If you’re an expecting mom, and you’re new to the ‘mommy world’, you’re probably wondering what to pack for the big day! This task could be overwhelming, but it would help if you pack during the early stage of the third trimester – that’s around the 7th to 8th month.
We’ve made a simple and practical Hospital Bag Checklist to help you prepare for your childbirth while you stay in the hospital with your husband or birth partner and for your newborn baby.
WHAT TO PACK FOR MOMS
(Labor and Delivery)
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Pre-Natal Pregnancy Book and Medical History Summary – keep all your check up history with your OB-GYN, best if it’s photocopied. Your OB-GYN should also be able to give you a medical pregnancy history on a sheet which is an important document. Put these in an envelope together with other clinic test results and ultrasound print outs. Should there be any chance that you give birth in another hospital or another place, the summary is a guide for the attending doctor.
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Address Book/List of important persons and contact numbers – To get ready for the announcement you could draft your message and assign your husband to send this to your family and close friends.
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Philhealth Form – You can have this signed in advance by your HR if working, if not and a dependent of your husband, make sure he readies this form as well.
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Health Card – for hospitalization coverage (if covered)
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Valid Identification Cards – Driver’s License, Unified ID, TIN ID, Postal ID or passport both for you and your husband/partner.
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ATM/Credit Card/Cash – for the expenses.
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Snacks – for your hubby or partner. For normal delivery, labor could have a short or long waiting period. However, moms going on labor can only get ice chips or cubes or candies. Most hospitals have no eating and no drinking policy.
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Entertainment – bring something that will help you to pass time as you wait for your baby’s arrival in this world. Could be a book, magazines, or music.
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Camera or Cellphone – to document the first time you’ve seen your new bundle of joy. Let your husband do this. But in some hospitals that do not allow fathers to be inside the delivery room, your OB-GYN could do it
WHAT TO PACK FOR DADS
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Clothes – to be used during stay and for going home.
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Slippers and socks – for comfortable walking around the hospital to process documents, payments, visit doctors, visiting your child in the nursery.
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Toiletries – He may have a separate set he wants to bring with him.
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Extra pillow and blanket – some hospitals provide but with a fee. To save on cost, you could bring an extra pillow and blanket to keep him warm.
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Snacks – include water for drinking, cookies, biscuits, healthy chips, and anything he would most likely nibble on.
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Entertainment – Could be his mobile phone for gaming or social media entertainment, tablet, laptop, mp3 player or bluetooth speaker.
WHAT TO PACK FOR MOMS
(Post-Delivery)
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Comfortable dress gown with front opening – if hospitals allow not to use their hospital gown. Front opening is best for moms who will choose to breastfeed.
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Blanket/Scarf/Socks- to keep you warm during your hospital stay.
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Lip Balm and other make-up items- your lips may tend to dry than usual. You will also be receiving some visitors and may want to look presentable not for them but for yourself. Though they will totally understand if you may not be looking your best because you just gave birth. You’ve just brought a new life to this wold.
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Hair accessories – such as hair ties, head bands, and clips, to keep your face from your hair and for personal grooming.
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Maternity Pads – Choose heavy-duty yet comfortable pads. You may also bring disposable changing pads for the bed.
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Nursing bras and breast pads – This is best especially for those who choose to breastfeed their babies.
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Toiletries – Bring travel size toiletries for hygiene purposes such as wipes, toilet paper, toothbrush, toothpaste, cologne, powder, soap, alcohol.
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Going home clothes – Choose loose fitting, front opening or nursing tops and dresses that are easy to wear. Best to also use nursing bras and comfortable undies.
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Binder – Whether you give birth via normal or Cesarean delivery, a quality full-support binder is a must to support your pelvis.
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Exta Pillow– Bring an extra pillow for a more comfortable sleep or when nursing the baby.
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Snacks and Water – you may be really tired from giving birth to a beautiful miracle that sometimes hospital food isn’t enough to satisfy. Just ask your doctor when it’s safe to start eating those snacks.
WHAT TO PACK FOR THE BABY
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Going home clothes – two to three sets of tie-side clothes would be okay.
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Bonnet, socks, booties – to keep baby warm and protect from unpredictable weather
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Newborn baby diapers/cloth diaper– the hospital staff will require you to provide diapers while the baby stay in the nursery or when baby rooms in.
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Baby Blanket/Swaddle – to secure the baby when going home and keep him warm.
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Car Seat/ Baby Carriage – though optional because some moms prefer to carry the baby, some would like to have the baby in his carriage as they travel home.
We hope that this concise & practical hospital bag checklist will help you prepare for your most anticipated day, the arrival of your newborn baby. Enjoy motherhood!
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