Four hours later they were on their way home.

Baby Harley was born at 7.40pm after a short induced labour and at 11.40pm Ms Benger was sent home in a taxi.

The family doesn’t have a car and her partner Cam was at home with their other children, Jayden, 5, and Stuart, 14 months.

The taxi driver who collected the mum and her new baby was outraged that she would be released in the middle of the night so soon after giving birth, but the hospital says it’s normal practice.

Director of nursing Glenda Entwisle yesterday said that under the community midwifery program, if a mother has given birth before, if it was a vaginal birth, and the delivery was uncomplicated, the mother and baby can go home four hours after the delivery.

A midwife then visits daily for six days to make sure mother and baby are doing well.

After that time they are supported by community health’s child and family nurses.

Ms Entwisle said it was a way of allowing mothers to be at home with their families as soon as possible and avoid the problems that might result from a prolonged stay in hospital.

However, Ms Benger felt she was encouraged to leave because the maternity unit was very busy.

Ms Entwisle said a bed was available for Ms Benger if she had wanted it and it was her choice whether she wanted to stay or go home and be with her family.

“I was a bit shocked at first and asked if it would be better to stay, but we were assessed by the doctor and told everything was fine,” Ms Benger said.

“The staff are under a lot of pressure up there. They were very busy with people coming and going, but they were excellent to me while I was in labour.”

Ms Entwisle said once they have left the hospital the mums are given the numbers to call for maternity and their midwife in case they have any concerns.

By lunchtime yesterday Ms Benger had already received a visit from her midwife who was very happy with how well little Harley is doing.

Ms Entwisle said the community midwifery program has been running for two years and the hospital has received lots of positive feedback.

“A lot of women find it really supportive.”

Ms Entwisle said the average length of stay for women with a normal birth is two days.

“In the old days it would have been around two weeks,” Ms Entwisle said.

She said September and October are normally the busiest months for maternity units.