stubbornsnails.com - What to Bring to the Hospital

Towards the end of your pregnancy, you should start packing your 'hospital bag' and have it ready on standby so that anytime your baby comes, you can pick up the bag and go to the hospital. Make sure your husband knows where the hospital bag is kept. This is in case you are not going to the hospital from home and your husband has to be the one who brings the bag to the hospital for you.

You will probably be given a list of things to bring by the hospital where you will be giving birth in. The list varies slightly from hospital to hospital. But generally, this is a list of some of the essentials. Don't be daunted by the huge size of this list — you don't have to bring all the things that are listed here! The idea here is to have a comprehensive list that you can pick and choose from, to customize your own list of the things you personally care about.

It is a good idea to have the hospital packed and ready by the 35^th week of gestation, and brought with you wherever you go, cos you’ll never know when you’re baby will decide to make a “surprise” entrance!

For Admission Purposes:

identity card of yourself and your spouse
hospital admission form
letter from gynae
your written birth plan (signed/acknowledged by your own doctor), if you have one. You will need this to remind the nurses and doctors of what you want and not want for the labour
marriage certificate
birth registration fee of $33
your bank book / bank statement (so you can submit baby bonus forms during your child’s birth registration as well)

For Mommies:

Night gowns, preferably a nursing night gown for ease of breastfeeding. You can get such night gowns from Moms in Mind. If you are giving birth in KK Women's and Children's Hospital, they provide nursing night gown so you don't need to bring your own
warm socks, as it can get quite cold at night in the ward
1 extra pack of maternity pads (most hospital provide only one pack and will charge you if you get more)
disposable underwear
1 pair of slippers (if you are not wearing slippers/sandals to the hospital in the first place)
a set of clothes to go home in, and a nursing bra (just in case baby needs to feed on the way home)
breast pads
your personal toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, facewash, soap, shampoo, etc)
NO deodorant however, as this will musk your natural scent from your baby
breastfeeding pillow to assist you during breastfeeding, but I find it rather unnecessary as newborn are pretty light
inflatable ring or boppy pillow to ease episiotomy wound
nursing pillow to make positioning of babies easier especially if you have a c-section
a plastic bag for soiled clothing
light snacks, in case you get hungry at night. I did!
a journal and pen. You’d want to document your labor, write down your thoughts, experiences, and excitement before you forget them!
mobile phone and charger

On top of these, you may wish to pack in other stuff like books / magazines to read or an mp3 player to keep you company. Most hospitals give you welcome bags packed with parenting magazines and other useful reads, so it is really not necessary to bring more. Plus, you will be too busy marveling over your newborn, and recuperating at night, to have any time to read!

Also, remember that labor and delivery is a messyprocess. When packing a change of underclothes, do not pack your finest lace underwear, because you will likely ruin them from the voluminous lochia (bleeding) that occurs after birth.

Remember too that it is essential to have a goinghome outfit that is comfortable. You will not be your pre pregnancy size just after birth, and packing a pair of too tight jeans will only leave you excessively stressed and disheartened at a time when you should be reveling in the amazing feat your body just accomplished.

Finally, do not worry too much about forgettingto bring things (other than the important hospitalisation documents). Every hospital has a sundry shop. You can get things from the shop if you happened to have forgotten to bring them.

For Daddies:

Camera with plenty of megabyte space. Make sure your camera is fully charged!
Camcorder and batteries
Phone list to announce the birth of baby to one and all
Snacks on hand so the "labor coach" won't have to leave your bedside

For the Newborn Baby:

newborn clothing for going home, with a pair of scratch mittens
one receiving blanket to swaddle baby for the trip home
extra diapers (hospitals will provide one pack of diaper, so you can bring yours if you want)
infant formula if you intend to bottle-feed. I stronglyrecommend breastfeeding!

For Siblings:

favorite books and toys or drawing paper and crayons or markers to keep them occupied
snacks
a gift from Mom and Baby (to help ease jealousies after Baby arrives)
a camera just for big brother or sister to take pictures, and be involved in baby’s arrival!

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