The term Early Transfer Home means the possibility for a healthy mother and baby to leave the hospital early after birth, normaly after six hours of giving birth. Find out what it will mean to you, your baby and why you should or should not choose and early transfer home from hospital.
This has been the practice in Austria and many other European countries for many years and many women avail of it. Ireland introduced this scheme as part of th Community Midwifery Care, including the Domino Scheme, Domiciliary In and Out. A team of midwives provides antenatal (before birth) and postnatal (after birth) care to women in the community. Sometimes they accompany their clients during early labour at home, then transfer to the hospital, where the mother gives birth and after a few hours return to the family home, where they take care for mother and baby for a week or more.
Why do women choose ETH?
A mother, who gives birth naturally and has a healthy baby, recovers best in a loving and caring surrounding, which is often the family home. Hospital staff do their very best to care for everyone, but they have so many people to look after, that their time is very limited. So, if all is well, it is sensible, to offer a family this choice and provide them with personal home care.
Who will care for you and your baby, when you are out of hospital?
A mother and baby who have opted for this choice, will be looked after and cared for by either a self-employed Community Midwife (SECM) or a Hospital Midwife and later on a Public Health Nurse (PHN).
Bridging the gap
The hospital staff usually inform the PHN about a birth two days after the baby is born.
This means she will only be aware of your situation after you have already been at home for almost 48 hours.
Please be aware of:
Should you decide to discharge early and have no Midwife to care for you, make sure, you have a Doula or someone else you trust, to look after you to avoid unnecessary complications.
By Armela Karas Doyle
Doula in Co. Clare
Sources:
CUIDIU – ICT’s Consumer Guide to Maternity Services in Ireland
National Maternity Hospital Dublin
The Coombe
Home Birth Association
An Bord Altranais (Irish Nurses Board)
Citizen Information
Do you have any great tips to share?