CHECKLIST FOR THE HOSPITAL: WHAT TO PACK FOR THE BIRTH - PARENTHOOD

The checklist for the hospital: what to pack really useful for childbirth

It's almost time to meet your baby, what a thrill! The weeks preceding the dpp (presumed date of birth) are full of expectation, because everyone can't wait to say goodbye to the new arrival. By the time you are in the third trimester of pregnancy you will probably have already chosen the name of your baby, but if not I had yet to peek at the video below: it reveals the most beautiful meaning of some baby names.

When preparing the suitcase for childbirth

Organizing the bag for hospitalization is a kind of preparation of the nest that the mother makes on the occasion of the arrival of the unborn child. Bodysuit after onesie, sock after sock, the woman begins to imagine her new life as a new mother and fantasizes about the day of birth. Putting the baby's first things in a bag or suitcase is in effect an act of love that the parent makes towards the baby he or she carries in his belly. Thanks to the desire to be ready for any situation, the suitcase for the birth in hospital is normally prepared weeks in advance of the presumed date of delivery (dpp).

It is right to want to feel calm for any eventuality but we advise not to skip the steps and enjoy the months of pregnancy calmly, as long as the baby is not in a hurry to be born!

The hospital delivery bag tends to be prepared for the 7th month of gestation or even the 8th month, depending on the advice of the midwives and the personal situation. There is not a right time for all couples: it will depend on availability of her mother and since she was able to abstain from work.
Having the suitcase ready for the hospitalization makes future parents feel more serene and peaceful and it is therefore correct to prepare it when you have to concretely face the idea that the time to meet your baby is approaching. the ability to make its content personalized and puts mothers in front of the decision of what to bring and what not. What will be really useful in the hospital for the parturient and the newborn, and what can be left out instead?
Having an objective checklist at hand will also help you not to proceed with too reckless purchases.

Before understanding what to bring to the hospital at the time of delivery, it is necessary to take note of what the individual hospital requires at the time of admission.

Suitcase for maternity hospitalization: the list given by the hospital

Birth is an extraordinary event, truly charged with emotions that are also conflicting with each other. On the one hand, the desire and curiosity to see the face of your little one that you have carried in your womb for 9 months, on the other the anxiety and fear that everything is going well in this delicate moment and that the little one is healthy.

Having the suitcase ready somewhere in the house for this event is an extra safety reason for a mother, who will not have to think last second about what to put in the bag, when she is most likely already "committed" to facing uterine contractions. Towards the 36th-37th week of gestation it is probable that we are detaching ourselves from the work environment and therefore we have enough time to prepare the nest: the baby's room and also the suitcase for the first days together.

What should you put inside this childbirth bag and is there an indicative list from which to take inspiration? For the birth in hospital, each facility has a check-list of things to bring both for the mother and for the newborn, different for the period of the year in which the event takes place; summer kit for the warmer months and winter kit for the colder ones.
Therefore, when choosing the hospital where you are going to give birth, there will certainly be documents on the subject to download for the expectant mother, but there are also rules valid for all the structures that allow the new mother to better enjoy the birth and the days. subsequent.
Rule number one is to bring a little of everything and not dwell too much on the climate that will presumably be outside at the presumed date: often in the hospital the temperature is altered by strong heating or air conditioning and in fact it is not uncommon to see indicated on the delivery lists for the month of August of long-sleeved rompers for the newborn.

Practical tips for organizing the delivery bag

Let's assume that each of us can pack what they want in their suitcase, however there are some accessories and clothing that we consider more important than others to have with them to live peacefully the hospital stay. Sometimes these objects are forgotten which is why it is useful to make a rundown of what should be inserted in the bag and then schematize it in a practical check-list. Remember that your suitcase must cover the period of hospitalization and therefore must be well organized, comfortable and simple.From our experience, it is better to opt for a soft bag rather than a rigid suitcase: it fits better in the locker spaces in the room and can also be carried on the shoulder. If things don't fit in one solution, try to create two but always flexible. In case of important oversights you can always ask your dad for a hand to go shopping (perhaps supported by grandmothers and aunts who are just waiting to give you a hand!).

The stay in the structure can be more or less long, and depends on several factors. Generally after the birth, the mother and the child remain hospitalized for at least three days, but this time frame can vary according to the type of birth, spontaneous or caesarean, and how the birth event went or according to the state of health. of the baby.

What to put in the delivery bag: the things you really need

To be ready in every situation, you will find below our check-list of things to absolutely put in the delivery bag (always comparing it with what your hospital requires):

For the newborn
Your baby will need a few things in his very first days of life. Maternity wards usually require one or two complete changes per day. Better if these suits are designed to dress him like an onion, so that he can remove or add layers depending on the temperature you will find in the hospital. As far as hygiene is concerned, no particular products are required, they are usually supplied on site.

5 short-sleeved cotton bodysuits
5 rompers
5 pairs of cotton socks
Cover
Small towel
Skin to skin cap
Wet wipes
Disposable sleepers
Diapers size 1 (3-5kg)

For the winter period, opt for wool and cotton bodysuits (short sleeves), wool socks and one-piece suits.
For the summer period, on the other hand, both bodysuits and cotton socks are good, while for the onesie it depends on the month of birth and the hospital policy; certainly in a light cotton long at the end of the summer and short at the beginning.

Teddy bears, soft toys and pacifiers? There is nothing necessary, these are extras that you can think of to bring to comfort the baby. For the pacifier in particular, it is not recommended to buy it for mothers who decide to breastfeed. In fact, this object in the first days of life can interfere with breastfeeding. It is better to decide at home whether to propose it to the baby, when breastfeeding is started correctly (usually after about 4 weeks) or if you notice that the baby likes it.

For the mother during the hospitalization
Avoid valuables, a lot of money, or bags that are too bulky to handle. Keep in mind that most of the time, given the current health situation, you will be alone, with no visits from relatives.

Nightgown or comfortable garment for childbirth, with a choice of short or long minca (better with buttons on the front to facilitate "skin-to-skin" contact and the first latch on the breast)
Comfortable clothing for the hospital stay: sweater, dressing gown, overalls or pajamas
Disposable panties, for the first few days perhaps the disposable mesh ones are better and then move on to cotton ones
Large tampons for postpartum
Small beauty with stringent need for hygiene and personal care
Folding towels / bathrobe
Rubber slippers for shower
Cotton socks
Postpartum belt (for cesarean delivery only)

For the mother in labor

Water and herbal teas
Snacks and drinks of your choice to munch on (juices, chocolate, crackers ...)
Bag containing sanitary napkin, mesh panties, socks and a clean garment

Documents

Pregnancy record
Ultrasounds
Blood tests carried out during gestation
Blood group
Possible ECG
Other recent examinations considered important or medical prescriptions to be carried out at birth or postpartum
GBS buffer
For eventual epidural, complete blood count and coagulation
Mother's identity document and health card

Birth Bag: Clothing and items that can come in handy in the hospital

If you are having your first child you will not know what to expect from the moment of birth onwards, which is why it may be useful to have some extra accessories to spend the days in the hospital. If, on the other hand, you are in the second or third child, you will already have an "idea of your previous experience and would like to remind you of those things that the pre-birth course does not tend to mention, but which in your case prove to be precious.
Below you can read a list of clothing and extra items that we believe are useful for the pre- and post-labor hospital stay:

Comfortable bras for breastfeeding, especially if you have very large breasts, or stretch tank tops with a plunging neckline. Not everyone likes to wear bras on, but if you get the whipped milk very soon you could drip a little everywhere.
Breast pads: they are made of cotton and are similar to make-up remover pads. They are put inside the bra to absorb any leaking milk. They change often so that the nipples do not stay in contact with the wet for long, which can predispose to cracking
Nipple cream, useful in the prevention of fissures, annoying nipple cuts that can create pain while breastfeeding
Clothes for the day of discharge (best comfortable to wear and soft)
Breastfeeding pillow
Mild neutral soap
Shower or water birth cap
Phone charger
Earphones
Coins for the machines
Disposable paper
Disinfectant wipes for surfaces and toilet seats
Hair dryer and brush
Post partum intimate cleanser. It must be very delicate, let the gynecologist indicate a valid product in the weeks before