Hospital bag for the birth: This really belongs in it!

Packing the perfect hospital bag is a matter of type: You don't have to turn up in the delivery room armed with a large suitcase and really everything you could need for every eventuality. Really not. Of course, it can make sense to have your own things with you to make the birth and especially a potential stay in the hospital a little more comfortable - it all depends on what you feel most comfortable with!

Basically, there are only a few things without which you are really stuck in the hospital and which should not be missing in your hospital bag: your maternity card and your health insurance card . That's about it, what is really necessary to have with you - because in a pinch there is everything else in the hospital.

Of course, since we know – from our own experience – how useful a checklist can be when the nest-building instinct kicks in so slowly, we have summarized the things here that can be really good to have with you. Mom and midwife approved! Whether you will need them all, you will probably only know when the time comes - but with this list you are definitely on the safe side.

Incidentally, it can make perfect sense to pack two bags at once (and at best not at the very last minute): one with essentials for the delivery room, and a bag for a stay on the maternity ward if you cannot or do not want to give birth on an outpatient basis.

RIGHT AHEAD: WHAT YOU CAN DEFINITELY LEAVE AT HOME

• Pads, nursing pads and disposable underpants for you, as well as nappies and, if you like, even clothes for your baby: this will of course be provided to you throughout your stay
• Towels: There are enough of these in the delivery room, but it can be nice to have your own on the maternity ward
• Child seat and all accessories: You really don't need that in the delivery room (and it might give you a wry look or two if you try to carry everything from A to B during labour), but it's absolutely sufficient if it's there when you pick it up is

IN THE DELIVERY ROOM

FOR THE STAY ON THE CHILDREN'S WARD

• Lightweight Bathrobe or Kaftan: Great for throwing on so you can feel comfortable and ready to wear something
• Postpartum clothing: Especially after a c-section if you are staying for a few days, it is good to have something extra with you:
• Comfortable undershirts and nursing bras (e.g. from ooia)
• Leggings (e.g. from The Mama Set, you can also wear these without a baby bump, folded over they provide extra support for the stomach after the birth)
• Shorts or loose pants for sleeping
• Warm socks
• Comfortable underwear that can get bloody if need be – period underwear (e.g. from ooia) is great later in childbirth, maternity underpants and panties that you might soon want to discard will also work at first
• 3-phase abdominal belt: Suitable both after a spontaneous birth and after a caesarean section to give your core, which is very unstable after the birth, support and support - also helpful in the event of severe after-pains or severe diastasis recti (the straight abdominal muscles standing apart)
• Soft toilet paper: Sounds silly, but it's really worth it, because the toilet paper in the hospital is absolutely not what you want to put your sensitive perineum through after giving birth. Also really good: The wet wipes from Lillydoo with 99% water!
• Peribottle or butt shower: Especially beneficial for birth injuries - with pure water, some calendula essence or even our favorite sitz bath to rinse off during the first trips to the toilet after birth
• Thin blanket: What applies to toilet paper also applies to bed linen – your own light but soft blanket can really make your stay more beautiful
• Toiletry bag: toothbrush, your own creams and cosmetics that you need to feel good (very important: avoid strongly perfumed products, they can irritate your baby) and care products for you and your baby

CARE PRODUCTS FOR MOM AND BABY

• Recover Spray from into life: For the sensitive perineal area after childbirth
• Sitz bath from the Bahnhof Apotheke Kempten: For rinsing, later in the childbirth also suitable for real baths and sore baby bottoms
• Calendula essence from Weleda: As an alternative or in addition to the sitz bath for the buttock shower, but also diluted in the pad it is an absolute blessing that supports healing - and can also be used later to care for your baby's navel
• Almond Oil by Voyanics
• Lip balm if it is not already in the delivery room bag
• Multi Mam compresses for irritated nipples
• Livella 's silver hat: So good to have, especially for longer stays and initial breastfeeding problems!
• Comfrey ointment from the Bahnhof Apotheke Kempten: As a wound ointment for mum and baby for really everything - e.g. scraped vulva lips or sores on the baby

FOR YOUR BABY

• Clothing for after the birth, or at the latest for the way home:
• Cotton wrap body in size 50
• Schlüttli or cardigan made of wool & silk or wool in size 56
• Leggings or trousers made of wool & silk or wool in size 56
• Newborn hat made of wool silk in size 37cm
• Wool socks in size 15/16
• Knitted slippers in size 50/56
• Clothes for outside depending on the season for the journey home, in winter a boiled wool suit, in summer a thicker cardigan is sufficient
• Baby blanket made of wool: It's best when it already has your own scent - so you can already have it in bed in the last few weeks before the birth
• Nursing pillow or a comfortable pillow: Can be cozy for the start of breastfeeding, or even used in the delivery room for resting (but beware, it can also get dirty quickly there!)

DOCUMENTS

• maternity pass
• health insurance card
• Valid identity cards and birth certificates (original or certified copies) of the parents: For the birth registration, which you can do directly at the registry office in most hospitals on weekdays - here you may also need the marriage certificate or alternatively the acknowledgment of paternity and declaration of custody (this is at best already clarified before the birth at the youth welfare office or notary)
• Tip: Take everything with you in a folder so that nothing flies around or gets lost

TECHNOLOGY

• Cell phone and charging cable
• camera
• If you like: A small, portable box for music or headphones if you want to shield yourself a little during the birth
  

IMPORTANT FOR THE PARTNER

• Comfortable clothing: A birth can take a little longer and he or she is usually involved in the birth positions - for water births it is also worth having extra underwear or swimming trunks with you
• Also (washable/comfortable) slippers
• Can't hurt: toothbrush for well-being
• Your own bag with basics for a stay in a family room: It is a good idea to inquire about capacity and costs at the clinic of your choice beforehand!

SNACKS

• A few bites for in between: Even if you don't have a great appetite during the birth, these give you strength and you can choose in advance what you want to have with you
• Important: The accompanying person should also eat regularly in order to remain strong, circulatory stable and resilient!
• A few healthy bars, fresh fruit or even a yoghurt, quetschie or your favorite chocolate - whatever you feel like!
• Drinking bottle with straw: So you can have a drink in any birthing position
• Snacks for after the birth: Also really good on the maternity ward - unfortunately the food supply in hospitals is still really bad
• But don't worry: you can now order good food at most postpartum wards

NICE TO HAVE:

• What can be nice to have: A notebook in which you can write down the most important memories after or during the birth
• A room scent for the delivery room: Just see what is good for you - for example, there is a "delivery scent" from the pharmacy in the train station
• Lavender or childbirth oil: Can be good for massages during childbirth - but if necessary, the almond oil that you have with you in your toiletry bag will also do