Birthing is one of the biggest events in parents’ lives, so you want to make sure that everything is in order even before it happens. This way, you can make sure that you have everything you and your baby need at the hospital and even as you leave. The best thing to do is to pack a hospital bag. After all, you never know when the baby will come, and you want to be as prepared as possible.
A hospital bag has all the essentials and more, and you can simply carry it to the facility once the baby is ready. First-time parents and experienced ones may need some guidance on what to pack. So, here are some of the most vital things you need to consider when assembling a hospital bag.
Important Documentation
The first thing to include is your documentation such as hospital records, identification cards, and insurance cards. This is important, especially if you have medical conditions that may complicate things during the delivery.
Your identification and insurance cards are also critical because you need them to gain access to the facility and services you need to give birth. Any medical cards and related files should be packed into the bag in an accessible location to avoid any hitches.
While these may not be official files, you might want to bring a camera and a baby book, so you can start documenting your baby’s first day. You can take pictures, get their footprints, and any other sentimental things to record in your baby book. Be sure to keep all of these important documents in one designated folder or envelope for safekeeping. This way, you can avoid losing them, wrinkling papers, or worse, tainting it with blood or other unwanted substances.
Comfortable Garments
Giving birth may be a truly amazing moment for parents, but always remember that there might be some discomforts after the fact. Bringing some comfortable clothing and accessories can help make the hospital stay as relaxed as possible.
For your first few nights, you should pack an ultra-comfy nightgown that will help you sleep soundly during your stay. You might also want to include a few pairs of socks, flip-flops, and slippers to make sure you have everything covered.
As you probably know, you will need to wear a hospital gown after giving birth, so that doctors or nurses will be able to access certain body parts for checkups. You can guarantee optimal coziness when you bring your own robe. A thick, yet soft one is your best bet. Other essential garments include several pairs of underwear, everyday clothing, and a set of clothes for when you are discharged.
Additional Pillows
During your stay, you will be given a bed and a room complete with a blanket and some pillows. The thing is, these pillows have been used, washed, and sanitized many times, so they might have lost their softness. To put it lightly, they are not the comfiest.
Keep in mind that you might be advised to be on bed rest, so you will be spending time in your hospital bed. As you don’t want to lie on your back for the entire duration of your stay, you need to sit up with proper back support. You can guarantee this by bringing your own pillow.
After going through a rigorous process, you can forgive yourself if you need to lie down during your stay. You can make yourself more comfortable with additional pillows. This way, you can recover quickly while avoiding back pains and other issues that come with inefficient pillows.
Toiletries and Skin Care
As mentioned, you can expect to stay a few days at the hospital, so you want to make sure that you have everything you need aside from clothing and garments. Hospitals typically provide basic toiletries such as soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.
These hospital-provided items can help you maintain proper hygiene even while in the hospital. However, it is totally understandable if you feel the need to bring your own, especially as you probably have preferred products.
Bringing your own body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and dental products can help you feel more comfortable during your confinement, especially if you are already used to the items you have on board. Of course, you want to maintain your skincare routine once you recover enough. You can do your full-blown regimen, or you can simply do the fundamentals. You might also want to bring body lotion to moisturize your skin, or massage oil to help fight tension and stress.
Premium Maternity Pads
Postpartum bleeding is expected as the body eliminates excess blood and tissue after birth. The hospital typically provides maternity pads. You can definitely use them, but you might notice that they are not as thick and comfortable as you would want them to be.
As such, you might need to replace your pads more often during your stay. Instead of running out of hospital-provided pads, the trick is to bring postpartum supplies like your own premium pads. These work like maxi pads, but they are bigger, thicker, and are better equipped to withstand heavy flow with minimal possibilities of overflowing.
Aside from these pads, you should also pack mesh underwear to go along with these. These are designed to hold maternity pads as they are stretchy. They are also breathable for added comfort. Plus, they are disposable, so you can get rid of them after the ordeal without much difficulty.
Nursing Supplies
Whether you are planning to breastfeed or not, you can expect milk to come out within hours after birth. Regular bras will not cut it, so you want to make sure to bring nursing bras. These are designed to handle enlarged breasts common to nursing individuals, as they offer better support.
If you are leaking or your nipples are sore, you will thank yourself when you pack nursing bras. These can be equipped with nursing pads to soak up excess breast milk and prevent you from showing leaks on your shirt. You can also wear breast shells to protect swollen and painful nipples.
Those who prefer to pump or see the need to do so should bring a breast pump and bottles. Remember, milk can still come out after feeding the baby, and you can store some of it by pumping. Just make sure you have a refrigerator or a chiller where you can properly store the milk.
Entertainment Materials
While you may already be experiencing contractions or simply be ready to give birth, the reality is that your baby may not come anytime soon. As a matter of fact, your baby may come after a few hours or even after a few days.
Waiting can be quite a chore, especially when you are already excited about your little one. Because of this, having some form of entertainment will keep your mind off things and will make your waiting period a bit more bearable. Have your favorite book, television series, streaming show, laptop, headphones, or magazines with you to distract your mind. You may even want to play puzzles with your partner, do word games, or even play cards while you’re at it.
If you’re creative enough, you can even hold a movie night in your room. To complete the experience, have some healthy and doctor-approved snacks to eat by your bedside. This way, you can keep the munchies at bay.
Basic Gadgets and Electronics
You can expect to stay for quite some time in the hospital, especially if your labor takes some time. You may want to bring your cell phone with you to pass the time. This is also necessary to call and inform your partner or your family and friends about any emergency that may arise.
Besides any medical emergencies, your phone is also a great tool to help inform your loved ones about your status. You can send them photos and videos after your labor and give them a sneak peek of your little one. Of course, you can also use your phone to play games and listen to music.
Your device may run a little low on juice, so having a charger or even a power bank can help it remain in good battery health at all times. You should also consider bringing a multi-plug outlet just in case you need to charge multiple devices at the same time.
Baby Essentials
Last but certainly not least is packing your baby essentials. Don’t forget that your baby has needs, too. These include outfits to take your baby home in, complete with socks or booties, mittens, and a hat if it is cold out.
Although your little one will be swaddled in the hospital most of the time, a coming-home outfit just celebrates their first day of finally going home–perfect for pictures. A matching hat and swaddle set won’t hurt, too.
If it’s cold or chilly, having a blanket on hand for your baby to be wrapped in is also ideal to keep them warm. Likewise, if you are planning to bottle or formula feed from the start, bring at least two bottles and or your preferred formula. Most importantly, your baby essentials should include your pediatrician’s contact information. This is imperative as doctors and nurses will ask for this throughout your stay.
The Bottom Line
With your due date approaching, packing your hospital bag with the necessities will give you the peace of mind you need. By preparing all of these items in advance, you can be ready to go at a moment’s notice.
