Moms and Dads
Baby Hospital Bag Checklist and Tips for Expectant Parents
Expecting your first baby? Here’s a complete baby hospital bag checklist as well as tips to help you prepare for labor!
Once you hit your third trimester, one of the things you’ll need to prepare is a go-bag for the hospital. This way, when labor starts, you’re all set to get in the car and leave! If you’re not sure what to prepare or pack, here are tips and a baby hospital bag checklist to guide you.
Baby Hospital Bag Tips
When packing your hospital bag, it’s important to take into consideration the logistics. Your husband or companion will most likely have to carry everything. Therefore, try to pack both your clothes, toiletries, and other essentials in a carry-on suitcase. You can then pack important documents and your baby’s things in a backpack. Doing so makes it easy for your husband or companion to have a free hand.
Another tip is to brief your companion on where to find things. Better yet—you can make a bonding experience out of packing your hospital bag together. To make it easier and more organized, use packing cubes to separate or group together certain items.
Baby Hospital Bag Checklist
Once you’ve decided on what bags to use, use this baby hospital bag checklist to guide you on what to pack.
1. Important Documents and a Pen
Some hospitals might need you to present the following:
- marriage certificate
- your valid ID
- your husband’s valid ID
- updated PhilHealth Member Data Record (if you’re a member)
- admittance slip from your doctor
Bring both the original and photocopies just in case. Hospitals might also require you and your companion to present negative RT-PCR results. If you have a PWD ID, you’ll need to bring this together with a photocopy as well. Pregnant women with a disability are entitled to a discount! And in case you need to fill up some forms, having a pen comes in handy. You can place these together in a plastic envelope to keep them secure.
2. Yours and Your Companion’s Clothes and Items
Make sure to pack enough clothes for five days—in case of cesarean delivery. But if you give birth via normal spontaneous delivery, you’ll most likely only stay a night or two. Still, better to be safe and over-pack.
Don’t forget to bring comfortable and nursing-friendly pajamas—if you plan to breastfeed. Moreover, bring slippers, a towel, underwear, toiletries, an extra blanket, and KN95 masks.
3. Sanitary Napkin Panties
If you give birth vaginally, expect your uterus to bleed for the next few days. To avoid staining your bed or clothes, it’s best to wear sanitary napkin pants. You’ll need to change this often so pack a lot!
4. Electronics and an Extension Cord
Aside from your phone and its charger, it’s helpful to bring a power bank and an extension cord. You can plug in multiple devices at once and won’t need to worry about the limited number of sockets.
5. Baby’s Clothes and Things
Because of the pandemic, newborn babies are usually roomed in with their mothers as soon as they give birth. From the delivery room, they’re both brought together to the recovery room. And from there, to the hospital room. So be sure to pack a week’s worth of newborn clothes for your baby as well—in case you’ll need to stay in the hospital for more than two nights.
There are many brands that offer sets of newborn clothes already. These include tie-side shirts, pajamas, mittens, booties, and bonnets. Since it tends to get cold in the hospital, we suggest bringing long-sleeved tie-side shirts. You can also pack a few swaddles, washcloths, and a bath towel. A nurse will be visiting your room daily to give your little one a bath.
Moreover, most hospitals provide a newborn care kit for you to use right away. The kits usually contain a pack of diapers, alcohol, a kidney basin, a nasal aspirator, a pack of cotton, and a bottle of baby wash. But if you prefer to use your own, go ahead!
Other Items You Can Include in Your Hospital Bag Checklist
Apart from the ones listed above, you might also want to bring your own bottle of disinfectant spray, toilet paper, and wipes. Some bring their own portable air purifier as well—for added protection. Additionally, it helps to have your own snacks and an insulated water tumbler—for moments you get hungry or thirsty and the hospital food hasn’t been delivered yet.
Keep Calm and Don’t Panic
On the day of your labor, there’s no need to panic. As long as you’ve packed everything from your hospital bag checklist, all you need to worry about is the safe delivery of your baby!
Liked this story? Find related ones here:
Best Places To Give Birth in NCR+
5 Celebrity Moms Who Opted for Water Birth
6 Celebrity Parents Who Experienced Premature Birth
