Knowing when you’ll be leaving us, ready to begin the next stage of your bigger life, is a great help when you need to plan and organise.
Length of stay
Usually women go home four - five days after a vaginal birth and five - six days following a caesarean section or sooner if you wish.
Discharge time is 10am. Please arrange for your support people to pick up at this time.
If you feel you need to stay longer, for any reason, discuss with your doctor and the midwife caring for you. Sometimes there may be medical reasons that require you and/or your baby to stay longer.
Car seats
You must ensure you have a baby capsule that meets the Standards Australia guidelines correctly fitted to your car before taking your baby home. It is recommended that you seek help from an authorised fitting station to fit any safety restraint system. For further information go to rta.nsw.gov.au.
Postnatal check-ups and support
If you have any concerns following your discharge, you can call the Maternity Ward and a midwife will be able to assist you.
This is usually at about six weeks following the birth of your baby unless your doctor needs to see you earlier. Your doctor will discuss this follow-up. You’ll need to make your own appointment and if one is needed for your baby.
Community follow-up
We’ll give you the details of the Community Health Centre upon discharge so you can arrange the early childhood nurse follow-ups. Generally, you’ll have a home visit and then follow-up at the local clinic. This may change to meet your needs. The early childhood nurse will advise you.
There are several free services available at the community health centres:
- Early childhood health with regular growth and development checks; weight, length and milestones, hearing, vision and immunisation
- Advice on mothercraft skills, lactation, settling and crying
- Postnatal depression screening
- Parenting groups, new mum groups
- Other services include: counselling, women’s health issues, development assessments, health assessments.
Helpful contacts
- Healthdirect Australia 1800 022 222
- Karitane – 1300 CARING (1300 227 464)
- Tresillian Family Care Centres 1300 2 PARENT (1300 272 736)
- Tresillian Sydney Metro area 02 9787 0855
- Australian Breastfeeding Association 1800 mum2mum (1800 686 268)
- Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia PANDA – www.panda.org.au