One month, two months, three months have gone by. Four months five months, six and zoom!!! you are rushing out the door to put to bed. It’s as if time “flew”, when did you find out about your pregnancy here, and now you are screaming out of your lungs, pouring out sweats and pushing with all your might to bring out your little miracle. Phew!!! Now he is here, all you need is to cuddle your little one and sleep.
Ma’am, ma’am, we can’t find your birth plan, and no combs for the baby either. How come? I thought I packed everything into the hospital bag? Confused and stressed, you start calling and looking for alternatives.
It can be so embarrassing and frustrating when you forget essentials in your hospital bag. Probably, labour came at night and you had to pack your pieces of stuff in haste. But didn’t you have so many months to prepare? How could you forget an essential like your birth plan? Whoops!!!! Whose fault? Lack of early preparation of the hospital bag.
What’s A Hospital Bag?
It’s a bag containing all the essential items needed during the birth of a baby. It includes things for the baby, mother and whoever is staying around at the hospital.
Why Is It Important To Prepare Early In Pregnancy?
Pregnancy comes with it “times”. Usually, after the morning sickness when women are more relived, they want to get themselves back, catch fun, rock the pregnancy bump and glow with different outfits showing the world that they are an expectant mama.
While doing all these, it is important to prepare for the birth and the baby. And most importantly your delivery. Preparing early will make things easy and give you a smooth delivery and after delivery.
When To Pack The Hospital Bag.
So you are ready to swing into action and get all the stuff ready, but when, when is the appropriate time to pack the hospital bag? The timing is relative for different women, however it is expected that by the 35th to 38th week of pregnancy the hospital bag should be fully packed. You may start packing before that time though, but do a recheck a few days before the delivery day.
Most women love packing for the baby especially after completing most of the shopping for the baby. To me, it is the best time to park. I enjoyed my time, I got a cute bag, took the time to choose cute colours. Sea blue was my choice for my little boy. So everything I packed had to be colour-coded.
The socks, onesies, comb, mittens, socks, shoe, were sea blue. Then I stopped and postponed packing altogether. Anytime I thought about packing I switched it out of my mind, for I believed that I had done justice.
Thank God, I was bored a few weeks to delivery day, then I packed all the other essentials I had missed. So, even when you have packed your hospital bag it is important to recheck and see if you missed anything.
When Not To Pack The Hospital Bag.
You may be so flushed with excitement at the news of your pregnancy that doesn’t mean you should start shopping and packing stuff right away. Take time to contain your excitement, visit the hospital, plan, prepare, then park.
What You Need In Your Hospital Bag.
So you are set and ready to start packing, you have probably made a lot of purchases and you ask, what should I pack for the hospital bag?
The hospital bag checklist will vary from women to women: Sometimes based on hospital requirements, personal taste and the type of delivery, etc. Before we divulge deeper to see the general hospital bag checklist needed by all women. let’s see the hospital bag needed for a C-section delivery.
Hospital Bag For C-Section.
After a C-section delivery, you would want as much time as possible to rest, manage the pain and focus on your baby. Dealing with an incompletely packed hospital bag is not something you would enjoy doing. So, preparing the hospital bag for C-section is very important.
The hospital bag for C-section is quite different from the general hospital bag. You will be expected to stay a bit longer at the hospital so it means more things will be needed in the bag.
Most times it is better packing two bags one, for the essential items you need before and immediately after the surgery and the other containing items for the longer postpartum stay.
Since two lighter bags are less heavier, preparing two bags is a neat option. You may not even take both bags to the delivery room at once. Keep one in the car, your partner can quickly bring it in once it is needed. Things you will need in your hospital bag for C-section include
Bag 1 (The Pre-Surgery Bag)
- Comfortable socks.
- A file containing your essential medical paperwork: like scan, test results, medication, prescriptions.
- A credit card and a stack of cash in case you need to buy something.
- Cell phone to keep you busy before surgery.
- Photocopies of your birth plan.
- Hair bands to hold your hair in place during surgery.
- Eyeglasses (optional).
- A music player (optional).
Bag 2 The Postpartum Hospital Bag.
This bag may contain other essentials and any other item you feel you need to make you comfortable during your stay at the hospital.
- Pads: you will need them for postpartum haemorrhage and lochia after birth.
- Toothpaste and brush.
- Hairbrush.
- A loose dress for some women and others, tight waisted knickers preferably cotton material, that wouldn’t scratch the wound.
- Flexible or bendable straw to ease drinking.
- Nursing bras (2 to 4).
- A pen or pencil and notepad to write down some important information.
- A breastfeeding pillow to make it comfortable breastfeeding without bruising the incision.
- Hair shampoo and conditioner.
- Makeups.
- Towels.
- Shower shoes.
- Extra pillows for back support.
- Earplugs.
- Eye cover to ease sleep.
- A shawl to cover up in case you feel chilly as it’s not advisable to use a sweater.
- Ointment for nipple sore.
- The essentials items for your baby.
A General Hospital Bag Checklist.
Below is a hospital bag checklist, containing items required during and after delivery for the mom and the baby. These items should be found in the hospital bag.
What To Pack In The Hospital Bag For Labour.
when it’s time for labour, only the essentials will be needed, as all other things will only be used after the main work has been done. Here is a list of the items needed:
- A thick maternity sanitary pad.
- A book.
- Maternity bra.
- A file containing medical paperwork like scan and test results.
- Bottles of water.
- Baby essentials.
- Music to calm your nerves.
- A birthing ball (if allowed).
- Light snacks (if the hospital approves food and drinks before delivery.
- Drinks (if approved by the hospital).
List Of Items Required In The Hospital Bag, After Delivery.
- One or two-night dresses (these may be provided in the hospital)
- After delivery outfits that are beautiful, not too tight and comfortable.
- Light Slippers
- Makeup.
- Shampoo and conditioner.
- Toothbrush and paste.
- A lightly scented deodorant
- Baby essentials.
- Several pairs of underwear.
- Maternity bras.
- A hairbrush.
- Camera.
- A notepad, pencils or pen.
- Games.
- A sweater or shawl.
- Breastfeeding pillow.
- Light snacks.
- Eye mask.
- Earplugs.
- A special outfit to wear home.
- A special outfit for the baby to wear home.
- Breast pads.
- Ointment in case of nipple sore.
- Birth plan, insurance ID, driver’s licence.
- A simple gift for the nurses.
Essentials For Baby.
Different hospitals vary in their policies for what you should or shouldn’t bring for the baby. However, here is an essential hospital bag checklist for baby: So what should be in the hospital bag for baby
- Diapers.
- Wipes.
- Onesies (4-8) or more depending on how long your stay will be.
- 3-8 socks or more.
- Approved baby car seats.
- Receiving blankets.
- A pack of unscented wipes.
- Dresses, shorts and shirts.
- Soap, baby oil baby lotion.
- Comb.
- Scratch mittens.
- Washcloths.
- Special outfits for going home.
- Baby cap or hats.
- Baby formula.
- Formula Bottles.
- Little toys.
- Diaper rash creams.
What You Should Not Pack To The Hospital.
While there is no limit to what you can pack, however, if you pack too much, your partner will only end up hurling big bags all around the hospital, plus your room will be so filled with stuff you may not need.
Also, you will find it hard to start sorting out things when you need them. These are some things you should consider not bringing
- Expensive jewellery.
- Too many diapers: most times diapers are provided by the hospital.
- Too many gadgets: more than one phone, camera, iPod, music players, etc. you’ll be so occupied and may not keep an eye on them.
- Too much cash bring your credit card instead.
- Extra pillows might be unnecessary especially if you are provided at the hospital.
- Too many underwear’s. (Underwears are usually provided in the hospital).
- Too much beauty products.
- Too many snacks and other non-essentials like a bathrobe, bathroom candles, e.tc
Things To Pack For The Expectant Daddy.
The realistic Hospital bag is usually three: one for the baby, one for the mother and one for the father. The expectant daddy is usually required to stay at the hospital while you are sweating it at the delivery room sweating it. He is also the handyman that day. Your partner would need some essential items like:
- Snacks.
- Toothbrush, floss or anything to keep the mouth fresh.
- Camera and other gadgets.
- Cell phone.
- A charger.
- Shirts.
- Underwears.
- Comfortable shoes.
- ID card and driver’s licence.
- Bottle Water.
- Cash and credit card.
- A present for the mother and the baby.
Should The Hospital Bag For The Mum and Baby Be The same?
It is better to pack a separate hospital bag for the baby and the mother, usually because sorting out things for the mother and also for the baby, can lead to a jumbled mess.
Here is a useful tip: pack baby essentials in one bag pack, a little labour bag, then pack a postpartum bag. The nurses find it easier to search for things and avoid mess this way.
Tips For Packing A Hospital Bag.
For the first time mums, packing a hospital bag may seem cumbersome. You want to pack but you feel kind of overwhelmed on how to go about it. Below Are Some Tips That Will Help You Pack A Realistic Hospital Bag.
- Cut down to essentials: what you need in your hospital bag and that of your baby should be essentials: a change of clothes, toiletries, some makeup, diapers. Sometimes the extra diapers and pillows are unnecessary.
- Sometimes, Bottles are provided in the hospital, if you bring yours, keep them in the car just in case you need them
- Whatever you have used should always be parked home to avoid extra load. Do not pile up those used gowns and shirts to pack all at once. Whenever close family members are around wrap and send them home to clear the space. You will have a lighter hospital bag when you are finally heading home.
- Utilize hospital supplies: sometimes the diapers, onesies, bottles, underwear, and many other essential items on the hospital bag checklist are provided by the hospital, so packing them may take extra space and time. You can decide to omit them from your bag and the babies bag and use the hospital supplies. Ensure you confirm as to what will be provided first.
- Start packing early: it is better to pack again and again, than wait to do it all once. You may miss some things. So using this hospital bag checklist, start packing your hospital bag and that of your baby.
- Resist the urge to pack unnecessary items. First-time moms, are culprits to this, wanting to pack a hospital bag, they usually overdo it. No one will want a cot or a car stroller in the hospital during birth or expect you to wear your most expensive jewellery.
Save for later mama!
