10 Most Important Things to Pack in Your Labor Bag

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If you are pregnant and wondering what to bring to the hospital or Birth Center for your upcoming labor & delivery, chances are you have already come across those long lists of what to pack. Sure, the essentials are obvious such as your toiletries, change of clothes, a coming home outfit for the baby…your husband and Birth Partner, duh of course! But, what about a SHORT list of the absolutely most essential things to bring with you that will make a big difference?  I give you a short list of the top 10 most important things to pack in your hospital bag but often get overlooked, so if you are within 4 weeks of your due start packing your bag now.

1.  Birth Preferences List (Birth Plan) – This is your communications tool about what you prefer for your birth.  Your Birth Plan should be no more than 2 pages long, easy to read, and also include your preferences for baby care (i.e. do you want certain injections, eye ointment?).  Bring three copies with you, which ideally have been signed and agreed by your doctor.  
2.  Birth Ball (to aid with labor support) - These are very large rubber balls used for exercise and Pilates. Recommended size for labor is 65 cm.  You want your hips to be above the level of your knees when you sit on it.  You can find an exercise ball at any Sporting Goods store or shop like Target. Please don’t go in asking for a “birth ball” because they will look at you cross-eyed .  Bring this ball with you to the hospital already pumped up and ready to go.
3. Wear Your Own Labor Gown – Consider wearing your own comfy gown at the hospital, which provides you with coverage yet easy access for the contractions and baby monitor belts.  The sleeves should be either spaghetti strap or halter neck in order to make your arms available for the blood pressure cup, IVs, and convenient for breastfeeding. I absolutely love, love, LOVE Pretty Pushers gowns as they are not only made of soft organic cotton but are especially designed for easy access.  These gowns are meant to be disposable (even though they can be washed) and as an added bonus, they are Made in America.  How green is that? I will blog about this topic next month because I feel it deserves to be discussed more thoroughly.
4. Bring 2 Comfy Pillows – I don’t know if you have slept in a hospital before but if you have you will remember those awful flat, stiff pillows.  It is worth bringing two pillows from home but dress the pillows with colored pillow cases so they don’t get accidentally left behind.  Buy inexpensive colored cases and leave your fancy posh pillow cases at home as they may get soiled with blood and other fluids.   
5. Music – Bring with you a portable CD player or iPod with small speakers.  Put together a few playlists from relaxing sleepy-time sounds to fun dance jams to perk up your energy for pushing.  Believe it or not music has a way of setting the mod in birth ether to help you stay calm and relaxed or to uplift your mod and give you an energy boost.  I recently seen a client get re-energized after being in labor for 36 hours and ready for pushing simply by changing the playlist to music by 80’s band Salt & Peppa.  Ooh babe babe!
6. Ambiance – Create your own cozy cave-like environment with faux candles and the pleasant scents of aromatherapy sprays or oils.  Not only does it help mask the creepy hospital smells but it can also enhance your feeling of safety, security, and dare I say romance.  Your labor room should have the look and feel of your bedroom where your natural Oxytocin hormones go a flow’n.
7. Lip Balm – Between the dry air of the hospital and all your heavy breathing, you will likely long for a dab of lip balm to moisten your lips.  Chances are you have some lip balm already tucked at the bottom of your purse but have you ever seen a man go digging in a woman’s big handbag?  It is like asking him to search for a needle in a haystack.  Do him a favor, ladies, and have a second (or third!) lip balm packed in the visible side pocket of your labor bag.  This doesn’t seem like much but I have seen mamas ‘ahhhh’ when I suggest some lip balm.
8. Breath Mints – On the topic of heavy breathing (and boy is there lots of it in labor) please pack some breath mints for you and for your labor companions.  Depending on how long you have been in labor or what food you or they have eaten there is often little opportunity to brush teeth.  You will likely want your husband real close to you during a contraction and the last thing on your mind, no offense, is what your breath smells like to them.  Just say'n. Mint or spearmint flavors are great choices as they also help calm nausea.
9. Camera – Of course this goes without saying to pack your cameras but also remember extra batteries or chargers so you don’t run out of juice when the hoorah moment happens, the birth of your baby!  Consider bringing a smaller handheld digital camera that is easy to operate by just about anyone.  No need for the high-tech cameras with intimidating lenses or camera settings.  A simple point and click that can be operated by just one hand will do.  If your mom happens to be in the room with you put her on camera duty.  Give dad a break from the camera so that he can also experience the birth of his baby. I have become quite skilled at holding mama’s leg open with one arm while clicking photos with the other.
10. Postpartum Support Belt – Last but not least, pack a postpartum support belt to help your belly go back to its original size pre-pregnancy.  For best results put on belt 24 hours after the birth (vaginal or C-section) and wrap tighter and tighter as your waist line drops.  The postpartum support belt acts like a comfortable corset to help ease your internal organs back in place and also provide back support as you get to know your core abs again. Moms who delivered via Cesarean also rave about the comfort the belt provides after surgery.

My final tip:  I recommend that you pack one bag for labor and birth then leave a second separate bag for postpartum and baby in the car or with someone else. This prevents you from dragging all of your stuff around the labor and birth wing!

[Originally published April 9, 2013]

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