title: [Length of stay in maternity wards after normal delivery: diverging point of views].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare maternity ward professionals' and patients' views regarding the length of stay in the maternity after a normal delivery and to explore working relationships with ambulatory health professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three surveys
  
  
  RESULTS
  General professional agreement on a minimum of 4 days; few contacts with ambulatory health professionals. One third of the women found their length of stay excessive. Most did not appear to gain new skills after 3 days, nor to encounter major difficulties once they returned to their home.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  and conclusion. It will be essential to organize effective working relationships between the maternity ward and ambulatory health professionals to ensure appropriate follow-up after an earlier discharge from the hospital, in agreement with the capabilities and expectations of a majority of women.
authors.affiliation: Service de maternité, Hôpital Louis Mourier (Assistance Publique--Hôpitaux de Paris), Colombes.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vautrin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontaine
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lanba
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guérin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Engelmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000379:methods; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010297:Paris; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors