15 Birth Bag Essentials

How to pack the perfect birth bag. Whether you are giving birth at home or in hospital, be prepared. Packing at 35 weeks is ideal in case the baby arrives early. The last thing you want to do when labour begins is try to pack a hospital bag. The key is to pack the essentials. Think about what you will need during the birth and what you and the baby will need afterwards. Try not to overpack, as you may leave hospital with more belongings than you brought.

Here is what you could pack:

1. Documents: your birth plan, while remaining open to changes in case events do not go entirely to plan. Registration documents and insurance card
2. Comfortable clothing: a cotton maternity dress, dressing gown, yoga or pyjama trousers, leggings and nursing tops for easy breastfeeding. Nursing bras, underwear, socks, slippers, comfortable flip-flops, sports bras or a bikini top (for a water birth if you do not want to be topless). Going-home clothes for you and the baby, hair ties or headbands, and a pillow
3. Music: use iTunes or Spotify to create your own personal playlist
4. Essential oils: lavender or clary sage to help during labour
5. Homeopathic remedies: arnica to help during the pushing stage and after birth, and gelsemium to keep labour progressing and help turn breech babies.
6. Heating pad: for use after the birth
7. Snacks: nut butter, protein bars or trail mix for when you become hungry
8. Drinks: coconut water and a Labor Aid electrolyte drink to replace lost electrolytes. Red raspberry leaf tea to strengthen the uterus, or read our blog about making your own drink
9. Electronics: phones, cameras, tablets or anything else you want to use to let friends and family know your little one has arrived. Remember to pack chargers too
10. Labour aids: such as a birthing ball, rebozo, rice bag, tennis ball and massager to help you relax and stay calm before and after the birth
11. Toiletries: natural soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, natural deodorant, lip balm, shampoo, conditioner and natural body oil/cream
12. Breastfeeding essentials: nipple cream for sore nipples and breast pads for any leaking
13. Postnatal care: panty liners or cloth sanitary pads for bleeding after birth. After Ease to soothe postpartum discomfort, herbal sitz spray to help the area below heal more quickly, and shower syringes for home births
14. For the baby: blankets, clothes, cotton or non-toxic nappies, and cotton or non-toxic baby wipes. Natural baby soap if you want to bathe the baby, natural baby oil or cream, and a car seat for the journey home
15. Thoughts: it is also lovely to have birth affirmations, photographs of family members and a baby scrapbook/journal in which to write thoughts or place snapshots.