The birth is approaching? Checklist for preparing your bag
From the 36th week of pregnancy, start slowly preparing your belongings for your stay at the maternity hospital. Packing carefully and well in advance means you won't have any last-minute anxieties. But what exactly should you pack?
As labour can start at any time from the 36th week, it's best to have a suitcase or bag ready with the necessary things. Once the contractions have started, you won't be thinking about it at all. This also applies to home births, as you may indeed have complications and be taken to hospital.
This checklist should help you see things more clearly and give you an idea of what you should/could pack.
For the mum-to-be
- Toiletries and medication, if necessary
- Pajamas
- Comfortable clothes and maternity t-shirts with an opening for breastfeeding
- An old long t-shirt for delivery (may have blood or amniotic fluid stains after delivery)
- Underwear and socks
- Nursing bras
- Slippers
- Change of clothes for going home
For baby
- Some clothes if you don't want to use the hospital ones (onesies, rompers, bonnet, etc)
- Garments for when you return home, appropriate for the season (bodysuits, jumper, romper or romper, jacket, hat, socks or slippers)
- Your own dummies and bibs if you wish
- A maxi-cosi or baby carrier
- A blanket
Documents
The documents required depend on the situation.
- Blood group card
- Health insurance card
- Allergy passport and maternity booklet, if you have them
- For married women: family record book
- For single or separated women: civil status certificate, residence permit if you are not Swiss and, if possible, acknowledgement of paternity
- For women of foreign nationality: passport, residence permit, family record book if possible, parents' marriage or birth certificate.
What we tend to forget
- Phone and charger
- Camera and charger
- Book, magazine, music for entertainment
- Lipstick
- Glucose to regain strength
- Hair elastic
- Money for vending machines (in case of late-night cravings)
- Spare glasses and/or contact lenses
10 bonus tips:
- Fill in and sign the documents for the acknowledgement of paternity and custody rights before the birth. This way everything is sorted out in advance, even in an emergency.
- Register the baby with the health insurance fund before birth. This ensures that you are insured for the birth.
- Go to the maternity ward beforehand to spot the route and not make a mistake in the panic.
- Pack snacks and drinks for both of you to keep your strength up during the birth.
- Some hospitals and maternity wards let you take along music, a home fragrance or any other gadget that might make the birth easier.
- Don't forget a change of clothes and dad-to-be's things, in case the birth lasts longer than expected or if you've booked a family room.
- Breasts swell as milk comes in, so remember to take nursing bras that are large enough (and if possible, without underwiring) so as not to interfere with lactation by compressing the chest.
- In many hospitals/maternity hospitals, a photographer comes to take photos of the newborn. Make sure you have a nice outfit for your baby.
- You will not normally stay in hospital for just one day. This means you don't have to take everything with you on the first day. Your spouse or partner can bring the things you need for the trip home later.
- For car journeys home, a baby seat is compulsory. If you're walking home, you can take a pushchair or baby carrier.
I’m the cook, cleaner, police officer, nurse, entertainer, motivator, author, storyteller, coach, organiser, chauffeur, lawyer and judge. To put it simply, I’m a mum to a daughter and not just a (Content) Manager at the office but also at home.