Going Home

Mothers are typically discharged home approximately 24 hours after having a vaginal delivery if there are no complications. Mothers who have had a cesarean section birth generally stay in the hospital for at least 36 hours. All mothers receive an infant feeding log with community resources during their hospital stay. Time of discharge is determined by how well mother and baby are doing.
All mothers are screened to assess their need for follow-up in the Healthy Baby, Healthy Children program offered by Public Health Departments. Find out more for the City of Toronto, York Region, Peel Region, Durham Region and Halton Region. This program provides additional support to mothers who have an identified need.
Remember to bring your car seat to the hospital before you are ready to go home (see section below). By law, all babies must be in safety approved car seats whenever they are in a car.
Follow-up appointments
Baby
- Take your baby to their care provider within two to three days of going home. You should choose a doctor to care for your baby while you are pregnant. You will need to provide your baby’s doctor’s name after you deliver the baby.
- Remember to bring the tear-off bottom portion of your baby’s OHIP registration form and the Neonatal Record you received at discharge to your baby’s follow-up appointment.
Birthing Person

- If your care provider is an obstetrician or family doctor, call to make a six-week postpartum check-up appointment.
- You will be checked to make sure that you have healed properly.
- Your doctor can answer any questions about sex, birth control, future pregnancies or other questions.
Midwifery Care
- If you have a midwife, she will visit you at home for the initial check-up.
- You will have about six midwifery appointments during the six weeks following the birth, including several in the first week. Midwives monitor both your and your baby’s health and provide breastfeeding support.
- After six weeks, you and your baby will be discharged from midwifery care and will see a family doctor or pediatrician for your baby’s care.
- Before you leave midwifery, your midwife will discuss your birth control plans, provide further breastfeeding support and refer you to any services you need to address mental health needs.
Discharge programs
NYGH Newborn Follow-Up Clinic
The NYGH Newborn Follow-Up Clinic is available to provide the following services:
- Postpartum in-person and virtual infant feeding support
- Jaundice management (up to 14 days of life)
- Weight management (Up to 14 days of life)
This is a discharge support program for new mothers and their babies operated by the Maternal Newborn Program at NYGH. Your nurse will discuss the clinic and its services with you before you go home.
NOTE: The Newborn Follow-Up Clinic is not a walk-in clinic. Walk-in patients will not be accepted.
To book an appointment, submit an online request form.
Following the submission of the online request form, you will be contacted by the Newborn Follow-Up Clinic to confirm your appointment time.
Newborn Follow-Up Clinic
North York General Hospital
2nd Floor South
4001 Leslie Street
Toronto ON M2K 1E1
Tel: 416-756-6410
Hours: 8 a.m.to 4 p.m., seven days a week
NYGH Midwifery Care Clinic
The NYGH Midwifery Care Clinic provides comprehensive outpatient services to families during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Services include:
- Prenatal consultations
- Maternal and newborn wellness checks
- Newborn feeding and jaundice follow-up
NOTE: The Newborn Follow-Up Clinic is not a walk-in clinic. Walk-in patients will not be accepted.
Midwifery Care Clinic
North York General Hospital
2nd Floor South, Room 215
4001 Leslie Street
Toronto ON M2K 1E1
Tel: 416-756-6410
Hours: 8 a.m.to 4 p.m., Sunday to Friday
To book an appointment, submit an online Midwifery Care Clinic: Referral Form.
Following the submission of the online request form, you will be contacted by a member of the Midwifery Care Clinic to confirm your appointment time.
NYGH Postpartum Support Group
Join the weekly Postpartum Support Group if you are experiencing symptoms of postpartum anxiety, depression, and/or would like support coping with a newborn. This group is for individuals following the birth of their baby and up to one year postpartum. You do not need to be NYGH patient to attend the group.
The group meets virtually every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. using Microsoft Teams.
Please complete the online self-referral form.
Healthy Babies Healthy Children
The Healthy Babies, Healthy Children program is a free voluntary and province wide home-visiting program operated by the Public Health Department of the City of Toronto.
Within two to three days of discharge, a public health nurse will call and see how you and your baby are doing. The nurse will be able to answer questions about baby and mom’s care and community resources. They can also provide help with breastfeeding. The nurse may offer to visit or you can ask her to come and see you. Your nurse on the Postpartum Unit will explain the HBHC program and, with your consent, will fax a referral to the Public Health Department when you leave the hospital.
Toronto Public Health
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tel:416-338-7600
Email: PublicHealth@toronto.ca
Infant Hearing screening

North York General Hospital’s Infant Hearing Screening Program helps identify newborns with hearing loss. Most babies have a hearing screen test done before being discharged from the hospital. If your baby does not receive a hearing test before you go home, make sure you visit Surrey Place. Call 1-833-575-5437 to book an appointment.
Your baby is eligible for infant hearing screening until two months of age.
York/Durham: 1-888-703-5437 ext.4 www.childdevelopmentprograms.ca/bookmybaby
Peel/Halton: 905-855-2690 ext. 3
For more information about our after delivery programs, visit After Delivery – North York General Hospital | North York General Hospital (nygh.on.ca)
Car seats

It is the law that all babies be in safety approved car seats whenever they are in a car. If you do not have a car, it is still recommended that you have a car seat because you will probably travel in a car or a taxi at some point.
Bring your car seat to the hospital before you are ready to go home. If you have any questions or if you are unsure if the seat is okay, you can discuss this with your nurse.
If the car seat has a base (most do) then make certain it is properly installed in your car. Police departments and St. John’s Ambulance clinics can be helpful with this.
Remember, babies should be removed from the car seat when not in the car. Car seats are not meant to replace a crib, chair or bassinette. Please note that car seat expiration dates vary by manufacturer.
These links provide important information about car seat safety and help with installation.
- Toronto Public Health – Installing Car Seats
- Transport Canada
- St. John Ambulance
- Toronto Police Service
Smoking ban in cars with children

To protect children from the harmful health effects caused by exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke and vapor in motor vehicles, it is illegal to smoke or vape in a vehicle with a person under 16 years of age. According to Health Canada, simply opening the window will not clear the smoke from the vehicle. Researchers found that second-hand smoke can remain in contaminated dust and on surfaces, even if the smoking took place days or even months earlier. Ontario drivers who are convicted of smoking tobacco or vaping in a motor vehicle while a person under 16 years of age is present can face a maximum fin of $250.
“Extensive studies have shown there is no level of ventilation that will eliminate the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, and opening a window can result in air flow back into the car, which may cause the smoke to be blown directly back at the non-smokers.” — Health Canada, 2009
Visit the Government of Canada website to read the guide “Make your Home and Car Smoke-free“