The last thing you want to think about when you are in labor is packing a bag for the hospital. So it’s a good idea to get your hospital bag ready at least a month in advance of when you think you might be making the trip. Here are six tips on what to bring — as well as what to leave at home.
Clothing. You’ll get a standard-issue — which is to say flimsy — hospital gown, so bring a nightie or two, as well as a robe or sweater to wear over it. Bring socks and slippers, as well — hospital floors can be cold!
But leave the nice nightgown at home, or save it till after delivery, advises Rebecca Kleban, 40, an obstetrician at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut, who has delivered more than 500 babies. Whatever you’re wearing will likely get pretty messy during delivery. You will likely leave the hospital wearing disposable gauze underwear, so don’t worry about bringing extra undies.
Flip-flops are great for wearing in the shower at the hospital.
Your new baby will get a basic onesie in the hospital, but a special going-home outfit including a hat and receiving blanket look nicer in photos.
Pillow. “Most hospitals only provide one pillow,” says Bonu deCaires, 34, a New Jersey-based doula who has assisted 150 women through labor. An extra pillow (in a pillowcase that you don’t mind getting dirty) can help you feel more comfortable in different positions for labor, such as lying on one side or kneeling over a chair.
Toiletries and medication. Pack a travel-size container of your favorite shampoo, soap and toothpaste, as well as a spare toothbrush. Bring glasses and cases for contact lenses if you wear them.
If you take any daily meds for a chronic condition such as asthma, try to pack up a couple of days’ supply, just in case the hospital doesn’t have the exact dosage or delivery method you usually use. You may also want to pack a small water spray bottle to use on your face and neck to help stay cool during labor.
Food and drink. Many hospitals are now changing their no-food-and-drink policies in light of new American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines that say women laboring without complications can drink clear fluids, deCaires says. This includes fruit juices, sports drinks, or tea or coffee without milk. Pack non-perishable snacks like nuts or crackers for your partner or support team, as well as enough change to get a cold drink from a vending machine.
Gadgets. Bring your cell phone, cameras, video cameras, iPod and even a laptop — these can help keep you distracted and, of course, record the event. Load photos of loved ones to look at during labor, because this helps reduce the response to pain, UCLA researchers have found.
Insurance information and other papers. Ask your OB to give you the hospital’s registration form to fill in before you arrive, along with a summary of your prenatal test results. Also be sure to have your driver’s license or other photo ID with you.
And what not to bring? “Too many relatives too early on in the labor,” Kleban says. Save the visits for when you are happily ensconced with baby in your postpartum room.