Maternity Shopping Bag 18.12.2015

maternity hospital bag@photo

You’re in the final stretch and soon your baby will be born! It’s time to gather together all the essentials you’ll need during your hospital stay. Even if you’re not planning a hospital birth, you may need to go in unexpectedly, so it’s a good idea to have an emergency bag packed and ready to go. For those thrifty mothers-to-be, ask your hospital what they provide for babies and mothers, and take those items off your list.

The Must-Haves

  • 2-3 Pairs of nonskid socks for walking the halls before and after labor
  • A warm robe you don’t mind sacrificing to the cause
  • 2 Maternity bras (no underwire)
  • Nursing pads for leak protection (they’re useful whether or not you plan to nurse)
  • Lip balm (hospitals are very dry)
  • Headband or hair ties
  • Sugar-free hard candy or lozenges to keep your mouth moist during labor (candy with sugar will make you thirsty)
  • Change for the vending machines and non-perishable snacks (you’ll probably be hungry after labor, and the hospital cafeteria could be closed)
  • Camera, film or extra memory card, battery or charger

Take it or leave it

  • Extra pillow (with a case that can get ruined, in a pattern distinguishable from hospital white)
  • Comfortable going-home clothes
  • Bath towel (the hospital will likely supply a small, very thin one)
  • Hairdryer
  • A few pairs of maternity underwear that can get ruined (the hospital will have disposable pairs, which some women find handy and others find gross)
  • A ruin-able nightgown (you can use hospital gowns, but your own might help you feel more human)
  • Breast pump, if you plan to use one
  • Slippers that can get dirty
  • Light reading (think mags and newspapers)
  • Your MP3 (loaded with your favorite tunes)

Leave at Home

what to pack in maternity bag@photo

  • Any clothes or nightgowns you really like (they will get ruined)
  • Stopwatch (your nurse or a monitor will time your contractions)

What to Bring For Baby

  • Approved car seat
  • A coming-home outfit
  • Warm blankets (for the ride home)
  • Outdoor clothing like a snowsuit and hat, as seasonally appropriate (remember, babies are extra sensitive to cold)
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