by Holly Russell

Created on: August 16, 2009

Oh the memories! I spent hours lovingly packing my bag for the arrival of my first daughter. When the second one came along 6 weeks early, I ended up at the hospital with next to nothing. My first point of advice would be to pack early. It is important to explain the hospital will provide everything you need. If you have to turn up with nothing, don't spend precious energy worrying about your bag.

When considering what to pack, you will probably need to consult a few different sources. Your hospital or midwife should give you a list, most pregnancy books have a list, and you will get well-meaning advice from lots of people. One dear old soul from my church recommended sewing up my own sanitary pads....no thanks. This is your birth experience, and what comforts you most is what is called for.

1) Breastfeeding preparation. Breastfeeding in theory only requires you and your baby. However, several good, supportive and very comfortable bras are a good idea. Remember that you will need to sleep in bras for at least 6-8 weeks, maybe longer. It is best to have some lighter more comfortable bras for the nighttime run. You will also want breast pads and nipple cream, and lots of new Moms benefit from a feeding pillow. It will reduce the strain on your back, neck & arms. If you are choosing to bottle feed, check with the hospital and find out if you need to provide anything.

2) Food. The hospital will provide you with 3 meals a day and maybe even some snacks. In our house we have dinner around 6:30 each night. At the hospital they fed us dinner at 5:00. I would get up for an 11 o'clock feed and find myself starving. You don't need to take a lot of stuff, but a couple of granola bars, and a box of Nilla Wafers will go a long way towards filling any gaps. Keep in mind that you might be laboring for a long time. If this is the case it is a good idea to have some snacks available for your partner, even if you don't feel like eating.

3) Pajamas and hospital clothing. It was once considered the norm to wear pajamas for your entire hospital stay. With my first daughter I had two very nice pair of open down the front pajamas that I wore quite a lot, and felt somewhat idiotic. For my second daughter I opted for comfortable stretch pants and sweat pants paired with some breastfeeding tops. I used the tank tops with a bra built in for sleeping. This proved to be much more comfortable, and I didn't feel quite so out of place when people would come to visit. As much as this

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>