Hospital Bag: What is Really Essential?

From about 28 weeks into your pregnancy, you should be starting to gather essential things to bring with you to the hospital for the delivery, with the aim of having your hospital bags ideally packed and ready to go by 36 weeks. Furthermore, packing your hospital bags in advance gives you more time to repack, and pack again, as your desires or health change. Wondering what should be packed in your hospital bag and what shouldn’t be packed? Wondering how to start packing your hospital bag? Worrying about not to forget something essential? Feeling anxious and nervous? Then, glance through the information in this article while sitting and sipping your hot dark chocolate with sliced almonds and note down in your notebook what is important for you to pack in your bag.

[1] Paperwork: the documents you should have with you for the hospital birth

It is vital to have all the necessary documents and other papers with conclusive information about your pregnancy if you are planning a hospital birth. It is recommended that pre–registration forms and other paperwork for labor and delivery should be completed at least four weeks prior to your due date. During the last trimester of your pregnancy, contact the responsible for hospital registration person at your hospital or birth center and ask this person to explain which documents you should have with you and which pre–registration papers you should fill out. Ask about the terms you should bring the documents to the hospital. If it is complicated for you to fill in pre–registration forms and the other consent forms, ask the responsible person about the examples to glance through and to fill in the correct information. It should be noted that many hospitals and birth centers offer the documents online where they can be printed and mailed, or faxed in. Every time you fill in the pre–registration forms or other documents, make yourself their copies. The copies may be essential if something would be lost at the hospital. The completed forms can be given to your doctor or midwife during a clinic visit. If you prefer online versions of documents and your hospital admit these versions, you may fill in online forms, but after you have sent the online forms, call the hospital reception and ask them if they received your pre–registration forms and other documents or not. If they didn’t receive your pre–registration forms and other documents, you should resend everything via Email and notify the hospital reception that you have just resent everything via Email. Only after the hospital reception personnel would confirm you that they received everything you had sent and verified that all your pre–registration forms and other documents are those they need and the information you filled in those pre–registration forms are correct, you should ask if you would need to send or to bring something else. Paperwork is an excessively essential thing. If you don’t have something completed, you would be asked to complete the documents even if you will be in labor. 

Eight documents and their copies you must bring with you to the clinic, hospital or medical center

1. Your ID card with its copies. Your passport–sized photos if it is necessary. 

2. Maternal pre–registration form: which information should be completed? Should I have the documents or notarized copies? Should I have several copies?

Personal patient’s information

When you get admitted at the hospital, you (or your husband) will be asked to fill up a form detailing information about the patient, including your name (exactly as it appears on the ID), your ID details, expected delivery date, admitting physician, birthdate, birthplace, religious preference, emergency contact name, additional contact name, primary care physician, referring physician, etc.

Guarantor or person responsible for the bill information

First name, middle name, last name, relationship, date of birth, marital status, social security no., address, phone number, etc.

Insurance information

Primary insurance name, insurance billing address, the name of insured (exactly as it appears on the insurance card), etc.

Imagine the most probable to happen scenario that you are having intermittent contractions and your husband has to ask you about your ID details, your birthplace, your religious preference, or your emergency contact details. You cannot answer because you cannot concentrate your attention on the questions or you might not fully know (or may have forgotten) and all your thoughts are about the excruciating pain you are experiencing at the moment. Consequently, if you fill in all the information in this basic document in advance, it will not only save you a lot of time but also will prevent this undesirable to happen situation and will exclude the possibility of feeling yourself like a bundle of nerves, feeling anxious, angry, confused, embarrassed, frustrated, intimidated, sad or shocked.

3. Maternity admission notes from your OB/GYN and if it is necessary, from other medical specialists

This essential document contains instructions from your obstetrician on what to do when you get admitted.

4. Your husband’s documents you must bring with you to the clinic, hospital or medical center

It is absolutely essential to ask the clinic’s, hospital’s or medical center’s patient service representatives or those representatives who are responsible for the admission to the clinic, hospital or medical center about your husband’s documents you must bring. Your husband’s ID card, undoubtedly, is necessary to have with you but it may be not the only one you husband’s document you must bring to the clinic, hospital or medical center. 

5. Visual birth plan (written or typed and printed birth plan, not its e–version)

Every pregnancy is a miracle. Every birth experience is absolutely unique. There are no absolutely identical pregnancies and birth experiences. And the most wonderful thing is that you can prepare one or several versions of the birth plan. Ask your doctor to help you to create the best version of the birth plan. Ask the receptionists is there a little booklet filled with information on what to expect and in the hospital, you are going to deliver at. And is there a little birth plan for you to fill out and take to the hospital when it is time for your baby to be born? Or is there the inclusive birth plan’s version to fill the information in (to note down your preferences, your inclusion and exclusion criteria for every question, line or paragraph) and to discuss everything transparently with your doctor?

It’s nice to think you will have the opportunity to prepare for birth but the thing is, your unborn baby is in control most of the time. Your little one decides when he comes out and how he wants to come out. It is not strongly recommended to have the birth plan, but you should have your personal, accurately created birth plan, and it should be flexible, just don’t be shocked if it doesn’t turn out as expected. Your birth plan should discuss your ideal birth scenario or two ideal birth scenarios, but you also should remember to be flexible when the time of the baby’s debut comes and not feel yourself as a bundle of nerves or not experience the nervous–breakdown if you cannot do everything as the perfect version you wanted it to be.

The birth plan should be ideally finalized and discussed with your OB/GYN before the expected delivery date. The final version of your birth plan which you will give to your doctor, to the medical team, and to the nurses should be inclusive and transparent. If you need additional consultations from other medical specialists, discuss it with your OB/GYN.

What information does a birth plan contain? What information should be included?

1. Full names including full names of those people who you do want to be with you and those people who don’t you want to be with you in the delivery room, who you do want to attend you after your baby is born and who you don’t want to attend you after your baby is born.

1.1. Your full name, your husband’s full name, your doctor’s full name, and your baby’s full name.

1.2. Full names of those people who you do want to be with you and those people who don’t you want to be with you in the delivery room, who you do want to attend you after your baby is born and who you don’t want to attend you after your baby is born.

1.3. Full names of the physicians and nurses of your medical team (if you previously talked to them about it).

1.4. Full names of the physicians you do not want to be in your birth medical team. The situations where you argue about something with somebody happen from time to time. Such nervous and conflict situations may happen even with your doctor, or with your nurses. Sometimes there may be various personal conflict situations with physicians. And not because you are an excessively capricious person. The whole delivery process from its start to finish is intense and overwhelming with emotions, therefore, sometimes there may be such a dramatic response. If in your medical team is brilliantly experienced, forget about all conflict situations you had earlier. But if it is extremely nervous for you to speak or to glance at the physician you had an argument with earlier, choose the other one for yourself.

1.5. Special recommendations for the hospital receptionists about the preferable time you would like to be attended after your baby is born, additional instructions, and additional requests.

The copies of this paragraph of your birth plan you should give to the hospital’s receptionists (but check if they are responsible for all these things) and to your nurses.

2. Expectant due date. 

The expectant due date should be also noted down.

3. Things you would like during labor.

This could include who you want with you during labor, who will be allowed in the birthing or delivery rooms, if you have your own delivery gown you would like to wear, if you want something else, information on drug allergies, and other relevant medical instructions (do you want constant fetal monitoring or intermittent, do you want to be coached during pushing or to push when you feel ready, etc.). Be sure to ask which entrance to use if it’s after hours; many hospitals require you to go through the Emergency Room.

3.1. Do you want to discuss with your doctor something in private? Then, schedule the time for the private conversation.

3.2. Do you want to talk to your nurse in private? Maybe you do want to have the private conversations every hour or every two hours without other nurses being present. Then, schedule the time for the private conversations.

3.3. If there would be an emergency, do you want to talk first to your doctor in private or you will prefer the whole medical team to be with you for the discussion?

3.4. What do you think about getting induced? And how do you feel about being induced?

3.5. What do you think about constant monitoring?

3.6. What do you think about additional medications’ IVs?

3.7. How do you feel about taking your baby to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit?

3.8. Who do you want to be your nurse?

3.9. Who do you want to be your nurse’s assistant (if your nurse would need an assistant)? This paragraph is essential as the nurses also change every 12 hours, so you might not have the same nurse at delivery as you do when you get checked in. Ask your nurse who can be also your nurse in case if she cannot be with you at delivery.

3.10. Who do you want to be in your birthing (medical) team?

3.11. What do you want to wear (your own gown, or hospital’s gown, or something else)?

3.12. Do you want anything special in the room, like a labor playlist on your iPod, or your favorite pastel–colored pillows, or something else?

3.13. Who do you want to be with you in the delivery room?

3.14. Where should those (invited) ones stay in the delivery room?

3.15. Who don’t you want to be with you in the delivery room?

3.16. What about the medical students and nursing students?

3.17. Would you like to move around during labor?

3.18. Would you like to have a doula during labor?

3.19. Do you want to be coached during pushing or to push when you feel ready?

3.20. Would you like after the birth your baby first to be given to you or to your husband?

3.21. Do you want to schedule the additional private appointments with your doctor and other medical specialists before leaving the hospital?

This paragraph can also include the information if you want to use a birthing ball, to walk around, to stay in your bed, to use aromatherapy, massage, a tub (the last is possible only in case if you don’t have the IVs (the tubes with medications sitting inside of your arms).

4. Urgent medical interventions (urgent surgeries). 

You should also include in the birth plan whether you would allow a C–section if there’s an urgent need to perform it.

5. Things you would like to help relieve the pain during labor.

Do you want an epidural anesthesia or you don’t want, and if you wanted it offered as soon as possible or when you ask for it? Or if you don’t want an epidural anesthesia you can discuss the other kinds of pain medications (if any) you do want to be offered. Your preferred methods of pain relief (medications or natural?) Consult with your OB/GYN, with the experienced pharmacist and with your allergologist about the medications you can use for the pain relief during labor. You should not have the allergy to the pain relief medications. Allergy may lead to serious complications, adverse clinical outcome, and sometimes the allergic reaction may be fatal. If you have ever had the allergy (allergic reaction), ask if the medications for pain relief may cause the allergy or other dangerous side effects. If the allergy or other adverse side effects are listed in the medication’s descriptions, ask about the possibility of performing the blood allergy testing. The blood allergy testing is performed in a laboratory for the presence of antibodies that fight specific allergens. The blood allergy test, called ImmunoCAP, is very successful in detecting IgE antibodies to major allergens. ImmunoCAP may be performed with the additional Microtest for multiplex allergen testing. Choose your personal anesthesiologist and notify him about the recommendations for pain relief medications which were given by your OB/GYN (Pharmacist and Allergologist).

Give a copy of the birth plan to your doctor, to the nurses, to the other representatives of your medical team, to your husband, and to your family, since they are the ones to make sure it is accurately followed while you are in labor and during several following postpartum days.

6. Health/ Life Insurance Card

All the documents which contain insurance information and their copies.

7. Social security card, social security number, and social security forms.

If you are employed, you will also need to coordinate with your company’s human resources department for the paperwork.

8. The marriage certificate

If applicable, of course.

[2] What to pack in your hospital bag?

Intrigued by the upcoming baby’s debut? Wondering when to pack your hospital bag? Wondering what to pack in your hospital bag? Wondering how not to forget something essential? Wondering how to optimize everything and how not to take too many unnecessary things? Wondering how to start packing or what should be done first? Start with investing in the wonderful notebook you will write all your notes in. After that make the notes about everything you might need at the hospital. Ask your doctor about the things which are absolutely essential for you at the hospital. Ask the nurses about the things which are really essential to take to the hospital. After that, make the list of things you will pack in your hospital bag and revise your list using the information given below. And note down that you will need not only one bag. Basically, you will need three hospital bags.

Toiletries. Should i take the travel cosmetic and toiletry bag for my toiletries? And what should i have in my cosmetic and toiletry bag? 

Invest in four pastel–colored travel cosmetic and toiletry bags. The first bag you should use only for your bathing toiletries, the second one you should use only for your toiletries, the third bag you should use only for your cosmetics (makeup bag), and the fourth would be for your bundle of joy toiletries.

Travel cosmetic and toiletries bags are ideal for holding your bottles and brushes while efficiently packing them all in one place. Furthermore, travel cosmetic and toiletries bags perfectly ‘synchronize’ everything inside them.

What should you pack in your bathing toiletries bag?

1. Bar soap with moisturizing cream [nesessary to be taken]
2. Soap–box [nesessary to be taken]
3. Cream oil body wash [nesessary to be taken]
4. Shower sponge [nesessary to be taken]
5. Body scrub
6. Face wash [nesessary to be taken]
7. Face scrub
8. Face sponge
9. Shampoo [nesessary to be taken]
10. Hair conditioner
11. Toothpaste [nesessary to be taken]
12. Toothbrush [nesessary to be taken]
13. Body towel [nesessary to be taken]
14. Face towel [nesessary to be taken]
15. Three small towels [nesessary to be taken]

Invest in travel–sized toiletries because they take up less space, and you can already have them packed when it’s time to head out. 

What should you pack in your toiletries bag?

1. Body oil
2. Body cream
3. Hair oil
4. Hair sprays
5. Hair–dryer [nesessary to be taken]
6. Deodorant [nesessary to be taken]
7. Hand cream [nesessary to be taken]
8. Facial oil [nesessary to be taken]
9. Face lotion [nesessary to be taken]
10. Lip balms [nesessary to be taken]
11. Hair brushes [nesessary to be taken]
12. Hair accessories (including hair ties) [nesessary to be taken]

What should you pack in your cosmetics (makeup bag)?

1. Foundation
2. Concealers
3. Powders
4. Blushes
5. Eyeshadow
6. Mascara
7. Lip gloss
8. Makeup brushes
9. Makeup sponges
10. Perfume

What should you pack in your baby’s toiletries bag?

1. Baby rich moisture bar
2. Baby rich moisture head to toe wash
3. Baby shampoo
4. Rich moisture lotion
5. Baby body oil
6. Baby oil gel
7. Rich moisture nappy cream
8. Baby powder
9. Sensitive moisture fragrance–free wipes
10. Three medium–sized body towels

Which footwear should I take to the hospital? 

1. Slippers
2. Flip–flops for the shower
3. Ballet shoes (if it is late spring or summer), the same ballet shoes you came to the hospital.
4. Shoes (if it is early autumn or middle springtime), the same shoes you came to the hospital.
5. Boots (if it is late autumn, winter, or early spring), the same boots you came to the hospital.
6. Three pairs of the cotton socks and two pairs of warm socks (hospital floors are cold as usual).
7. Three pairs of the knee–length socks (if it is early autumn or late springtime).
8. Three pairs of solid warm winter socks (if it is late autumn, winter, or early spring season).

What should be taken into consideration about the lingerie? What should I take to the hospital? 

1. Cotton underwear (four or more changes)
2. Nursing bras
3. Nursing pads

What is about the clothes? 

1. Three Cotton Gowns (if do not prefer to wear the hospital gowns)
2. One pajamas
3. Jacket or cardigan
4. Outfit to go home (If you do want to wear something special, choose the clothes you wore being six months pregnant because several days after giving the birth to your baby you will still look pregnant).
5. Loose knitted or knitted dress (knee–length) sweater and leggings (for autumn, winter, and early spring).
6. Loose tulle dress, loose lace dress, or loose blouse and leggings (for late spring, summer, and early autumn).

If you do not want to wear something special, you may wear the same clothes you came to the hospital in.

What else should I take or what else is recommended to be taken to the hospital?

1. Notebook and two pens
2. Folder for papers
3. Camera and camera charger
4. Phone and phone charger
5. Tablet or laptop and tablet or laptop charger
6. Wallet, purse, Credit Card

What to pack in your baby’s hospital bag?

1. Newborn diapers (do not pack too many diapers as the hospitals usually provide your baby with diapers).
2. One nursing bottle and one baby’s dummy
3. Pair of pajamas (multiple sizes: one pajamas should be smaller–sized, and one pajamas should be bigger–sized).
4. Three pairs of mittens
5. Three newborn’s hats
6. One going home outfit

What to pack in your husband’s hospital bag?

Bathing toiletries bag

1. Bar of soap
2. Soap–box
3. Shower sponge
4. Face wash
5. Shampoo
6. Toothpaste and toothbrush
7. Deodorant
8. Body towel
9. Additional towel
10. Additional things

Invest in travel–sized toiletries because they take up less space, and you can already have them packed when it’s time to head out. 

Husband’s hospital bag?

1. Two changes of clothes
2. Underwear
3. Phone and phone charger
4. Tablet or laptop and tablet or laptop  charger
5. Wallet, Credit Card

CONCLUSION

From about 28 weeks into your pregnancy, you should be starting to gather essential things to bring with you to the hospital for the delivery, with the aim of having your hospital bags ideally packed and ready to go by 36 weeks. Furthermore, packing your hospital bags in advance gives you more time to repack, and pack again, as your desires or health change. Intrigued by the upcoming baby’s debut? Wondering when to pack your hospital bag? Wondering what to pack in your hospital bag? Wondering how not to forget something essential? Wondering how to optimize everything and how not to take too many unnecessary things? Wondering how to start packing or what should be done first? Start with investing in the wonderful notebook you will write all your notes in. After that make the notes about everything you might need at the hospital. Ask your doctor about the things which are absolutely essential for you at the hospital. Ask the nurses about the things which are really essential to take to the hospital. After that, make the list of things you will pack in your hospital bag and revise your list using the information given below. And note down that you will need not only one bag. Basically, you will need three hospital bags: your hospital bag, your husband’s hospital bag and your baby’s hospital bag. Do not forget about the documents. Good luck!