Packing for the Hospital

What to pack... and when to start? Well, for starters I was told "you never know if you will go into pre-mature labour". So it's a good idea to have your bag(s) ready a month before the actual due date. After talking with a few experienced ladies I was able to come up with a fairly comprehensive packing list. Here are my packing lists:

For use during labour...
• Birth plans
• Robe -- useful if you end up pacing hospital corridors in early labour
• Slippers
• Socks -- believe it or not, your feet can get cold during labour
• A nightgown to wear in labour.
• Massage oil or lotion if you would like to be massaged during labour
• Lip balm, your lips get really dry
• Snacks and drinks for you & your partner, plus some hard candies to help keep you going through labour
• Digital camera
• Relaxation materials: books, magazines, games etc.
• Toiletries
• Hot water bottle! I wish I had two so while the one was being refilled I wouldn't have gone without.

For hospital stay and trip home...
• Going-home outfit, and loose comfortable clothes to wear while you're in hospital. It will take a while for your tummy to go down so you'll still be wearing maternity clothes when you leave for home
• Nursing bra(s)
• Breast pads for when your milk comes in
• Maternity pads, or "overnights" -- a couple packages. I bought the "Naturacare" pads fron London Drugs. They are gentle and free of chemicals and fragrances.
http://www.natracare.com/products/the_natural_choice.htm
• Nightshirt -- front opening shirts are useful for breastfeeding. Motherhood Maternity has some good ones.
• Toiletries
• Hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste
• Carefully selected knickers -- don't bring your best ones. The hospital gives you mesh undies. Great for those first couple of days.
• Arnica tablets to help with internal bruising after the birth. Although there's no conclusive evidence that they work, many women report that taking arnica helps the healing process. (This is a homeopathic remedy available @ Capers & Choices)
• Phone numbers of family & friends

For the Baby...
• An infant car seat
• A couple sizes of p-jays for the trip home
• Two to three onsies (different sizes)
• Baby blanket & Swaddle Blanket (Kidapotamus has a swaddler that can be used in the car seat!)
• Diapers, new born and some wipes
• One pair of socks or booties
• Hat, they lose a lot of heat through the head and aren't great at regulating body temperature quite yet.