Discharge time after birth is associated with parity – A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: All healthy mothers with uncomplicated births are recommended to be discharged directly from the labour ward a few hours after birth as a change in practice in three hospitals in Denmark. However, despite this practice, there is limited knowledge about when mothers leave the hospital after birth in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine 1) when mothers are discharged from hospital after birth, 2) if discharge time from the hospital after birth is associated with parity, and 3) which factors are associated with discharge time. METHODS: This retrospective study is based on data from the North Denmark Regional Hospital and included mothers giving vaginal birth from March 25, 2019 to April 10, 2021. RESULTS: A total of 1990 mothers were included. Nearly 50% of the new mothers stayed at the hospital less than 6 h after birth (26% of primiparous women vs 64% of multiparous women). Primiparous women had an adjusted RR 0.44 (95% CI 0.39–0.49) for discharge ≤6 h, RR 1.71 (95% CI 1.15–2.54) for discharge >6–12 h, and RR 3.76 (95% CI 3.03–4.67) for discharge >48 h after birth compared to multiparous women. Multiparous women's adjusted RR for discharge >6–12 h was 0.15 (95% CI 0.12–0.20) and for discharge >48 h 0.16 (95% CI 0.14–0.20) compared to discharge less than 6 h after birth. Furthermore, smoking, low education level, and younger age were associated with early discharge. CONCLUSION: There is a significant association with parity and discharge time after birth and factors related to discharge time which healthcare professionals should be aware of when planning inpatient and outpatient care. In addition, healthcare professionals should be aware of mothers discharged early who are smoking, of younger age, lower education level or multiparity.