Such an important aspect as a maternity hospital bag is nothas been losing its relevance ever since the first maternity hospitals appeared. Although, frankly speaking, it was much easier for our mothers to decide on a list of things they would need in the maternity hospital. Firstly, in the past, they weren’t allowed to take anything from home to the maternity hospital, with the exception, perhaps, of a toothbrush – the hospital supplied young mothers with everything they needed. And secondly, there was no such assortment in the stores, so the problem of choice simply didn’t arise. It’s a different story now – in any children’s store, your eyes simply run wild. You want everything at once. And happy parents, forgetting about everything else in the world, start buying up everything they come across. And they start, of course, with those things that a woman and a child will need in the maternity hospital. But if the parents don’t know exactly what to buy, they can buy a lot of extra stuff without buying the most necessary things. That’s why, if you’ve decided “That’s it, it’s time!” Packing a bag for the maternity hospital", wait a bit and do not rush straight to the shops. Otherwise, the bag for the maternity hospital will turn into a huge suitcase, half of which is absolutely unnecessary. To pack a bag correctly, think everything through. Calmly make a list of the necessary things that both you and the baby may need. And we will try to help you in this difficult task. The first thing you need to find out is whether the maternity hospital where you are going to meet your baby requires you to bring any things. As a rule, this happens if a woman gives birth in an ordinary maternity hospital, and not a private clinic. Do you need anything? Great. Still, will you have to buy something? Also not a problem - take a list and buy everything you need, in strict accordance with the list. After you do this, pack everything you need in a separate bag - this will help you avoid a feverish search for the required things in all the bags. Next, you will need a list of what you and your baby will need. And we will begin the story, of course, with what a mother might need.
Clothes for mom
So, you're going to the maternity hospital.And the first thing you need to do is take care of your clothes. You will be most comfortable in a nightgown and a loose robe. Some mothers prefer to take a tracksuit to the maternity hospital. However, most often they are disappointed and on the very first day they ask their household members to bring the same robe. All this can be explained very simply - in the maternity hospital, doctors very often examine women. And in a robe it is much more comfortable than in a tracksuit. Next, you should take care of slippers. Of course, soft and cozy house slippers look extremely attractive. However, do not forget that no matter how wonderful the maternity hospital is, it is still a medical institution. Therefore, you should not forget about the need to comply with sanitary standards - slippers must be bought washable. And, by the way, such shoes are a mandatory requirement of most maternity hospitals. Ideally, it would be better to take two pairs of slippers - one for the shower. Do not write off fungus - it is very insidious and with a high degree of probability will lie in wait for careless young mothers in the shower stall. You do not want to darken such an important stage of your life as the birth of a child with a banal unpleasant fungus, do you? Do not forget about underwear. In the event that you are admitted to the maternity hospital a little earlier than the expected date of birth, you need to take with you several pairs of clean underwear. Well, in the event that you go to the maternity hospital already in contractions, be sure to take with you several packs of disposable postpartum panties - you will certainly appreciate this invention of mankind. As a rule, wearing ordinary underwear after childbirth is not practiced in most maternity hospitals. However, doctors usually do not protest against disposable underwear. Do not forget about socks either. Be sure to take with you several pairs, both cotton and warmer. And regardless of the time of year. It may well be that you will not need them at all. However, it is better to let them lie idle in your bag than to freeze. Be sure to buy a special bra for nursing women. It is much more convenient for feeding the baby and pumping than an ordinary one. If for some reason you cannot buy one, choose the simplest cotton bra, with as few seams as possible. And one more important point when choosing clothes that must be taken into account. After giving birth, you will inevitably have bleeding. And milk leakage can be very annoying for a young mother. And it is possible that the clothes may be hopelessly ruined. Therefore, experienced mothers do not recommend buying overly expensive things especially for the maternity hospital.
Personal hygiene products for mom
So, with clothes everything is more or less clear.It's time to take care of personal hygiene products. Be sure to approach this issue carefully - very often, already in the maternity hospital, a woman discovers that she has forgotten something. We offer you an approximate list that you can adjust to your own needs:
- Toothpaste and brush
- Hairbrush and elastic bands or hair clips if you have long hair
With your hair down you will look extremelyuncomfortable. When choosing hair bands and hairpins, remember that you will have to spend a lot of time lying down. This means that the hair bands should be soft enough.
- Familiar cosmetic means
Put in your cosmetic bag those products that you are used to using daily. But please note that it is highly undesirable to take to the maternity hospital those products that have a strong, pungent smell.
- Shampoo and balm for hair
- Wet wipes
Wet wipes are an extremely convenient thing.Therefore, even if you do not use them in everyday life, it is worth taking a pack to the maternity hospital. It is preferable to buy wipes without fragrances.
- Postpartum Pads
Until recently, in almost all maternity hospitalsdoctors forbade women to use sanitary pads after childbirth. Fortunately, the situation has changed today. Therefore, buy either special postpartum pads or regular ones for night use, which have high absorbency. And do not skimp on them - buy 3-4 packs.
- Cotton swabs
- Breast Pads
- Two towels - one bath, the other - for hands
Women often simply use such padsneglected. And very much in vain - when on the second or third day your milk appears, you will be able to appreciate them. Such pads not only protect you from milk leakage and stains, but also from injury to the nipples on the fabric of the bra.
- Shaver
Moreover, it is worth taking it even if you have carried out all the necessary procedures at home. Hair grows extremely quickly, and literally in 2-3 days you will need it again.
- Laxative candles with glycerin
Constipation is a problem that people face.most women in the first days after the baby is born. Of course, it is not a fact that you will also face this problem. But it is wiser to play it safe and buy laxative suppositories. You can buy them at any pharmacy, without a doctor's prescription.
- Breast Pump and Nipple Cream
Breastfeeding is the best thing for your baby.However, in the first days after the milk appears, a woman may experience significant discomfort - breast engorgement, cracked nipples. Therefore, be sure to take a breast pump, breast pads and some kind of healing cream for nipples with you to the maternity hospital. Although it can be replaced with regular sea buckthorn oil. In the event that the expectant mother has inverted nipples, she will not be hindered by nursing pads.
Other things for mom
In addition to personal hygiene products, a woman in the maternity hospital may need the following items:
- Mobile phone
Don't forget to take your mobile phone in a hurry andcharger for it. It would be a shame if the battery died at the most inopportune moment. By the way - if you plan to take a laptop with you, also make sure to put the charger.
- Camera
Fortunately, today there is a camerain almost every family. Be sure to take it with you to the maternity hospital - you will be able to immortalize the first minutes, hours and days of your baby's life. And again - do not forget the charger.
- Money
As a rule, money is not needed in the maternity hospital, but it is still necessary to have a certain amount of money on you. Just in case. No one knows when they might be needed.
- Dishes
Don't forget about the dishes - take a cup, spoon and plate with you.
- Documentation
Be sure to put these in your bagimportant documents such as a passport, a maternity exchange card, a medical insurance policy and a birth certificate. Of course, the absence of these documents cannot be a reason for refusing to admit you to the maternity hospital during contractions. However, it is much wiser to check for the presence of documents, thereby making your life easier.
What will the baby need?
Have you prepared everything you will need in the maternity hospital? Then it's time to make sure you have everything you need for the baby too.
- Clothes for baby
Be sure to check in advance what is allowed.bring from home in a specific maternity hospital, and whether babies are swaddled or are immediately allowed to put on rompers and pants. In the event that babies are swaddled in the maternity hospital, as a rule, diapers are given to young mothers. But still, take with you at least a dozen, depending on the time of year - warm or thin. Well, and in the event that clothes are allowed, you need to buy 10 blouses and 10 rompers. And this is taking into account that you will use disposable diapers. Otherwise, the amount of clothes increases significantly. It is very unpleasant when clothes suddenly run out.
- Hygiene products
Therefore, it is much more reasonable to buy disposable ones.diapers. You shouldn't buy a large pack, but a small one may not be enough either. So buy a medium pack - you should have about 60 diapers in stock. Along with the diapers, buy a pack of wet wipes intended for the smallest children. Of course, they won't notice the water, but they can make mom's life much easier.
- Nightlight
Be sure to include in your list of necessary thingsa small night light. As a rule, only bright light is provided in a hospital room. And your baby will probably wake up during the night. And when bright light hits the eyes, the baby will be restless. And this is where a dim night light comes in handy, which will not create discomfort for either mother or baby.
Time to go home!
The first few days of your baby's life will fly byquite quickly. And you will need things for the discharge - both for the mother and for the baby. All this must be prepared in advance so that the happy father does not mix anything up. However, like everything else. Very often women ask the question about at what stage to pack a bag. Someone starts doing this very early, and someone puts it off for later, thinking "I'll have time, I'll pack it." Experienced mothers advise preparing everything you need around the 36th week. Bags should be in a visible place so as not to waste time searching in a hurry.
