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What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

4/6/2018

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What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag
Here you will find a list of things that our doula clients and members of the Cincinnati Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting Support group (found here) have mentioned were most helpful during their births or things that they wished they had brought along! 

Many have found that it is best to have a separate bag for birth and for postpartum.. or one bag for the parents and another for baby. This is helpful so that when you first go into the hospital, you can leave the baby stuff in the car until you move over to your postpartum room. 

We hope you find this list useful in preparing for your big day!
What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag
Birth Plan or Preferences 
A short and simple one page birth plan is good. Many birth plans include things like ''minimal pelvic exams, intermittent monitoring, a saline lock as opposed to an IV, delayed cord clamping, immediate skin to skin'' If you need help in knowing what your options are, find out more about our childbirth classes here. 


Much of this list is applicable to both the birthing person & partner. 

Comfortable Clothing for Labor and Post-Delivery
Comfort is key.  The hospital does provide gowns and disposable underwear but you're welcome to wear your own clothes and some birthing people say that they feel more comfortable in their own clothes than in the hospital gown. In the same light, many people swear by those mesh underwear! You do you. 
  • soft nursing camisoles - comfy and convenient to labor in and provide support and ease of access for skin to skin postpartum. 
  • ​button down pajamas are also great for accessing the birthing person's stomach for monitoring in labor and for skin to skin postpartum, for either parent. 
  • stretchy yoga pants - the more stretch, the better!  
  • a robe - great for walking the halls in labor or to slip on when guests come in post-delivery. 
  • extra socks and slippers warm and cozy is good but keep in mind that hospital floors are slippery. You can either wear your own slippers or buy socks with tread. 
  • "swimming gear" - The birthing person is fine to be naked in or out of the tub or shower (or  not) but if partner wants to get in, it's important to make sure they pack something to wear.
    Even if partner doesn't plan on getting in the shower or tub, if they are standing next to the shower, shorts and flip flops (or extra socks) can be helpful!  
    ​​
Snacks 
Evidence supports eating in labor so long as you are low risk. Even if you can't eat, partner will be hungry. ​Think granola bars, trail mix or even these great gummies* with added electrolytes. Coconut water is wonderful for hydration and sustenance for both parents. 


Goodies for Nursing Staff 
While not a necessity (nurses rock, with or without snacks), a bag of candy or a couple boxes of granola bars can be a great way to say, ''Thank You'' to the people helping you in these special days. A good time to offer these up is once you're  in your labor and/or recovery room. ​
What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag
Tools for comfort in labor
​These are things that some doulas keep in their doula bag but you're welcome to bring your own, especially if you're not using a doula. 
  • Led lights or a strand of white holiday lights provide relaxing and comforting lighting 
  • Tennis balls/handheld massager some women love touch and massage in labor while others don't. It's good to have options in your birth bag. 
  • Rebozo - a long piece of fabric that can be used for comfort in labor and support as a belly wrap postpartum. 
  • Essential oils - lavender for calming, orange or lemon for providing energy and peppermint for nausea and headaches 

​Phone and Chargers Besides needing your phone for calling, texting, and updating your friends and family, you'll want to take pictures and may download apps for music in labor or a white noise app for sleeping. ​Don't forget the chargers.
Extra Pillows A couple extra pillows from home can help you feel a little more comfortable in labor, for husband/partner to sleep with and for nursing. ​

Toiletries
  • ​Chapstick - You've seen it on every list out there...and it's with reason. Even if you don't use chapstick on a regular basis, most birthing people experience dry lips during labor due to the increase in how much we are breathing out with each contraction.  
  • Toilet Paper – I know this sounds silly but sometimes hospital toilet paper is so thin and hard to get off the roll. Bring an extra plush roll for your laboring and postpartum bottom. 
  • Hair Ties - Again, these are on every list for a reason. In labor and postpartum, an easy ponytail is essential 
  • Shampoo, conditioner, soap and toothpaste/toothbrushes - Moms in the Cincinnati Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting Support group said that it was really nice to have ''luxury'' items or smells they didn't usually have... for pampering, self care, and as a positive smell to remember their first day of parenting by. 
  • Pads - The hospital will provide you with giant pads that are practical if your water is broken and you are continually gushing in labor but many women find they would prefer something a little smaller than what the hospital offers. 

For Baby - It's really only necessary to pack a few outfits, a car seat, hat, and blanket for the trip home. The hospital provides everything else, including little shirts and sleep sacks that they can wear while there. Definitely bring a 0-3 month outfit in addition to your newborn clothes, in case baby is bigger than expected! Additionally, some  hospitals only have dry baby wipes that you have to wet with water and some parents have found it helpful to bring their own baby wipes. Some families are glad that they brought a baby wrap or carrier for skin to skin. 

Extra bag for gifts and freebies - You will leave the hospital with more than you came with. Bring an extra bag for all the ‘freebies’ (i.e. diapers, wipes, disposable underwear, ice packs, etc.)

From Mom's Who've Been Through It... 


Definitely would pack an energy drink for my doula, and husband. 😉 I‘d also pack electrolyte gels again for fuel during labor, and my own toiletries, chargers/camera, etc. outfit and blanket or blankets for baby. I’ve surprisingly never worn anything I’ve brought, but the hospital gown they give me, until the last day. Also, healthy snacks. Never have packed much food for us, but I find most hospital snack food to be corn syrup/sugar laden, which just makes inflammation and swelling worse I think. 
Elizabeth G
Ditto on the energy drink (I prefer Body Armor, which they have at Target), energy chews, and healthy snacks. I brought my own hospital gown, and then switched to my button down PJs postpartum, and that’s all I wore until the day we left.  
Molly H
Last, but certainly not least... Don't forget to bring a doula! 
Your doula can help you prenatally to know what your options are, at home, to know what stage of labor you might be in, when it's a good time to head to the hospital; she can help carry your bags, set up the lighting and music into your labor room. Overall, a doula is an extra (knowledgeable) set of hands when you need it most. 

​Contact us today to set up a free consultation to hear more about all that our doula group offers.
​​​​
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Happy First Day of April!

4/1/2018

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Happy First Day of April! 

Just kidding about that new logo... that would be super silly. 

Happy April Fool's Day from Cincinnati Birth and Parenting Network and Doula Agncy! 

Happy Easter to all of our clients who celebrate Easter!

And especially a ''Happy First Day as Parents'' to our doula clients who delivered on the last day of March or will be delivering their babies into this world today! 

We see, honor, and appreciate each and every one of you!! 

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    Who are we? 

    Cincinnati Birth and Parenting, LLC was founded by Molly Murray, a birth and postpartum doula and childbirth educator. Through this growing company, Molly connects parents with information, resources, and support while also staying committed to building up fellow professionals and connecting them with the people who need their services most. 

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