Packing For The Birth Of Your Baby
It is important to have a bag ready to go when you go into labor. The last thing you will want to do is try and remember everything you will need at the hospital while you are having contractions. The following list will help you to remember the things you will need for the birth of your baby. You may even see some things you haven't thought of.
1. You will want to bring a nightgown or shirt to wear during labor so you will not have to wear a hospital gown. What you bring should be loose fitting or something that can be completely opened in the front.
2. A robe or bed jacket to wear after the birth
3. A pair of socks to keep your feet warm during and after the delivery
4. A pair of slippers to wear when you are up walking
5. You will want to bring a couple of nightgowns and/or pajamas. If you plan to breastfeed you will want to bring Nursing Pajamas
6. You will need 2 - 4 bras. If you plan on breastfeeding you will need to bring Nursing Bras. Either way you will also want to bring Nursing Pad Inserts to absorb any leaks
7. Make sure to bring 3 - 6 pairs of underpants. The hospital usually provides you with pads.
8. Don't forget to pack toiletries such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, shampoo & conditioner, deodorant, lotion, comb or brush and chap stick.
2. A robe or bed jacket to wear after the birth
3. A pair of socks to keep your feet warm during and after the delivery
4. A pair of slippers to wear when you are up walking
5. You will want to bring a couple of nightgowns and/or pajamas. If you plan to breastfeed you will want to bring Nursing Pajamas
6. You will need 2 - 4 bras. If you plan on breastfeeding you will need to bring Nursing Bras. Either way you will also want to bring Nursing Pad Inserts to absorb any leaks
7. Make sure to bring 3 - 6 pairs of underpants. The hospital usually provides you with pads.
8. Don't forget to pack toiletries such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, shampoo & conditioner, deodorant, lotion, comb or brush and chap stick.
9. An elastic scrunchie or hair clip to pull your hair back during labor or while you are breastfeeding your baby
10. If you have gone through birthing classes you will need a photo or other object to be used as a focal point during labor
11. Clothing to wear when you go home from the hospital. It should be something comfortable and loose fitting.
The Following Are Optional:
12. Lollipops or hard candy to keep your mouth moist during labor
13. Something to keep you busy during the early stages of labor such as crosswork puzzles, suduko, or birth announcements to address.
14. It is a good idea to bring your baby book so you can record your delivery details and first moments with your baby. The nurses can put your baby's hand and foot prints on the appropriate page while they are inked for the hospital records. Having the book with you will ensure you write down every little detail you want to remember.
15. A Cord Blood Collection kit if you have decided to collect your baby's cord blood.
16. To make you feel better after labor you should bring makeup, lipstick, scented shower gel or body powder
17. Eyeglasses or contact lenses. You will be allowed to wear your glasses during labor but you must take out your contacts.
18. A watch or stopwatch to time contractions
19. An address book
20. A few small gifts to give the nurses that helped care for you.
21. A small gift for your other children, if you have any, who are at home from the baby. This is a good way to keep your other children from feeling jealous of the new baby.
10. If you have gone through birthing classes you will need a photo or other object to be used as a focal point during labor
11. Clothing to wear when you go home from the hospital. It should be something comfortable and loose fitting.
The Following Are Optional:
12. Lollipops or hard candy to keep your mouth moist during labor
13. Something to keep you busy during the early stages of labor such as crosswork puzzles, suduko, or birth announcements to address.
14. It is a good idea to bring your baby book so you can record your delivery details and first moments with your baby. The nurses can put your baby's hand and foot prints on the appropriate page while they are inked for the hospital records. Having the book with you will ensure you write down every little detail you want to remember.
15. A Cord Blood Collection kit if you have decided to collect your baby's cord blood.
16. To make you feel better after labor you should bring makeup, lipstick, scented shower gel or body powder
17. Eyeglasses or contact lenses. You will be allowed to wear your glasses during labor but you must take out your contacts.
18. A watch or stopwatch to time contractions
19. An address book
20. A few small gifts to give the nurses that helped care for you.
21. A small gift for your other children, if you have any, who are at home from the baby. This is a good way to keep your other children from feeling jealous of the new baby.
You will also want to make sure that your partner has the Insurance information as well as the hospital pre-registration information. You may want to pack a change of clothes and toiletries for your partner if they will be allowed to stay in the room if your labor continues into the night hours.
Your partner may want to pack his own bag and include things to be used during labor such as soothing music, something to be used as a focal point, tennis ball, rolling pin or lotion for massage, watch, paper/pen, snacks.
Other things for your partner to pack are a book or magazine for reading, a list of people with their phone numbers that need to be called, a camera, and a camcorder that is in good working condition and ready to be used.
For the baby you will want to pack a T-shirt, socks, and hat to wear while you are in the hospital and an outfit you have picked out for the baby to wear when it is time to go home. If you will be delivering during cold weather make sure you pack a heavy blanket along with a jacket or bunting for the baby to wear.
It is important that you have an infant car seat ready to be used as the hospital will not let you leave without it. You may want to go ahead and install it in the middle of the backseat so you can practice using the safety harness. It will also allow you to make sure you know the proper way to secure it to the seat.
Feel free to print this page so you can use it as a checklist. The more comfortable you feel, the easier the labor and delivery will be. The last thing you want to do is get to the hospital and discover you forgot to pack something you need.
