Maternal length of stay in hospital
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This section focuses on the maternal antenatal (prior to giving birth) and postnatal (after giving birth) length of stay in hospital, and is based on mothers who gave birth in hospital.
Antenatal length of stay
Antenatal length of stay refers to the number of days between admission to hospital and giving birth.
An antenatal stay of one day or less indicates that pregnant women were most likely admitted to hospital for routine labour and birth (ACT Health 2007). Women who are considered to be at high risk due to antenatal complications, such as diabetes or hypertension, are more likely to be admitted to hospital for an antenatal stay of more than one day (Western Australian Department of Health 2007).
Over time, the average number of days women spend in hospital prior to giving birth has remained relatively stable (from 0.5 days in 2011 to 0.6 days in 2023).
Figure 1 presents trend data on the antenatal length of hospital stay for women who gave birth in hospital, by selected maternal characteristics, between 2010 (or earliest available year of data) and 2023. Select the ‘Current data’ button to view 2023 data.
Figure 1: Proportion of women who gave birth in hospital, by antenatal hospital length of stay and selected topic
Bar chart shows antenatal length of hospital stay by selected topics and a line graph shows topic trends between 2010 (or earliest available year of data) and 2023.
In 2023, most mothers had an antenatal stay of less than one day (62%).
Some groups had lower proportions of antenatal stay of less than one day, including mothers who:
- had a baby who was born pre-term (53%) or post-term (43%)
- were aged under 20 years (49%)
- had an instrumental vaginal birth assisted by forceps (39%) or vacuum (46%)
- had induced labour (34%)
- were first-time mothers (50%).
For more information on:
- antenatal length of stay by state and territory, see National Perinatal Data Collection annual update data table 2.53
- antenatal length of stay by selected maternal characteristics, see National Perinatal Data Collection annual update data visualisations table 4.9.
Postnatal length of stay
Postnatal length of stay refers to the number of days between giving birth and date of discharge or transfer from the hospital where birth occurred, or death. Data on postnatal length of stay are based on mothers who were discharged to home and excludes data from Western Australia.
A mother’s postnatal length of stay is related to maternal factors, such as recovery after birth particularly for caesarean section birth, management of obstetric and maternal health conditions, management of conditions related to the baby and health system factors such as resourcing pressures (Blumenfeld et al. 2015; Lai et al. 2024).
The World Health Organization (2022) recommends that after an uncomplicated vaginal birth in a health facility, healthy mothers and newborns should receive care in the facility for at least 24 hours after birth. The aims of postnatal care in hospital are to monitor the mother and baby after birth and to provide mothers and their partners and/or family with advice and support around physical recovery, breastfeeding (see Breastfeeding), parenting skills and linking to supports in the community (Lai et al. 2024; World Health Organization 2022).
The average number of days women spend in hospital following childbirth has steadily declined from 3.0 days in 2011 to 2.5 days in 2023.
Between 2010 and 2023, there has been a trend towards shorter postnatal stays in hospital. While there has been some fluctuation between individual years, overall, there has been an increase in lengths of stay of less than 1 day, 1 day and 2 days and a decrease in lengths of stay of 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days and 7-14 days.
Figure 2 presents trend data on the postnatal length of hospital stay for women who gave birth in hospital, by selected maternal characteristics, between 2010 (or earliest available year of data) and 2023. Select the ‘Current data’ button to view 2023 data.
Figure 2: Proportion of women who gave birth in hospital, by postnatal hospital length of stay and selected topic
Bar chart shows postnatal length of hospital stay by selected topics and a line graph show topic trends between 2010 (or earliest available year of data) and 2023.
In 2023, most mothers had a postnatal stay of 3 days or less (74%). Mothers more likely to have a postnatal stay of 3 days or less were those who:
- had a baby who was born post-term (88%)
- were aged between 20-24 years (89%)
- had a non-instrumental vaginal birth (86%)
- had a parity of 3 (87%) or 4 or more (88%)
- had a singleton pregnancy (75%).
Higher proportions of postnatal stays of 4 days or more were seen among mothers who:
- had a baby who was born pre-term (41%)
- were aged 40 years and over (40%)
- had a caesarean section birth (39%)
- were first-time mothers (34%)
- had a multiple pregnancy (55%).
Some groups of mothers also have a longer median length of postnatal stay in hospital, which is reflected in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Median postnatal length of stay for selected mothers giving birth in hospital and discharged home
Median length of stay for selected babies born in hospital and discharged home, 2023
| Group | Number of days |
|---|---|
| All mothers | 2 |
| First Nations mother | 2 |
| Non-Indigenous mother | 2 |
| First-time mothers | 3 |
| Mothers who previously gave birth | 2 |
| Mothers who had a singleton birth | 2 |
| Mothers who had a multiple birth | 4 |
| Vaginal Birth | 2 |
| Caesarean section | 3 |
| Public Hospital | 2 |
| Private Hospital | 4 |
Notes:
- Includes liveborn babies born in hospital only (excludes birth centres attached to hospitals) and discharged home only.
- Excludes data where babies' length of stay in hospital was 'Unknown duration' or 'Not stated'.
- For multiple births, the place of birth of the first-born was used for all subsequent babies.
- Data excludes WA.
Source: AIHW analysis of National Perinatal Data Collection.
For more information on:
- postnatal length of stay by state and territory, see National Perinatal Data Collection annual update data tables 2.54
- postnatal length of stay by method of birth, see National Perinatal Data Collection annual update data tables 2.55
- postnatal length of stay by selected maternal characteristics, see National Perinatal Data Collection annual update data visualisations table 4.10.
ACT Health (2007) Maternal and perinatal health in the ACT 2000 – 2004, ACT Health, ACT Government, accessed 29 May 2025.
Blumenfeld YJ, El-Sayed YY, Lyell DJ, Nelson LM and Butwick AJ (2015). Risk Factors for Prolonged Postpartum Length of Stay Following Cesarean Delivery, American Journal of Perinatology 32(9), doi:10.1055/s-0034-1543953
Lai MM, August D, Sharfuddin Z, Palmer-Field K, Johnston L, Main E, Smith P, Kilgour CM and Kearney L (2024) ‘Outcomes and perspectives of woman-newborn dyads following discharge from a quaternary maternity service in Australia: A cross-sectional survey’, Women and Birth, 37(1)248–259, doi:10.1016/j.wombi,2023.10.007.
Western Australian Department of Health (2007) Models of maternity care: updated review of the evidence, Western Australian Department of Health, Western Australian Government, accessed 26 July 2022.
WHO (World Health Organization) (2022) WHO recommendations on maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience, WHO, accessed 25 July 2022.