What to pack in your hospital bag: Tips and tricks from an Ottawa Doula!

As doulas in Ottawa, we are often asked what families should pack in their hospital bags. Some worry they will pack too much, and others worry that they will forget something. Both thoughts are so valid! Breaking your packing list down into some sub-categories can be helpful as you work on deciding what to pack.

Essentials for the birthing person:

• Health Card and relevant paperwork (if supported by midwives)

• Clothes to labour in (if choosing to wear your own clothes)

• Comfortable & nursing friendly clothes to wear after birth

• Adult diapers (so good for postpartum in the early days when bleeding is heavier)

• Socks

• Easy to slip on and clean sandies or slippers to wear around your birthing space (especially if birthing in a hospital)

• Toiletries

• Headphones (can be so helpful to keep your focus in labour)

• Sleep mask

• Chargers (for phone/tablet/e-reader, any electronics you are bringing)

• Any medications you take daily

• Pillow (hospital pillows are not the coziest)

• Easy to wash throw blanket that feels and smells like home (your safe place)

• Snacks, snacks & more snacks!

  
  

Essentials for the birth partner:

• Comfortable clothes

• A full change of clothes (birth can get messy)

• Toiletries

• Chargers

• Comfort items to help with rest: pillow, sleep mask, pillow, blanket, etc

• Snacks, snacks & more snacks!

Essentials for baby:

• Car seat

• Outfit for going home

• Hat

• Diapers

• Wipes

• Blanket

An extra list can be focused on items that support the environment you would like your birthing space to have. It can also include comfort items to use as you labour. These will be things that will help build the mood of the space, bring you calm, bring you focus and help you to feel safe. As doulas in Ottawa, we recommend taking time to very intentionally think about what you may want to have to create the environment you want whenever you are planning to birth.

When we are supporting families who are planning to birth at the Ottawa Birth and Wellness Centre, where the environment already feels very cozy, we suggest that they still pack the things they would want to build a comfortable space just in case they need to transfer into hospital for any reason. Being able to create an intentional space once in the hospital can help to reset the focus and rhythm that benefits labour.

Some things to consider for your environmental and comfort go-bag:

• Battery operated candles or portable soft lighting

• Bluetooth speaker (for music or meditations)

• Throw blanket that feels and smells of home

• Portable fan(s)

• Comb to squeeze or reflexology ball

• Heating pad/hot water bottle

• If visual focal points help you: affirmation cards, photos of loved ones/pets, vision board (on a piece of Bristol board =super portable)

• If scents bring you comfort you can bring essential oils & cotton swabs (a few drops on the cotton swab makes it easy to dispose of and get rid of the scent if it no longer serves you). It’s good to note that most if not all hospitals do not permit the use of diffusers as many are sensitive to scent.

We hope this can prove to be helpful to you as a starting point in packing your hospital bag. Is there something you or someone you know packed in their bag that was surprisingly helpful? We would love to hear about it!

If this brings up questions, please reach out to us. At Nurtured Birth we are here to help!

This blog post was written by Ottawa Doula, Michele Appleby Clarida. Michele is a certified Aromatherapist, certified Reflexologist, Reiki Practitioner, and Certified Birth Doula. Michele is honoured to be serving Ottawa and the surrounding areas to have supportive birth and postpartum experiences.