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Early Transfer Home

Continuing your postnatal care at home

The Early Transfer Home Service supports new mothers and babies who have had a straightforward birth, by continuing your postnatal care at home instead of on the postnatal ward. A community midwife visits you and your baby in the days following the birth, so you can recover in familiar surroundings.

For most women who are eligible, an early transfer home is more restful, more comfortable, and just as safe.

Who is eligible for early transfer home?

To be eligible for the Early Transfer Home Service, you and your baby need to meet a few simple criteria:

  • You have had a normal vaginal birth with no significant complications.
  • Your baby was born at term (37 weeks or later).
  • You live within the catchment area for our community midwifery team.
  • You feel ready and confident to go home.
  • Your baby is feeding well, settles between feeds, and is alert when awake.
  • Both of you are otherwise healthy.

Your midwife will discuss eligibility with you on the postnatal ward. If you are not eligible, you will continue your postnatal care on the ward as usual.

What we check at each visit

For your baby

  • Weight and feeding pattern (at least 10 to 12 feeds in 24 hours if breastfeeding, or 6 to 8 feeds if bottle-feeding)
  • How alert your baby is between feeds
  • Skin colour, for any signs of jaundice
  • The cord and how it is healing
  • Wet and dirty nappies
  • Any results due, such as the Newborn Bloodspot Screening Test
  • Newborn hearing screening, if not already done

For you (mother)

  • Your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature
  • How your tummy is involuting (the womb returning to size)
  • Any vaginal blood loss and how it is settling
  • How your wound is healing, if you had a tear, stitches, or caesarean
  • How you are feeding your baby, and how you are feeling about it
  • Your mood and emotional wellbeing
  • Your bladder, bowels, and pelvic floor
  • Any questions or worries you may have

What to expect at home

A few practical points to know in advance:

  • The community midwife will agree the timing of each visit with you.
  • Visits usually last around 30 to 45 minutes.
  • You don’t need to prepare anything special. The midwife brings any equipment needed.
  • Make sure the room is warm (around 16 to 20°C) and well-lit when you weigh and examine your baby.
  • Have your handheld notes and any relevant paperwork to hand.
  • It is fine to ask any question, however small. The visits are also there to support you.

When to contact your GP or the hospital

For your baby

  • Reluctance to feed, or very poor feeding over more than one feed.
  • Excessive irritability, or unusual sleepiness or floppiness.
  • A high temperature (above 38°C) or a low temperature (below 36°C).
  • Fast breathing, grunting with breaths, or difficulty breathing.
  • Yellow colour that is increasing, or yellow extending to the legs.
  • Vomiting that is green, or vomiting most feeds.
  • Fewer than expected wet or dirty nappies.
  • A rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it.\

For you (mother)

  • Sudden or profuse blood loss, or persistent increased blood loss, or passing blood clots from the vagina.
  • Fever above 38°C, shivering, flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain, or offensive-smelling vaginal loss.
  • Headache accompanied by visual disturbance, nausea or vomiting.
  • Shortness of breath or chest pain.
  • Severe pain or swelling in one calf.
  • Worsening wound pain or wound that becomes red, hot, or starts to discharge.
  • A persistent low mood, intrusive thoughts, or feelings that something is very wrong.