What to Pack For Your Birth

One of the most common topics we discuss with the families who hire us is what to pack for your birth.

The decision about what to pack for your birth is a common focus as your due date approaches.  Not to mention friends, family, doctors and doulas alike are all asking “Have you packed your bag yet?” To be sure, having that bag packed and ready to go is a parenting rite of passage!

It is common to meet with families who have given birth before to find that they will ask us to help narrow down what they need to pack this time.  Overpacking is common.  This is a monumental event in your life. It’s an entirely unpredictable day in terms of what you might need.

Over the years, we have tailored our recommendations on what to pack.

Today most families carry their labor playlists on their smartphones. So the days of CD players and batteries are a thing of the past. Your list of who to call when your baby is born has been replaced with group text messages. Your family and friends will meet your new baby in real-time. Between calling, texting, and video chatting having your charger at hand is essential!

As you start thinking about what to pack for your baby’s birth, we recommend you pack two bags. 

Planning to use one bag for labor and another for your postpartum recovery reduces the number of bags that need to be carried into the hospital as you arrive.

Our suggestions for what to pack can be found in the graphic below. Download your PDF copy here: Labor & Postpartum Bag Checklist

Once you have gathered the items you’d like to take, we recommend the following:

• Lay everything out on a table or bed
• Have your partner/support person pack the bags
  • During labor, the partner is usually the individual who retrieves necessary items from the bag as requested.  When the partner packs the bags, they remember where the items are located. They are also able to retrieve the items more quickly and neatly.
• Remember that most birthing facilities will have staple items like shampoo/conditioner. In addition, they also stock feminine pads, diapers, and wipes that are available to you. If your chosen birthing facility does not, be sure to pack these additional items.
• If you forget something at home, utilize your visitors or family. Assign them the task of retrieving it for you at home. Or send them to a nearby store to buy the item(s) you need.  It’s ok if you forget something!

There’s no way to prepare for every eventuality in labor. Packing the essentials outlined above and adding a few of your own will surely set you up for success!

Looking for more information on what to pack for your birth and why? Listen to our podcast episode on “What to Pack for Your Birth” over at our podcast website, The Doula Download, or click play below to listen.