Add these to your hospital bag:

One of the most common Pinterest searches you’ll find when it comes to prepping for a hospital birth is what to pack in your hospital bag. Surprisingly, as a birth and postpartum doula, I don’t often get this question, and I think it’s because Pinterest has made it pretty clear what people think you should be bringing to birth your baby in a hospital setting. However, as someone who has witnessed many births, I’d like to propose a couple of additions or revisions to the tried and true lists of slippers, extra long phone chargers, and toiletries, based on the type of hospital birth that you’ll be having:

1.       Induction of Labor:

Inductions can be SO long, and their length of time depends on a multitude of factors (What number baby is this? Are you already dilated? Are you before 37 weeks or are you “post-date”?), however, the average length of time is 36 hours for a first timer. So what is something I commonly hear my clients say they wish they had brought while they’re in the process of an induction?

• Laptops

  • Listen, as much as I believe the birth space is a sacred space and it should be free of distractions, labor is long and nothing makes it pass faster than a silly movie or TV show that you can lose yourself in. Plus, I am not naïve enough to think that in our society, people aren’t going to try to get just a little bit more work done while they’re fully consumed by labor, birth, and babies.

• Snacks

  • Not being able to eat in labor is a myth that has been scientifically debunked. Bring the snacks. Bring the food. Sneak it if you have to. The concern from a hospital standpoint is aspiration in the event of an emergency cesarean in which you are under general anesthesia with a breathing tube. While this does happen, it’s rare.  I am unsure of the exact statistic right at this very moment but research has shown that having nutritious food during labor is beneficial for energy levels that are required during labor. Typically, in more recent years, hospitals will serve a liquid diet to people in labor (broths, teas, power drinks, Jell-O), but you may need more to get you through. So bring the snacks.

• Blanket/Pillow/Eye mask

  • Of course, the hospital provides these things for you, but if you have never spent the night in a hospital, let me save you the surprise and tell you – they are awful. Because inductions are so long, you’ll hopefully be able to sleep at least a little bit while you’re there. Being as comfortable as you can while you try to catch some z’s is so important to getting the rest you need and maintaining your energy levels. An eye mask is also helpful to block out unwanted light during the daylight hours when you can catch a nap and that afternoon sun is seeping in through the shades.

2.       Cesarean Section:

A planned C-section is a common form of hospital birth and while it’s probably the quickest form of birth, the difficulty in recovery is definitely the furthest thing from easy. With a new incision to think of, trapped gas, and the inability to move around freely, it’s almost as if you’re still pregnant but with a fresh new hell to deal with. Some items that may come in handy?

• Belly Binders

  • Some hospitals are jumping on the belly binder bandwagon, but as of right now, most are not. Belly binders are so essential to recovery from a c-section, it helps to support your abdomen and back, reduce swelling and support the incision site as well as speed up internal organ recovery by helping them migrate back into their rightful positions. Postpartum belly binders are not something new, and they’re not for vanity either. Belly binding and wrapping is an ancient tradition that was implemented in Asia, Europe, and Latin America and has long-term benefits for the health of your body

• Slip-on shoes

  • Even in the dead of winter, bring slip-on shoes. You will be a little swollen and you won’t be able to bend over to tie your shoes or pull on boots

• High-waisted underwear

  • Traditional maternity underwear goes below your pregnant belly, but this won’t be comfortable or recommended when you’re post-cesarean. Invents in some high-waisted underwear for those first few weeks postpartum. Your sensitive incision site and future scar will thank you.

3.       Spontaneous Labor Hospital Birth

Whether you’re planning on a medicated or unmedicated hospital birth, these few commonly forgotten items will come in handy:

• A portable fan for bedside

  • Birth gets HOT. Even if you typically run cold, once transition hits, more often than not, you’re going to wish you had a little extra air on you. Bring a small fan that you can clip or wrap onto your bed to give you a little relief. Bonus points for the white noise in a noisy hospital.

• Rebozo

  • This isn’t something people typically have lying around at home, and they can be a little expensive, so a blanket or towel will work just as well, but this is so you can get into different positions off your back and out of bed to give you more options while laboring at a hospital

• Anything that creates a calming atmosphere for you

  • That could be an essential oil inhaler, tea lights, a perfume that relaxes you, some photos of your loved ones, a galaxy projector – whatever feels right for you

And finally, something that all births deserve:

• A doula

  • Sure this is a little bit of a shameless plug – but this is my blog so I can do what I want (lol). But in all seriousness – hiring a doula is a great way to assure that you have what you need and want during your birth, no matter what kind of birth you’re having. Your doula has a bag of tricks as well as a host of experiences that they will bring to your birth to help you through and support both your partner and you in any way that they can. Doulas reportedly increase birth satisfaction, decrease cesarean rates, and aid in lower postpartum mood disorder statistics. And better yet – doulas support ALL types of birth, C-sections, home births, hospital births, inductions, and whatever you can think of, a doula is there for you – judgment-free and there to be of service.

Do you have additional questions about what you should bring with you to a hospital birth? Wishing to learn more about doulas and what they bring to the birth space? Visit my website or find me on Instagram to chat all things pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

XO, Lo