Maternity Shopping Bag 18.12.2015

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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

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• 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)