What you pack in your bag to take to your birthing facility is a very personal choice, but here are some guidelines on things you will likely find useful!
For māmā in labour
- Comfortable clothes that wash easily, including a few pairs of cotton underwear – birth is messy!
- Your birth plan, and anything that it calls for – TENS machine, massage oil, rongoā, a speaker for music, aromatherapy oils etc
- A water bottle & lip balm – air conditioning in maternity facilities can really dry you out, especially in hospitals
- A few hair ties – birth is a sweaty process, and hair ties are particularly important if your birth plan includes an epidural as hair needs to be out of the way for this
- Toiletries for after baby is born – body wash, deodorant
- Maternity pads – the ones provided by facilities are not always the most comfortable
- Nice toilet paper – facility toilet paper is notoriously 1-ply, and not the nicest after birth
- Snacks and drinks for energy – this is a time you want the full sugar variant of everything!
- Hard lollies (eg barley sugars), glucose tablets, or honey for energy – not sugar free! (unless you are diabetic, in which case talk to your midwife about their recommendations)
- Any medications you usually take
If you are being induced, make sure you pack clothes and snacks for three days of induction, as they may take that long!
For māmā after birth
- Comfortable clothes/pyjamas – ones that open at the front if you’re planning to breastfeed
- Most people stay in their chosen facility for 24-48 hours after birth, so pack for about two days
- Breastfeeding bras (or sports bras if you’re not planning to breastfeed – underwires are not comfortable in those first days after birth)
- Breast pads to catch any leaks
- Plenty of cotton underwear and maternity pads – you will bleed after birth, whether you have a vaginal birth or a caesarean section
- Slippers & easy to put on shoes – bending down to tie shoelaces after birth may not be the most comfy!
- Toiletries – most facilities have some hand wash/soap available, but having your own may make you more comfortable
- shampoo/conditioner
- toothbrush/toothpaste
- body wash/soap
- hair brush
- deodorant
- toilet paper – facility toilet paper is usually 1-ply and not very soft!
- Any medications you usually take
For pēpi in facility
- A first outfit, packed in a zip-lock bag so it’s easy to find when it comes time to dress pēpi for the first time
- Merino singlet
- All-in-one suit/stretch & grow/nightgown
- Socks
- Wool hat
- Wool cardigan
- Many facilities provide newborn nappies, but check with your local facility or midwife about this – you may need to bring them with you
- Clothing – amounts are suggested, based on a 48 hour stay
- Merino/cotton singlets x4
- All-in-one suits/stretch and grows/nightgowns x4
- Woolen hat x1
- Woolen jersey/cardigan x2
- Socks x2
- Baby wipes, if you would like to use them – most facilities will provide specific face cloths and water or one-use wipes and water, but if you prefer the convenience of baby wipes, you’ll need to bring your own
- A lightweight (muslin) wrap if you would like to wrap your baby in non-facility linen
For pēpi going home
- An appropriate car seat that you know how to fit into your car – do a trial run first!
- A going home outfit
- All-in-one/stretch & grow (must have separate legs so that the car seat harness fits properly)
- Merino or cotton singlet, depending on the time of year
- Socks
- Wool hat & cardigan
- A warm blanket to go over baby & harness in car seat, especially if it’s cold out
For support people
Some facilities allow support people to stay overnight, especially if you are being induced. Useful things for them to have include:
- A change of clothes/pyjamas
- A water bottle & snacks of their own
- Any toiletries they need
- Most facilities will provide a pillow and blanket, but bringing your own is not a bad idea – these can be left in the car until needed
Please note that any support people should be fully dressed in either clothes or pyjamas while not skin-to-skin with baby, especially when leaving your room.