HospitalBag.org Blog

Hospital Bag vs Labor Kit

2009-01-04T18:54:00Z

So what's the difference? The term hospital bag has been around for a very long time. Generally, a woman would pack her toiletries, nightgown and baby's first outfit. Everything else was taken care of by the hospital. In the 70's most moms would even bring cigarettes and curling irons to the hospital -- thank goodness times have changed!

As the times have changed so has a woman's knowledge about birth, bonding, pain management and her desire to create the best birth experience possible. As a result, labor kits have become a common term as women want to have access to products or items that are important to her during labor and recovery. Items like favorite music, relaxing aromatherapy oils, nursing pads and creams for breastfeeding, or organic and natural products.

Hospitals continue to cut-back to save money and parents are expected to provide even some basic neccesities like femine pads and newborn diapers. Hospital stays are also shorter with many women leaving after the first 24 hours (or 3 days after a c-section). This means more recovery time at home and an increase in need for more heath care related products.

What does this mean to an expectant mom? Pack your bags with the intention of having things available that are important to you like organic, natural products, comfortable clothes, breastfeeding supplies and maybe few snacks since hospital food just may not be cutting it for you! Good luck.

Free printable hospital checklist

2008-12-15T01:54:00Z

We have made it very easy to help you prepare for birth. You can just click and print our one-page checklist which includes everything you may want to pack for yourself, baby and your partner or coach. If you think we are missing anything, contact us and we will be sure to add it.

Breastfeeding can hurt, briefly, so be ready in advance

2008-11-13T22:12:00Z

Many health care professionals will tell you that breastfeeding isn't supposed to hurt. Well, most of the moms I have talked to have had experiences ranging from minor discomforts to mastitis and severe cracked nipples and infection. Breastfeeding is best for baby and many of the discomforts will be gone within the first days and usually don't last longer than a month.

One of the most common complaints is sore, cracked nipples. It can make is quite painful to feed your baby so when packing your hospital bag, be sure to include lanolin or balm to help you heal faster if you start to have any soreness or cracking. Also, alternate between heat and cold especially when your milk is first coming in. A warm wet towel will help with the "let down" and cool towels or ice packs can help sore engorged breasts. For really quick relief, keep a couple of wet nursing pads in the freezer. When you need some relief, just place them in your bra.

Remember that breastfeeding does get much easier and may only hurt in the first little while. It is so worth it to push through that challenging time for the benefits that breastfeeding will provide to the baby and to you (getting back that body, lower risk of some cancers etc). Hang in there and contact your local La Leche League for support and information. Here are some helpful links:

In Canada http://www.lllc.ca/

In USA http://www.lllusa.org/

Worldwide http://www.llli.org/

Don't forget the camera!

2008-11-12T19:29:00Z

Today digital cameras, cell phone cameras and video recorders are all around us, yet when excitement and stress get the better of us, we forget these everyday items and rush out the door. When you pack your hospital bag, please remember to pack a camera! I still hear stories of people not having a camera handy and you can't get those very first moments back. Pack extra batteries and film (if you still use it) and as a last resort, add a disposible camera just in case. www.LaborKit.com sells pre-packed hospital bags and includes disposible cameras in their Standard Plus and Deluxe LaborKit so that moms and dads don't miss those moments.

Some moms will have the entire labor and birth video recorded. Did you? Feel free to comment on the pros and cons.

One last thing... Don't count on cell phone cameras -- the picture is just not good enough quality and only gets worse as you try to enlarge it. Old fashioned film is still a great standby, sometimes even better than a cheap digital. Did I say, don't forget the camera!

Labor preparation -- add a birthplan to your hospital bag

2008-11-10T18:57:00Z

I was researching some articles about VBAC and found this site http://www.childbirthconnection.org. While you are deciding what what to pack, you might find some helpful information on this site about your rights, c-sections, trends in hospital births and lots of info and tips on getting through labor. Many women are comfortable and very excited about experiencing labor and birth, others are very nervous since there is no way to know what it will be like for you. Being prepared with a well packed hospital bag is a great first step and relieve some anxiety by being informed about labor. Have a birth plan. This will help you work through things like whether you want an epidural, who should be present at the birth, blood cord collection etc but it will also force you to think about things you may want to consider to make labor more comfortable, like a birthing ball, natural pain management options or having music available to help you relax.

So when you pack your hospital bag, remember to pack a copy of your birth plan. Make it the birth experience YOU want.

Hospital Bag for Dad??

2008-08-22T14:45:00Z

Yes, its true, sometimes men are the forgotten ones in this whole labor and delivery adventure. We pack the overnight bag for Mom and of course the itty bitty diapers and outfit etc.. for baby, somewhere along the way its forgotten that yes, Dad might like to change his clothes or brush his teeth or maybe even....you guessed it, eat something.

So ladies and gentlemen just a gentle reminder, don't forget dear old dad on what is undoubtedly one of the very best moments of your lives

Technology is changing the landscape for Hospital Bags....

2008-06-18T15:19:00Z

100 years ago a hospital bag, if it even existed, likely constisted of hot water and some cotton clothes. Today people are including everthing we listed we in our hospital bag checklist as well as tablets and bluetooth keyboards.

It'll be interesting to see what happens in another 100 years.

Welcome to HospitalBag.org!

2008-06-18T14:35:00Z

This site has been created to aid mothers in preparing for the big day. Our site provides a comprehensive list of essential items for mothers to use during their birthing experience.

If you would like to create your own list go to hospitalbag.org and check out the list or if you would like to print your own list go to the hospital bag checklist print page and print out your checklist anytime.

This has created a free service we hope will help mothers. Please feel free to contact us with questions or comments or ideas you may have for new hospital bag items.

Cheers!