So the date is set, and you are ready to push out the baby any time now. The baby nursery is prepared and you have gathered a small collection of baby clothes along with a bunch of baby furniture. You really are ready to pop and finally be able to pick stuff up by yourself again. Well, before going to the hospital, you’ll need one last shopping trip to make sure that you are carrying all the essentials necessary for your delivery. Also using an Online Pharmacy can be much more convenient, especially these days with social distancing. Here is out toplist of things not to be forgotten – you’ll thank us later!
Medical records
Make sure to pack your medical records, including anything that may be required in your hospital bag. Some hospitals may ask for this upfront before the delivery, and others need them afterwards, especially during emergencies. It is wise to identify the hospital where you want to give birth at and prepare all the paperwork that will be required. Even if you submit this upfront, make sure to keep copies as they may be required later. Your doctor will need this to have a look at your medical history, file for insurance claims and generally make sure that you and your baby are treated appropriately.
Bathrobe and slippers
Most hospitals will offer this as soon as you check into the hospital. Remember that delivery does not start right away, and you may have to walk around the hospital for some time during your labour. This is when your bathrobe and slippers come in handy. You will also need this after birth to walk around and take care of basic things like going to the washroom. You’ll probably need to change your dress after birth, and some hospitals don’t offer much at this stage. Some maternity clothes can also come in handy here.
Entertainment and relaxation tools
You won’t just be lying down and staring into the ceiling the whole time you will be delivering. You will probably arrive at the hospital when your contractions are beginning right after you break your water. It may take anywhere between minutes to hours before you’re ready to deliver in the labour room. If you don’t do anything to help you relax, you will feel all the pain and delivery will become a very frustrating and painful experience.
To help you get your mind off things, you can bring magazines, your favourite novel or even your tablet or laptop to watch a few episodes of your favourite Netflix series before you are taken to the labour room. You probably won’t need this as much after birth, seeing as your attention will be on the newborn.
If the hospital allows, you can also bring along your favourite pillow so that you can be positioned as comfortably as possible during birth. If you have a stress release ball or a hot pack to help with muscle contraction, you can bring them too—anything to make your birth experience smoother.
Unless you prefer throwing yourself in the car and driving home in your bathrobe, it would be nice to pack a nice outfit to wear on your way home. The hospital will probably provide a onesie for the baby when they are born, but you can choose a nice outfit for them to wear when they come home for the first time. This will be a memorable one that you can turn to a keepsake to keep those memories years later when they are all grown up. You can also bring some baby blankets – they are easy to convert to something cute like a pillow with the baby’s name on it.
Cash
Be sure to bring some loose change to the hospital. This will come in handy for getting snacks and drinks at the vending machine, especially when you’re trying to eat as little of the hospital food as you can without starving yourself. If the hospital permits your partner or friends can bring you food from outside. You can also choose to pack some snacks in your hospital bag if feeding on these will help you take your mind off things. Gum, for example, can be beneficial during labour. Hard candy may help you moisturize your mouth to prevent drawing, which is common after delivery. Remember to take plenty of drinks to avoid dehydration.
Birth plan
If you decide to prepare a birth plan, make sure you bring it with you and make a few copies of it as well. Make it as straightforward and detailed as possible. For instance, if you need to take pain medication, then state that in no uncertain terms. It would be best if you distributed these copies among the hospital personnel that will be responsible for your delivery as early as you can so they can have enough time to look at the plan and get back to you. Sometimes, for some reasons, the hospital may not be able to meet all your requirements. They should let you know this in good time so you can modify the plan or find alternatives.
In conclusion, there’s plenty you can bring to the hospital when you are going to deliver, but essentials will help you get through with no hassle. The items discussed above are not exhaustive, and sometimes they will change with each woman. Just make sure that you bring all that you will need to be comfortable. Oh, one more thing – get someone who cares about you deeply to come with you. You’ll need some emotional support eve if not inside the labour room.
