What you should have in your hospital bag

You're in the final stretch, with only a few weeks to go before your due date. Now's the time to gather together all the essentials you'll need during labour and birth and for after your baby is born. Even if you're not planning a hospital birth, you may need to go in unexpectedly, so it's a good idea to have a bag packed by the time you are about 36 weeks pregnant.

Hospitals vary in their policies about what you are allowed to bring with you when you have your baby. You may want to take a few items from home, such as your own pillow, to make the environment more personal and less clinical. Check what the hospital provides and what you can bring yourself, but be aware that hospitals can be short on space.

Baby in A Suite Case

If you wanted, you could pack two bags: one for labour and the hours immediately after your baby is born, and another for a stay on the maternity ward.

If you're driving to the hospital, you could leave the second bag in the car. If you have a straightforward birth, you may be discharged from hospital on the same day (NS 2007), so you might not need the second bag at all.

See our list below for what you'll need to take for your big day.

And we've made it easy for you to be really organized. To make sure you don't forget anything, simply print out our handy checklist.

What to pack for labour

• Your birth plan and prenatal medical records.
• Robe or dressing gown. This will be useful if you end up pacing hospital corridors in early labour and you'll need one for after if you're staying overnight. Hospitals can be very warm, so a lightweight one may be better.
• Slippers
• Socks. Believe it or not, your feet can get cold during labour.
• An old nightdress or a T shirt to wear in labour. It will probably get a bit messy, so don't buy anything specially to wear in hospital.
• Massage oil or lotion if you would like to be massaged during your labour.
• Lip balm
• Snacks and drinks for you while you are in labour. Isotonic sports drinks are good (NCCWCH 2007: 86).
• Things to help you relax or pass the time, such as books, magazines, games and so on.
• A headband or elastic. If you have long hair, you might want it tied up.
• Pillows. The hospital might not have enough to make you really comfortable.
• TENS pain relief machine, if you are planning to use one. If you're interested in trying this, you'll need to arrange it in advance with a local physiotherapist.
• Toiletries
• Music to listen to. Take a battery-operated machine, as most hospitals won't let you plug things in. Some hospitals provide their own CD players or radios - again, check first.

For the birth partner

• Water spray, or a hand-held fan to keep cool down the mom-to-be while she's in labour.
• Comfortable shoes. You may be pacing the corridors!
• A change of clothes
• Watch with a second hand, to time contractions.
• Swimwear, if you want to join the mom-to-be in a birth pool. Check with your hospital to see if this is an option.
• Digital camera or video camera.
• Address book or a list of phone numbers. You and your partner will be able to use a mobile phone in parts of the hospital, but bring lots of change or a prepaid phone card just in case, for all the calls you may want to make.
• Snacks and drinks. You don't want a dehydrated, hungry birth partner looking after you and if you take some with you, they can stay with you rather than leaving the room to search for food!

For after the birth

• A going-home outfit. You'll need loose comfortable clothes to wear while you're in hospital and for the journey home. It will take a while for your belly to go down, so you'll be still wearing maternity clothes when you come home - sorry!
• Nursing bras. Take two or three.
• Breast pads
• Maxi pads. Bring a couple of packs.
• Nightshirt or T-shirt. Front-opening shirts are useful in the early days of breastfeeding.
• Toiletries
• Towels, hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Old or cheap underwear, or disposable panties. Don't bring your best ones as they will get messy.
• Arnica tablets to help with bruising after the birth. Although there's no conclusive evidence that they work (NHS 2007), many women report that taking arnica helps reduce bruising and helps the healing process.
• Ear plugs, in case you end up on a noisy ward!

For your baby

• An infant car seat. Some hospitals won't let you leave by car without one.
• One outfit for the trip home (all-in-one stretchy outfits are easiest).
• Two or three sleepsuits for baby to wear while you are in hospital.
• Baby blanket. Take a warm one if the weather is cold.
• Diapers
• One pair of socks or booties.
• Hat
• Jacket or snowsuit for winter babies.
• Burp cloths or receiving blankets

Once you've got your hospital bag organized, remind yourself of the first signs of labour so you know when it's the real thing!

Respected Readers: Need your help to keep the site up and running. please donate ! Any help is appreciated.

C-section

What is a cesarean section?

A cesarean section, or c-section, is the delivery of a baby through a surgical incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus. In certain circumstances, a c-section is scheduled in advance. In others, it's done in response to an unforeseen complication.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 30 percent of American women who gave birth in 2005 had a cesarean delivery, up from 6 percent in 1970, 17 percent in 1980, and 23 percent in 1990.

 C-section is major abdominal surgery, so it is riskier than a vaginal delivery. Moms who have c-sections are more likely to have an infection, excessive bleeding, blood clots, more postpartum pain, a longer hospital stay, and a significantly longer recovery. Injuries to the bladder or bowel, although very rare, are also more common.

C-section

In addition, if you plan to have more children, each c-section you have increases your future risk of these complications as well as placenta previa and placenta accreta. That said, not all c-sections can, or should be prevented. In some situations, a c-section is necessary for the well-being of the mother, the baby, or both.

Why would I have a planned c-section?

Sometimes it's clear that a woman will need a cesarean even before she goes into labor. Conditions that may require a planned c-section include:

You've had a previous cesarean with a "classical" vertical uterine incision or more than one previous c-section. (If you've had only one previous c-section with a horizontal incision, you may be a good candidate for a vaginal birth after cesarean, or VBAC.If you're not trying for a VBAC, your practitioner will schedule your c-section for no earlier than 39 weeks to minimize the risk that the baby's lungs are still immature.)

You've had some other kind of invasive uterine surgery, such as a myomectomy (the surgical removal of fibroids).

You're carrying more than one baby. (Some twins can be delivered vaginally, but all higher-order multiples require a c-section.)

Your baby is expected to be very large (a condition known as macrosomia). This is particularly true if you're diabetic or you had a previous baby of the same size or smaller who suffered serious trauma during a vaginal birth.

Your baby is in a breech (bottom first) or transverse (sideways) position. (In some cases, such as a twin pregnancy in which the first baby is head down but the second baby is breech, the breech baby may be delivered vaginally.)

You have placenta previa (when the placenta is so low in the uterus that it covers the cervix).

The baby has a known illness or abnormality that would make a vaginal birth risky.

You're HIV-positive, and blood tests done near the end of pregnancy show that you have a high viral load.

Why would I have an unplanned cesarean delivery?

You may need to have a c-section if problems arise that make continuing or inducing labor risky. These include the following:
Your cervix stops dilating or your baby stops moving down the birth canal, and attempts to stimulate contractions to get things moving again haven't worked.


Your baby's heart rate gives your practitioner cause for concern, and she decides that your baby can't withstand continued labor or induction.

The umbilical cord slips through your cervix (a prolapsed cord). If that happens, your baby needs to be delivered immediately because a prolapsed cord can cut off his oxygen supply.

Your placenta starts to separate from your uterine wall (placental abruption), which means your baby won't get enough oxygen unless he's delivered right away.

You have a genital herpes outbreak when you go into labor or when your water breaks (whichever happens first). Delivering your baby by c-section will help him avoid infection.

What happens right before a c-section?

First, your practitioner will explain why she believes a c-section is necessary, and you'll be asked to sign a consent form. If your prenatal practitioner is a midwife, you'll be assigned an obstetrician for the surgery who will make the final decision and get your consent.

Typically, your husband or partner can be with you during most of the preparation and for the birth. In the rare instance that a c-section is such an emergency that there's no time for your partner to change clothes — or you need general anesthesia, which would knock you out completely — your partner might not be allowed to stay in the operating room with you.

An anesthesiologist will then come by to review various pain-management options. It's rare these days to be given general anesthesia, except in the most extreme emergency situations or if you can't have regional pain relief for some reason.


More likely, you'll be given an epidural or spinal block, which will numb the lower half of your body but leave you awake and alert for the birth of your baby.

If you've already had an epidural for pain relief during labor, it'll be used for your c-section as well. Before the surgery, you'll get extra medication to ensure that you're completely numb. (You may still feel some pressure or a tugging sensation at some point during the surgery.)

A catheter is then inserted into your urethra to drain urine during the procedure, and an IV is started if you don't have one already. The top section of your pubic hair is shaved, and you're moved into an operating room.

Anesthesia will be administered, and a screen will be raised above your waist so you won't have to see the incision being made. (If you'd like to witness the moment of birth, ask a nurse to lower the screen slightly so you can see the baby but not much else.) Your partner or husband, freshly attired in operating room garb, may take a seat by your head.

How is a c-section done?

Once the anesthesia has taken effect, your belly will be swabbed with an antiseptic, and the doctor will most likely make a small, horizontal incision in the skin above your pubic bone (sometimes called a "bikini cut").

The doctor will cut through the underlying tissue, slowly working her way down to your uterus. When she reaches your abdominal muscles, she'll separate them (usually manually rather than cutting through them) and spread them to expose what's underneath.

When the doctor reaches your uterus, she'll probably make a horizontal cut in the lower section of it. This is called a low transverse incision.

In rare circumstances, the doctor will opt for a vertical or "classical" uterine incision. This might be the case if your baby is very premature and the lower part of your uterus is not yet thinned out enough to cut. (If you have a classical incision, it's much less likely that you'll be allowed to attempt a vaginal delivery with your next pregnancy.)

Then the doctor will reach in and pull out your baby. You'll have a chance to see the baby briefly before he's handed off to a pediatrician or nurse. While the staff is examining your newborn, the doctor will deliver your placenta and then begin the process of closing you up.

After your baby has been examined, the pediatrician or nurse may hand him to your partner, who can hold him right next to you so you can admire, nuzzle, and kiss him while you're being stitched up, layer by layer. The final layer — the skin — may be closed with stitches or staples, which are usually removed three days to a week later. Closing your uterus and belly will take a lot longer than opening you up, usually about 30 minutes.

After the surgery is complete, you'll be wheeled into a recovery room, where you'll be closely monitored for a few hours. If your baby is fine, he'll be with you in the recovery room and you can finally hold him.

If you plan to breastfeed, give it a try now. You may find nursing more comfortable if you and your newborn lie on your sides facing each other.

You can expect to stay in the hospital for three or four days before going home.

Respected Readers: Need your help to keep the site up and running. please donate ! Any help is appreciated.

33 Weeks Pregnant: Preparing for the Big Day!

33 Weeks Pregnant

In this article

• Pregnancy Week 33: All About You
• Pregnancy Week 33: All About Baby
• How Big Is Baby?
• What's Happening with Your Baby?
• Multiple Madness
• For Your Partner
• Fun Fact

Have you begun putting together Baby's layette?

Do you have an alternate route to the hospital mapped out? Time to get everything ready ... Baby will be here soon!

Worried about going into labor with your partner nowhere in sight?

Make sure you have your cell phone charged and ready. Also, make sure you and your partner have your doctor and hospital numbers programmed into your phones.

Pregnancy Week 33: All About You

With delivery day quickly approaching, you may already be feeling some false contractions, called Braxton Hicks. At times, you may notice your abdomen tighten and then relax. Braxton Hicks contractions help your body gear up for the real thing. If you take time to relax and put your feet up, the contractions should go away. Snagging some sleep becomes harder as your belly makes it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position.

Buying for Baby: What You Really Need

Tempted to go on a buying binge at your local baby superstore? What mom-to-be wouldn't love a decked out nursery with a matching crib, dresser, changing table combo, designer bedding, and of course a gliding rocker for late night feedings? But you don't need a fully stocked baby room—or to spend thousands of dollars—to give your baby everything she needs. There are a few items you'll want to pick up before your baby arrives, but surprisingly there are several purchases you can hold off on until your child gets older.

Infant seat (car seat): You won't be allowed to leave the hospital unless your infant is snuggly tucked into a car seat. When car seat shopping, you'll find a variety of cloth styles, handle designs, and prices. Try out several models before you buy. Many parents enjoy travel systems that include a stroller. (These allow you to take Baby, still in her infant car seat, from your car and click the seat right into a stroller.) While you're shopping, remember that your baby will log many hours in this seat: For the first year of his life he'll be facing backwards in his seat while riding in cars. You'll also be carrying him in this seat on errands. In fact, many store shopping carts are designed to have baby seats clip into the front.

Diaper Bag: Another must-have, diaper bags have grown up over the years. In style are sleek, efficient bags that can carry bottles, diapers, and wipes while still looking good. Don't limit your search for diaper bags to baby superstores. Many fashion designers are now catering to the baby crowd. Check online or at your favorite clothing store for diaper bags or even large purses that might do the job. You may even want to purchase a couple of bags to fit different occasions. And remember, diaper bags aren't just for moms; many designers also offer models specifically for dads.

Diapers, onesies, sleepers, and blankets: Stock up on these basic supplies for your home. Load up on diapers, but keep your receipt: depending on your infant's weight, he may fit newborn diapers or he may be big enough for size one. Along with diapers you'll need several changes of clothing for your little one. Purchase plenty of onesies, sleepers, and blankets for your baby's daily needs. (Save the cute outfits and delicate blankets for when you take your baby out to meet friends.)

Feeding Supplies: If you're planning on nursing you may consider purchasing a breast pump. These pumps can be especially helpful in the first few weeks after delivery when your body is adjusting to your baby's nursing needs. If your breasts produce too much milk, you can simply pump the excess out. You can also use the pump to store milk for times when you're away from your baby at feeding time. Along with the pump, buy a few cloth or disposable nursing pads, and bottles. (You may be able to borrow a pump from a friend or relative.) For formula-feed babies you may want to purchase some beforehand. But don't go overboard. Your baby's pediatrician may have certain recommendations about what kind of formula to use. If you can't resist the urge to stock up, call the pediatrician's office and ask about what kind of formula your baby will most likely need.

Baby carrier: Although it's not a must, baby carriers can make getting around with your baby easier. These cloth-made contraptions hold your infant close against your body. There are several designs—and price ranges—from which to choose. One reason to wait on this purchase is so you can try it out with your baby. While some carriers look nice, they may be difficult to use once you're trying to hold your child and strap the carrier on at the same time.

Crib: There are several highly rated cribs you can buy for around $100. Of course, the price for cribs goes up from there into the thousands, but just because cribs are a nursery mainstay doesn't mean you have to buy one before Baby. If you plan on co-sleeping (having your baby snuggle in bed with you at night), a crib may be unnecessary for the first few months. Some parents also opt for portable play yards that include built-in bassinets for newborns.

You may choose a cradle or bassinet instead of a crib as your baby's first bed. Eventually, you will need a crib, but don't rush into buying one you don't like—remember your baby will most likely be sleeping in this crib for two or three years.

Stroller: There are literally hundreds of strollers to choose from in a wide range of designs and prices. As with baby carriers, you may want to wait until your baby arrives to buy. Stroller models that look great in the store may not be as wonderful once you start using them everyday. And you might not want to buy just one stroller: you may decide you need at least a couple.

A Word about Used Baby Items

Friends and relatives may offer you their used baby items. Before you accept these hand-me-downs, do a little digging to make sure the items haven't been recalled by logging on to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website. Even if you don't find the item on a recall list, keep in mind that many of these products, such as car seats, go through safety design overhauls every couple of years.

If you can't resist the urge and buy several big-ticket items before your baby's arrival, hold on to your receipts. Check the store's return policies so that you don't get stuck with a stroller you can't stand or a crib that just doesn't fit your baby's nursery.

Respected Readers: Need your help to keep the site up and running. please donate ! Any help is appreciated.