuring that mother and baby are well enough to leave and that they are linked to the appropriate supports in the community when they do. These supports can include services from Ottawa Public Health, Family Health Teams, or other clinics. The best available medical evidence shows the community is the best place to receive lactation support and follow-up medical care for newborns and their mothers.

The Ottawa Hospital supports all ongoing efforts to provide high-quality care in the community. Our goal is for our patients to get the care they need in the right place and at the right time.