Can't believe that anyone would sent 35wk triplets home so early or maybe we
do thimgs  differently herre in Australia with our healthcare system.
With  IVF/GIFT programs producing more and more multiples ,the NICU I work
in Brisbane it is often rare to be a singleton birth.
The number of triples we've had recently from 24+wks on at the one time has
increased in the last few months along with twin births.
The majority of multiple births get admitted to either the ICN or SCN
section of our unit depending on their condition and gestational age.To go
with their mother to the postnatal ward they must be at least 35wks and over
with no problems and of a reasonable size.
They would never be sent home until they were breastfeeding well and with
follow-up by both our Extended Midwifery Service and Child Health Services
to ensure that they are breastfeeding or bottle feeding effectively.
Multiples that are admitted to the NICU don't go home either without
breastfeeding/bottle fedding effectively with appropraite weight gains.We
also have  parent discharge  rooms where both parents are encouraged to come
and  stay  prior to discharge for one or several days to get use to handling
their babies on their own.the nursery staff are only there for back-up if
the parents need any assistance.

I suppose with the Health care System here in Australia being both private
and public,where the parents health fund  pays for their babies' care or
they are covered under our national Medicare system which we pay for in our
taxes,no baby is sent home too early.(at least we hope,some babies do need
re-admission at times)
As we are the Tertiary referral centre we also back discharge to SCNs at the
hospital nearest whether the parents live and we must rely on them to know
when it is appropriate or not to send these babies home.
Hope this is of some interest.
Anne Clements RN RM BNS
Brisbane QLD
Australia (Where it is going to be extremely hot tomorrow for Xmas Day)

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