What Do You Take To Hospital or Birthing Centre?

Your hospital bag…..

What do you need to take with you to the hospital?

This is just a general guide of things you may need or want to have available when you are at your place of birth, and I have added to the list as other mums have recommended  items they felt were essential.

Now before you start packing 3 suitcases – you don’t have to take everything.

It is just a list to guide you on what you may need to remember to take.

GENERAL ESSENTIALS

• Your Hypnobirthing Australia™ folder with scripts;
• Copies of your Birth Preferences;
• Birthing Centre or Hospital paperwork;
• Medicare Card;
• Private Health Fund Card;
• Phone numbers to ring with the good news;
• Pen and Notebook to write down things you are told or to make notes of times or special information;
• Your glasses if you require them for reading;
• Cash and change;
• Any medications you are taking;
• Camera (and charger);
• Mobile phone and charger;
• iPod or MP3 player;
• Docking station for iPod (hospitals require electrical safety tagging);
• Details to call your doula, birth photographer or placenta encapsulator;

YOUR ESSENTIALS

• Your own birth ball so you have the right size – your knees should be sloping down or at 90 degrees;
• Your own pillow or pillow case (familiar smells);
• Ear plugs – nothing worse than a noisy ward (ask for a room away from the nurses station);
• Maternity Pads (long ones);
• Breast Pads;
• Soft tissues;
• Relaxation Music on your iPod – set up into different playlists and partner to know how to work it all;
• Surge of the Sea and Rainbow Mist Hypnobirthing Australia™ tracks on your iPod;
• Sound block head phones so you can shut out noise and outside disturbances;
• Essential oil spray bottle for labour;
• TENS Machine (you can hire these);
• Heat Packs – some hospitals don’t allow you to bring your own heat packs (check prior);
• Massage oil or cream;
• Clary Sage and a flannel (Chux Superwipes are ideal) to put drops onto for smelling;
• Tennis Ball to help with massage;
• Battery operated hand-held fan (from a cheap variety store);
• Hand-held mirror for viewing baby birthing;
• Water mist spray bottle;
• Magazine or book to read (being optimistic);
• Rubbish bags to take home dirty clothes;
• Your hair dryer – not only to dry your hair but between your legs as well can be very soothing;

YOUR CLOTHING

• Anything you feel comfortable in so you don’t have to wear a hospital gown – yuk!
• Robe or jumper (if cold) particularly to walk around outside;
• Crop top for modesty if you feel you need it;
• T-Shirt for labour;
• Sarong for labour (in your birth colour from Hypnobirthing class);
• Socks / Slippers – do not let your feet get cold during labour;
• Clothes to go home;
• Underwear – several pairs of wide bottom “granny knickers” for the first couple of weeks are awesome to hold your maternity pad in place and for comfort (especially after a caesarean);
• Maternity Bra;
• Flip flops to wear home in case your feet are swollen;

PARTNER’S ESSENTIALS

• Partners need to ensure that they are well hydrated and eating nutritious food and snacks as well so make sure this is included in the Sustenance section.
• Find out what cafes or restaurants are close by and see if they do a delivery menu for you to get some decent food;
• Toothpaste & Toothbrush;
• Swimmers if you plan to go into the birth pool or shower during labour and birth;
• Cash and change for parking;
• Know how to work all the equipment;
• Book, magazines or newspaper;

SUSTENANCE

• Take a separate esky type cooler bag that you can keep all your food and drinks. Having food that can be easily stored in airtight containers and then heated and eaten straight from the container is highly beneficial.
• Water bottle filled with filtered water;
• Extra bottles of water;
• Raspberry leaf tea;
• Pureed fruits and apple sauce;
• Coconut water – this contains many nutrients and also contains electrolytes;
• Protein snacks and drinks;
• Other Drinks – apple juice, isotonic drinks such as Powerade;
• Mixed Wholemeal Sandwiches;
• Pasta and rice in small sealed containers;
• Blueberries – great source of energy;
• Pitted dates;
• Protein and cereal bars;
• Honey (1 teaspoon taken every 1-2 hours to avoid ketosis);
• Snack Foods – dried fruit and nuts, muesli bars, bananas, crackers, boiled eggs, rice cakes, yoghurt;
• Home-made chicken noodle soup or bone broth – can be heated in microwave;
• Lollies – chocolate squares, jubes or mints (Tictacs are good);
• Bendy straws;
• Spoons for soup
• Lactation Cookies (click here for recipe)

TOILETRIES

• Hair ties
• Hair brush
• Scissors
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Lip Balm
• Pawpaw Ointment
• Rescue Remedy – Bach Flower Essences (spray rather than drops)
• Medi-Honey (available at chemist – soothes tears) or unprocessed raw honey;
• Witch Hazel pads to relieve soreness;
• Gel breast pads – many of my clients have raved about these;
• Roll on Deodorant – use sparingly or not at all in first 24 hours after birth so baby imprints with your unique smells;
• Shampoo / Conditioner;
• Moisturiser (non-scented);
• Body Wash (non-scented);
• Makeup (if you really have to);
• Non perfumed / non-alcohol wet wipes;
• Extra soft toilet paper (the hospital stuff can be rough);
• Soft bath towels;
• Flannels;
• Rubbish bags to put dirty clothes in;
• Ural – will help take the sting out of your pee;
• Magnesium and probiotics – see your naturopath before birth for professional advice;
• Belly band or wrap to support your belly and uterus after birth.

BABY ESSENTIALS

• Fitted safety car seat;
• Outfit to go home in;
• Singlets;
• Woolen hat to wear home only;
• Extra clothing in case you stay longer at hospital;
• Newborn nappies;
• Baby wrap / blanket