Longer Hospital Stays for New Moms

New mothers are staying in the hospital a little longer--about half a day more on average--says the first study since a public outcry over “drive-by deliveries.” Doctors say first-time mothers often need a second day compared to more experienced mothers. In 1980, the nation’s average stay for a vaginal delivery was 3.2 days. That dropped to 1.7 days by 1995, but inched up to 2.1 days by 1997, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. In 1995, 1.4 million new mothers--37%-- were hospitalized for one day or less. In 1997, 951,000 new mothers--25%--had such short stays, the CDC reported.