As a second time mom, I will make some adjustments to what I put in my hospital bag. As most mother, I ended up bringing unnecessary items, and not enough of essentials one.
A little about me
I gave birth to my first with no epidural. I was planning on a drug free delivery but ended up receiving some fentanyl toward the end. The pain was unbearable, and I needed to rest a little before having to push. I was under drug for about an hour; at that point I felt asleep in between contractions.
Since I was in a lot of pain, I did not need any distractions. Therefore, no entertainment will be going in my next delivery bag as I intend to do it drug free. (I am not going to the hospital this time, but in a birthing home. I will be accompanied by a midwife, and pain management by drug is not an option there.) Also, the requirement time to spent at the birthing home is 3 hours after delivery. I plan on not staying any longer than that.
Keep in mind
If you are following my advice on what to pack in your delivery bag, keep the above in mind. If you are planning a drug-controlled labor or a longer stay at the facility, you will need more stuff. I have created a list of things to bring for an hospital delivery.
As I am in Canada (this goes for hospital as well) not much is provided by the hospital. You need to bring everything you will need.
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Drug-free, short stay packing list
For the labor
You should separate the items you need for the labor period and those you will need after the delivery. It is easier to find your things when your bag is well organised. Also, if you plan on laboring at home for as long as possible, you will have everything you need easily reachable.
Things you should have ready to use, but not to bring to the facility
- Heating pad
For back pain - Comb
For pain management - Absorbent pad
Keep it on top of your labor bag to put on the car seat for the car ride
What to pack in your bag.
- Shirt
I’d say it should to down to you knees and be really comfortable. It should also open in the front so it can be open effortlessly for when baby is out and shorten the time before you start skin to skin. Try not to get a pale color as it might get ruined with all those bodily fluids. Delivery can get messy - Robe
I was really cold when in labor and needed clothing that was conveniently put on and taken off. With a robe, you can easily put it on between contractions and take it off when you have a contraction, neat especially when the time to push comes. - Hairband and elastic bands
- Socks
Comfy ones that you don’t care of ruining. And soft and warm ones, again, I was so cold when laboring with C. - Lips ill and moisturizer
- If needed, everything you need to transfert from contact lenses to glasses
- Phone charger
In case you get there and realize your phone is almost dead. - Wallet
You might need an ID - Printed birthing plan
- Water bottle
I use a thermos glace with a straw, it is so much easier then having to hold the bottle to drink. It also allow someone else to hold it while you take a sip. I love mine, it had been dropped on the floor many times and only have a few unnoticeable dents. - Gatorade
- Essential oils
If you are using them in your everyday life, a soft, well tolerated one could help you relax (ex. Lavender) - Coconut oil
For massages (I’m picky on what I put on my skin) - Adult toy and charger
It has been studied that orgasms can both speed up the process of labor, as well as being used as pain management. I had brought mine when my first was born but ended up not using it. I did not feel like it. It does not take up too much space, so I intend to bring it for my second delivery. Make sur it is fully charged before packing it. I use coconut oil as lube so I’m all set on that area. - Speaker and it’s charger
To put on some relaxing sounds
For the delivery
Nothing! You will not be needing anything while you are pushing, except a few items that are stated in the labor list (hairband, essential oil, speaker, etc.)
After delivery
Mama.
- Big sanitary pads (5) I would pack a brand you have tried and love, now is not the time to experiment. Even the most comfortable one will not be feeling good (coming from someone who hasn’t even tear). I love Always, whatever brand you chose to get, go with maxi, over night with longer end
- Mesh underwear (2) I know Always is known for nonleaking, therefore I did not go and tried other brand. These works great for the first few hours. What I really love about the mesh undies is that it does not rub on yourself as much as a pad can.
- Big underwear (2)
- Nursing bra
If you are not planning on nursing, a sport bra would be best. The ones I linked are great, they felt a little weird at first, but after a few times being washed and dried they do the work just fine. They are confortable (but not cute at all), perfect for when you are staying home. I love that there is no clip (for feeding), you just pull down the cup and you are good to go. Also, no ring, so clip in the back is a most, especially those first few months. It’s comfortable enough to sleep in. You might have to if you are leaking milk during the night. - Vest
You will not be wearing the same one you labored in. - Pants (2)
Yes, even when only planning on staying for a few hours. Pack some that you wore when you were 6 months pregnant, the belly does not go away right away. I did not have any urinal issue after giving birth but, the first time i went to pee, I thought I was done, stood up and finished the job all over my one of two paires of pants (for a 24 hour stay) - Nursing pads
It feels weird wearing them at first, but it’s better than leaking milk on your cloths (milk stain). I tried 3 different brands before finding them that I find are the best. These are also not bad. - A top
Shirt, camisole or whatever you feel like wearing. Remember, something that was comfortable at 6 months pregnant. - Socks
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Hairbrush
- Peri bottle
Baby.
- Diapers (10)
I love the newborn ones from Pampers or Huggies (I would never again buy a none-commun-diaper-brand as they leak – except Kirkland that don’t have NB size). They have a little wave to avoid rubbing against not yet healed belly button. C was so tinny we ended up using them for a month before transferring to reusable diapers. If the NB are too small for your baby, you can get no. 1 and flip the top on the inside to you keep the belly clear of rubbing) PICTURE - Wet wipes
Check out my post about homemade wipes - Baby washcloths (5)
I love these since the edge does not roll when they come out of the dryer - Burp cloth (3)
I bought these a year ago and they came with many cute design, I am a bit disappointed they now only come in black, white or gray. They are still amazing. I used them to prevent vomit to get on my cloths, and where a pillow would be to avoid having to wash the sheets many times a day - Blanket (3)
This is a personal preference, I developed a technique at my first that am planning on repeating requiring a soft and a polyester blanket. I am also bringing one 100% cotton since I’m due in July. - P-Js* (4)
Two newborn and two 0-3 months - Mittens
Or get the P-J with foldable ones. - Hats
Get 2 sizes in cas it does not fit (2 different cuts) - You could pack a coming home outfit
But honestly a cute P-J is way more comfortable then a 3-5 pieces outfit. Remember that to this point, baby has spent its entire existence naked, cloths and bands are not comfortable. - Car seat
If you are reusing your infant car seat, make sure you have all the cushions. Check out my post on how to choose a car seat that works for you. (post coming soon) - Car seat cover
- Formula and bottles
If you are planning on not breastfeeding. You could also bring the emergency formula (very small amount) you have home so you don’t have to switch from one brand to another in case you don’t produce enough. If you can’t produce and don’t bring any formula, you should be provided some, ask about it on your pregnancy follow ups.
Dad
He might need entertainment but should always be ready to assist you. His job is not to stare at his phone until it’s time to cut the cord. Dad is there to support you, to give you relieving pain massages (remember that you are not on pain management drug), reminding you to breath, give you water, help you to the bathroom if you need it. He should also be your advocate, know your birthing plan backwards and forwards (best scenario, you’ve co-written it)
He will be needing snakes (also you too, but things that you don’t mind throwing up: nothing too acid, too fat, too rich.
- Wallet
- Phone charger
- Earphones
So he doesn’t disturb you. - Sweatshirt
One that you find the fabric comfortable if you snuggle - If needed, everything you need to transfert from contact lenses to glasses
- Bathing suit
It does not take much space, and you might need him to up in the tub with you for support - Comfy pants
If you lean on him for support, soft pants will be more enjoyable for you then jeans. Also, clean cloths always feel better
Dad should pack his own bag so he knows where his things are. Even if you usually are on top of those things, you’re likely not going to be able to assist him. This was something I red that I found made a lot of sense. The reality is that I wanted to chose what he would wear (for my own comfort) so I did pack everything. I made sure that everything I needed for the labor part was in an easy-to-find-everything-in-bag. (excepted my robe has it did not fit. I pack it on top of the ”after delivery bag”.) If he was looking for something. He could empty the bag and find it easily.
Here is how I separated the items in each bag
Labor bag
Keep your night shirt and Absorbant pad on top so they can easily be accessed as they are probably the first things you will be using
- Snacks
- Gatorade
- Water bottle
- Toothbrush
- Thootpaste
- Mama’s deodorant
- Nail file
- Individual floss
- Contact lense kit
- Hairband and hair ties
- Lips ill and moisturizer
- Coconut oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Small socks
- Soft socks
- Night shirt
- Adult toy and charger
- Speaker and charger
- Wallet
- Phone and extra long charger
- Heating pads (2)
- Comb
- Dad’s sweatshirt, joggings and bathing suit
- Absorbent pad
- Birthing plan
After delivery bag
On top I kept my robe has it did not fit in the labor bag. The items I will be needing first were put in the side pockets (one pocket for me, one for baby)
- Robe
- Vest
- Nursing bra
- 2 paires of big underwear
- Top (Nursing camisole)
- Socks
- Pants
- 4 big menstrual pads
- Prescribed medication
- Laxative
- Prenatal vitamins
- Peri bottle
- 2 mesh underwear
- Hair brush
- Soft baby blanket
- 1 newborn pj
- 1 0-3m pj
- Burp cloth
- 2 cloths
- 2 diapers
- Wet wipes
- Car seat cover
- 1 cloth
- 2 hats (different size)
- 1 diaper
In-case-we-have-to-stay-longer-bag (that will stay in the car)
- Muslin blanket
- Spandex blanket
- 0-3 month pj
- Newborn pj
- Baby socks
- Extra cloths (3)
- Pacifier
- Haaka
- Bottles (2)
- Bottle nipple
- Extra diapers (10)
- Change of cloths for Dad
- Change of cloths for Mama (here I keep my extra pair of pants)
- Nursing pads
- Soap
I also left the car seat in the car so it does not take up too much space, and you really only need it when you leave the birthing place.