The difference between your Labour Bag and your Hospital Bag

Your Labour Bag (Labor Bag) contains the items you need for when you are in the delivery room/operating theatre. These items include what you are planning on wearing during labour. Note if you end up having an epidural or a caesarean birth, you will probably end up wearing a hospital gown. You may also want to have some snacks (e.g. glucose sugar lollies to sustain your energy in the event of a long labour) and water bottle to keep you. Some women like to have items such as a heat pack, meditation tape, stress ball, relaxation CD, massage oil or a TENS machine to assist in pain relief. And don’t forget your camera and your mobile phone – just in case you want to share your moment with the rest of the world!
 
It is also handy to separate out an outfit for you newborn baby. It saves you wading through your Hospital Bag for a set of clothes. You typically need a singlet, jumpsuit (that covers both the newborn’s arms and legs), a hat, and a wrap/blanket to swaddle your newborn baby.

Your Hospital Bag (Maternity Bag) contains the items you need for your stay in hospital. Depending on the expected length of your hospital stay, the number of each item you pack may vary. But generally speaking you need any current medication/vitamins you are taking, your Medicare and private health insurance (if covered) details. You should also bring your blood grouping card. Sanitary pads are required after you have given birth (even if you have had a caesarean delivery). Women can bleed for a few weeks after birth. At Parent Packs, we suggest packing 1 pack of maternity pads and 2 packs of regular pads. Maternity pads are more absorbent than regular pads, but they can be bulky and uncomfortable. We recommend Kotex Maternity and Kotex Regular Pads.

If you are intending on breastfeeding, breast pads are great for catching leaks before they hit your clothes! A nipple cream, such as Lucas Papaw Ointment is great for healing cracked and sore nipples. Maternity bras and maternity feeding tops make breastfeeding more comfortable and allow you to feed without revealing too much flesh!

Your hospital bag should also contain your sleepwear, comfortable clothes for wearing during the day at hospital – whether it is simply a dressing gown and slippers over your sleepwear, or tracksuit pants and slip on shoes. And make sure you don’t forget to pack an outfit for leaving hospital in – you may not want to be caught wearing your pyjamas on the main street out the front of the hospital! Toiletries are a must also, and you may want to consider packing your hairdryer if you think you may want to feel a bit more presentable than you may be feeling!

You will also need to pack some newborn baby clothes. Size 0000 is considered newborn size. But small/premature babies generally wear ‘premmie’ or size 00000 clothes. Larger babies can sometimes fit 000. And just to complicate matters, baby clothing from different manufactures can also vary considerable in its sizing’s. However, most people tend to purchase size 0000 for their newborn baby. You will need singlets, jumpsuits, wraps, blankets, hats, socks and a going home outfit. At Parent Packs we just love Marquise singlets - they are extermely soft and are 100% cotton.

Parent Packs have created a comprehensive Baby Checklist which outlines the essential items you need for your Labour Bag (Labor Bag) and your Hospital Bag. Check out our Baby Checklist

Parent Packs also have pre-packed maternity bags. For example our Basic Hospital pack can be put straight into you Hospital Bag and it contains the basic essentials you need for your stay in hospital. Check out Basic Hospital Pack, or Maternity Packs to view all our pre-packed bags.

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