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Outcomes of Postpartum Early Discharge, 1960–1986 A Comparative Review
Author(s) -
Norr Kathleen F.,
Nacion Karla
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
birth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.233
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1523-536X
pISSN - 0730-7659
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-536x.1987.tb01475.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hospital discharge , disadvantaged , postpartum period , pregnancy , pediatrics , intensive care medicine , biology , political science , law , genetics
A review of all postpartum early discharge program outcomes in the United States published between 1960 and 1985 indicates that discharge under 48 hours after delivery has generally been safe for mothers and infants. The levels and types of morbidities did not appear to differ from those experienced with longer hospital stays. Infant readmissions and overall morbidity rates were consistently higher than the number of maternal readmissions and morbidity. The major infant morbidity was hyperbilirubinemia. Differences in identification and treatment of this single problem accounted for much of the variation in infant readmission rates among programs.Expansion of postpartum early discharge based on these favorable results must proceed with caution. Nearly all reported outcomes were for programs with extensive prenatal preparation and postpartum follow‐up, serving relatively advantaged middle‐class populations. It is not clear that equally good outcomes would result from less intensive programs or those serving disadvantaged populations. More research is needed on the effectiveness of early discharge procedures, cost savings, and patient satisfaction.