Postpartum Discharge Readiness and Preparation: A Scoping Review

Background: Discharge readiness is an important aspect of postpartum care and has been linked to maternal confidence, safety, and outcomes after hospital discharge. While guidelines support timely discharge for low-risk mothers, there is variation in how readiness is assessed and experienced. The purpose of this scoping review was to map the evidence on postpartum discharge preparation and transitional support, clarify how discharge readiness is understood, and identify gaps to guide future research and practice. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Web of Science for literature published between January 2014 and October 2025. Eligible studies focused on the readiness of postpartum mothers for the transition from hospital to home. Results: Six studies were included in the synthesis. They indicate that readiness for discharge and the transition to home-based postpartum care are associated with educational, psychosocial, clinical, and health-system factors. Conclusions: Discharge readiness appears to be a complex, multidimensional process. It is linked to structured education, maternal confidence and caregiving skills, woman-centred support, attention to physical and mental health, and health-system processes that support continuous and consistent care. Further research using stronger designs is needed to clarify whether these factors influence readiness and post-discharge outcomes.