Early discharge of Alberta mothers post-delivery and the relationship to potentially preventable newborn readmissions.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether early maternal discharge increases newborn readmission rates. METHODS Singleton vaginal deliveries weighing at least 2500 grams were extracted from April 1, 1997 to March 31, 2000 Alberta hospital abstracts and linked to records of birth. Potentially preventable readmissions were for dehydration, jaundice, feeding problems, inadequate weight gain, and social reasons. RESULTS The most common reason for readmission is jaundice (74%). In order of importance, influencing factors were: length of gestation, Aboriginal treaty status, first live birth, delivering in region of residence, number of deliveries done in the hospital, newborn sex, maternal smoking, birthweight, previous abortions, and delivering in nearest hospital. Post-delivery length of stay was associated with readmissions in the first 6 days post discharge (25% greater in those < 27 hours compared to those > 48 hours) but not in the first 28 days post discharge. CONCLUSION Early maternal discharge is a minor determinant of potentially preventable newborn readmissions.