For most women, the first few days after the birth will be spent in the hospital they gave birth in, however some women will choose to go home on the early discharge program, after spending a day or two in the hospital. For women having a homebirth, they are already there! Where you spend your early postnatal recovery will determine the type of care you receive and how long your professional support continues, before relying on community services, networking, family and friends.
The following information will focus on the first few days after the birth, and will generally refer to the primary carer of the baby as the mother. If the woman stays in hospital, she will be the main person spending time with her baby. If she goes home on early discharge (or has a home birth), then the partner and/or extended family may be more involved. The information is also based on what to expect in an Australian context. If you live in another country the services available, time frames and procedures may be different.
Hospital
Early discharge
Homebirth
Hospital. In most cases, the woman will be transferred to the postnatal ward within hours after giving birth. The midwives (and mother craft nurses) on the ward will usually give you guidance about the type of care involved for your newborn baby's needs and assistance with feeding. The staff are available 'on-call', 24 hours a day, to assist you as required. Some women will rely on hospital staff frequently, others will 'do their own thing' and only ask questions when needed. The normal stay will be about 3 to 5 days after a vaginal birth and 6 to 7 days after a Caesarean (if there are no complications for mother or baby). Some women will have their baby in a birth centre or a public hospital delivery suite, then transfer to a private hospital for their postnatal stay (although this will need to be paid for, unless privately insured).
Early discharge.