This message is dedicated to my brother, Slash-M, whose lovely wife is about to give birth to their first child.
"Is your hospital bag ready?" This is one of the questions my parents asked me as my due date approached. I have, in turn, asked this question of my siblings as THE date came close during their pregnancies.
I thought MY hospital bag was ready when I was about to give birth to the three children, but apparently, I managed to miss some of the important stuff. Little RD came home with us wrapped in my bathrobe because I had failed to pack a baby blanket in the hospital bag. Shame on me!
So this is a friendly reminder, brother dear, please pack your hospital bag early so you can bring home my new niece in a proper blanket.
What's in the bag?
Hospital bag checklist has stuff primarily for the mom -- nightgown, bathrobe, slippers, underwear, nursing bras, sanitary napkins, toiletries, extra towel, reading material, clothes to wear home, etc. Of course there are also things for the baby -- diapers, diaper pins, plastic pants (or disposable diapers, in this day and age), baby clothes, baby blanket, bottle. Don't forget the thinks the new dad will need. He will most likely be staying with the mother in the hospital and he'll need stuff, too.
Other things needed for the hospital, particularly if you've taken Lamaze or childbirth classes and intend to bring the baby into this world with your memory intact are the following :
"Is your hospital bag ready?" This is one of the questions my parents asked me as my due date approached. I have, in turn, asked this question of my siblings as THE date came close during their pregnancies.
I thought MY hospital bag was ready when I was about to give birth to the three children, but apparently, I managed to miss some of the important stuff. Little RD came home with us wrapped in my bathrobe because I had failed to pack a baby blanket in the hospital bag. Shame on me!
So this is a friendly reminder, brother dear, please pack your hospital bag early so you can bring home my new niece in a proper blanket.
What's in the bag?
Hospital bag checklist has stuff primarily for the mom -- nightgown, bathrobe, slippers, underwear, nursing bras, sanitary napkins, toiletries, extra towel, reading material, clothes to wear home, etc. Of course there are also things for the baby -- diapers, diaper pins, plastic pants (or disposable diapers, in this day and age), baby clothes, baby blanket, bottle. Don't forget the thinks the new dad will need. He will most likely be staying with the mother in the hospital and he'll need stuff, too.
Other things needed for the hospital, particularly if you've taken Lamaze or childbirth classes and intend to bring the baby into this world with your memory intact are the following :
- Pencil and paper - to record the time in between contractions
- Washcloths
- Watch with second hand or stopwatch - to time contractions
- Sugar lumps / lollipops / hard candies / gelatin -- this is the only thing the mom is allowed to eat (the dad can eat anything)
- Paper bags -- for breathing into and out of, in case of hyperventilation and in case any of the parents need to throw up
- Socks - to keep the feet warm
- Chapstick / ice chips -- to keep the lips from drying
- Tennis ball -- to use for massaging the back (of the mom)
- Focal point and scotch tape -- for the mom's use during labor
- Hand fan -- in case there is a power outage
- Camera / Videocam
- Small pocket mirror -- in case the mom would like to see what is happening down there
- Food and drink for the Lamaze partner
- Manual / book on Lamaze -- or your personal cheat sheet
- Music
- Telephone numbers to call
So I go back to my original question -- Is your hospital bag ready?
1 comment:
Thank you =) Very very informative and useful.... will make sure the right brain gets to process the information. slash-m
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