Packing Your Hospital Bag – What Do You Need for a Hospital Birth?

<h1>Packing Your Hospital Bag – What Do You Need for a Hospital Birth?</h1>Author: <a title="Kate Pryse-Lloyd" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/kate-pryse-lloyd/62596.htm">Kate Pryse-Lloyd</a> Packing Your Hospital Bag – What Do You Need For A Hospital Birth? 
  
When to pack your hospital bag? Hospital bags are often left to the last minute, as there are so many other preparations required for a new baby. At the end of 36 weeks your baby is full-term so could arrive at any time, this is when you should have your hospital bag packed, if you have not already done so. 
  
Where to start? Do not panic. We have compiled a list of essential items for your birth bag; this list is a culmination of midwives' suggestions and mother's feedback over the last 2 years. Do not forget that partners love to be involved. You could delegate some, or all, of the task of putting your hospital bag together while you relax in preparation for the big day. 
  
What to pack in your hospital bag? Some people pack a whole suitcase for their hospital births and a few are unprepared and just manage to bring themselves. This list covers the essential items you should take to support your hospital birth and why. There is also list of suggested luxury items afterwards which mothers have found comforting and relaxing to have with them in hospital: 
  
Essential Hospital Birth Bag Items During Labour 
  
<ul> 
 
<li>Sponge For cooling mother during labour</li> 
 
<li>Lip Balm Thirsty work can leave you with dry lips</li> 
 
<li>Bendy straws Makes it easier to drink from glasses or cups if you are focussed on labour</li> 
 
<li>Hair band To keep hair out of your face</li> 
 
<li>Tissues There won’t be a dry eye when your baby arrives</li> 
 
<li>T-shirt/Spare top Useful for either the mum or the birth partner if their top gets soiled or wet during the birth.</li> 
 
</ul> 
  
After Labour 
  
<ul> 
 
<li>Nursing Pads Useful whether you choose to breastfeed or not</li> 
 
<li>Flannel Soaked in warm water and placed on your perineum after the birth to relieve soreness</li> 
 
<li>Pants Either cotton or disposable pants which you are willing to throw away after use</li> 
 
<li>Maternity Towels</li> 
 
<li>Absorbent Mat (you can also buy disposable changing mats instead) Great for protecting the bed, chairs, car seat.  Useful for when waters have broken and also to use in the first 48 hours after childbirth.</li> 
 
</ul> 
  
Wash Bag 
  
<ul> 
 
<li>Toothbrush</li> 
 
<li>Toothpaste</li> 
 
<li>Shampoo / Conditioner</li> 
 
<li>Body wash</li> 
 
<li>Hairbrush</li> 
 
<li>Deodorant</li> 
 
</ul> 
  
Baby Bag 
  
<ul> 
 
<li>Baby grow</li> 
 
<li>Newborn nappies</li> 
 
<li>Baby hat and mittens</li> 
 
<li>Hooded baby towel For wrapping up your baby when it’s first born</li> 
 
<li>Cotton buds or wet wipes</li> 
 
</ul> 
  
  
  
Luxury Hospital Birth Bag Items Home from Home 
  
<ul> 
 
<li>Night dress Which does up at the front so you can breast feed your baby easily</li> 
 
<li>Dressing gown</li> 
 
<li>Slippers</li> 
 
</ul> 
  
Relaxation 
  
<ul> 
 
<li>Massage oil and massager</li> 
 
<li>Lavender oil Lavender promotes relaxation and is a popular choice of oil for use in labour. It can be added to massage oil, or to water and sprayed around the room</li> 
 
<li>Music and music player To create a calm ambience for you to labour and give birth in</li> 
 
</ul> 
  
  
  
And finally... Don’t forget to put your baby seat in the car so that you can take your new baby home safely and start enjoying the new addition to your family.About the Author: Kate Pryse-Lloyd is co-founder of Hello Baby, <a href="http://www.hello-baby.net"><a href="http://www.hello-baby.net" target="_blank">www.hello-baby.net</a></a>, and promotes women's choice in childbirth.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/packing-your-hospital-bag-what-do-you-need-for-a-hospital-birth-439256.html" title="Packing Your Hospital Bag – What Do You Need for a Hospital Birth?">Packing Your Hospital Bag – What Do You Need for a Hospital Birth?</a>

Packing Your Hospital Bag – What Do You Need For A Hospital Birth?

When to pack your hospital bag?
Hospital bags are often left to the last minute, as there are so many other preparations required for a new baby. At the end of 36 weeks your baby is full-term so could arrive at any time, this is when you should have your hospital bag packed, if you have not already done so.

Where to start?
Do not panic. We have compiled a list of essential items for your birth bag; this list is a culmination of midwives' suggestions and mother's feedback over the last 2 years. Do not forget that partners love to be involved. You could delegate some, or all, of the task of putting your hospital bag together while you relax in preparation for the big day.

What to pack in your hospital bag?
Some people pack a whole suitcase for their hospital births and a few are unprepared and just manage to bring themselves. This list covers the essential items you should take to support your hospital birth and why. There is also list of suggested luxury items afterwards which mothers have found comforting and relaxing to have with them in hospital:

Essential Hospital Birth Bag Items
During Labour

Sponge
For cooling mother during labour

Lip Balm
Thirsty work can leave you with dry lips

Bendy straws
Makes it easier to drink from glasses or cups if you are focussed on labour

Hair band
To keep hair out of your face

Tissues
There won’t be a dry eye when your baby arrives

T-shirt/Spare top
Useful for either the mum or the birth partner if their top gets soiled or wet during the birth.

After Labour

Nursing Pads
Useful whether you choose to breastfeed or not

Flannel
Soaked in warm water and placed on your perineum after the birth to relieve soreness

Pants
Either cotton or disposable pants which you are willing to throw away after use

Maternity Towels

Absorbent Mat (you can also buy disposable changing mats instead)
Great for protecting the bed, chairs, car seat. Useful for when waters have broken and also to use in the first 48 hours after childbirth.

Wash Bag

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Shampoo / Conditioner

Body wash

Hairbrush

Deodorant

Baby Bag

Baby grow

Newborn nappies

Baby hat and mittens

Hooded baby towel
For wrapping up your baby when it’s first born

Cotton buds or wet wipes

Luxury Hospital Birth Bag Items
Home from Home

Night dress
Which does up at the front so you can breast feed your baby easily

Dressing gown

Slippers

Relaxation

Massage oil and massager

Lavender oil
Lavender promotes relaxation and is a popular choice of oil for use in labour. It can be added to massage oil, or to water and sprayed around the room

Music and music player
To create a calm ambience for you to labour and give birth in

And finally...
Don’t forget to put your baby seat in the car so that you can take your new baby home safely and start enjoying the new addition to your family.

Kate Pryse-Lloyd is co-founder of Hello Baby, www.hello-baby.net, and promotes women's choice in childbirth.

Rate this Article:

3.7 / 5 stars - 3 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/packing-your-hospital-bag-what-do-you-need-for-a-hospital-birth-439256.html

Article Tags: Childbirth, Hospital Bag, Hospital Bags, Hospital Birth, Planning A Hospital Birth, What To Pack

Related Videos
Related Articles
Ask / Related Q&A

Play

21st Century Hospitals

Play

Hospital Acquired Infections

Play

Hospitals Taking Action Part 2/3

Play

How Crocs in Hospitals Can be Harmful

Play

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Hospitals Review

Latest Pregnancy Articles
More from Kate Pryse-Lloyd

Pregnancy Miracle Scam

By: Ryan Harris | 21/12/2009
Is Pregnancy Miracle a Scam? Pregnancy Miracle is a downloadable e-book that contains easy to follow step-by-step treatments that helps you have a natural and healthy pregnancy by addressing the root cause of your infertility. The methods written and described in the book have been carefully tried and tested so it is safe and possible for every woman to follow.

Due date calculator and babies names

By: Due Date Calculator | 21/12/2009
A due date calculator might help you to decide how to name your new born baby. First of all a due date calculator is a simple formula that returns the day you are due, when you insert few simple variables. Of course it’s not very accurate but it is very good for estimate the awaited date. So after you know the estimate day your baby will be born you can make a research on what happened on this particular day in history.

Pregnancy Miracle Review - Is Pregnancy Miracle a Scam?

By: Ryan Harris | 21/12/2009
Pregnancy Miracle Review - Pregnancy Miracle is a step by step guide to help infertile women get pregnant. By following the Pregnancy Miracle guide, getting pregnant naturally is possible, even if your doctors said that having birth has a very slight chance. Well, with Pregnancy Miracle, that slight chance will increase marginally especially if you follow the guide.

A Few Tips and a Surefire Way to Get Pregnant Easily

By: Cory Jean | 20/12/2009
Why is it that for most couples falling pregnant isn't a problem or a concern...while for others the dream of having a baby is as elusive as can be? If you are having troubles getting pregnant take this advice and these tips to heart and you may find success quickly and easily.

The Pregnancy Miracle Guide – Natural Infertility Cure Guide

By: Watson Fru N | 20/12/2009
With the thousand of natural infertility cure guides available on the internet today. Infertile women can sometimes be confused which of them to use in trying to treat and reverse their infertility. However, if you are searching for natural and effective ways to cure your infertility, then Lisa Olson’s pregnancy miracle guide is a must read for you.

Lisa Olson’s Pregnancy Miracle Guide – Get Pregnancy Fast

By: Watson Fru N | 20/12/2009
There are so many women who are struggling with infertility issues. Infertility and barrenness has become more rampant than it was some years back. However, there have been the development and sale of various natural infertility cure guides which can really help you in reversing your infertile condition, and enable you to get pregnancy fast, and then give birth to your own healthy kid. One of such natural infertility cure guides which have proven to be very effective is Lisa Olson’s Pregnancy Mi

The Pregnancy Miracle Program – Best Natural Infertility Cure Program

By: Watson Fru N | 20/12/2009
There are laterally hundreds of infertility cure programs on sale on the internet today. But not all these programs are really effective. Not all of them can teach infertile women effective ways to reverse their infertility, conceive and give birth to their own healthy baby. That is where the question comes up: Which is the best natural infertility cure program you can find today on the internet? We made a small research on that and came out with quite a few infertility cure programs which seeme

Natural Infertility Cures in Lisa Olson’s Pregnancy Miracle Guide

By: Watson Fru N | 20/12/2009
There is so much joy in conceiving and giving birth to your own healthy kid. It is sad and very frustrating to know that some women can not experience this joy due to some stupid complications which render them infertile or barren. If you are a lady who is infertile, but wants to get pregnant and give birth to your own kid, then curing your infertility should be one of your top concerns.

What’s in Your Birth Plan? – Planning Your Hospital Birth

By: Kate Pryse-Lloyd | 11/06/2008 | Pregnancy
What is in your birth plan? An easy guide to why you need a birth plan and what you need to put into your birth plan. This guide is to help anyone planning a hospital birth and wants to be prepared for what this entails.