5 Hospital Bag Must Have Items

Are you getting ready to pack your hospital bag, but not sure what to include? Perhaps you already have your list, but are checking it twice. Here is our Friday’s Five top items to have in your hospital bag.

1.       Hair Stuff – depending how long or short your hair is hair ties and bobby pins are great to have in your bag.

2.       Phone charger – Stay fully charged! Your phone will be utilized to communicate with family and friends; a camera to capture those delicate moments; a music player if the mood strikes, and to browse through social media/play games if you need to pass time. 

3.       Snacks/spare change – Although the hospital has a cafeteria, it does close after a certain time, causing you or your partner to resort to snacks. Get snacks from the vending machine, or pack a few protein bars to hold you for a while, and don't forget honey sticks or DumDum lollipops to give a boost of energy during labor.

4.       Chap stick - Your. Lips, WILL. Get. Dry! Pack chap stick or lanolin to keep those lips moist and ready to kiss your sweet baby! 

5.       Clothes - Clothes to birth in, clothes for the postpartum period. During labor you want clothes that are light and can provide access to your medical team for checks and monitoring. After baby is born, you'll want clothes that are easy to keep your baby skin-to-skin and accessible to the breast, if you are planning to breastfeed. Include slippers or shoes that you can get easily put on. 

What other items were must have for you? Let us know in the comments! 

Let's get moving!

While every birthing person may labor differently, there is one thing every laboring person can do that can benefit their labor…

move!

There are so many laboring positions that can be utilized when in labor, from

standing to sitting,

lying down;

walking or dancing...

down the hospital hallway, or in your room.

Some positions may feel more comfortable than others, but the beautiful thing about moving around is that you can try a position for a few contractions and change it up if it doesn’t work.

Changing positions in labor can increase comfort and make the labor sensations more manageable. Positions, like squatting or sitting on a yoga ball or on the toilet seat, allow the pelvis to be open and relaxed which helps the baby descend into the birth canal. If you are bed-bound or have an epidural placed, you can still apply some position changes like lying on your side and placing pillows or a peanut ball between the legs and alternating sides every thirty minutes or so to create the same effect.  Other tools that can be used to help change positions is a yoga ball, which you can sit on and bounce on it, sway your hips side to side or in a circular motion.

Having a doula at your birth can encourage you to try different positions! 

We are ready to dance, squat and move with you, are you?