What belongs in the hospital bag for childbirth?
In many households, the hospital bag is ready in the hallway towards the end of pregnancy. This way, parents are always prepared in case labor begins. What items belong in the bag or suitcase to manage childbirth outside the home environment?
What goes into the hospital bag for childbirth?
What do I need to buy for the hospital? Very important: You don’t have to buy anything. The most important question is: What do you need to feel comfortable and make the hospital your space? All items and objects that contribute to this feeling belong in your hospital bag.
Instead of asking what you need to buy, ask yourself what you need to feel comfortable.
If it’s your first childbirth, your bag will likely be fuller. That’s okay. You might not know exactly what you’ll need for the birth yet. With each subsequent child, the bag usually becomes more compact. Items you didn’t use last time will likely stay at home. However, the general rule is: it’s better to have things with you than to miss them later. With the help of our suggestions, you can decide for yourself whether these items might be helpful for you.
Get support when packing the bag: You prepare everything you want to take individually, and your companion packs it. This way, they can quickly find what you need when you’re deeply engaged in the birthing process. It’s often the companion’s task in the delivery room to retrieve items from the bag. It’s recommended to unpack essential items directly in the delivery room. This way, they’re within reach and more likely to be used. But don’t worry, you won’t be the first parents to look forward to the scent of your favorite oil in the delivery room, only for it to remain unused. Touches can suddenly feel uncomfortable during labor, or the oil might end up buried at the bottom of the hospital bag.
What do I need for myself?
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Your documents
This is actually the only thing you absolutely shouldn’t forget, as these documents provide important information to the staff on-site. Many women keep their maternity record, allergy card, birth plan, and insurance card in a folder or pouch in their handbag, which they take with them as soon as they leave the house.
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Your favorite music
It can be a great companion and help you relax and focus. Birth centers and hospitals are often still equipped with CD players. Since hardly anyone uses CDs anymore, you can, of course, play the music via your smartphone. It’s helpful to download the playlist so it can be played in offline mode without the phone constantly ringing. Messages and calls from outside often disrupt the birthing process, so activate airplane mode or offline mode during labor. Some women already listen to relaxation music or meditations during pregnancy to consciously relax. If you listen to this music in the delivery room as well, it can provide extra relaxation.
Your favorite music can be a great companion and help you relax.
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Lip Balm
Inhale, exhale: Conscious breathing for hours dries out the lips. A lip balm of your choice will feel good. -
Airy nightgown or loose shirt
Childbirth is a physical feat – so choose comfortable clothing for the birth, such as a nightgown or a large shirt that covers your bottom and thighs. Most women eventually stop wearing pants during labor. If you take active positions like being on all fours, a loose shirt will still cover your intimate area and maintain your privacy.
What do parents need during labor?
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Snacks for Energy
Although hospitals provide food and often have vending machines with snacks, the selection may not be satisfying or suitable for your individual diet. What snacks should go in the hospital bag? Packing energy-boosting snacks for you and your companion makes sense because giving birth requires a lot of energy. During contractions, most women don’t feel hungry as their body is focused on the birthing process. If you feel exhausted but have no appetite, glucose can quickly provide new energy.
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Clothing and personal items
Pack your personal belongings as if you were going on a short trip.
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Slippers
Putting on shoes can be a challenge with a pregnancy belly, even without contractions. During labor, you won’t want to waste energy on this. Slippers that you can quickly slip into will be helpful.
What should the father pack in the hospital bag for the birth?
Childbirth also means work for your companion. If they start sweating or the birth takes longer than expected, a fresh shirt and a toothbrush in their bag are a good idea. If you’re considering using a family room (also called rooming-in or daddy-in), the father or your companion should also pack additional personal items for the planned days.
What does the baby need after birth?
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Red towel
Of course, the hospital provides towels. However, these are not washed with your detergent and don’t smell like you. A red towel that you’ve already used can give your baby a familiar scent after birth while lying on your chest. The red color resembles the colors from the womb. This is meant to ease the baby’s transition into our world by reminding them of something familiar from the womb. It’s best to give the towel directly to the midwife when you enter the delivery room so it can be warmed up.
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Baby clothes
A set of baby clothes is necessary for the hospital.
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Baby carrier
To leave the hospital, you’ll need a baby car seat to safely bring your newborn home.
