Recommendations from a perinatal nurse, doula and mother of 4 children
Time flies: your little baby continues to grow and soon he will in your arm.
When you feel the need or around 32 weeks, it is advisable to start preparing your hospital bag. This way, you will be ready even if baby arrives a little earlier.
Below is a list of key items to bring, which you can always customized as needed. This way, you will be sure not to forget anything!
Pro tips:
-I advise you to select larger bags (rather than many small ones). This is likely to be less cumbersome for the partner and you are less likely to forget some bags!
- Prefer a suitcase or bag that opens well and allows to easily view the contents.
-Separate content so you can find it more easily. If need be, you can use ziplocs or transparent bags. You can also give a little overview of your bag to your partner. In this way, he will look less for the essentials that you need!
-If there are last minute additions to your bag you can leave a little note (post-it) as a reminder.
**Remember: you must bring back everything you bring! If I have a little advice: it's precisely to bring what you need, but without too much superfluity. If you receive visitors during your hospital stay, you can ask them to bring gifts and flowers to your house or arrange delivery.
Good to know:
To help you plan for quantity of cloth, normally (when Mom and baby are well), parents stay in the hospital for:
- for a first baby, often 36 hours.
-for a vaginal birth, 24 hours
-2 days (48h) for a caesarean section.
Just in case, you can plan for a bit more :)
Items for labor (pain relief)
□ tennis ball for massage
□ magic bag for heat and/or cold
□ hair comb/brush
□ rebozzo or large scarf
Optional: - mini portable fan (which can be used later for the baby in the stroller).
- essential oil
- your own pillowcase
For baby
□ Pyjamas (ideally with zipper, it's so much faster!)
□ Small socks (to keep baby's little feet warm)
□ Small tuque
□ Diaper (around 20). Wipes. Vaseline*
□ Blanket for swaddling and for covering baby when discharged from hospital
□ Car seat (to be left in the car and the partner will come back to pick it up before leaving the hospital).
* Vaseline? Ah yes, why do you wonder? Well, your baby's first stools (called meconium) are very special: dark green or black in color, very sticky, a bit like tar. So, if you want to save wipes and a lot of time, put a thin layer of vaseline on baby's bottom and the diaper change will be much easier!
And the cute little mittens? Well no, the best thing is to let the baby have access to
his hands so that he can discover and soothe himself. This will help also for breastfeeding.
For mom
□ Your health insurance card
□ Your hospital card
□ Your social insurance number (write it down, necessary to complete the paperwork)
□ Your medication list
□ Glasses or contact lens if you wear them
□ Your birth plan (if you have made one)
□ Notepad and pen
□ Comfortable clothes for work time (if you don't want to wear the hospital gown)
□ Comfortable clothes and underwear for day and night.
□ A dressing gown and sweaters that open easily for breastfeeding
□ One or two nursing bras
□ Lanolin cream for nipples
□ Dirty laundry bag or plastic bag will do
□ Warm slippers and socks
□ Large sanitary pads (maxi absorbent or underwear/diaper for postpartum)*
□ Large dark-colored panties
□ Your toiletries and shower kit. Hair ties and a bandana. Sandal for the shower.
□ Money for vending machine
□ Gum or small peppermint candy
□ Charger for your cell phones. It is useful to have a long charging cable (to have access even in your bed). Above all, don't forget to bring it back!
** Underwear (diaper) for postpartum. This option was designed specifically for postpartum and many women appreciate it. They are very absorbent and comfortable.
For dad :
□ Toiletries bag
□ Clothes and pajamas
□ Shirt or dressing gown may be a good idea for easy skin-to-skin with baby
□ Bathing suit (if he wants to be in the bath with you)
Lunch box for hospital
A small lunch box for the hospital can be a good idea. Like this, you will be able to snack a little during labor and also for your partner. Your partner will be in better spirit if he is able to eat. And let me tell you, after giving birth, we are hungry! So it's handy to have food that you love and that will give you energy. Especially if you give birth in the middle of the night, you will surely appreciate.
Be sure to identify your lunch box with your name to avoid confusion with other patients :)
□ Frozen grapes, Pop Sicle or Mr Freeze
□ Snacks (e.g. muffins, granola bars, dried fruit, yogurt, date, energy ball, crackers etc)
□ Fruit juice (which can be diluted during labor)
One last tip...
Make sure you have a towel in the car that you can sit on when you go to the hospital. You can also put a towel in your bed, under the fitted sheet. That way, if your water breaks and it's a flood, you won't have to clean it all up.
So this is it! Good package.
I wish you a birth in full confidence.
Karine
Hi there!
I am Karine.
I created Birthing with Confidence (prenatal classes and workshops | Postnatal follow-up | Breastfeeding support | Blog) to help YOU have a better birth and times with your little baby. I want to support you in this great adventure!
I dare to believe in yourself!
Let's connect together! You can contact me and follow me on facebook, instagram and pinterest.
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