How I prepared to become a mother. List of things to take to the maternity hospital

• Date December 05, 2014
• Author Ekaterina
• Category Pregnancy and childbirth

Waiting for a child is an unforgettable time, and preparing for its arrival is a pleasant and entertaining experience. Many mothers, having just learned about pregnancy, cannot resist shopping for the baby in their tummy. Little by little, such things accumulate, and now everything indicates that a new family member should soon appear in the house.

Every woman carrying a child, of course, worries about the upcoming birth. A calming moment is packing things for the maternity hospital; you want maximum comfort and convenience. You can start collecting bags for the maternity hospital after approximately 32-34 weeks, when you already have all the necessary documents on hand. And the possibility of premature birth cannot be ruled out; it would be better if all things were prepared in advance. You should not rely on your husband and relatives to collect the items you need; in a hurry and from stress, your loved ones may give you something completely wrong. There were cases when husbands forgot to bring trousers to their wives at discharge, or grabbed the first things they came across that the woman could not fit into.

Here you will find an approximate list of things that you need to take to the maternity hospital.

Top 4 questions about the maternity hospital bag

1. At what week of pregnancy should you pack your bag? Already from the 32nd week you can start preparing. Especially if you are expecting twins or there is a risk of premature birth. It is better if everything is collected in advance;
2. How many packages are needed? You will need 3 bags to the maternity hospital - for the woman for childbirth, for the child for childbirth and for discharge;
3. What kind of bag should a mother and baby take to the maternity hospital? Transparent bags are recommended. All things are visible in them, and therefore it will be easier for you and the staff to find what you need. If you need something in an emergency, you won't have to rummage through the bag to find it - everything is visible in transparent bags. Additionally, you can sign for whom each of them is intended;
4. When are packages needed? To the pathology of pregnancy, to the antenatal and maternity wards - you take everything with you. Later, relatives will deliver the rest of the packages: to the postpartum department - on the baby’s birthday, and elegant things for discharge - in the morning on the day of discharge. Of course, you can take all the bags when checking out if it makes you feel better.

Boutiques offer ready-made solutions for expectant mothers and children—maternity bags for the maternity hospital. They already contain accessories for women and newborns. This is convenient, but we still recommend collecting everything yourself according to the list that your maternity hospital will give you.

Firstly, you will buy children's things to suit your taste. After all, what could be more pleasant?!

Secondly, the lists of necessary things in each maternity hospital are different. Therefore, it is likely that you will then have to purchase the missing positions.

Thirdly, preparing a bag for pregnant women in the maternity hospital yourself will cost less.

Tips for assembling things

All maternity hospitals have their own lists of recommended items, and they differ. You can easily go to the website of the selected maternity hospital, or call there, go there in person, or ask friends who gave birth there - what is needed and what is not. Because some places are very strict about what you bring with you. They even check the packages, and if you brought something not from the list, it can be sent to a storage room or given to your relatives.

And in general, do not take a lot of things with you to the maternity hospital . Because everything you need will be brought by your relatives or your husband the very next day. And many girls go to give birth with a hairdryer, cosmetics bag, breast pump and a bunch of bags. You are not going abroad. You are always within walking distance of your relatives.

Don't take a lot of unnecessary things with you to the hospital. Make a list of what you need and what you shouldn't take.

We advise you, after you make a list for the maternity hospital, not to immediately run with this list to the nearest store to buy everything at once. Better go shopping and take a closer look . Because prices for diapers, baby diapers, and postpartum pads vary greatly, depending on the store. And this way you can save a lot, because these things are approximately the same and disposable.

And the last piece of advice we want to give you before we move on directly to the list of things is to make lists on pieces of paper of what you have specifically in each package.

Firstly, using this list, you can easily add into the required package those things that are reported immediately before childbirth, and not two or three weeks before, for example, water, cookies or flip-flops, which you now wear for an examination with a gynecologist , and you still need them.

Secondly, when you come to the maternity hospital, in this turmoil you need to look at whether they took it or not. It will be inconvenient to rummage through the entire package. And so you have a list, and everything is before your eyes .

Packing your bag for the maternity hospital

The first thing you need to put in it is documents. Their list depends on the clinic where you will give birth, whether you are planning a partner birth or not, and other factors. Therefore, check the list of documents at your clinic.

We provide a list of documents that are needed in any maternity hospital:

1. Exchange card. You have not parted with this document for 9 months. It records all the information about your health and pregnancy: test results and ultrasound, the dynamics of fetal development, the nature of the pregnancy and other important parameters. It indicates whether you have drug intolerance, whether there are contraindications and health risks, whether there are indications for a cesarean section;
2. Passport + photocopy;
3. Insurance policy. Some clinics also require insurance SNILS;
4. Birth certificate. When it is not there, prepare a pension fund insurance certificate;
5. Agreement with a doctor - if you have a contractual birth;
6. Fluorography of the husband - in case of partner childbirth.

If you are registered as a pregnancy pathologist, you will need a referral from the consultation where you were observed.

First package to the delivery room

Let's move directly to the packages. You already know that you need to take bags to the maternity hospital, not sports bags, not fabric bags, etc. – just regular big bags.

The first package is the package that you will take with you to the delivery room.

The first and most important thing you should take with you is documents (passport, policy, SNILS, exchange card, birth certificate, and all other examinations: ultrasound, CTG, or whatever you went through there, if suddenly they are not pasted into the exchange card ).

Arriving at the maternity hospital, you change into a government shirt. We do not recommend taking your own shirt to the birth, as it will get thoroughly dirty. It is very comfortable to be in their shirts at that moment.

You will need 2 bags with you, in one of which you will put the clothes you arrived in and the second with your shoes. You will put all this in a storage room, or give it to your relatives or husband .

Take care of comfortable slippers in which you will spend most of the time in the room

You will need rubber slippers for your feet. It is better to take classic ones, not flip-flops, because in the maternity hospital you will mostly be in socks, and this will not be comfortable.

You may need some clean socks to change clothes.

And put two small bags here. One of them contains disposable diapers 10 pcs., 60x90 cm and 5 pcs. 60x60 cm. They may be on the list of the maternity hospital where you are going to go to give birth, but not all maternity hospitals require them, because they can give out their own diapers.

The second bag contains 2 bottles of still water . You really want to drink during childbirth, but you are not allowed to drink much. You have to drink in small sips. If you will not be at the birth with your husband, then protect yourself and take small bottles so that it is convenient for you to take them with one hand. The dispenser on the neck will allow you to operate it with one hand if you have a dropper or are lying down with CTG. This will be very convenient, so pay attention to it.

There is one secret. If you are really thirsty and your throat is dry, you just need to press your tongue on the gums above your upper teeth, and then salivation will increase and you will stop feeling so thirsty. Use this technique during labor.

And this little bag also contains a hair tie and a phone charger.

The list of a particular maternity hospital may also include the first clothes for your baby. There is one diaper, a hat and socks. Although this may not be necessary in your maternity hospital.

You won't need anything else for the birth room. We're done with the first package.

Maternity hospital bag: list for the maternity ward

In the delivery bag you can put only the most necessary things for mother and baby.

Here's a list for mom:

• mineral still water - 2 bottles of 750 ml;
• rubber slippers - and only those. These are the requirements of sanitary standards of maternity hospitals;
• paper towels or napkins, toilet paper;
• compression stockings - as indicated by a phlebologist and for caesarean section;
• mobile phone and charger.

If you are giving birth with your husband, he also needs to take rubber slippers and a change of clothes with him.

For your newborn baby, pack the things he will need in the first minutes after birth. This is what the contents of a maternity hospital bag should contain for a baby if he was born in the spring or summer: a diaper, socks, a cap, a cotton or flannelette diaper. Immediately after birth, these things will be put on the baby.

A bag with things you will need after childbirth

Some of the things you will need after childbirth will partially coincide with what you took with you to the delivery room, but some things will have to be reported.

So, feel free to put in your bag:

- money (you can’t live without it in the maternity hospital).

— charger for your mobile phone: you will have to call often, and many will want to congratulate you and ask about the baby, so be prepared that your phone will need to be charged.

— camera: if you want to take the first photos of your baby, then you can’t do without a camera (if you have a smartphone with a good camera, then you don’t need to take an additional camera).

- clothes: panties, 2 pairs of socks, a pair of bras (preferably special ones for nursing mothers - they are much more convenient to feed the baby), pajamas, a robe or comfortable sportswear made of natural fabrics (remember, it is better not to contact the baby’s delicate skin with synthetics), clothes for discharge (your husband can bring it on the day of discharge).

— personal hygiene items: a lot of postpartum pads, toothbrush and paste, soap, intimate hygiene gel, shampoo, wipes (wet and regular), bra pads (save from leaking milk), toilet paper, washcloth, deodorant.

- dishes (preferably unbreakable): cup, plate, spoon, fork, knife.

- comb and elastic bands.

- breast pump (optional, but it can greatly facilitate pumping the breast during the first milk).

- medicines: Bepapten cream or its analogue (for cracked nipples and diaper rash due to diapers), suppositories with glycerin (will save you from constipation, which often happens after childbirth), face cream, elastic bandage, iodine, antiseptic , medications that you should take on the advice of your doctor.

— postpartum bandage (if you plan to wear it for faster abdominal subsidence and better contraction of the uterus).

— cosmetics for discharge.

— bed linen (if you don’t want to sleep on the linen that will be given to you at the maternity hospital).

- a pillow for feeding the baby (this may be the pillow that you used to support your stomach while sleeping in the last stages of pregnancy).

- basic food and snacks: in the maternity hospital they usually provide food, but often there is not enough food, so your husband and other relatives can regularly bring you something tasty. You will also need healthy snacks, especially when you do not have enough time to eat properly.

Just remember that nursing mothers should not eat everything - food should be healthy, anti-allergenic and not cause bloating in the baby.

Maternity hospital bag for mom: postpartum ward

Don't take a lot of things with you. In the first days after the baby is born, you will not need much:

1. Nightgown with a deep neckline for comfortable feeding of the baby. Silk negligees or sexy nighties with lots of ruffles and rhinestones are not the most suitable options for a new mother. It is better to take a simple cotton nightie with loose-fitting ties;
2. Socks. After the birth of a baby, some mothers have cold feet even in the warm season;
3. Robe. In it you will be more comfortable going to the children's department, the cafeteria or for a postpartum ultrasound;
4. Disposable panties. You will need 2 - 3 of them per day. They can also be replaced with regular cotton panties. They should be very high and not squeeze the body, 2 pieces are enough;
5. Comb. And if you have long hair, then an elastic band. When you are caring for your baby, your hair should be pulled back into a ponytail;
6. Sanitary napkin. Nightly 6 drops are suitable. Take 2 – 3 packs;
7. Inserts for lactation. They protect the laundry from leaking when the milk comes in;
8. Nursing bra. It supports the chest well, but does not squeeze it. Made from cotton. It has fasteners on the straps or between the cups, which can be quickly unfastened and fed to the baby;
9. Bandage. If you gave birth on your own, you will need a postpartum bandage. After a caesarean section, it is better to purchase a post-operative one. It will support the abdomen and sutures, reduce pain;
10. Cream. You can take a special one for nipples like Purelan, or you can use a regular baby cream - it will suit both mother and newborn.

You will still have hygiene items and hair accessories from your last bag.

If you don't want to use hospital linens and towels, include those too. Please check in advance: your maternity hospital may not issue them. The same applies to dishes: if you don’t want to use someone else’s, take your own.

What to put in your baby's maternity hospital bag

In the postpartum ward, the newborn will need clothing, hygiene and baby care products.

Diapers for newborns: you will need 5 – 6 diapers per day. For babies weighing up to 2.5 kg, size 0 is suitable, for babies weighing from 2.5 to 5 kg - size 1. Be guided by the weight that you were told at the last ultrasound.

Baby care products: diaper cream, unscented wet wipes, baby soap or washing gel.

Diapers. Cotton and flannelette. Just in case, you can put a blanket (fleece, terry).

Clothes: in some clinics, children are given clothes, but it is more pleasant to put them together yourself. You will need: socks, hats with ties, “men” or bodysuits with pants, “scratchies”. Take 2 - 3 pieces of each unit.

Choose blouses and overalls that fasten with buttons rather than being pulled over your head. Clothes for babies should be made of cotton, have external seams and soft wide elastic bands. Look at the photos for examples of ideal first clothes.

In addition to children's clothes and accessories, the list of necessary items in the bag may also include medications, for example, antibacterial eye drops. That is why it is important to familiarize yourself with the list of your maternity hospital before packing your and your children’s belongings.

You can bring the bag to the maternity hospital for the baby along with the rest of the packages at checkout, or you can bring it to your family immediately after the baby is born. You need to collect the package in advance.

Baby package

Now let's move on to things for the baby. Not all maternity hospitals welcome imported things. Many offer their own diapers. They even prohibit, for example, diapers. Therefore, check this point with the specific maternity hospital you have chosen. And if things for the baby are on the mandatory list, prepare them with you.

You can always add warmer things to the list, depending on the season

Take 2 flannel diapers. It would be enough. You will place one in the box, and the other can be used as a towel after washing the baby . Take a light blanket; it will be comfortable to cover your baby while he sleeps.

Do not bring the first baby diapers marked new born in a whole package, as your husband will be able to deliver it to you later. Take several pieces so as not to stuff it and not make this bag even more bulky.

It was mentioned above about baby soap with a dispenser. Use it to wash your baby. Take a pack of baby wipes .

Clothes for a baby in the maternity hospital: 2 undershirts, 2 rompers, 2 hats, 2 pairs of socks with a weak elastic band. Even if you are discharged on the fifth day, this will be more than enough for you.

Take the simplest pacifier with you, latex, for newborns, from the nearest pharmacy.

We advise you to prepare clothes for discharge in advance for you and your baby. Hang it in a visible place on a hanger, or package it somehow. Because, as a rule, your husband will collect and bring all this, and he may forget something.

Please note that after giving birth, your tummy will not immediately disappear, so it is better to prepare clothes for discharge that are loose-fitting, or the ones you wore during pregnancy. This way you will be as comfortable as possible.