Pack your bag at least 4 weeks before your due date!
Here are a few ideas of things you may need:
- A comfortable, loose fitting nightie or T-shirt that you can wear through labour and give birth in. You should expect that this may get covered in the fluids from delivery.
- Water bottle/sweets/glucose tablets.
- Snacks or drinks you would like to have on hand.
- Birth plan
- Lip balm
- Warm socks (your feet may get very cold during labour)
- Massage equipment – oils, creams.
- Heat pack to relieve back pain
- Camera and video camera of course!!
- CD’s to play during the birth of your baby
- Phone cards and coins for making calls
- Take your mobile and pre-pare a distribution list so you can text everyone at once
For your Hospital Stay
Most women stay in hospital for around 3 days after a vaginal delivery and 5-6 days after a caesarean section. Some hospitals and Birth Centres supply all of baby’s needs while you are there. Check if they have any requirements before you arrive.
- 3 easy to open night clothes for breastfeeding or breastfeeding singlets
- 3 nursing bras
- Breast pads
- Dressing gown or robe
- Slippers
- Toiletries
- Plenty of underwear, (think big black granny knickers)
- 2-3 packs of maternity sanitary pads
Plus don't forget to take snacks for you to nibble on while in hospital - otherwise you will be waiting for hospital food. And take some magazines to read - your baby might sleep alot.
You will also need day clothes and an outfit for leaving the hospital. (You will probably still be fitting your maternity clothes due to the jelly belly, so don't expect a miraculous weight loss after your bump is gone).
You will also need to have an outfit for your baby to leave hospital. This should include a singlet, socks or bootees, outer garment, cardigan (dependent on the weather) and a blanket for in the car. Usually size 000 for baby.
Good luck!!
