Having a baby is a monumental milestone for most women, and the thought of going through it again can be scary. Packing your hospital bag the first time around can be nerve-wracking, but it doesn’t have to be as scary as you think. A little preparation now will make things so much easier for you and your partner when the big day arrives.
Therefore, read on to discover our list of the top 8 must-have items to pack in your hospital bag for mom. This article will help you stay organized and prepared throughout your labor and delivery process. Don’t forget to check out our other blog posts on preparing for childbirth and postpartum recovery tips too!
Items that are useful during labor
Cushion
When you are having a hard time with labor pains, the cushion is quite handy for holding on to, leaning on, and striking.
Drinking Straw
If you have a straw, you won’t need to get out of bed to take a drink, which is a huge convenience.
Lip balm
It’s possible that you breathe through your mouth, which could cause your lips to become chapped and dry. When you put lip balm on, you will find it much simpler to breathe and concentrate on what you are doing.
Socks
It’s possible that your toes and feet will get cold, as well as the rest of your body.
Hand Towels
Because you may sweat a lot when giving birth, you should bring two towels with you; use the smaller one to clean your face and the larger one to hold while you give birth. You can also try putting some of your favorite essential oils on it to help relieve the pain.
Comfortable clothing
Comfortable clothing during labor and delivery, which you’ll wear while giving birth, may not be on your mind when preparing what to pack in hospital bag for mom. A labor and delivery gown is provided by your birthing center, hospital, or medical institution, but you may prefer to bring one of your own. Consider the garment’s overall comfort and functionality when selecting labor and delivery clothing. These clothing options are available when writing a list of what to pack in hospital bag for mom.
Clothes that are easy to change into
Because they anticipated needing to change their clothes at the hospital, some mothers choose clothes that were simple to put on and take off. Some new moms say they changed their underwear because they were told to wear postpartum panties by the hospital.
Ease of breastfeeding
The ease with which you will be able to breastfeed your child after birth seems to be an important consideration as well. Some mothers have mentioned that they opted for clothing that included a breastfeeding access opening.
Comfortable to wear
Make sure to dress comfortably for the hospital, especially if it’s going to be hot or humid during your hospital stay. Some moms indicated they opted for soft and comfy clothing because they feared their skin would be more vulnerable to irritation. Cotton pajamas are the perfect choice for a night in.
Bottled water or sports drink
You’ll need enough fluids both while you’re in labor and after the baby is born. If you’re thinking about what to pack in hospital bag for mom, don’t forget to have a drink on hand. Compared to water or tea, sports drinks contain sugar, which provides more energy. A plastic bottle top and straw would be more convenient for a plastic bottle than a pouch-type beverage.
Snacks
Labor and delivery are both physically demanding events. It usually takes around ten hours from the beginning of active labor to the delivery of the baby, and this is especially true for first-time mothers. Some people need a half day, while others require an entire day or even more! It is also believed that an adult woman burns the equivalent of one day’s worth of calories during the period of time between the beginning of labor and the delivery of the baby. If you are hungry when it is time for you to push out your baby, you may find that you lack the strength to do so. When there is still some time in between contractions, it is a good idea to snack on something that has a few calories. This will help to ensure that the birth goes as smoothly as possible. Small snacks such as chocolate can also be eaten with your hands. In particular, chocolate is an excellent snack that can replenish your body in a short amount of time because even a small bit of chocolate includes calories. So when you think about what to pack in hospital bag for mom, chocolate is one of the options for snacks.
Toiletries
It is a good idea to list a variety of products when you prepare what to pack in hospital bag for mom because you will require them while you are staying at the hospital. Many of your personal hygiene goods, such as bobby pins, lip balms, and toothpaste, should be included in a proper kit. Additionally, it is a smart move to put together skin care products such as lip balm, lotion, and moisturizing cream in advance. This is due to the fact that hospitals typically have dry air. It is highly recommended that preparations be made for those individuals who have naturally dry skin or those individuals who do not have a firm skin type, such as those individuals whose skin is easily irritated by even the most minor of factors.
iPad or other entertainment device
Relaxing as much as possible is the most frequent way to spend time in the labor room. If you want to relax as much as possible before the labor contractions get more intense, you can use your iPad or other entertainment device to do things like listen to your favorite music or read e-books.
Non-slip Slippers
Make sure you have slippers ready for when you need to move around the hospital. In order to avoid sliding and falling, we strongly advise wearing slippers that have a non-slip surface. In the hospital, it’s possible that some patients will wear their room shoes. Because putting them on and taking them off takes so much time, we do not recommend having these.
Oils and creams for nipple care
In the beginning, the baby may not suck well and the mother may not know how to position herself for breastfeeding, which may cause sore nipples. Nipple oil or other nipple care products can be applied to the nipples to relieve pain in these situations.
Conclusion
Don’t buy too much or run out of what to pack in hospital bag for mom if you know in advance what items are provided by your hospital. If you have yourself ready ahead of time, you’ll have the opportunity to ask the midwife or another member of the staff at the prenatal visit if they can answer any questions you have regarding the selection of items. The contents and location of your hospital bag should be communicated to your family members as well. I really hope that you are able to enjoy the time leading up to the birth of your child while keeping a calm and collected state of mind and visualizing your life at the hospital, the labor and delivery process, and your new child.