Heading to the hospital soon to deliver your baby? We want to make sure you plan ahead and have your baby bag prepped before you go into labour, so we asked guest expert Dr. Marjorie Dixon to give us a list of what to bring with you to the hospital, from the more obvious and necessary, to the extra items that will help make your experience more comfortable and enjoyable. Here are Marjorie’s suggestions:
-
iPod stand and iPod stocked with happy tunes/relaxation music
-
Housecoat with slippers for pacing the hall
-
Nursing bra
-
Small makeup kit and brush
-
Smellies for the room (not candles but potpourri/room vaporizer/plug in)
-
Digital camera with new memory card and fully-charged batteries
-
Cord blood kit and instructions for the MD
-
Lollipops and/or freezies
-
Super-sized pads
-
List of emails to send first pics (if you leave this until the last minute, you’ll forget people)
-
Newborn diapers
-
Carseat for newborn
-
Body pillow for labor
-
Nursing pillow
-
Newborn “take home” outfit
-
Cell phone charger
-
OHIP card/any documentation that your health care provider has given you
-
Birth plan (grain of salt)
-
Something to read/iPad (especially if you’re being induced)
-
Glasses (if you’re a contact lens wearer)
-
Comforting object (sometimes helps to focus in labor)
-
“Gifts” for big brother or sister “from” the baby (so that they don’t feel so left out)
What was on your must-have list when you went to the hospital to deliver, or what are you definitely going to bring with you when you go into labor? Tell us in the comments!