Packing your Labour Bag

From around 34 weeks you might want to think about preparing your hospital bag. This needs to be an easy to carry bag that you can pack and add to (and easily unpack afterwards!) and then keep in an easily accessible place. Make sure that your birthing partner is also up to speed on what is in the bag and where you’ve kept it. It might also be handy for first-time birthing partners to discuss exactly what you mean by a scratch mitt or a maternity pad, so you get what you want, when you want it. Heavy and fast contractions are not an ideal setting for explaining what Rescue Remedy is for!

The following list may be used as a guide for what to include in your packing, though make sure you pack what you want to make your labour as comfortable as possible.

During Labour:

• Medical/pregnancy records – Your midwife will give you this at your first appointment and it essential to bring it to all check-ups, scans etc. It may be handy to take a copy of this and ask your birth partner to look after it for you in case of emergencies. Also, this might be nice to keep for a future keepsake, as the hospital keep the original for their records post-birth.
• T-shirt/nightdress – Make sure this is large and comfortable, and something that you are prepared to bin if necessary afterwards. Do bear in mind that if you want skin-t0-skin with your newborn immediately after labour the garment may need to be easily removed or have a large top opening (also ideal for the first breastfeed). The hospital will lend you a nightdress if you’d prefer (the back-opening is essential for an epidural/spinal drip). Or you may decide to go topless for the birth if you are too hot.

• Slippers/flip-flops – Many labouring mothers find walking around eases the pain of contractions, and this can help bring labour along. Protect your feet in your favourite comfortable footwear.

• Socks – Blood circulation can slow to the feet during labour due to it being needed in more essential places! Also the positioning of feet in stirrups can lead to exposed feet (amongst other things!!), so you may feel more comfortable in socks.

• Lightweight dressing gown – Though hospitals tend to have tropical temperatures, it may be more comfortable in the early stages of labour to wrap up, especially if you are wearing a hospital regulation back-opening nightdress.

• Water face spray – To cool down and refresh as necessary.
• Bottled water – To stay hydrated during labour.

• Bendy straws -These help no end when you are trying to rehydrate whilst lying down or are on all fours.

• Energy tablets/ Chocolate/ Snacks – Take something that is easy to digest and can be nibbled quickly for an energy boost. Labour can take a long time and you will need all the energy you can muster for that final push.

• CDs – Your favourite music can help you stay calm and focussed. 
• Birthing Ball – Modern midwifery encourages the mother to move around as much as possible during active labour, and a birthing ball can help to get the pelvis into a good position for birth and be more comfortable. If you have a ball at home that is the right height and inflation for you, you might like to take it with you. After all, inflating the hospital’s ball so it feels right for you is not something you want to be concerned with when contractions are taking all you energy to get through.
• Essential oils – Make sure your hospital allows oil burners in labour rooms. Due to the piped Gas & Air in such wards, flame based burners are often not permitted. If this is the case, you may like to put some essential oils of your choice onto a tissue or pillow so you can inhale them as you want. Examples of beneficial oils during labour include: Geranium Rose-enhances circulation and is good for labour management techniques which focus on breathing; Jasmine-dulls uterine pain, strengthens contractions, promotes birth and increases milk supply; Lavender-dulls and eases uterine pain but also increases the strength of contractions while calming the mother.  
• Bach’s Rescue Remedy – A drop of this on your tongue can help to relieve stress.
• Magazines/ Puzzle Books – If you are being induced or early labour is slow and you are being monitored, you might find you get bored of waiting for things to kick off in earnest. Distraction is best here, so take whatever will keep you occupied and happy.

After Birth:

• Big pants – You can buy disposable paper type maternity knickers for straight after birth, as the lochia (post-partum bleeding) will be at its heaviest then. However, I would recommend just buying the cheapest largest cotton pants you can get and binning them afterwards if necessary. Proper knickers, no matter how unglamorous, will make you feel a bit more human than if you’re parading paper monstrosities.

• Maternity sanitary pads – These are great because they are big and thick. However, if you have a favourite brand of normal sanitary towel, use these, though buy the heavy flow ones. If necessary, wear 2 at a time in the early days, perfect for padding any stitches you may be nursing!

• Breast pads – Even if you have chosen not to breastfeed, you will still produce milk at first. These help soak up any leaks.

• Nursing bras – These need to be non-wired and easy to access for feeds. A general rule for sizing is to go up 2 cup sizes and 1 back size (e.g. from a 34B to a 36D) from your pregnancy size. It is usually best to buy a bra pre-birth and then go and get re-measured when your milk has come in and feeding is established.
• Comfortable clothes – These need to be loose and comfortable, particularly if you plan to breastfeed. Remember your tummy will still be large, though lots less firm than it was, so you may still be most comfortable in maternity wear. It is advisable to wear dark colours as you may be bleeding heavily and leaks are to be expected. Take a few changes of clothes. You may also want to include clothes that have a very baggy/no waist in case you have a c-section wound.

• Toiletries – The first shower post-birth is heavenly but a little uncomfortable. Take shampoo, soap etc in easily accessible bottles.

• Vaseline – Gas & Air, combined with heavy breathing and a hot, dry atmosphere can lead to very dry lips and skin. Slather this on.

• Nipple Cream – Essential for the breastfeeding mother. A thick coating after every feed will help with sore cracked nipples. Lanisoh is highly recommended.

• Dark towels – And plenty of them.

• Money – Loose change for the phone will be useful to tell everyone your happy news (mobile phones are not permitted in many hospitals) and is also useful for the shop/trolley for snacks etc.
• Contact List – Ensure your birthing partner has a list of essential people to contact to inform of your news. If it’s a long list, you could allocate a few friends or relatives to do a ring round on your behalf. People generally like to know the baby’s sex, weight, name (if you’ve decided!) and time of birth. Also to know that you’re all well is reassuring!
• Camera – Take lots of photos of this special time – it’s amazing how quickly they grow!

For baby:

• Nappies – Take lots! They need changing around 8-10 times per day at first.

• Cotton wool – For washing. Newborns should only need “top and tailing” at first (face and bottom). Warm water is great for this.

• 3x bodysuits

• 3x sleepsuits

• Hat

• Scratch mitts

• Blanket/shawl – If you have a special receiving blanket, this can be a really special keepsake for your baby.
• Going Home Outfit – A special outfit can be nice for the photos and homecoming, though make sure it’s warm and comfortable for your baby.

1. 

   clari says:

   November 15, 2009 at 1:20 am

   Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.