Health & Fitness

What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for the New Mom

Do you need to pack a hospital bag? You are not alone in this regard. Pregnant women in today’s world have a greater variety of responsibilities than ever before, which can make it difficult for them to get ready for the arrival of their child. Even if you plan to spend some time recovering in the hospital after giving birth, it is highly recommended that you pack as much of your personal belongings as you can to make the transition back to your own home easier. 

A good place to begin is with the bag you’ll take to the hospital. Having a bag that is adequately stocked will help to alleviate some of the stress that is associated with becoming a new mother and will make tasks such as feeding and changing the baby much simpler. Continue reading to find out what you ought to place in your hospital bag in preparation for the delivery of your child, and after you’re done, check out our in-depth article that’s full of helpful advice and suggestions. below:

What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for Baby

It is important that the hospital bag for the infant be lightweight and easy to carry. As soon as you notice any signs of labor, you will need to head to the hospital as quickly as possible, so make sure that the baby hospital bag is not excessively large or heavy and does not contain all of your belongings from home. 

  1. Undergarments For Infants

The first step is to prepare the undergarments. To enable more frequent changes of clothing in the event of spills of breast milk or formula as well as perspiration, stock up on additional undergarments.

Underwear with a shorter hemline: 5-6

Long underwear or a combination of undergarments: 5-6 garments

  1. Baby Clothes

Prepare items of clothing that will be worn over the baby’s undergarments, such as two-way overalls, which can be worn starting from the time the baby is a newborn. It is sufficient to have two or three pieces, as there is a possibility that they will run out of size soon.

Newborn baby wear: 2 or 3 pieces

  1. Baby Discharge Clothes

It is a dream of any new parent to be able to look back on their child’s first steps out into the world and recall those magical moments. Usually, this happens after being discharged from the hospital. It is for this reason that newborn garments for discharge are so important. Ideally, it should be stunningly attractive, easy to clean, and practical.

  1. Diaper Goods (Diapers, Diaper Wipes, Diaper Changing Sheets)

If you want to use the same brand of diapers as the hospital, prepare them after the birth. Some babies are born large or grow quickly, so their sizes can change quickly. Before delivery, newborn-sized wipes are sufficient. On the market are wet-sheet wipes and cotton wipes soaked in water. Please choose a gentle one. A diaper changing sheet keeps mattresses and floors clean. A towel can be used instead.

  1. Nursing Items (bottles, formula, sterilization items, gauze)

Even if you intend to breastfeed your baby exclusively, formula may be used if breast milk doesn’t come out or if the breasts are initially problematic. If you want to use the same formula as in the hospital, prepare it after birth. Prepare more gauze for breastfeeding and formula spills. Additionally, it can be utilized for the purpose of drooling.

  1. Swaddling

It is convenient to have a single swaddle that can serve two purposes, one of which is to provide sleep, and the other is to provide protection from the cold.

  1. Babycare (baby cotton swabs, oil, powder, lotion, nail clippers)

These baby care supplies are essential. Cotton swabs made specifically for babies are an excellent choice for sanitizing the navel. When purchasing goods that come into contact with baby skin, choose ones created with safe materials and substances. The nails of a baby grow quickly, and some babies are born with nails that are already rather long. If you think they are getting too long, you should trim them very carefully.

  1. Child Seat

Even infants less than one month old are expected to ride in appropriate child safety seats whenever they travel by car.

What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for Mom

You are responsible for preparing hospital bags for the mother, including the labor bag and the hospitalization bag. If you put the labor bag and the hospitalization bag together, you will not be able to take out what you need at the time of labor. Because of this, it is recommended that what to pack in hospital bag for mom should be in a different bag from the labor bag.

Labor Bag Items

  • Medical Examination Certificate
  • Maternal and child health handbook
  • Health insurance card

When you check in at the hospital’s reception desk, you will need to present a medical examination certificate in addition to a copy of the maternal and child handbook. Make sure it’s in the labor bag’s upper portion so you can get to it right away.

  • Front opening pajamas x 1
  • Towel x 1
  • Disposable slippers
  • Writing utensils
  • Alcohol disinfection gel
  • Cellphone
  • Baby Wipes
  • Mask
  • Underwear (postpartum panties, nursing bras)
  • Snacks and refreshments (Jelly Drink)
  • Drinks
  • Straws

Hospitalization Bag Items

  • Infectious disease control items
  • Breast milk pads (for the hospitalization period)
  • Folding slippers
  • Glasses
  • Skin care (moisturizer, etc.)
  • Glasses
  • Postpartum shorts
  • Pelvic belt or puerperal nippers
  • Postpartum pad
  • Night napkin
  • Lip balm

Clothing and Shoes for Mom 

When you are getting closer to the time of your child’s birth, you may be concerned about what kinds of clothes you should put on when you go to the hospital for labor pains. You may also be curious about whether the clothes you wear in the hospital will change depending on the season, such as during the winter. 

Loose-fitting, Lightweight Clothing for Mom

Make sure you have at least two items of lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that you can change into before and after the labor begins. The last thing you want is to wear clothes that cling to your body and end up exhausted while still being able to detect a small baby bump. After birth, the stomach will not flatten out immediately. Pack a change of clothing for the trip back home. 

Front-opening Pajamas for Postpartum

New mothers and nursing mothers can wear postpartum pajamas specifically designed for them. In addition to providing comfort and convenience, these undergarments are designed to accommodate breastfeeding patterns, an insufficient amount of sleep, and mesh undergarments. 

Maternity Shoes

You may need pregnancy shoes even if you already have stretchy, supportive shoes. Your feet may increase by a half or full size during pregnancy. No matter how well you can strut in heels, put them away for now. Stilettos damage your balance when you walk, so avoid them.

Toiletries and Other Basics

This is a list of toiletries and other basic things what to pack in hospital bag for mom. Usually, hospitals provide them, but you can bring the ones you usually use and the brands you prefer.

Toiletries 

Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, nail clippers, body lotion, comb, deodorant

Bathing Items

Shampoo, conditioner, body soap

Towels

2 bath towels, 6 face towels

Oral Medication

Folic acid supplements

Unexpectedly Necessary Items

You might think these things aren’t included in what to pack in hospital bag for mom. When you’re already in the hospital, these things are found to be necessary.

  1. A rubber band for tying hair
  2. Cell Phone Charger
  3. Earphones
  4. Warmer
  5. Garbage bag

Tips for Packing Your Hospital Bag

  1. Because the necessities needed during a stay in the hospital can vary from one maternity facility to the next, it is imperative that you confirm the specifics before you start putting together what to pack in hospital bag for mom.
  1. You should organize the items that you might require in your hospitalization bag and your labor bag separately so that you are aware of what is in each bag and where it is located.
  1. As a general rule, you should be ready to decide what to pack in hospital bag for mom by the time you are 35 weeks pregnant, or at the very latest, once you have reached a stable labor state. Because you can never predict what may occur during labor and delivery, the sooner you start preparing, the better.
  1. Because visitors are not allowed to see the patient while they are in the hospital at this time, there are a lot of clothes and towels. It is important to confirm in advance, as some maternity hospitals provide washing machines for patients’ use.
  1. It is preferable to use a hospital bag that comes with internal pockets and a high-quality lining. Because it is simpler to see where you put items, you will be able to locate them quickly even when you are experiencing contractions.

Conclusion

It is impossible to predict when you will go into labor or when your water will break when you are in the final month of your pregnancy. You also need to be ready for the chance that your health condition could suddenly worsen, which could result in you being admitted to a hospital. It is wise to get a head start on putting together a hospital bag and have it ready as soon as possible in case of any unexpected complications.