Pregnancy: Hospital Bag essentials & Postpartum recovery Kit

Packing a hospital bag helps ensure you have the essentials needed to help make your labor, delivery, and recovery more comfortable and relaxed. You can either place it all in a carry-on suitcase with wheels, or use large tote bags. Your bags should be packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice either in the car, or near the door, at least 1 month to 2 weeks before your due date should your baby come earlier than expected. 

Remember, you are only staying for a few days (~2-4 days), so you won’t need a lot. Yet, here are some essentials to consider as you prepare for one of the most memorable days of your life. 

For Mom

·      Paperwork: Insurance card, driver’s license, copy of pre-registration paperwork, birth plan, affirmation cards, books etc.

·      Make-up and Toiletries: Brush, hair ties, regular/dry shampoo, razor, toothbrush/paste, deodorant, chap stick, lotion, waterproof mascara, nail clippers, straightener/curling iron.

·      Waterproof flip flops (for showers) and Slippers (for walking around)

·      Stretchy breastfeeding friendly delivery gown and robe (one you don’t mind getting dirty, and another to change into)

·      Soft clipable nursing sports bra (with no wire, cotton)

·      Other clothes: loose shirt and sweatpants, comfy/compression socks, sweater

·      Going home outfit for Mom (i.e. long maternity dress)

 

For Dad

·      Phone/camera stand

·      Long cellphone charger

·      Portable Bluetooth speaker that is charged (With pre-chosen instrumental musical playlist for labor and delivery)

·      Entertainment: Ipad, books, wireless headphones (Things to help pass time, if labor takes a long time) 

·      Push gift idea ready for mother (i.e. flowers, chocolate, card), and/or sibling gift 

·      Healthy Snacks: Trail mix, cliff bars, Jerky, chocolate. (usually moms are unable to eat during labor)

·      Pillow, throw blanket, eye mask/earplugs

·      Clothes: Shirt and sweatpants, sweater, comfy socks (3x), slippers

·      Going home outfit for dad

 

For Baby

·      Pacifier clip

·      2-3x cute soft swaddle blankets (To take pictures in)

·      Going home newborn outfit for baby (i.e. a preemie/NB onesie, hat, mittens, socks)

·      Car seat and base already installed in the car

·      Blanket to cover car seat

·      Optional: Stuffed soft toy animal, letter board for announcement, a nice stationary you want your baby’s footprint on. Also, don't forget to schedule a date for your newborn photography (~ 7-14 days after birth). 

o   FYI: Hospitals usually provide the baby receiving blankets, white swaddle shirts, hats, diapers, butt cream, nasal aspirators, pacifiers, baby formula, breast feeding supplies etc. Request to take some home with you as well.

For Mom: Postpartum Recovery Kit (for that ~1 ½ months of bleeding and healing that take place postpartum)

·      Mesh adult diapers (~12-24x)

·      Large winged maxi pads (~20-40x)

·      Perineal ice packs (used for ~1-2wks after birth, you can also make your own DIY padsicles)

·      Pain relief (i.e ibuprofen, alcohol free witch hazel, dermoplast spray, Aloe Vera Tuck wipes)

·      Stool softeners/laxatives (i.e. Miralax, Milk of Magnesia, Colace, fiber gummies)

·      Two nipple cooling gel pads

·      Soft adjustable postpartum belly band (used for ~2-4 months after birth)

·      Optional: Inflatable donut, toilet sitz bath, a cute basket to put everything in.

o   FYI: Hospitals usually provide the mesh adult diapers, large heavy winged pads, Dermoplast, Aloe vera tucks wipes, and Peri bottles. Request to take some home with you as well.

 

 

What essentials do you have in your hospital bag and postpartum recovery kit? 

 

Photo source: www.lily-jade.com; lovelymomhood.com

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Baby Nursery Essentials

As you go through a myriad of emotions of finding out you are pregnant, shock, disbelief, excitement, finding out your due date, worrying about how things will go, then excitement again…you eventually arrive to the “nesting” phase. At this phase, you start thinking about preparing your home for your newborns arrival. Commonly, this phase kicks in around 20 weeks, which is around the time you have your ultrasound to find the sex of your baby. 

Here are some baby nursery essentials to think of having on hand as you prepare a safe nurturing space for your baby to sleep, feed, change, play, travel, and develop. 

Baby sleeps: Babies usually wake up every 2 hours, and then start sleeping through the night after ~ 4-6mo.

 

·      Crib (with waterproof mattress cover, fitted crib sheets, and Crib bumper)

o   Baby dock (with removable zipper cloth, used at 0-8mo., can also be used to help teach baby to sit on tummy)

o   Bassinet (with rollers & storage space on the bottom for changing essentials; used at ~3-4mo.)

·      Swing/rocking chair, or bouncer chair (used until ~6mo.)

·      Dimmable bedside night lamp (plug in, touch, or floor lamp)

·      Black out curtains

 

Baby Feeds: Babies usually feed every 2-3hrs for the first couple of months, and then transition to solid foods ~ 6mo when they usually start teething.

 

·      Rocking Nursery chair

o   Breast Milk Pumper (You can request to get one from your insurance/hospital)

o   Nursing pads (used at 0-3mo.)

o   All-natural Nipple cream/butter (Unscented, and free of additives, preservatives, pesticides)

·      Nursing pillow (With removable zipper cloth, can also be used to help teach baby to sit)

o   Burp cloth (Medium sized to put on shoulders to help burp baby).

·      4 Pacifiers (Avent soothie)

o   Pacifier catcher

·      Bottle (with a slow- flow nipple to help prevent overfeeding and an upset stomach)

·      High chair, or Infant chair with feeding tray (used at 6-24mo.)

o   Baby bibs

 

Baby changes and hygiene:  Babies are usually able to be toilet trained, and stop using diapers after 18 mo.

 

·      Diaper backpack/bag, or caddy (Something portable you can take in the car, and/or store under the stroller, or bassinet).

o   Diapers (newborn size needed for only the first 2 weeks)

o   Diaper rash ointment (A & D, Aquaphor)

o   Diaper pail with lid

o   Diaper bags

·      Wet wipes

·      Bath support 

o   Baby nail clippers

o   Unscented Castile liquid soap

·      Teething ring

o   Ora jel, soft finger slip tooth brush (used at 6-36 mo.)

·      First aid kit

o   Tools: Infant thermometer, medicine syringe, band aids, gauze pads/cotton balls.

o   Pain killers: Infant liquid Tylenol/Motrin, pain spray.

o   Decongestants: Bulb syringe/nasal aspirator, saline nasal drops

o   Stomach upset: Gripe Water/Simethicone baby gas drops, miralax, antidiarrheal, electrolyte powder

o   Other: Hand sanitizer, wound cleanser, antibiotic cream (Neosporin)

 

Baby Wears:  Since your baby will outgrow their clothes quickly, get 3-5 pieces per stage, and more clothes for 6m +.

 

·      Clothes 

o   5 Short sleeved onseies (plain white, or patterned, organic cotton)

o   5 Long sleeved onseies (plain white, or patterned, organic cotton)

o   5 Sleepers (with zippers and footies)

o   Footed pants

o   Hat/bonnet

o    Cotton tights

·      8-10 stretch Muslin swaddle blankets (used to wrap baby, or as a nursing cover)

·      Wardrobe dividers 

 

Baby Travels: After a couple weeks inside, you and baby will want to go outside to change things up a bit.

 

·      Stroller

·      Car seat (that can attach to the stroller as well)  

o   1 nice heavy blanket to put over car seat/stroller.

·      Baby wrap (0-24 mo) or Baby carrier (3-36mo)

 

Baby Plays & Develops: Playing is a good way to bond with your baby, and encourages healthy child development. Consider getting baskets to store the toys in a way that is accessible to the child.

 

·      Sight

o   Books (Get black & white books for 0-3mo.)

o   Brightly colored, or geometrically woven cotton rug

o   Slow moving mobile that allow you to switch out the toys

o   Mirror

·      Sound

o   Bluetooth speaker (play soothing white noise, piano music, or nursery songs)

o   Rattle

·      Smell

o   Potted lavender/Jasmine plant.

o   Baby safe essential oil

·      Taste

o   Teething ring

·      Touch

o   Play mat (with removable/interchangeable hanging toys)

o   Massage oil

o   Sheepskin rug

o   Things they can feel of different texture, color, size, and weight.

 

 

Above all... just remember, your baby will need your presence, attention, and awareness more than any of the stuff you can buy. 

What baby essentials do you find helpful? 

 

 

 

Photo source: newtonbaby.com

#pregnancy #babyessentials #babynursery #secondtrimester #Healthystrongbeautiful  #HSBvibes #HSB #thrive #optimism #lifeperspective #awareness #healthpromotion #diseaseprevention #wholistichealth #healthyliving #nurseselfcare #mentalhealth #physicalhealth #spiritualhealth #Healthandfitness #healthcoach #wellnesscoach #lifestylecoach #healthandwellness #selfcare #takingcareofyourself