For labor and delivery:

• Two pillows (one for you and one for your partner)
• A pair of old socks
• A small battery operated fan (pushing is “hot” work)
• Bottled water (tap water is available at the hospital)
• Energy drinks such as Gatorade, etc. Do not bring caffeinated drinks such as Red Bull, etc.
• Popsicles (do not bring ice-cream)
• Gum or some candies to suck on (avoid chocolates as you are not allowed to eat during labor)
• Spritzer bottle to spray water on your face to help freshen you up or cool you down during pushing
• Massage oils or aroma therapy
• Assorted music. CDs plus CD player or IPods with speakers,
• Camera and video camera. Remember to charge the camera and have a large memory card
• Birth plan or a list of requests for physicians and nursing staff (optional)
• List of contacts to call after the delivery
• A large bag to carry all of the above
• Other personal affects such as photos of other children, family or pets that you might want to have with you in the labor room.
• Assorted reading material i.e. magazines, prenatal books, baby name books, etc.
• Cell phones (these can be used in the hospital)

After the delivery you may want to use the following in hospital:

• Housecoat
• Slippers
• Toiletries (whatever you use on a daily basis)
• Dental care
• Hairbrush, shampoos, soaps, makeup, etc.
• Maxi pads
• Breastfeeding bra, breastfeeding pads, lanolin cream for nipple care
• One or two small cans of premixed formula and a small bottle with nipple. I recommend Nestle good start formula but any newborn formula will do.
• Tucks’ medicated pads
• Old pair of underwear.  You are given one pair of disposable underwear. You can buy more pairs of disposable underwear at the gift shop

For baby:

• Two baby outfits including hat.
• Receiving blankets
• Vest
• Gloves or mittens to prevent baby from scratching their faces. They need to look good in the photo’s
• Cuticle cutters to trim baby’s nails. Nail clippers do not work and you cannot bite the babies nails as the books suggest you do.
• Barrier cream/diaper cream
• Some newborn diapers (diapers will be provided by the hospital)
• Car seat

• Get a green cabbage, medium size, from the store and put it in the freezer. The frozen cabbage leaves are great to use if you get breast engorgement. See the section on breast-feeding.
• Take some maxi pads, wet them, and put them in the freezer. They work great as ice packs for your sore, swollen bottom.
• Get a belli band. There are many different types on the market. You can get them from most maternity stores, medical supply stores or even at most of the larger pharmacies. The band goes around you belly and helps to pull it in. Very useful if this is not your first pregnancy when your belly can look bigger and can carry further forward. Once your belly is no longer tender the bellyband feels great to wear as will give you support to your belly and back and also make you look slimmer. You can start to use this whenever it feels comfortable.