Discharge Standard Operating Procedure

My baby and I went home Sunday, my third day after the operation instead of Monday so my husband need not take another day off work. The usual length of stay is 2 days for vaginal delivery and 4 days for a cesarean section. My obstetrician saw me in the morning and gave me permission to go home. The day before I asked her if I could go home a day earlier and she said it depends on my progress until the next day. She gave me a belly band and show me how to use it. She told me it would help me move little better and she was right! She gave me prescriptions and told me it was also written down on my discharge paper work. Aside from being seen by my doctor everyday, the nurses were taking my blood pressure and temperature every two hours so I thought I could rest more at home since there would be no constant monitoring. Even so I signed a Discharge Notice that states "Your doctor and the hospital have determined that you no longer require care in the hospital and will be ready for discharge on Sunday"

My baby's pediatrician who saw me every morning to report how my baby is doing also said he examined my baby and gave me a written discharge instructions for my baby.

Since my husband was not feeling well the previous day, we had a Rendezvous Lunch instead of the complimentary Rendezvous Dinner that the hospital offers on the evening before being discharge.

The registered nurse quickly discussed the Postpartum Teaching and Discharge Plan with me prior to my discharge. She put the day's date under the column beside each topic as she went over them with me then we both signed them. She also asked me to sign a lot of forms. One of the forms given to me was a pink slip that says "ADULT INFLUENZA/PNEUMOCOCCAL STANDING ORDER PROTOCOL". There are two column on the form, on the left column, under the Contraindications to immunize, the RN crossed out the box beside the phrase - Less than 65 years old and does not have : Heart disease; lung disease; sickle; diabetes; alcoholism; cirrhosis; CSF leaks; HIV/AIDS; splenectomy; dialysis or kidney failure; cancer; Hodgkins doisease; lympoma; leukemia; long term steroids; multiple myeloma; organ transplant. On the right side of the form was the influenza vaccine Contraindication to Immunize and Indication to Immunize checklist, which the RN left blank maybe thinking that I had it already during my prenatal check-ups because one of the requirements under Indications to Immunize was Pregnant women regardless of trimester. Why would government and health institutions want to inject toxins to an expectant mother when she is carrying a baby is beyond me! Is not sustaning a new life that is gradually forming its organs and what have you taking a toll on the mother's body already? Why gave an expectant mother's immune system the stress of trying to fight off outside toxins no matter how mild they are? Toxins are toxins for me aside from that didn't they say that the mother's immune system is weakened during pregnancy why taxed it more with this vaccines?

Among the forms that I signed was the Patient Discharge Instruction Sheet on Post Partum depression and C-Section. On this paper, under the Physician's Instruction, shower and walking indoor and outdoor were allowed as tolerated. I also signed a paper that said I acknowledge receipt of the New York State Medicaid/Child Health Plus mandatory letter. This letter stated that if I were on Medicaid when my baby was born, then my baby has Medicaid until her first birthday. I don't really need to read this letter since both my husband and I have insurance and my baby will be added to his since I am going to have child care leave for a year, which means I would be off the payroll after my maternity leave and would not be covered then so it is better for my baby to be added on her father's insurance so she will be have insurance continously.


The RN and the nursery nurses gave me written instructions to take home. They remove my baby's foot band and my husbands and my wristbands.

I also received the small slip of paper that says : I Have A Hearing Test Today which means that my baby had a Newborn Hearing Sreening. The nurses, the RN and the nursery nurses told me I had to give this to my baby's pediatrician.

When my baby was already in the car seat, the assistant nurse took me out to the front entrance in a wheelchair with my mother-in-law and my husband who's carrying our baby in the car seat, walking by my side.