Your Pregnancy Hospital Checklist

Organising your hospital bag ready for your birth date is a task that can never be done too far in advance and organising your hospital bag makes the experience that little bit more exciting.

Having all the essentials in place ready for when the time comes is vital, as you are prepared and ready, without having to worry about your belongings.

In this article, Cheeky Wipes are here to provide you with a holy-grail checklist that can work hand in hand for your hospital bag preparations.

Preparation

Certain hospitals may have policies in place about what you can bring in, but many are more than happy for you to bring in everything you need for your newborn to be, and items that will help you feel more comfortable in the new environment you are going into.

If you have any questions or concerns about what you can and cannot take in, then simply ask. The staff are there to answer any questions you have, no matter how big or small they may be.

When preparing your hospital bag, you may also want to consider more than one. You may have thought from the get go that one bag will do the job, but for further organisation, having one for yourself and the labour process, and another for when your baby is born can help avoid any confusion and stress when reaching out for your essentials.

Plus, if you have a bag prepared for your newborn, it is likely that you can keep that ready in the postnatal ward and have everything you need ready for your precious baby and for yourself too.

Now, let’s take a look at some essentials you may want to take.

Home Comforts

Leaving your home and steering away from the comforts that helped you through the pregnancy process should not be left behind during the labour process.

Whether you have certain pillows, clothing or items that help comfort you, you should make sure to add them into your hospital bag, especially if you know it is going to help you feel more comfortable in the new environment you are visiting.

Clothing

In terms of clothing, it is ideal that you take items that are comfortable and breathable. Oversized options, especially t-shirts are a fantastic choice as they won’t make you feel restricted or uncomfortable.

Hospitals can also be very warm, so having lightweight clothing options at hand is a must, to ensure you won’t overheat and feel overwhelmed if the temperatures were to be on a higher scale.

Pass Time Saviours

If you are facing a long labour, having items at hand that can help you to relax and consume your mind can help the process. Magazines, books and even electronic devices in this instance are ideal choices to help keep your mind occupied.

Also having snacks, and plenty of drinks is incredibly important. Having the essentials already at hand means that not only will your birthing partner not only have to leave to find the closest convenience shop, but you have all the items you want to have, already there and ready.

When choosing your food and drinks, having carbohydrate based items is a great idea, as they are slow energy releasers and help to maintain your energy levels as they will obviously decrease as time goes on. Consider foods such as cereal bars and fruits, alongside water to ensure you are effectively hydrated.

Birth Ball

A more common holy-grail item, birth balls are a fantastic option to help you move around and manage the pain of the contractions with the free movement you can make. Many hospitals do provide birth balls, so ensure to ask beforehand to save the stress of bringing the birth ball and pump in with you if it is not required.

Kits

Here at Cheeky Wipes, we provide a range of useful kits for parents, including our 4th Trimester set, which is specifically designed to either use as your hospital bag, or as an addition.

If you are looking to use eco-friendly products for your newborn from the very beginning, then this specific kit provides everything you need for both yourself and your baby after the labour process and beyond.

From wash bags and reusable wipes, to high quality material reusable breast pads and maternity pads, having set items at hand can help make the initial purchase process even simpler. Which is a must for any parent to be.

After Birth

Like we have just touched upon, there are vital items you need to have in your hospital bag for after the birth, including –

Breast pads – Even if you are not going to breastfeed, you will still produce milk, so having them at hand is a must.
Maternity pads – Maternity pads are important, reusable options vary in terms of what you prefer, including reusable pads and period pants, which may be better options in terms of comfort, rather than disposable options.

Toiletries – Feeling yourself again after the labour is important, make sure to pop in some travel size toiletries for yourself, but also have items at hand for your baby.
Items for your baby – This is something many parents will have planned months in advance, the moment you can first dress your baby. Having an all in one outfit is perfect, especially one with material that is soft and stretches with socks and perhaps a hat. Alongside baby blankets, nappies and muslin squares for feeds. Also, be prepared about transport and ensure you have a baby car seat ready and strapped in for your newborn.

Preparing for your newborn is one of the most treasured moments in anyone’s life. Having everything in place to save the worries on the special day is vital.

Make sure you take the time to organise your hospital bag, and as time goes on adding/removing will work hand in hand to ensure you have everything you need.