What should I pack in my hospital bag before I go into childbirth?
Everyone always asks "What should we put in our bag?" When you are preparing a bag for the labour and delivery experience you really don't need anything. The hospital will have food, will have pillows, will have gowns, will have clothing for the baby and diapers, but if you want to have some of the amenities of home, then by all means bring them. I usually recommend you bring your own pillow; maybe bring an old pillow case, but a pillow that's comfortable because the hospital pillows aren't always the most comfortable. For after the delivery you could bring a night gown or some pyjamas of your own that you might feel more comfortable in. You can always bring a little outfit for the baby to wear home; you can put the baby in a cute outfit. Your husband can bring little snacks for himself so when your in labour if it's a long period of time he doesn't have to be anxious and antsy and feel like he has to go down to the cafeteria for five minutes; you can just have food in the bag for him. It's also always a good idea to bring activities like playing cards, magazines, or music. Nowadays people bring their Ipods and their docking stations and listen to their own music; they put in a track of their pregnancy or their labour music and then they play music and play cards, because if you are going to be in labour and delivery for six to eight hours or sometimes even twelve to twenty-four hours, then you want to have activities. Most labour and delivery rooms will have a television and even a radio, but sometimes just the two of you bonding before you have your child together will be a great activity.
