Bringing a new life into the world is an exhilarating experience, but it requires careful preparation, especially when it comes to packing your hospital bag. Among the essentials, your diaper bag plays a crucial role in ensuring you have everything you need during labor and postpartum recovery. But what else could you need.....
Learn the two items I now tell
my honeys to throw in the diaper bag that is clutch for delivery.
Having attended over 60+ births I know a thing or two about preparing for your hospital stay. One question I get often is what should I bring to the hospital?? Sure, we recommend the usuals --> clothes and snacks but if you're hiring me we are more than like planning for the most positive birth experience with an introduction to breastfeeding.
Two items I've noticed that are needed but not necessarily at the top of the list to help new honeys enter the postpartum smoother.
Keep scrolling to find my two must haves for birth anywhere and postpartum.
Here is a handy but thorough checklist to help you pack your diaper bag with all the necessities for labor.
Bookmark this one honey!!
1. Medical Documents:
Don’t forget to pack your health insurance information, photo ID, and any necessary hospital paperwork. Having these documents readily accessible will streamline the admission process.
2. Comfortable Clothing:
Pack loose, comfortable clothing for both you and your partner. Consider items like a nursing bra, pajamas, socks, and TWO robes for easy mobility, access to the breasts for nursing and comfort during labor and recovery. Why two robes? One to labor and birth in and one to rest and lounge if the first is stained. Laboring in your own clothing does wonders for your psyche during labor than in a hospital gown.
3. Toiletries: Include travel-sized toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and facial wipes for refreshing yourself during and after labor.
4. Snacks and Drinks: Labor can be physically demanding, so pack nutritious snacks like energy bars, nuts, and dried fruits to keep your energy levels up. Don’t forget to include bottled water or a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated.
Keep reading, honey!!!
5. Entertainment: Labor can be long and tedious, so bring items to help pass the time. Consider packing books, magazines, a tablet with pre-downloaded movies or shows, or a playlist of soothing music to help create a calming atmosphere. Bring affirmations to keep you focused on your birth preferences if having an unmedicated vaginal delivery.
6. Comfort Items: Bring items that provide comfort and relaxation, such as a favorite pillow (also in case of or an elective cesarean, a pillow will help for abdominal pressure such as sneezing, coughing or even the car ride home honey), handheld fans, essential oils for aromatherapy, or a stress-relief ball to squeeze during contractions.
7. Labor Support Tools: Hiring a doula will
most likely come with the support provided listed here. If not, utilizing birthing aids like a birthing/peanut ball, labor combs, handheld fans, aromatherapy, massagers, or TENS machine, make sure to include them in your diaper bag.
8. Electronics and Chargers: Don’t forget to pack your phone and its charger, as well as a camera or smartphone for capturing those precious first moments with your newborn.
As a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and Lamaze trained Childbirth Educator, healthy practices come first. My services guarantee the support you're not thinking about but useful in the moment. I'm promoting the natural progession of labor and that includes breastfeeding initiation within the first hours of birth, The Golden Hours.
These two things do just THAT! Check out more items for your postpartum journey here.
9. Postpartum Care Items: Include items for postpartum care such as maternity pads, nursing pads, nipple cream, lip balm, and comfortable underwear. These essentials are also provided by the hospital as well so there's no need to bring these items to the hospital if you don't want to. This will help you feel more comfortable during the early days of recovery.
GIFT POSTPARTUM SUPPORT!!
10. Babee Essentials: Now honey, the hospital will provide all of the items listed because your insurance provider has paid for these items. Ise the hospital postpartum supplies and leave yours at home. Trust me you'll need as much you can!! Ask the nurses for extra items if needed. You can bring essentials for your newborn such as diapers, wipes, babee clothes, burp cloths, and a hat (no hats when nursing though honey) Ensure that the babee's going-home outfit is packed and ready to go. DONT FORGET TO BRING THE DIAPER BAG TOO to place all of the items you've collected at the hospital or you have to make stops to pick up medication or food, you may have to change the babee in the car or nurse before you reach home.
11. Car Seat: While not technically fitting in the diaper bag, ensure you have a properly installed car seat ready for your newborn’s journey home.
Remember to customize your diaper bag checklist based on your personal preferences and needs. Labor and delivery can be unpredictable, so having everything prepared in advance will help alleviate stress and allow you to focus on the beautiful moment of welcoming your new bundle of joy into the world.
AND NOW WHAT ARE MY TWO SUGGESTIONS:
#1 The Honey Blossom Kit
12. Wearable Pumps: I have witnessed honeys go from active to pushing with an oxytocin boost and nipple stimulation in hours essentially beating an induction with pitocin. If honeys are more modest and don't want partner help or use of their hands throwing those wearable pumps in for 10-15 minutes every 3 hours or so in your bra while in early labor helps to ripen the cervix and process labor if it stalls. Under the right circumstances of movement, optimal fetal positioning and an environment that promotes an increase in birth hormones, two sessions will usually get labor going.
13. Electric Toothbrush/ Massagers: Vibration can provide clitoral stimulation and pain relief. Stimulation ending in an orgasm has been proven to aid in the progression of labor and pain reduction as well because of the increase of the birth hormone oxytocin. Placing a clean electric toothbrush or massager inside of a sterile latex glove and applying light but gentle pressure to the clitoris will facilitate an orgasm which will increase oxytocin.
#2 Babee Wraps
14. Babee Fabric Wrap: Keeping a healthy and exclusively breastfed babee close is the goal after delivery for breasteeding initiation within the Golden Hours but what about afterwards?? Ditch the swaddles which keeps babees too comfortable and warm. This can decrease the frequency of feeds which leads to decreased nipple stimulation and a slower start to the next phase of milk transitioning from Colostrum. A stretchy fabric wrap can be worn immediately after birth no matter babee's weight because of the support unlike carriers that require a certain weight. Wraps facilitate a hands free bonding experience while promoting milk transitioning and oxytocin production which is great for healing too . Healthy moms and babees can utilize this wrap while awake in bed. Partners receive benefits from babee wearing too when honey is resting or eating.
Also, can we keep it 100 because we grown honey, we use what God gave us. Using your clean hand or your partner's hand works just the same for nipple and clitoral stimulation. I'm going for a coffee break!! BRB in 30, honey!!
Join us for prenatal classes FIRST, every month, honey!!!. If you're interested in doula or lactation services, I'd love to chat here or if you're ready to birth better to breastfeed better.....book me, honey!!
Did I miss anything? What made your hospital stay more comfortable? Comment below, honey!!
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