This paper has a two-fold aim: first we report the results of a study in which 66 recently-delivered women were asked their opinion about a possible program of early post-partum discharge, and about their recent experience of birth and hospital stay. The data show that, while most of the mothers were critical of a number of aspects related to personnel behaviour and hospital organization, only a minority would have appreciated early post-partum discharge. The second aim was to present and discuss the social history of this research project: the reasons why the authors carried out the study, the difficulties in interpreting the results and, above all, the obstacles encountered in trying to have them circulated, discussed and applied.
