Your Labor Bag: New and Different Items to Consider

If you are an expectant mother, you will need to pack a bag or suitcase for when you go into labor. This will be a bag that is packed ahead of time and will include all of the items that you need at the hospital. There are many regular items that you know you will need. You know to pack you some clothes and also personal care items, and also many items for the baby. These are very easy to pack, but there are many items that might slip your mind.

There are many items that you can also take to make you feel more at home. I will now list items that you will want to take with you for this purpose. First you will want to take a camera. If you are scared of forgetting your camera, you should pack it in your bag. Make sure that you pack extra batteries and film if it takes it. You may also want to take a video camera. If you want to tape the birth, you need to find out if the hospital allows you to tape in the room and what they do or do not want you to tape. Many times you cannot tape the birth now. You may still want to bring the video camera though because you can tape a video after the birth. This can be used to show the first days of your baby's life. You may also have someone at the hospital that will tape the waiting room and people's last minute thoughts on the birth or advice for you or the baby, it will be something nice to look back on.

If you would like to be more comfortable, you can bring your pillow from home. You can bring two or three if you want. The hospitals do not care about this because it just makes you more comfortable. You can also bring a favorite CD that you can listen to while you are in labor. Most hospitals have a CD player in the birthing rooms now because it is a way that you can relax. Another great thing to bring is a photo of something that you like. This can be used as a focal point during the delivery. A great suggestion is a picture of a favorite vacation spot. It will make you feel relaxed.

Another item you may want to pack is snacks. If you are one of the people that doesn't really like hospital food, you can bring your own snacks. These are great to if you have other children that will be visiting you after the birth. You can give them a snack easily.

Do not forget to pack your baby book. This is great to have with you because you can easily fill out information on the birth. You can do it when you feel like it after the birth more accurately than waiting until you get home. Also most of the hospitals will put the baby's footprints and handprints in the book for you. This is a great way to get the baby book jumpstarted. You can also even bring your birth announcements. You can fill them out with the information and then you will have them ready to send.

If there are any more items that you would like to bring to make you more comfortable during or after the birth, most hospitals permit this. Always make sure you can bring the items. You do not want to come to the hospital and find out that you are not allowed to do or bring some things.