Motherhood: Hospital Bag

[Caution: This post is going to be dry due to lack of photos]

Different hospitals will provide different items in their maternity bag (e.g. If you are admitted to TMC which gives homecoming baby wear, you can choose not bring along baby wear). So before you pack, do check with the nurses when you go for your hospital tour.

A month before my EDD (36 weeks), I had my hospital bag packed. Within my hospital bag, I have a labour pouch which contained items required for the delivery. I squeezed everything into one hand carry bag so as to minimise potential confusion.

The base list I used was from Mt A[1]. On top of that, I googled a few others websites before reaching this configuration:

Labour pouch:

1. Wallets (NRICs, loose change, credit card, etc)
2. Gynae's admission letter (Your gynae should give this to you later part of third trimester or nearer to your EDD.)
3. Prenatal checks receipts to claim Medisave
4. Camera (Mt A does not allow videography)
5. Handphones, Handphone chargers and power banks
6. Novel
7. Snacks
8. Sweaters
9. Socks
10. Keys (house key and car key)

Hospital bag - My Items:

1. Sleep wears: I choose pyjamas with front opening for ease of breastfeeding. You may find these at pasar malam or Chinatown complex.
2. Foot wears (socks and slippers)
3. Disposable panties
4. Nursing bras
5. Toiletries: toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, face products, body wash, etc. Mt A provided toiletries and face towel, but I brought my own due to personal preference.
6. Bath towel
7. Body lotion
8. Night-use extra long sanitary pads: Mt A provided 1 pack of Kotex maternity loop-pads. I brought my night wear sanitary pad as standby.
9. Homecoming clothes

Hubby's Items:

1. Toiletries
2. Bath towel
3. Disposable underwear
4. Sleep wears
5. Foot wears (socks and slippers)
6. Shaver
7. Homecoming clothes
8. Laptop, laptop charger and usb connector (to transfer photos)

QW's Items:

1. Receiving blanket with hood
2. Homecoming onesie (or romper)

What I did not bring but was on Mt A's suggested list:

1. Mittens and booties: I heard from my friends that they kept falling off and I did not think I would have much brain power left to take stock of them. In any case, QW seldom wear mittens because we believe in letting her explore her sense of touch.
2. Marriage certificate: QW's name was to be calculated based on her bazi (八字) after we got her birth details. Hence, we did not expect to register her name during our stay there.

Nice to have but I did not bring:

1. Breast pump: I was told by one of the lactation consultants that it would help to stimulate production of breast milk. You can always rent it from Mt A for $20 per day (rates subjected to Mt A's changes) if you left it out.
2. Birth plan[2]: Personally, I felt that nothing was more important than QW's safety. Hence, my birth plan was flexible. Do discuss your birth plan (especially pain management, type of assisted delivery, etc) beforehand with your gynae.
3. Breast pads: I did not expect to have over supply within my stay there. In any case, philips avent did include free breast pads in Mt A's maternity bag.
4. Nipple cream: Don't worry if you forget this. There is a free sample, albeit small amount, from philips avent in Mt A's maternity bag.
5. Stool softeners: I got some prunes thanks to my friendly bed-neighbour.
6. Belly binder
7. Cosmetics

References

1. Mt A - Hospital bag suggestions
2. Dumex - Birth plan
3. Singapore baby - Free printable maternity bag checklist
4. Babycenter - Hospital bag checklist