Your length of stay in hospital after giving birth in Australia

So, you want to know how long your length of stay in hospital after giving birth in Australia is? Well, the short answer is – it depends!

It depends on a variety of factors. For example, is it a public or private hospital? What sort of birth will you have? Your health. These and other factors will tell you how soon you can go home.

A downward trend

Statistics show that the length of stay in hospital after giving birth in Australia is now shorter. Only 13 years ago, 20% of mothers stayed five days or more. But in 2019, this had dropped to only 13%, staying that long.

On the flip side, the most recent data shows that 22% of mothers now go home within two days of giving birth. In comparison, only 17% left that soon back in 2009.

Public vs private

One simple factor in your length of stay in hospital after birth is where you give birth. In a public (government-funded) hospital, you probably won’t stay as long as in a private hospital.

A good example is the Mater Mothers’ Hospitals in Brisbane. The public arm of the Mater states you could go home as early as 48 hours after a caesarean birth, while the private arm says you’ll stay three to five days.

Perhaps this is because private hospitals respond to patients’ expectations, while we require public hospitals to be as efficient as possible.

Of course, some women give birth at home. If you plan a home birth, your midwife will typically stay until they feel satisfied that you and your baby are stable.

Vaginal vs caesarean birth

After a straightforward vaginal birth, you might only stay four to six hours. Although most mothers who give birth vaginally stay one to two days in public hospitals and two to four days in private hospitals.

Because a caesarean birth is also a significant surgical operation, you’ll need 24/7 care for a little longer. You’ll probably stay in the hospital for around three to five days (in most public and private hospitals). So make sure you pack enough pads, underwear, nursing bras and other supplies.

Medical conditions and other aspects of the birth

There are also other medical issues that can have a say over how long you stay in hospital after birth.

Some of the health problems that could mean you’ll need longer after-birth care in the hospital include:

• high blood pressure during pregnancy
• eclampsia
• infection
• significant blood loss after birth
• anaemia
• forceps or a suction cup used during the birth
• a baby needing special care (for example, if they arrived early).

What’s better – a shorter stay or a longer one?

We know it’s not just medical issues that determine how long you stay in hospital after giving birth in Australia. So what’s the ideal duration of stay?

The World Health Organisation says every mother should stay at least 24 hours. However, it also acknowledges that this is a weak recommendation because there is only low-quality evidence to base it on.

It’s also worth thinking about where you’ll feel most comfortable. For example, do you need the reassurance of having expert support around the clock? Or would you recover better in your home environment, without the inevitable intrusions of hospital staff?

Whether you feel you or your little one need more time or want to get out of there ASAP, speak to your midwives and doctors to let them know.

After birth care at home

If you choose a private midwife, they’ll visit you at home (usually for up to 6 weeks after birth).

Most hospitals also offer a home midwife visit or a phone call. Then, you have access to a range of support, for example, breastfeeding, community maternal child health nurses and care from your GP.

For more information on different maternity hospitals and what to expect at each, visit our guide here.

Reference List

PBB aims to keep you informed with the latest research-based information. Check out our reference list used in the creation of this article.

Published 14th April 2022