When Should I Pack My Hospital Bag?
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Kaely Harrod 0:03
Hello and welcome back to Kaely Daily. Today we are answering the question when should I pack my go bag? This is Kaely Daily, the bi-weekly podcast about all things Doula Tips and Tits where we answer one question about pregnancy, labor or postpartum or lactation, in order to have your journey in this parenting world be just a little bit more informed and filled with consent.
Kaely Harrod 0:36
Hello, welcome back to Kaely Daily. I am Kaely Harrod, the host of this beautiful podcast, and also the author and creator of the birth prep blueprint, a doula mom, wife, sister, etc. Today we're to asking or I am answering another when question. This might be a series but maybe just two in a row, we'll see. But the when this Today's episode is when should you pack your go bag? Now, I will of course add some nuance to this because you know me by now that is what I do. But I want you to think about what go bag you need to pack. Okay, so one is are you giving birth at a hospital? Okay, that's one kind of go bag? Are you giving birth at a birth center? That's another kind of go bag? Are you giving birth at home? Then that's a third kind of go back? And let me talk about that one first. Because you might be thinking like, wait a second, Kaylee, I'm giving birth at home? Why do I need to go back? What does that even mean? So your go back at home is in the case of a transfer to the hospital so that you have everything ready to go. In that bag, I would expect for you to have things for a hospital stay. So like extra clothes and things like that. But also things like your birth plan, maybe your wallet and your insurance card, because you don't probably have to give those to your home birth team when they arrive. Right. So things like that that are vital to the time that you're there. Also things like chargers, right like things that you want to make sure that you have, if you have to leave in a rush to go to the hospital, in the midst of a home birth.
Kaely Harrod 2:14
Now for a birth center. I recommend that kind of bag as well, but a little bit differently. So there are a few different ways you can do this. One is pack for the birth center and have a second like backpack or something that has some like if we go to the hospital sort of things in it, and just have that like in the trunk or an you know, in the car. And then another is to have the things that you would need at the hospital in your bag for the birth center. In most cases, if a birth center, birth transfers to a hospital birth, it's not usually emergent. Most transfers are because labor is long, or there's need for pain management, that is medication, right. And so usually there's time for you to like eat something on your way to the hospital or depending on the situation right? Sometimes not. Sometimes you can kind of slowly make your way over other times you're going more rapidly. In either case, I think it's good to be ready for the rapid one because that is of course, harder to do in terms of logistics. So having the things that you would need at a birth at a hospital if that transfer happened is important.
Kaely Harrod 3:34
Then the hospital bag if you're going to the hospital, obviously you have a bag for the hospital. One thing I would say is that all of those bags should be packed by 36 weeks. Now, if you're having a home birth or a birth center birth, in most cases, if you go into labor before 36 weeks, you cannot give birth at home or in a hospital. Now, in this country, the United States of America. There are various laws depending on what state you live in, about what midwives can do before 36 weeks out of hospital. So an out of hospital birth before 36 weeks. I don't know of anywhere that that is considered safe because that baby is considered an A late preterm baby. So they're not considered full term. So that is part of the reason for that right is that that baby has a higher chance of a need for the NICU or something like that. Clearly not an option if you're giving birth at home or at a birth center. So one of the things you can make sure that's ready at 36 weeks or before you know just before 36 weeks is that go back that is just the hospital go back. So that you know if you did have to transfer if you did go into labor before 36 weeks, and the birth center or the home birth is not a possibility. Then the hospital bag is ready to go
Kaely Harrod 4:59
now if not all of us own enough stuff to pack a bag for four to six weeks, before we have the baby, right? So I would recommend having things packed that you do not need, right. So let's say you're packing two pairs of jammies for the baby for coming home. You don't need those until you have the baby, right? So go ahead and put those in there. If you have some clothes that you're planning, like maybe you have like specific underwear that are postpartum underwear. Obviously, you don't need those until you have the baby. So put them in there. Now the hospital does have if you're going to a hospital, they have things like disposable underwear, I'm going to have another episode coming up on what does the hospital have for you, et cetera, what do you need to bring with you. But But things like chargers, or if you if you're down, I mean, so many of us at the end of pregnancy are down to like two pairs of pants that fit. So if you're down to two pairs of pants, and you're going to wear one and you're going to pack one, then have a list in the top of your hospital bag that has what you need to add to that bag, do not expect yourself to remember. And I honestly wouldn't even have it on your phone. Because then if someone is at your house helping you, they can just grab the list and be like black leggings, charger, whatever else right? Like you can have a list there. The other thing that I recommend having packed is your snacks, because I have had at least five or six clients that went into labor between like 36 and 38 weeks. And they're like, I don't have any snacks because I kept thinking next time we go to the grocery store, I'll do that. Or we would like buy the snacks we plan to take but then we ate them. You know, because there's snacks that we like. And so having a separate bag, that is like a like a grocery bag or you know, like a reusable grocery bag or something like that, that has your snacks in it that you are not allowed to eat out of until the baby comes is a good idea. Because if the baby comes early, you do need food and liquids and all of that, like that's an important part of that process. And not all birthing facilities. It's easy to get that stuff, especially if you're giving birth in the middle of the night. So do have that packed around that like 36 week, Mark. Okay. Now I know I plug on here all the time that I would love to answer your questions. I have a short series on postpartum stuff coming up in July. And so if you have a specific postpartum question, I would love to hear it. Because I can add it right into that series. I would love to hear any of your questions, of course, but especially postpartum questions, because that's what I'm currently working on getting ready for you. And it'll be coming out really soon. So I could add those in. If you have not already connected with me on Instagram, I would love to connect with you there. If there's something you loved about this episode, I'd love to hear that. And I'd also really, really appreciate if you left a review, because that is what helps other people find this lovely podcast that have not heard of it yet. So if you could do that, I would be super grateful. And I'm sure other people would be grateful as well. So anyway, I will see you on the next episode. Please do send me your questions. In the meantime, I forgot this last episode. I do wish you a well informed consent filled these episodes are edited and produced by Kaely Herat as I'm sure you can probably tell, and our amazing music is credited in the shownotes as well. So we look forward to seeing you on the next episode. And in the meantime, have wonderful and consent filled birth.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Hospital Bags, Birth Center Bags, and Go Bags for a home birth…all are important and all need preparation ahead of time! This episode dives into when the “go bag” should be packed and what to do about things you need to add later!
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Have your emergency hospital bag ready by around 35/36 weeks
Even a home birth needs a go bag in the case of a transfer
Pack what you can now and create a list that’s on the top of the bag for whatever needs to be added.
RESOURCES
FREE OXYTOCIN GUIDE:
6 Ways to Increase Oxytocin for Labor Progression
https://www.harroddoulaservices.com/free-guide-6-oxytocin-tips
CONNECT with Kaely on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/Harroddoula/
This podcast is hosted by the Birth Prep Blueprint - comprehensive Childbirth Education for expectant parents to feel calm, prepared and confident about labor and birth. Podcast listeners (that’s YOU!) get 10% off! Use the link below to get that great deal!
https://thebirthprepblueprint.com/offers/884d5a56-9089-4482-a944-6bb7c26c9b04
If you like this episode, don't forget to share it to your Instagram stories and tag me @harroddoula
Kaely Daily is produced by Kaely Harrod of Harrod Doula Services
It is sponsored by The Birth Prep Blueprint Childbirth Class
Music by Madirfan: Hidden Place on Pixabay
