Your Labor Bag
What To Pack
Your labor bag is very important. It is everything you need while in the hospital, (since once you are admitted you are not permitted to leave to go get something you forgot.) This is a bag that should be packed at least a month before your due date. You want to pack everything you need, but not pack too much since you still want it to be carriable =) The list is suggested items, you may need more or less according to your needs and lifestyle.
Items For Mom
- Health insurance card and information
- A small cooler filled with healthy drinks and snacks for the coach and for you. Be sure to pack hard candy or suckers to help with dry mouth.
- Lotion for massages that you may want during labor. It prevents friction and softens skin.
- Cash and Spare Change: Cash for Taxi if needed, and lots of change for phone calls and vending machines.
- Mouthwash or mints. For the coach and doc, so they don't have to smell icky breath during your breathing.
- Warm socks, many women feel hot and cold during labor, but their feet are usually cold. Plus its nice for walking up and down the halls.
- Watch or stop watch with a second hand for timing contractions.
- Lip gloss to moisten lips as you will be breathing alot, and drying them out.
- A focal point. Some women use a picture, some use a stuffed animal or a baby bootie, some close their eyes, but whatever it is be sure it produces a comforting thought.
- Baby book and diary to record those immediate moments, since you don't always remember everything you would have liked to.
- Address book to contact friends and family to alert them of the wonderful news.
- Clothing:
- A robe to wrap over the beautifully airy gowns that they give you.
- A few changes of comfortable underwear (honestly older stuff is better since you bleed alot, and may stain them.)
- Loose comfortable clothing to wear home. You do lose weight, but not much and you are sore.)
- Your own nightgown or two for after delivery. Something fairly nice looking in case of visitors, button down front if you are to breast feed.
- Nursing bras and pads. (Pads even if you are not breast feeding since you still leak a bit.)
- Change of clothes for coach (this was important for us especially, since I broke my water onto my hubby. His pants were soaked. =) )
- Toiletries
- Deodorant
- toothbrush/paste
- soap
- Shampoo & conditioner
- cosmetics (honestly you don't really need or want much!)
- Camera/Video Camera (if permitted) also any batteries, film, or tapes you may also need.
- Tape player (if permitted) if you choose to listen to music.
- Extra Pillows, you may only be allowed one, and if you need more you will need to bring your own.
For Baby
- A change of clothing (usually in newborn size, but be prepared for a bit larger may be needed)
- A diaper bag packed for the way home (diapers, wipes, changing pad, burp cloths, a change of clothes.)
- A certified car seat (They will not let you leave the hospital with out one!)
- Bottles and formula for the way home if you are not breastfeeding
- A knitted cap
- Warm clothes and a bunting if its cold weather
- A few recieving blankets, to wrap around baby and or for over the baby's face if it is cold.
- If you have decided you will use a pacifier, then you should bring one that you already one since they tend to get used to them (be sure it is an infant size, since the baby will have a small mouth!)
Did I forget something? Do you have a suggestion, or question please email me.
