If you are under the care of a doctor or midwife, you can expect to leave the hospital within 24 hours after a vaginal delivery. If you have a caesarean birth, you can expect to leave the hospital two to three days after delivery.
- If you are travelling home with baby by car, ensure you have a car seat that meets Canadian standards and that is not expired.
- Your baby should see their doctor or midwife within two days of going home from the hospital.
- Continue to practice skin-to-skin with baby. This means having your baby naked (diaper only) and placed directly on the bare skin of either parent as long as possible.
- Familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression and how you can get help.
- Know where you can get support for breastfeeding, such as at our Breastfeeding Clinic.
Postpartum Support with SeamlessMD
MGH partners with SeamlessMD to provide a free mobile digital education tool that will guide a patient through their postpartum healthcare journey with reminders, notifications and surveys. We encourage you to sign up for SeamlessMD before your discharge from the hospital. Learn how to sign up for SeamlessMD.