On what day are they discharged from the maternity hospital and how to determine the readiness of mother and baby for discharge?

When does discharge from the hospital occur?

The length of stay in the maternity hospital for each baby and mother may differ depending not only on their condition, but also on the specific medical institution. In most cases, discharge occurs:

• after a successful natural birth - on the 3rd day;
• after a cesarean section - on the 7-10th day.

During their entire stay in the hospital, adult and newborn patients are under the supervision of doctors - an obstetrician-gynecologist for the mother and a neonatologist for the baby. It is these two specialists who make a joint decision on discharge - the condition of the woman and her child must be good. The following situations can delay a young family in the maternity hospital:

• complications during childbirth. If during childbirth there was bleeding, serious ruptures, or manual separation of the placenta, then the woman may be detained for 5–7 days to monitor her condition;
• complications in the postpartum period - inflammation of the suture after cesarean section, the inflammatory process in the reproductive organs also prolong the time spent in the hospital;
• an immature or premature child - such babies are nursed in the pathology department;
• excessive loss of body weight by the baby (more than the norm, which is 6–8%);
• infectious disease in a child.

When permission for discharge is given, all that remains is to pack your things and go home. However, you need to be well prepared for such a joyful event, because there are a lot of nuances.

Documentary support of the extract

Before the discharge itself, it is important not to forget about the formal side of the process. A woman must take the following documents with her from the maternity hospital:

• two pages from the exchange card: information about the child - the baby’s condition at birth, Apgar score, measurement data, blood type, notes on vaccinations and procedures, results of examinations by specialists, condition at discharge. This paper is given to the doctor at the children's clinic at the first appointment;
• information about the mother - time of admission to the maternity hospital, method of delivery, drugs and procedures used during the course, features of the postpartum period. The woman must take this document to the antenatal clinic where she was registered within two weeks;

Are they discharged from the hospital on weekends?

This decision is made by the head of the maternity ward.
Often there is no discharge on weekends and holidays, but there are exceptions. If there is a large flow of women in labor in the department, then a woman with a newborn can leave the hospital quickly, even on a holiday. In another situation, the new mother stays with the baby in the maternity hospital longer. If the baby was born on Wednesday, then discharge will be scheduled for Monday, not Saturday. Therefore, the woman will be in the hospital for 6 days.

Are they discharged on Saturday?

Doctors decide on what day to discharge children with their mothers, and whether discharges are made on Saturdays is the decision of the head of the department. Some organizations adhere to daily discharges, others release women in labor only if the maternity hospital is overloaded due to a large number of pregnant women.

Are they discharged on Sunday?

With a large flow of women in labor, official unscheduled discharges are practiced even on Sundays or holidays. If there is a shortage of patients, mother and child will spend more time in the hospital.

List of necessary things for mom

The discharge bag intended for the mother should contain all the things in which she wants to appear before the relatives and friends who meet her. The set should look something like this:

• fresh underwear, including a nursing bra;
• highly absorbent sanitary pads - urological or night pads for menstruation (at the time of discharge, most mothers are in full swing with postpartum discharge - lochia);
• nylon or warm tights (according to the season);
• dress or suit. Here it is better to give preference to loose models, and the same size as in the last months of pregnancy - the tummy does not go away immediately after childbirth and the new mother is unlikely to immediately fit into her usual things ;
• comfortable shoes, preferably low-top ones;
• outerwear, hat and scarf, mittens (according to the season);
• cosmetics, comb, hair styling products - this will be needed so that the woman can get herself in order before the event.

How to dress your baby for discharge?

Look at the time of year

When choosing clothes for a newborn, adhere to the law: a baby is given one more layer of clothing than an adult. Let's consider the options for a beautiful discharge dress:

1. Elegant envelopes. Such products are considered iconic elements that can be passed on from one generation to another. You can make an envelope of satin, silk, with decorations and rhinestones, and finally tie it with a ribbon in the middle and make a lush bow. After discharge, this product is suitable for daily walks around the city.
2. Summer outfits. The following things are required for discharge in the summer: • a cap and socks made of natural materials; • bodysuit and slip; • light blanket or blanket; • thin diaper.
3. Summer suit for discharge. Today there is a wide range of children's clothing, so the baby can leave the walls of the maternity hospital in a tailcoat or elegant dress. If you have cutting and sewing skills, you can try to sew an outfit with your own hands. You will need thread, needle, scissors and material to create a masterpiece. You can see patterns and a master class on sewing outfits in the photo on our website.
4. Beautiful blanket. This accessory comes from Christian times. Even back then, babies required extra attention. Nowadays, a blanket has become an obligatory attribute of the “discharge” tradition. You can be creative and decorate the product with embroidery, fabric flower petals, or a patch of letters with the child’s name.
5. Knitted blanket. A product made by hand by a grandmother or mother will be the best amulet for a child. Handmade things retain the energy of the master, and family members wish only the best for the baby. The blanket will protect the child from bad weather and related diseases - sore throat, viral infections and hypothermia.

How is the discharge process carried out?

Usually, every maternity hospital has a special discharge room - a beautifully decorated room where relatives can meet mother and baby and take photographs or videos as souvenirs. Parents can either invite their own photographer and videographer, or use similar services that are often offered by the maternity hospital itself. The event takes place as usual:

1. A nurse takes the mother and baby from the room and takes them to the preparation room.
2. The baby is dressed in a holiday set and an envelope.
3. The ceremonial part begins. The mother is allowed to accept congratulations from those greeting them, and the nurse carries the baby out and hands him to the father.
4. Afterwards, if desired, a photo session, gift transfer, etc. takes place.
5. The collected things of the mother and baby are given to relatives in advance or after the ceremony. The family can go home.

Photo gallery: photo ideas for discharge

As a souvenir, you can take a photo of how the nurse will collect the baby before taking him to the discharge room and handing him over to his father.

You can start taking discharge photos in the ward, capturing the baby’s preparations.

A great idea for a group photo - signs with the “title” of each guest discharged from the maternity hospital

At discharge, the photographer will definitely take pictures of the new parents together, making interesting collages if desired.

Often a group photo with relatives and friends is taken at the sign with the name of the maternity hospital from where mother and baby are taken

When preparing for discharge, you need to remember an important detail - it is customary to thank the maternity hospital staff. Usually new fathers prepare sweets and flowers, or just an envelope with a financial thank you.

The relatives and father have the task of making the holiday memorable and beautiful. You should buy a bouquet of flowers for your mother, decorate the car, and you can also stock up on balloons.

Photo gallery: registration of the car for discharge from the maternity hospital

Large inscriptions and drapery with fabrics look neat and solemn - you can attach a sign “for your son” or “for your daughter” to your car.

The most common option for decorating a car for checkout is pink or blue balloons.

The scale of decorations depends on the father’s imagination - you can use ribbons, balls, and stickers all at once

The easiest and fastest option is to decorate your car with a themed set of stickers.

If you are faced with the question of what to give as a discharge gift, then it is best to ask the young parents what they don’t already have. If you don’t want to spoil the surprise or you’ve already bought everything for the baby, you can give things that will definitely come in handy - diapers, clothes for growing up, toys.

How to quickly leave the maternity hospital?

You can speed up this process

Let's look at a few tips that will help you return home faster after the birth of your baby:

1. Complete nutrition. In order for the body to quickly return to normal after suffering stress, proper nutrition is necessary. Also, your growing baby needs to get all the vitamins and minerals from breast milk, so choose only wholesome and healthy foods. Poor nutrition and consumption of fried, salty foods will affect the well-being and development of the child, so exclude processed foods and other harmful foods from the diet.
2. No bad habits. As during pregnancy, avoidance of alcohol and tobacco products is required. Otherwise, you will harm your body and the health of your baby. Then the discharge will definitely be postponed indefinitely.
3. Adequate sleep – in order for the body to return to normal faster, a woman in labor needs to get enough sleep. With the arrival of a baby, this is not easy, but every free minute is better spent sleeping than making phone calls and texting with friends.
4. Doctor's orders – after childbirth, various complications are possible, so you should strictly follow all doctor's orders. Even the slightest deviation from the prescribed therapy will negatively affect the body and require long-term treatment.
5. Meeting the baby's needs - the timing of discharge depends on the condition of the mother and baby, so it is important to meet all the needs of the baby. Breastfeeding is carried out at the request of the baby; after bowel movements, careful toileting of the genital organs is necessary, as well as rest and warmth. When the baby feels well, discharge is just around the corner.

Preparing and decorating your home

While mother and baby are recovering after giving birth in the hospital, preparations for welcoming a new family member should be in full swing at home. You need to go through all the points:

• clothes for the child, bed linen - everything must be washed and ironed;
• the house needs to be thoroughly cleaned, wet cleaned and dust removed even in the most inaccessible places;
• the apartment needs to be well ventilated, and then this procedure will have to be carried out regularly;
• The microclimate in the room where the baby will be needs to be analyzed using a hygrometer to measure humidity and a thermometer. Based on the results, it is worth taking measures to bring the parameters to the ideal - temperature 20 degrees and humidity 60-70%.

It is worth making sure that when the baby is at home, from the first minutes he has everything he needs, namely:

• clothing of the appropriate size in several copies - the child will have to change clothes often due to regurgitation, and it is also possible that the diaper will fail;
• diapers. It is advisable to buy several packages at once, and not only the smallest size, but also the next one - this way you can choose the most comfortable option;
• crib or bassinet with clean linens;
• a place for changing and changing clothes (usually a changing chest or table with a special mattress);
• first aid kit for the baby (medicines for fever in the form of suppositories and syrup, thermometer, healing cream, wound treatment products, etc.);
• formula for feeding (if the baby is bottle-fed).

At what weight are they discharged from the hospital?

Often, women in labor are interested in what weight is considered normal for boys, girls and twins.
If the baby is full-term, it doesn’t matter. Children even weighing 2 kg are discharged, but they must be healthy and eat well. Within a few days from the moment of birth, the newborn loses weight: swelling goes away, and original feces are released. However, weight loss should not exceed 6% of initial body weight.

For example, at birth the child weighed 2500 g, then by the time of discharge the minimum weight should be 2300 g. If this condition is met, the mother and child are discharged on the third day.

Let's look at the weight standards for newborn boys and girls:

How to arrange a holiday

The medical staff of the maternity hospital played an important role in the birth of a small miracle, so it is considered good form to thank doctors and nurses. The choice of gifts falls on the shoulders of the young father, who traditionally buys:

• bouquets;
• boxes of chocolates;
• champagne.

It may be banal, but it is always appropriate and does not cause protests. Of course, the man also prepares a gift for his wife, but giving it in the maternity hospital is not entirely convenient: the mother is busy taking care of the child, she needs to get ready, take the necessary certificates; Yes, and postpartum weakness makes itself felt. So it is better to postpone the presentation of gifts until home. But flowers for the woman in labor are always relevant at the time of discharge. Here are recommendations for choosing a bouquet:

• if your husband doesn’t have much taste, help - find an option on the Internet that will suit you personally first of all, inform your spouse to order flowers for the special day;
• call the sellers and find out which flowers contain fewer allergens; a bouquet is unsafe for a newborn - a weak immune system may react negatively to pollen; for example, even if you are crazy about lilies, do not order such a bouquet, since the flower is a strong allergen;
• try to choose a bouquet that is comfortable to hold during the photo shoot.

It’s good when the young mother likes the bouquet and does not interfere with her participation in the holiday
. Wanting to surprise others, young parents sometimes buy a huge armful of flowers. Then, during a meeting with relatives, you have to solve the problem - where to put the bouquet, which has turned into a nuisance for mom.

The giant bouquet is uncomfortable to hold; besides, roses, as allergens, are best not brought near the baby

Gifts from family and friends

The most practical option is to ask your parents what they need and buy, on your own or by pooling, the desired item. The same set for a newborn. They do something similar in Western countries: mom and dad make a list, and loved ones themselves choose what they can afford from this list.

If we cooperate, we can, for example, please young parents:

• car seat for baby;

  
  In Russia, children under 7 years old cannot be transported in cars without a car seat, so the accessory is considered one of the most popular gifts

• stroller;
• mini-nanny - a video system for monitoring the baby;
• changing table;
• baby scales.

And personally for a newborn you can buy:

• silver spoon;
• a carousel with toys that rotates to music above the crib;

  
  A hanging carousel, or mobile, will become your baby’s favorite toy.

• clothes made from natural fabrics; however, it is hardly worth giving winter overalls in the summer - it is difficult to predict how much the baby will grow by winter and guess the size;
• two blankets; While one is in the wash, the baby is covered with the other.

A close friend is allowed to give a young mother intimate things - for example, shapewear underwear; But again there will be no surprise; such gifts should be discussed with the woman in advance. Those who donate perfume or cosmetics risk missing the mark: it is not advisable for the mother to use them in the coming months - they will provoke allergies in the new tenant.

Should I contact a specialized agency?

The young father should discuss this issue with the young mother. It is better not to give a woman a surprise that she may not appreciate. Pompous celebrations on the threshold of the maternity hospital are not to everyone’s taste.

However, calling professionals has its advantages:

• many problems associated with organizing a holiday disappear;
• The event will take place without incident, according to plan.

The organizers of the holidays will take on a lot of trouble and will spend the day of discharge from the maternity hospital according to a prepared scenario.
If you decide to contact the agency, warn that you are not going to celebrate for a long time; the hero of the occasion is still too small, will soon get tired, want to sleep or eat milk. For the same reason, it is not recommended to call a full house of guests on the day of discharge - tell your loved ones that you will celebrate the birth of the baby later.

The issue of a professional photo shoot is also controversial. Get a set of formal shots in official interiors; It’s not a fact that the lighting will be perfect, and flashes are not suitable for photographing a newborn. Ask someone invited to take photographs or a video as a souvenir - there will be less disappointment. But to be on the safe side (in case the pictures don’t work out), order a few photos from professionals at the exit of the maternity hospital.

How to decorate the first way home

The baby, of course, doesn’t care how many balloons fly into the sky above the maternity hospital and what words are written on the banners. However, the child will grow up and, perhaps, flipping through a photo album or watching a video, will appreciate the efforts of the parents on this significant day. So balloons, like flowers, definitely won’t hurt, especially since they create a festive atmosphere.

Loving parents arrange a holiday so that the grown-up child feels how happy they are at his birth

Here are some ideas:

• an arch of balloons in the shape of hearts connected to each other above the entrance to the maternity hospital;
• T-shirts for close relatives with inscriptions about who is related to the newborn;
• a short performance in the courtyard of the maternity hospital - with songs, dances, launching balloons and Chinese lanterns into the sky (make as little noise as possible, respecting the peace of other women in labor);
• a car decorated with flowers and balloons, with stickers - in the form of a stork with a bundle containing a baby, and others; traditional inscriptions on the bumper “thank you for your son”, “thank you for your daughter”; Car registration is handled by specialized agencies; some wealthy parents are given a car in the form of a luxury carriage to the maternity hospital;

  
  For the baby's first trip to the maternity hospital, a decorated car is ordered

• a banner in the room where the newborn sleeps - with the baby’s name, date of birth, height and weight; garlands and balls in other rooms of the apartment.

It also doesn’t hurt to create a festive atmosphere in the apartment where a newborn will be brought from the maternity hospital.