Packing up for the Big Day

A comfy shirt is not only comfy for you, but for the babies too!

It's never too early to pack your bags ... or should I say suitcase. The motto to Pregnancy should be “prepare for the unexpected”. Most women don't have their babies on their due date. Being prepared will make things much more relaxed and ease the pressure of the 11th hour. That being said I still ran around gathering some last minute things after I found out I was being induced. When packing my bag I got these little compartments to put inside the suitcase so that I could keep everything organized
and not have it a big mess!! You can easily find these on Amazon for under $20 since they don’t have to be super high quality.

These compartments may be cheap, but you can't put a price tag on a tidy bag keeping dirty and clean clothes apart!

 Here is a list of must-haves for the hospital bag:

• Pillows – one for daddy and one for you. Hospital pillows are hard to come by and if you do get some, they’re flat and uncomfortable.
• Card games – labour can be long and involve lots of sitting around so be prepared and have fun while you wait!

Any card game can seem like the best
game in the world at 3AM

• Breast pump – start using it ASAP because it will help bring your milk in. Ask the nurse to show you how to use it. You want to be using your pump properly so you aren't sore! Ask ask ask: some nurses won't volunteer to help you so take initiative! 
• Snacks – you will be hungry before and after labour and hospital food can be pricey
• Toiletries – for both you and daddy. It feels so good to wash your face, put some nice creme on, brush your hair and teeth! 
• Clothes for daddy – lounging clothes, as lounging around is all you will be doing. Comfortable pants and shirts. Also slippers are great for when you are in the hospital room since he won't want to be wearing shoes all day.
• Blanket for hubby – as he will be sleeping in a chair and the hospital can either be cold
• Phone chargers – don’t forget to put your name and phone number on it just in case it gets left there. I hate losing phone chargers!
• Baby clothes – 2-3 outfits (per kid) and a special one for going home in! These clothes can either be newborn (up to 7 lbs) or 0-3 months. 
• Slippers – for mommy in the hospital room and walks in the hallways 
• Nightgowns – 2-3 very comfy ones but don;t bring a PJ set with pants because it's so much work putting pants on and off all the time.
• Headbands – nice to have your hair off your face but still looking good 

Comfy nightgown and headband

• Light housecoat – nice to get out into the halls for a little walk so having a housecoat to throw on is perfect 
• Diapers!! At Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto where our boys were born they only gave us a few diapers and we went through them in a few hours! So pack some newborn (N) size diapers and wipes 
• A spray bottle with olive oil or fractionated coconut oil – this is used to spray on your baby(ies)’ bottom to help with cleaning after they have that sticky icky black/green poop (meconium). This trick will save you a lot of anxiety as it helps with removing it fast because your little one will be screaming through every diaper change at the beginning. 
• Padsicles – lifesaver for soothing your lady parts after that baby decides to enter the world!! Look out for posts on Instagram or this blog for how to make these in the near future
• Granny panties – especially recommended for potential C-section births. Fruit of the Loom make breathable comfortable large panties so they can cover your stitches and not bother them. I did not have a C-section but I packed both large granny panties and Depends (they are also lifesavers). I got the slim silhouette kind and they are so comfortable and you don't need to wear those huge thick pads that the hospital gives you. Tip: they only provide you with a few and make you buy more if you need them. Remember ladies you can have discharge for up to 6-8 weeks! I would pack 2-3 Depends per day. For singleton moms you should only be there 1- 2 days if everything is good with the babes (which it will be!) For moms of multiples I would PLAN for a few extra days at the hotel hospital... we were there four days. Results vary!
• Going home outfit for mommy – remember you will still be wearing maternity clothes. Pack clothes that fit you now (while pregnant) so you won't be disappointment leaving the hospital.
• Pack something that makes you feel a little bit like a human! – For me putting on some lip gloss on and brushing my hair helped! I would do this just before leaving for our daily walks in the hall. 

Now that you have your bags packed, here are some things to have ready before going to the hospital:

• You will have to get a temporary health card for your baby(ies) before leaving the hospital. We suggest that you have some names picked out so that you are not stressed right after birth to have to figure out a name on the spot. If you are not finding out the sex of the baby until delivery then have a boy and a girl name picked out! You will thank me later :)
• Be prepared to call your doctor to set up their first doctor’s appointment for 1-2 days after you are discharged. I was unaware I needed to do that and it was just another added stressor. The more information you have at your fingertips and the more prepared you are will help you be a little less stressed in such an overwhelming time.

**(Twin) Tip**
Be generous when packing up diapers and wipes! You never know how long you'll be at the hospital postpartum (and we hope you won't be there long) but a longer stay means you'll be going through more diapers and wipes. Also make sure the pump you get is a double because you'll need to be producing twice as much milk!