It’s the last few weeks before your expected due date, and you’re more anxious than ever for that date to arrive. There are so many things you need to get done including your hospital bag checklist for delivery. It seems like your list just keeps on growing, and growing, and growing. You think to yourself, does it ever stop growing? Sadly no, the list just gets longer and you have less time to do them.
It’s a scary time.
At any point now the unexpected can happen, and you can be rushed to the hospital at any minute. It’s a scary time, those last few weeks. The number of pregnancies that actually deliver on their expected due date is only about 5%. I was lucky enough to be in that 5%, but it is a rare occurrence.
It’s not quite like how the movies show it.
Picture it now, you need to be ready to head out that door at any minute. Your water breaks and you need to rush to the hospital not knowing if you will make it in time.
Well I’m here to tell you that this does not actually happen that way. It could in a rare circumstance, but the majority of the time you are waiting for true labour to kick in before you even think about going to the hospital.
For a new mom this could be hours. My labour went quick for a first time mom. From the time I started contractions to when “true labour” started was about 10 hours. After that, it was still another 6 hours before baby was born. (True labor is when your contractions are consistently timed 5 minutes or less apart, read more about labour and childbirth here).
Labour can start at any time, and in the rare circumstance that something does go wrong and you need to be out the door asap, you want to be prepared.
Give yourself time.
When the time does come, you aren’t going to want to have to take the time to pack a bag. You’ll want to lie in bed getting as much rest as you can before the true labour kicks in. Having a bag ready to go at any time will save you so much hassle and headaches.
There are so many scenarios that can happen. You could end up staying in the hospital for several days, or you could be out in 24 hours. You will want to be prepared for anything that can happen.
Now the worry sets in.
Are you worried about what to bring to the hospital with you? I was extremely nervous about labour, let alone what to bring with me to the hospital. The worry sets in and you think you don’t have enough time to get things done.
I know it’s an extremely sensitive time right now, and the last thing you need to be doing is stress yourself out over what to bring. So I’m going to make it easy for you with a complete hospital bag checklist for delivery.
The Checklist
1. Hospital Gown
Yes, you could just wear one from the hospital, but it is really uncomfortable. You aren’t going to want something uncomfortable while you’re in labour, you’ll want the least amount of annoyances. Double check with your doctor, but most hospitals will allow you to wear your own.
2. Nighty/Robe
You could just continue to wear the hospital gown as a nighty, but you’ll want to be comfortable. I didn’t bring any and I regretted it. Their gowns are itchy, and are too light for how cold a hospital can get. Opt for one that ties up behind the neck and can be undone easily to access for breastfeeding.
3. Slippers
Hospital floors can be really cold on your feet. You will want something a little thicker than a pair of socks. You’ll be getting up to go to the bathroom and will want something that slips on and off fast.
4. Snacks & Drinks
The delivery floor does not have any food. If you spend any amount of time on this floor you are going to want to have food on hand. I got stuck in this room for over a day as I had some complications, they did not have much in the way of food to eat and I was starving. Also, depending on what time you get up to your room, you may have missed dinner and will have to wait until breakfast to eat again. It’s nice to have extra food so your partner doesn’t have to run out to find something.
5. Toiletries
You could be in the hospital for a few days, so you’ll want to be able to wash your face and even shower if you’re able. Also, you’ll want deodorant, toothbrush & toothpaste, and any other day to day items you would normally use.
6. Nipple Cream
If you are planning on breastfeeding, nipple cream is a must. Your new baby will be on your boob it seems like every 20 minutes, (oh right, that’s cause they are). They nurse constantly. Your nipples will become extremely chapped really fast, and you’ll want to have some good cream with you. The cream the hospitals provide has to be wiped off before you can nurse, so having one babies can consume is handy. See my recommendation for nipple cream here.
7. Headband/Hair Tie
You won’t want hair in your face during labour or delivery, it’ll become very annoying. One less thing to get on your nerves. I would suggest bringing a couple of extras as well in case you break one or it goes missing, (happens to me far too often).
8. Pillows
There won’t be a comfy bed for your guest to sleep on, so bringing a comfy pillow would be nice. Also, the hospital pillows are not comfy at all, so bringing an extra that you find comfy will help you relax a bit more.
9. Water bottle
You will want to have a water bottle with you at all times. If you are breastfeeding, you will become extremely thirsty, you actually crave water while you are breastfeeding. It is also extremely important to drink water as it helps to keep your milk flowing. If you hate water as much as I do, you will benefit greatly from a motivational water bottle.
10. Books/Notepad/Something to help pass the time
If you end up in the labour room well before you’re ready to start pushing, you need something to help pass the time. You will want something to help take your mind off everything going on around you.
11. Headphones/Bluetooth speaker
You’ll hear a lot of other mothers in the delivery ward around you, trust me when I say you won’t want to hear them. A pair of headphones or a Bluetooth speaker will be nice for some music to both drown out the noise around you and help keep your mind at bay.
12. Take home outfit
You’ll need something for your little one to come home in. Make sure it’s something that can be comfortable to ride home in a car seat. I see a lot of mom’s picking out an outfit that has the legs tied together, this is not something that can be safely worn in a car seat. A comfy footed onsie is one of the best outfits, and depending on what the weather is outside you could get a wrap around blanket that can be removed easily.
13. Your going home outfit
It’s not just your baby that will need an outfit to go home in, you will too. Your belly doesn’t actually go down for a few months post-pregnancy, so bring something extra comfy for your trip home.
14. The car seat
Finally, you’ll of course want to bring the car seat with you. You can keep it in the car until you are ready to leave, but make sure you have the base all secured ready to go beforehand. You won’t want to fiddle with it while you have a newborn waiting to be strapped in. Take some time before baby comes to get acquainted with how the car seat works and how all the straps come together. I had no clue how it worked, and practiced with a teddy bear before my daughter came.
Conclusion
There are many things that you could bring to the hospital to make labour easier. These are the must haves in my personal experience, and I’m sure there will be your own personal stuff to add on as well when the time comes for you to pack a bag.
If you have any questions about any of the content written here, please feel free to reach out in the comments below.