Published online July 16, 2007
PEDIATRICS Vol. 120 No. 2 August 2007, pp. e391-e400 (doi:10.1542/peds.2006-3389)
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ARTICLE

Decision-Making for Postpartum Discharge of 4300 Mothers and Their Healthy Infants: The Life Around Newborn Discharge Study

Henry H. Bernstein, DOa, Cathie Spino, DScb, Stacia Finch, MAc, Richard Wasserman, MD, MPHc,d, Eric Slora, PhDc, Christina Lalama, MSe, Carol Litten Touloukian, MDf, Harris Lilienfeld, MDg and Marie C. McCormick, MD, ScDh

a Department of Pediatrics, Dartmouth Medical School, Children's Hospital at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire
b Ann Arbor, Michigan
c Pediatric Research in Office Settings, Department of Research, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
d Department of Pediatrics, Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont
e Departments of Biostatistics
h Maternal and Child Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
f School of Medicine, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
g Delaware Valley Pediatric Associates, Lawrenceville, New Jersey

OBJECTIVES. Postpartum discharge of mothers and infants who are not medically or psychosocially ready may place the family at risk. Most studies of postpartum length of stay, however, do not reflect the necessary complexity of decision-making. With this study we aimed to characterize decision-making on the day of postpartum discharge from the perspective of multiple key informants and identify correlates of maternal and newborn unreadiness for discharge.

PATIENTS AND METHODS. This was a prospective observational cohort study of healthy term infants with mothers, pediatric providers, and obstetricians as key informants to assess the decision-making process regarding mother-infant dyad unreadiness for discharge. A mother-infant dyad was defined as unready for postpartum hospital discharge if ≥1 of 3 informants perceived that either the mother or infant should stay longer at time of nursery discharge. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires on the day of discharge.

RESULTS. Of 4300 mother-infant dyads, unreadiness was identified in 17% as determined by the mother (11%), pediatrician (5%), obstetrician (1%), and ≥2 informants (<1%). Significant correlates of unreadiness were as follows: black non-Hispanic maternal race/ethnicity, maternal history of chronic disease, primigravid status, inadequate prenatal care as determined by the Kotelchuck Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index, delivering during nonroutine hours, in-hospital neonatal problems, receiving a limited number of in-hospital classes, and intent to breastfeed.

CONCLUSIONS. Mothers, pediatricians, and obstetricians must make decisions about postpartum discharge jointly, because perceptions of unreadiness often differ. Sensitivity toward specific maternal vulnerabilities and an emphasis on perinatal education to insure individualized discharge plans may increase readiness and determine optimal timing for discharge and follow-up care.

Key Words: newborn readiness • postpartum discharge • decision-making

Abbreviations: LOS—length of stay • LAND—Life Around Newborn Discharge • PROS—Pediatric Research in Office Settings • AAP—American Academy of Pediatrics • OR—odds ratio • CI—confidence interval

Accepted Apr 2, 2007.




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Study explores factors influencing readiness for postpartum discharge from hospital
AAP News, September 1, 2007; 28(9): 21 - 22.
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