Empowered Delivery Preparations - The Hospital Bag

By: Aunt Doula (02/13/2023)

One of the more often asked questions, what do I pack for the birth? Things to consider are things like a weekend trip, you are usually in the hospital for 2-3 days and unless you know you will be there longer, don't overpack. I only suggest more for people who live hours away from the hospital. If your stay is extended, someone is usually able to bring you more stuff.

Many things will be provided by the hospital, however it does vary and I highly recommend that you call ahead and ask what they do provide - remember that whatever you pack in, much like camping, you have to pack back out when you go home! Another consideration is knowing if you will be spending your entire stay in the same room. Some hospitals have a labor and delivery floor, and then once you give birth you are moved to a postpartum floor - call ahead and ask or if you are taking child irth classes at your delivering hospital, they will be able to tell you. If you will be spending split time, pack accordingly for your labor and delivery bag and your postpartum bag so you don't have to completely unpack in the L&D room, then pack up, then unpack again on the postpartum floor. Two bags, or well packed sections are very helpful.

What goes in on this list is really up to you and your desired needs - this list is meant to be comprehensive for just about everything you might need so you shouldn't need to have anyone make a run home, but there may be things here that don't apply to you. Adjust as you adapt this list for your preferences.

Underwear:

Decide if you want to be wearing postpartum disposable underwear or using pads - this will determine if you need to bring extra cloth underwear. The hospital will usually provide mesh underwear. I have heard good things about Always Discrete, Depends, and Rael disposable underwear. Thinx makes a postpartum line of reusable underwear. It is up to you. Whatever you decide, but enough that you leave the rest at home, your lochia (postpartum tissues, blood and fluid remaining in the uterus after birth that may still happen even if you have a C-section) may last anywhere from 1-6 weeks, lightening over that time, but expect to need a 80-100 so your partner needn't go out to buy them at 4am and you can change them frequently)

Socks

While you are in the hospital they will be having you wear those delicious XXL sticky bottom socks - it's policy and they will remind you all the time to wear them. You can wear your own socks underneath, so decide if that's what you'd like to do before packing loads of socks

Tops/Bottoms/Bras/Gowns

Loose is the name of the game. Dresses, especially labor wear, are popular. Things that can come up or down in case you are struggling to raise your arms over your head. Bras are a personal choice, nursing bras are vast, try them before you get to the hospital if you're going to wear them. I highly recommend finding a retailer that has a generous return policy so you don't break the bank finding what you like.

• Pants are often not well loved, sweats at the most with a
  loose elastic, but dresses and labor wear allow for the most access for checks, breastfeeding if you're planning to do it, IV's and ease of removal or changing.

Toiletries

Go to the travel section of your local pharmacy and buy the teeny bottles and tubes of what you want off the list below, no sense taking up extra room. Unpacking as soon as you get home is also rarely first on the list, so this way you can just throw the remainder away, or not have to worry about unpacking to have access to your usual stuff

• A bath towel! Your hospital may not have full size towels, so definitely ask ahead of time if you should bring a towel for yourself (and partner if applicable)

• Some people want makeup, some don't. Go minimal if you want it tho

• Toothbrush - I would get a special birth toothbrush of super softness, and so you don't have to unpack to have it at home

• Flavor free toothpaste (if you're nauseated, been vomiting, etc the rarest of things desired is fake mint. Remember that you can dry brush if your teeth feel gross but the toothpaste texture is too much)

• Hair brush

• Hair ties of many varieties if you have long hair

• Forehead bands if you like them, good for if you're planning to be moving throughout your labor for sweat control

• Flavorless Lip Balm

• Flavor free mouthwash if you like mouthwash

• Travel shampoo and conditioner

Postpartum Care items

These are the things that are often most provided by hospitals but knowing before you go is super important because you don't want to be without these things if you need them. Also what the hospital provides is going to be very disposable and often least comfortable/practical for cost savings.

-Tucks pads

• Ducolax Pink and Miralax (Ask the doctor if you can start taking soon after you deliver)

• For the love of yourself, take your own rolls of TP. Softest, favorite toilet paper you love, hospital TP is a sin.

• Angled neck Peri bottle for rinsing since you are not likely to want to be wiping, even with your fab TP, it will be for gently patting dry and pre-delivery wiping. The hospitals idea of a peri bottle is very difficult to use, buy and bring your own if you can!

• Dermoplast (or similar) pain relief spray

• Pure lanolin nipple cream

• Mirror so you can look at your vulva/urethralrectum and ask questions to doctors, and know what everything is looking like before you leave so you know what changes may look like and also observe any thing that is bothering you. It may be nerve wracking to look, but it's in your best interest!

For Baby

-Diaperswipes will be provided by the hospital while you stay, unless you are planning to go brand specific or cloth from the start, you usually neednt bring any (put this on the list of questions to ask if the hospital provides!)

• Going home outfit, one back up. The majority of their time in the hospital will be in a diaper and swaddle because of the constant checking - much like for you, easy on, easy off - a blanket is the best 'clothing' for your baby in the hospital. Many hospitals also provide a 'top' of sorts that is disposable.

• Hats are a silly hold over from the 50's when babies weren't being kept with you in your room, take them if you really want for an outfit, but otherwise there is little need. Your body is biologically designed to raise and lower your temperature based on the temperature of your baby's temperature against yours. Also, being able to smell your baby's head helps your hormones release better and connect smell memory for both of you. Hats are cute, but don't stress about bringing them either because the hospital will provide them whether you want them or not.

• Mittens are rarely necessary, and often are lost quickly. Same for baby socks. These are a personal choice not a requirement babies experience their world with their hands, mittens take away one of their biggest senses.

• Have your car seat installed now! One, you want to know it well, two you can't leave the hospital without it. Check online for your locality who will check your installation. Here in the US sometimes it's at a fire station, sometimes there is a particular community center that does it a certain day of the week.

Other

• Take your breast pump if you're planning to pump or breastfeed. If you have any questions or run into any issues breast feeding, a lactation consultant can help you with your pump and you can get used to it.

• Electric Heating Pad

• Sandals (Tying shoes? Shoes fitting? Why risk it?)

• SNACKS - ALL THE SNACKS Did I mention, take snacks? Yes that first meal will be great but it is rare that a hospital has access to room service meals 24/7 - You gonna be snacky at 3 am, and vending machines are expensive and won't have what you want. A snack bag of its own is pretty awesome. Also your favorite liquids!

• Food for your labor partner! Having them fast in solidarity is obviously up to you, however! Also as a side note, hospitals often forbid eating anything regardless of if you intend for a vaginal birth. The American academy of anesthesiologists doesn't endorse fasting in labor. If you are hungry during labor and you haven't been told you're about to be wheeled in for surgery, eat the snacks. People arrive at the hospital and get rushed to surgery regardless of their stomach being empty or full. The requirement to fast is outdated, exhausting and I highly recommend you research eating during labor and putting it on your birth plan if you're making one.

• 6-8 copies of your birth plan. Laminate one or two of you feel so inclined, especially if water is one of your planned pain relief methods.

• Phone charger with a minimum 10ft cord x2 (one for you one for your partner, charger duels are no bueno in the delivery suite!)

• Headphones - when you need to tune out the world to Metallica and get your labor on, headphones are Awesome

• A list separate from your birth plan of all the things you might want to try for natural pain relief (it can be very difficult to remember options when in pain! If you have a labor partner it gives them guidance as well and they can use the sheet)

• A binder for all of the rediculious amounts of paper you will receive before leaving the hospital

• A note pad and pen for writing things down to ask when the nurse or doctor comes in, journaling an experience you want to recollect clearly later, anything.

• Eye mask X2 one for you, one for your labor partner

• Ear plugs (bring a 10 pack, they'll get lost)

• Stroller fan - these have the bendy arms so you can attach it to your hospital bed!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Some people pack their labor bag and keep it in their car, some people pack their bag the day they go into labor and everything in between. The minimal amount of things you need when you show up are the clothes you're wearing, a digital copy of your birth plan on your phone, and ideally your labor partner! For the most part, anything you may need if you haven't prepared a bag or you couldn't get your bag before going to the hospital, can be bought in the gift shop or a nearby pharmacy. The hospital will provide the basic necessities and while they may not be the most comfortable, you will be covered. You've got this.