Packing Your Hospital Labor Bag
Are you prepared for your stay in the hospital? Here is a list of the most essential items to pack in your labor bag.
Not surprising that items are often forgotten at home when labor starts. The best prevention is to begin packing your labor bag in the last weeks of pregnancy.
You arrive at the hospital in preparation for one of the most important moments of your life (ie. having your baby) and realize you did not pack a camera! Or you have a camera but the batteries are dead!
The best way to avoid that is to start packing some essential items in your hospital labor bag during your last few weeks of pregnancy. There are several items that you might want to have on hand to use either during or after birth that will not be supplied for you.
For more information about preparing for labor, click here.
Suggested Items for Your Hospital Labor Bag:
- Nightgown or clothes (nightshirt or long t-shirt to labor in)
- Lightweight Robe
- Slippers or extra socks
- Pillows (2-3) - save for after birth and use hospital pillows for labor
- Food and beverages for Dad or other support people; Food for mom if allowed
- Labor tools (rice sock, happy massager, birthing ball, aromatherapy oils, etc. see Pain Relief Techniques for Labor for more information.)
- Toiletries/cosmetics
- Lip balm
- Hard candies/lollipops
- Gatorade or other energy/electrolyte drinks
- Plastic drink bottles with cap and straw
- Bottled water?
- Breastfeeding pillow
- Clothing for baby and diaper bag
- Loose-fitting clothes for mom when going home
- Digital and/or disposable camera (bring extra batteries)
- Cell phone
- List of phone numbers (family, relatives, support people)
- Change for vending machines
If you are planning to give birth at a birth center, you may want to bring the following:
- Food for during and after birth for parents
- Scented candles
- What items did you use for your birth? Share your ideas on the forum!
