Prepare a list of things for your husband
Prepare a list of things for your husband
What items are necessary for the hospital? You should prepare a bag with all the essentials 2-3 weeks before the expected date. It is better not to leave this for the last minute. Even after packing everything you think you will need, write down the same list and leave it at home in a visible place. Your husband can use this list if it turns out you left something at home.
Prepare "three bags"
By the day of delivery, you should have with you the necessary documents and items, which are generally divided into "three bags":
1. One for the delivery itself,
2. Another with items needed for the mother during the postpartum period,
3. And the third with items for the newborn baby.
Additionally, it is advisable to prepare a fourth bag for discharge. You can either take it with you to the hospital or ask your family to bring it on the day of discharge.
For the delivery, you may also need:
• A loose T-shirt or nightgown, preferably not new;
• Clean drinking water (at least 1 liter, some even bring 5-liter bottles);
• A towel and liquid baby soap;
• Disposable toilet seat covers;
• Warm but not woolen socks;
• A camera or video camera (if you plan to capture the joyous moment of the baby's birth; your birth partner should have this with them).
In this same bag, set aside items for the newborn, which will be put on them immediately after birth:
• A diaper;
• A shirt, jacket, or bodysuit;
• Pants;
• A cap.
Items needed after delivery:
• Pads for postpartum discharge (however, doctors sometimes prohibit using pads to monitor blood loss);
• Soft toilet paper, disposable toilet seat covers;
• Toothbrush and toothpaste;
• A towel, comb, and mirror;
• Manicure scissors;
• Soap, shower gel, shampoo, hypoallergenic intimate hygiene product, deodorant without or with a mild scent;
• Special disposable or cotton underwear (3-5 pieces);
• Nursing bras (1-2 pieces) and disposable inserts for them;
• Postpartum bandage (if you plan to use it);
• Cream "D-Panthenol" or "Bepanthen," which can be useful for nipple cracks or for applying to the baby's bottom in case of redness;
• Glycerin suppositories (many have problems with bowel movements after childbirth);
• Face cream, hand cream, lip balm;
• Vitamins for pregnant and nursing women, other medications (if you are taking any);
• Drinking water without gas (otherwise you will have to drink the "local" – boiled tap water);
• Dishes – a mug, plate, and spoon;
• A notebook and pen for recording important information;
• A magazine or book for leisure reading;
• Garbage bags (there is usually no trash can in the wards).
Items for the newborn in the hospital:
• Baby soap (liquid or solid, in a soap dish);
• Cotton wool, cotton pads or cotton swabs with a limiter to clean the baby's nose and ears, and to treat the umbilical wound;
• Wet wipes, disposable handkerchiefs;
• Baby cream, diaper cream. Keep in mind that any, even the most "hypoallergenic" cream may not be suitable for the baby – take small packages with you;
• The hospital usually provides swaddles, but if you want to use your own, include this item in the list. Two cotton and two flannel swaddles, size 60x90 cm, will be enough. Disposable absorbent swaddles are convenient but expensive;
• A soft towel for the baby;
• Shirts or, better yet, jackets with external seams and fold-over sleeves (open-closed hands). You can replace them with bodysuits. The quantity should match the number of days you will spend in the hospital (to change the baby's clothes daily). 4-5 pieces should be enough;
• Thin cotton mittens ("anti-scratch") if the jackets leave the baby's hands open;
• Cotton baby pants or jumpsuits – 4-5 pieces;
• Cotton caps size 1 – 2 pieces.
Items for discharge from the hospital:
• Summer newborns: standard outfit includes a cap, jacket (shirt or bodysuit), and pants. The baby is wrapped in a light blanket or dressed in a light jumpsuit if traveling by car.
• For winter, add a warm hat, envelope, or transformable jumpsuit. A blanket and ribbon are not the best idea if you need to transport the baby in a car. By law, even newborns must be transported in a special car seat. The blanket does not have slots for seat belts. Under the outer clothing, dress the baby in a flannel shirt or jacket, pants, and a cap.
• For spring and autumn, dress warmly but do not overdress. A mid-season envelope or jumpsuit is suitable depending on the weather. If the baby is born in early spring or late autumn, use winter clothing.
Wish you an easy delivery!
