IT’S a joke back home that women pack “everything but the kitchen sink” when preparing their travel bags.  But what do we really need to pack when preparing our hospital bag for birth?  I suppose the “skies the limit,” but there are a few “must haves,” in my opinion.

First of all pack three bags.  One for mother, one for baby, one for father (or whoever will be your labor coach).  This way when helpful hands are digging for baby’s blanket, or dad’s camera, they aren’t digging through mom’s personal things (like underclothes).

Here is my “top ten” for each bag:

Mom’s Bag

1. 1.  Comfortable pajamas that zip or button down the front for easy nursing
2. 2.  Nursing bra and change of underclothes
3. 3.  Largest size feminine pads
4. 4.  Socks
5. 5.  Slip on shoes (or flip flops)
6. 6.  Children’s blow up swim ring (to sit on after birth in case of stitches below)
7. 7.  Toothbrush and paste
8. 8.  Hair brush and hair ties
9. 9.  Going home clothes (remember you’ll still look six months pregnant)
10. 10. Mobile phone and charger

Baby’s Bag

1. 1.  Warm, soft blanket
2. 2.  Thin, cotton receiving blankets (good for over mom’s shoulder to catch spit up)
3. 3.  Three sizes of clothing including “onsies” (tee shirt that snaps between the legs)
4. 4.  Diapers (newborn size and size two in case of large baby) and pins if using clothe
5. 5.  Wipes
6. 6.  Hat
7. 7.  Car seat
8. 8.  Nursing pillow (“Boppy” is a popular brand)
9. 9.  Bibs (so spit up doesn’t wet baby’s clothing)
10. 10. Baby book to have baby’s footprints stamped after birth

Dad’s (Coach’s) Bag

1. 1.  Camera and charger
2. 2.  Phone and charger
3. 3.  Laptop and charger with mobile internet stick (to email baby’s first photos)
4. 4.  Toothbrush and paste
5. 5.  Copies of birth plan
6. 6.  Water bottles with sip lids to keep mom hydrated during labor
7. 7.  Dates (to serve mom in labor and after birth, to sweeten baby’s mouth)
8. 8.  Watch or other timing device with second hand to time contractions
9. 9.  Fresh squeezed, frozen orange juice to serve mom after birth (should thaw during labor)
10. 10. Change of clothes (in case of long labor or clothing gets soiled from birth)

One last word of advice is to prepare the car at least two months in advance.

For the Car

1. 1.  Don’t let the gas tank go below ½ tank the last two months
2. 2.  Keep a small bucket with lid in the trunk (for the placenta in case of emergency car delivery)
3. 3.  Two old but clean, large bath towels (to catch/wrap baby in case of emergency car delivery)
4. 4.  Clean blanket
5. 5.  Large absorbent pads (to protect car seat while driving mom to the hospital

I’m sure my readers can add other “must pack” items to these lists.  Feel free to add comments if there’s anything I left out!

©2011 aisha_alhajjar@yahoo.com, All Rights Reserved  (All writings are the original work of Aisha Al Hajjar and are based on her personal research, experiences, and opinions; they do not necessarily reflect the views of The American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®,  The Bradley Method®, or this publication.)