You’re all prepped and your home is ready for baby’s arrival. It’s time to get yourself ready for the labour room. Here’s a list of what to pack in your labour bag, or at least from my experience with Baby #1, haha.
Important Items/Documents (Original copies)
- Post Natal medications (if your gynae prescribes them to you beforehand)
- Identity Card or Passport (for foreigners)
- Spouse’s/Parent’s Identity Card or Passport (for foreigners)
- Doctor’s Admission Letter & medical health reports
- Original marriage certificate for registration of baby’s birth certificate (unless you use the LifeSG app to register)
- A note with your baby’s full name in English and Chinese, so that daddy won’t make a mistake while registering for Baby’s birth cert, hehe.
In the Labour Bag for Mum (in order of what you will need from arrival to discharge)
- Chargers for phone, iPad, kindle, or any other device (cause digital age)
- Hair tie (cause messy hair just doesn’t help a panting mummy in labour)
- Comfy socks, cause it does get quite cold in the delivery ward
- Diapers/Maternity Pads
- I highly recommend Depend underwear (aka comfy diapers). So you don’t risk staining your comfy cotton undies, and also then there’s no need to pack extra stuff.
- Nursing bra and cover, for decency and convenience. Or go bra-less, hehe. Kidding.
- Breast pumps!
- Nipple cream. Also, have you ever heard of APNO? It’s apparently the most effective and amazing nipple ointment that is made of a special mixture of ingredients. Super fascinating, and I will probably get some from the pharmacy.
- Two loose-fitting front-opening nighties, if you don’t want to wear the hospital gown. I just made do with Mt A’s gown, comfy enough.
- Slippers, so you can walk around the ward comfortably
- Personal toiletries, if you have your preferences
- Hospitals don’t provide face wash/mouth wash, so I’d recommend bringing your own. You’d most definitely wanna wash your face and mouth after birthing, trust me. Haha.
- Otherwise Mt Alvernia provides a complimentary toiletry pouch consisting of shampoo, shower gel, body lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, shower cap and face towel. Which is about all that you need.
- Clothes to wear upon discharge from the hospital, I’d recommend a loose fitting dress
- Optional items to consider:
- Lip balm
- Snacks (although you may not be allowed to consume before labour, depending on your situation) / Mints for fresh breath
- Essential oils (to help you relax or alleviate any headaches)
- Donut cushion to sit on (cause help me, Lord, I could not sit down properly for two weeks)
In the Labour Bag for Hubs
- JACKET!!!
- I’d even advise Hubbies to wear long pants and shoes because it does get really cold in the delivery ward. Mt Alvernia provides blankets for husbands, upon request.
- Toiletries, cause you don’t know how long you’ll be in the hospital, and you’d want minty breaths to greet baby, haha
- Change of clothes, just in case of any messies like vomit, blood, sweat, pee, tears. Who knows what else in the delivery ward.
- SIDE NOTE: There’s free hot drinks from the dispenser at the delivery ward, so run out and get a cup when mummy isn’t enduring a contraction. My hubby had 7 cups of coffee in a span of 10 hours in the delivery ward, haha.
In the Labour Bag for Bub’s discharge
- 1 pair of mittens and booties/socks
- 1 set of baby clothing to be worn during discharge
- 1 swaddle or blanket
- 1 cap (Mt A. provides one, but if you don’t like stripes design, bring your own)
- 1 face towel
Other Things to Note
- You will go home with a Mt Alvernia bath tub, which I love. It’s just a no frills plastic tub, but very convenient and easy to clean, unlike those new age foldable silicone ones that gets dirty. Kinda wish it came in nicer colours though, hehe.
- Oh and you will also bring home the cooling pads, maternity pads, and other items that you paid for but did not use finish.
byamandagrace 