Getting ready to go home

The length of time you stay in hospital after birth can vary. For some women it is just a few hours, for others a few days, or sometimes longer if you or your baby need extra medical care. 

When you are preparing to go home, your midwife will carry out some important checks and talk through what you need to know. These steps are there to make sure you and your baby are safe and supported. 

Your midwife will: 

• Check that you and your baby are well 
• Support you with feeding until you feel confident to do it at home  
• Complete a discharge record, which shares details of your care with other health professionals 
• Talk to you about what to expect and where to find help once you’re home 

Other things that may be part of your care before leaving: 

• Screening tests – if you have chosen them, usually done within the first day or two after birth 
• Doctor review – if you had any complications in pregnancy or labour, a doctor may check you before you leave 
• Observations – you and your baby may need regular checks, sometimes for days after birth. 
• Medication – if you are on a course of medicine (for example, antibiotics), these may need to be finished before going home. 

Even if you and your midwife or doctor agree in the morning that you are ready to go home, some of the steps listed above may still need to be completed. Midwives and doctors will do their best to finish these as quickly as possible, but as they are also caring for other families, there can sometimes be a short wait. 

After you go home, a community midwife will visit you the next day to see how you and your baby are doing, support feeding, and answer any questions.