What to pack in your hospital bag for natural childbirth

There’s nothing like trying to plan childbirth. Epidural or not? Doula, midwife, or doctor? Giving birth at home, the birthing center, or the hospital? We take preparation classes for childbirth classes, is your partner coming?

Personally, I want it to be as natural as possible. I want to use my mind and my hypnobirthing tips to get through the experience.

And I prepared my suitcase according to that. Please don’t be frightened, as I do bring a little more than what a regular hospital trip would require.

Why? Well, if medication isn’t involved, you have to gather items and techniques to get through it. I have a hard time believing you can go through giving birth without a minimum of self-preparation. Also, partner-preparation since let’s get real, it will be him who will do most of the support while I’ll be losing my mind after so much pain!

I go deeper on the subject of hypnobirthing we did pre-childbirth. It was, for me, the base of my preparation, and I packed the essentials for a natural birth giving after following these classes.

We start at the principle where you have to fulfill all of your senses to succeed in your natural childbirth. Therefore, the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch have to be filled up. When you take every aspect into perspective, you make sure that you have better control over your mind and that you will achieve your goal. I am well aware that once you’ve started anything can happen, but if you’re not prepared to face physiologic childbirth, then your chances to succeed are low!

So here is the list of my hospital suitcase’s content for natural childbirth.

FILLING UP ALL YOUR SENSES

SIGHT

• 8 flameless candles: The idea is to create a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere. Your partner will be responsible for setting them up, dimming the light and ensuring that mommy is feeling relaxed.
• 1 fairy light set: For an even more relaxed mood.

HEARING

• 1 pair of headphones: To listen to relaxation music or your childbirth playlist.
• The Freya app: To help you count your breaths and to improve relaxation with positive affirmations.
• A portable speaker: You might not feel like putting on headphones. If that’s the case, then your partner will take care of the music.

SMELL

• An essential oil vaporizer: Just like at the spa! To create a soothing mood you’ll like. Mine has lavender, rosemary, and eucalyptus.
• Your favourite essential oils: For punctual use.

TASTE

• A tall water bottle: Your partner’s first mission is to make sure that you stay hydrated the whole time.
• Refreshing drinks: To help you hydrate while keeping you energized.
• Snacks: To avoid getting through this on an empty stomach, you will need plenty!

TOUCH

• Your pillow: To feel at home.
• Relaxation techniques: This part is your partner’s job since he learned all that through classes!
• A TENS machine: To help you deal with your contractions.

MOTHERHOOD ESSENTIALS

BEAUTY KIT

• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Hairbrush
• Hairbands
• Body soap
• Deodorant
• Body sized towel (in case you’re planning on taking a shower)
• Regular Gravols causing drowsiness (to help you relax, and following your doctor’s recommendations)
• Laxatives (just so that, you know, everything goes smoothly the next day, and following your doctor’s recommendations) 😉

COMFORT

• A sports bra (very useful if you plan on using the bath)
• 2 breastfeeding bralettes and 3-days of underwears
• 1 bathrobe
• 3 pyjamas
• 3 pairs of warm socks
• 1 pair of flip flops
• 1 pair of slippers
• Earplugs
• 1 bag for your dirty laundry
• 1 long phone charger

For your little vagina and your nipples

• Nipple cream (if you plan on breastfeeding it’s recommended to apply from the very first feeding)
• Padsicles (a frozen pad with synthetic ice to chill your tiny vagina and to help with the pain.)
• 9 mommy diapers 
• Witch hazel perineal spray
• Peri bottle or your softest toilet paper roll

That’s about all that’s in my hospital suitcase. I will shortly write on the hypnobirthing topic regarding childbirth.

Meanwhile, if you are about to give birth, I hope this long list to carry with you will help to ease your birth-giving.

Psst: If you ever wish to see a more traditional hospital suitcase, know that Léa has already written an article on the subject, just here.

This post was translated from French to English by: