Labour Advice: Packing for Delivery Day

If you plan on giving birth in hospital, take the time to prepare a bag for your family in the weeks leading up to your due date. Just after your water breaks isn’t the time to start getting organized.

Consider creating two or even three small separate bags for the various stages of the game: labour, post-delivery (including a possible extended hospital stay) and heading home.  Alternatively, you can create separate bags for the various members of your new and improved family – mom, partner and baby.

Whichever combination you go with, don’t forget the all-important car seat. Hospitals in Canada won’t let you leave with your baby until they see your car seat and verify that it’s not expired.

For Parents

Pillows: You may feel more comfortable with your own pillow – especially if you’re going to be there for a while. And you’ll also want to bring a nursing pillow to help you with the first few feeds.

Nursing bra: If you wind up staying a few days in the hospital, you’ll appreciate the support. And not having to bend the cups up and over sore breasts to feed will certainly make feeding easier.

Comfy clothes: Make sure whatever you bring is ‘easy-access’ to accommodate breastfeeding, frequent pad changes and a possible IV hook-up.

Slippers: You’ll want to get up and walk around a bit, either with your new addition or alone for a breather.

Extra underwear: If you experience some post-birth bleeding (which some women do), two or three back-up pairs will come in handy.

Loose clothing to wear home: You’ll be tender after childbirth. Tight-fitting clothes may be uncomfortable.

A camera: You’ll probably want to remember this day with more than shots from your phone. Don’t forget the back-up batteries.

A phone charger: You may be there for a while.

Snacks: Make sure they’re healthy, easy to eat and packed with carbs and/or protein to help you keep your energy up.

For Babies

Petroleum jelly or olive oil: These will help remove meconium (the precursor to poo), and make diapering easier on you and your baby.

Swaddlers and receivers: The hospital will most likely provide you with these, but having extras in your back pocket is smart – especially ones you really like.

Newborn diapers: Again, the hospital may provide a few diapers, but probably not as many as you’re going to need.

A Diapershirt: This will be the most fun item in your bag to shop for as it’ll be your baby’s first piece of clothing. Don’t worry – it won’t set the tone for the rest of his fashion preferences.

Something to wear home: Consider the forecast.

Have the bag packed a few weeks before the due date and leave it by the front door so when the moment of truth comes, you can grab and go. Good luck!

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