What to take with you to the maternity hospital - first aid kit, documents, things

When should you start packing?

You can start buying things and putting them into bags at any time, so as not to worry in case childbirth begins before the PPD. You should hurry up and put your things in the maternity hospital into bags if the doctor threatens you with premature birth.

In this case, the bag should be assembled in advance; you will not need to rush around the house in case of force majeure. Your family will bring you ready-made sets of things.

If you are admitted to the hospital for safekeeping, take with you an exchange card, medical card, passport in case of premature birth.

At approximately 32 weeks, you need to sign an exchange card at the maternity hospital or enter into an agreement. Then you can get a list of necessary things, additional recommendations regarding the upcoming birth, and begin preparing for the maternity hospital.

Are complications possible?

Unfortunately, pregnancy does not always proceed normally: there are situations that require special monitoring from doctors.

Pregnancy with twins or triplets

The increased load on the uterus often leads to the opening of the pharynx ahead of time, and this provokes the onset of contractions. In addition, there is evidence that multiple pregnancies cause premature aging of the placenta. Therefore, most of these children are born prematurely.

If the expectant mother feels pain in the lower abdomen or lower back, she should immediately contact the maternity hospital. If necessary, a woman can even be sent to a hospital for constant monitoring. If premature contractions occur, they are stopped with medication.

Bleeding

Sometimes bloody discharge accompanies normal labor, because when the cervix dilates, the vessels may be slightly damaged. However, in most situations, bleeding at the beginning of labor indicates the following pathologies:

placental abruption;
varicose nodes in the vagina;
polyps, erosions, ulcers on the cervix;
genital injuries;
ruptures of the umbilical vessels.

Therefore, if even a small amount of blood appears, it is imperative to call an ambulance and go to the maternity hospital.

Gestational age

The period of pregnancy at which contractions begin is also important. Premature birth is considered to be labor that begins at 28-37 weeks.

This process depends on various factors that are usually known in advance. In such cases, the woman is offered to go to a hospital to be under constant supervision of specialists.

However, there are situations when premature birth begins suddenly. They are characterized by the following signs:

constant heaviness in the lower abdomen;
presence of bloody discharge;
abdominal prolapse before 35 weeks;
pronounced pressure on the pelvic bones and perineum;
pain of a cramping nature;
constant presence of the uterus in good shape.

Such symptoms require immediate hospitalization of the pregnant woman, since premature dilatation of the cervix can lead to rapid labor and the development of dangerous complications.

As you can see, there are quite a few signs that allow a woman to prepare for the upcoming birth. Remember that if labor contractions occur with an interval of less than ten minutes or amniotic fluid breaks, you must immediately go to the maternity hospital - any delay can cause dangerous consequences.

This is, of course, the very first and most visible sign of impending labor. The baby's head drops into the birth canal, the muscles of the uterus stretch, and it seems to rush down after the fetus. The abdomen drops and becomes pear-shaped. In addition, the pregnant woman notices some changes in her health: frequent bowel movements and urination (because the fetal head puts more pressure on the bladder and rectum). There are also positive changes - it becomes easier to breathe, heartburn and belching are no longer bothersome, the fetus no longer puts so much pressure on the stomach and diaphragm.

In fact:

It would seem that this is a sign that it’s time to go to the maternity hospital. But no, it's too early. As a rule, the stomach drops 1-3 weeks before hour X. It is worth noting that this only happens to first-time mothers. If you are going to the hospital for the second or third time, your tummy will drop right before giving birth. In addition, much depends on the shape of the woman’s pelvis, on the size of the fetus, on its position in the uterine cavity - head first or buttocks forward.

What documents should I prepare for the maternity hospital?

Take the exchange card, directions to the maternity hospital, passport (several copies of it), put it in your bag so as not to look for documents at the moment when contractions begin and you have no time for it. If you entered into a contract with a maternity hospital, do not forget to include it with the documents.

Think in advance who will be present at the birth, prepare documents for this person (mother, husband, sister): passport, fluorography results. Check with the maternity hospital if additional medical certificates are needed.

For your partner, prepare clean, comfortable clothes (tracksuit), washable slippers.

Myth 3: If your water breaks, are you giving birth?

A pregnant woman may feel that her water is leaking or that it has completely broken. This means that the amniotic sac has ruptured on its own and there is a risk of infection of the fetus, so the water-free period should not be allowed to last more than 12 hours. Nature intended that the entire amniotic sac actively participates in the process of childbirth - it should put pressure on the cervix so that it stretches during the first contractions.

Normally, this happens after the onset of contractions, but there are often cases when the opposite happens. This depends on the volume of water (normally about 1.5-2 liters), the size of the fetus, how it is located, and the duration of pregnancy. Moreover, the integrity of the fetal bladder can be disrupted both at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of labor. There are cases when it does not rupture at all and the baby is born in the amniotic sac filled with water, then there is a danger that the baby may swallow water with his first breath.

In fact:

It is better for a pregnant woman to go to the maternity hospital not when her water breaks, but much earlier.

Packing a first aid kit for the maternity hospital

Check with the maternity hospital in advance for a list of medications that you need to take with you. Collect two sets: for yourself and for your newborn. Your first aid kit will look something like this:

ointment for the prevention of cracked nipples,
thermometer for a child (it’s better to buy an electronic one),
saline solution for rinsing the child's nose,
cotton swabs with a limiter for cleaning ears, nose, cotton pads,
syringes (5 ml and 10 ml) 5 pcs.,
glycerin suppositories,
sterile gloves - 5 pairs,
cotton wool, bandage,
sterile sets (cap, gown, shoe covers) - 3 pcs.,
urinary catheter,
saline solution - 2 bottles,
disposable birth kit.

There is no standard set of medications for a maternity hospital. To avoid buying too much, check the list of necessary medications at the maternity hospital or with your gynecologist.

If you are about to give birth by caesarean section, you will be given a list of necessary medications for the operation and post-operative period.

How to pack a bag for the maternity hospital?

To avoid unnecessary fuss on the day of birth, check in advance the list of things to take to the maternity hospital with your gynecologist or at the maternity hospital where you plan to give birth. How many bags do you need to prepare for the maternity hospital?

Divide your items into 4 bags:

Things for prenatal preparation and childbirth.
Everything you need for you and your newborn for the first 3-5 days.
Pack things for discharge from the maternity hospital into 2 bags (separately for yourself and the baby).

You will immediately take the prenatal kit with you to the maternity hospital, and a bag with postnatal items will be brought to your room after the baby is born.

There are certain requirements for a bag in the maternity hospital: this is by no means a travel bag; you may not be allowed into the department with this one. It is best to use transparent bags or large durable bags, this will make it easier to find the things you need.

What to put in your prenatal bag?

Prepare and compactly put things in your bag:

How to pack a postpartum bag?

The postpartum kit will consist of things for mother and baby, so divide things into two parts so that you can get your bearings.

We are packing things for the maternity hospital for my mother:

all things from the prenatal list,
nightgown, robe, which will be convenient to use for feeding the baby,
special cotton panties that fit snugly to the body and hold the pad. After giving birth, you will need to use pads for several days, so it is important to prepare a set of such panties. They are sold at the pharmacy
disposable diapers, which are useful both for medical examinations and for staying in the ward. They will help not to stain the bed linen,
several packs of special postpartum pads,
1-2 nursing bras, a set of special nipple covers. Please note that breasts will increase by 2-3 sizes after childbirth,
It is not necessary to buy a breast pump, but you can play it safe in case you need to express breast milk,
postpartum bandage to support the abdomen (check with your doctor about this first).

If you will have food brought from home, take care of the utensils for the maternity hospital (plate, cup, spoon, fork).

Things for the child:

undershirts, bodysuits, anti-scratch covers, hats, socks, 3-5 sets each. Children's clothes should have external seams and be made from natural materials,
blanket,
several packs of wet baby wipes,
diapers for newborns (take different sizes in case the baby is born large),
special children's scissors with rounded ends,
3-5 diapers (disposable and cotton),
baby soap, cream, powder.

All baby items needed for the maternity hospital must be pre-washed with baby powder. You can determine the size of your baby’s clothes based on the weight indicated in the results of the last ultrasound. If in doubt, take different sizes of items for your newborn to the hospital.

How to pack a bag for discharge for yourself and your baby?

For checkout, pack a separate bag so you don’t have to fuss on a holiday. Prepare your child:

diaper,
a vest and rompers or a one-piece jumpsuit (man),
socks, hat,
outerwear (overalls) or an envelope, depending on what the baby will wear when discharged.

Take care of the child car seat in the car in advance. If you take a taxi home, order a car with such a seat.

Prepare for yourself:

comfortable clothes, taking into account the fact that the tummy may not go away immediately,
if desired, you can use shapewear,
comfortable shoes without high heels,
cosmetics to put yourself in order and look beautiful.

In the beauty industry, a new service has appeared specifically for young mothers: specialists go to the maternity hospital on the day of discharge to do makeup and hair styling. This is very convenient: you will be put in order, without unnecessary hassle you will have makeup and beautifully styled hair on the holiday day of discharge.

What are the signs to determine when labor is approaching?

Reliable signs of the onset of labor include contractions and the release of amniotic fluid. These symptoms always indicate that labor is beginning, so every expectant mother needs to know how it progresses.

True contractions

are called contractions of the uterine muscles that appear with a certain periodicity.
Unlike false contractions, true contractions are characterized by the following symptoms:

Repeated at regular
intervals.
The intervals between contractions become shorter and shorter over time .
The duration of the fight gradually increases.
They are characterized by more pronounced pain,
with the pain slightly radiating to the lower back.
They do not disappear
after a warm shower or a change in body position.

Gynecologists distinguish several phases of labor pains:

Initial phase.
At this stage, the duration of the contraction is 20 seconds, the frequency of repetition is 15-30 minutes. The initial phase lasts 7-8 hours.
Active phase.
Contractions last 20-60 seconds, the interval between them is 2-4 minutes. This phase lasts 3-5 hours.
Transition phase.
At this stage, contractions last 60 seconds, the frequency of their repetition is 2-3 minutes. This phase takes from half an hour to 1.5 hours.

Doctors say that if the interval between contractions

reduced
to 10 minutes
, you need to immediately go to the maternity hospital.

Painful sensations

First contractions

characterized by minor pain. Many women compare it with the uncomfortable sensations during menstruation. The pain is quite tolerable - very often it radiates to the lower back or is felt in the lower abdomen.

Sometimes women notice that during labor contractions the uterus

as if it
stone:
if a pregnant woman puts her hand on her stomach, she can feel the hard uterus.

With each new contraction, the woman feels not only painful sensations, but also rhythmic muscle contractions.

As the process progresses, the sensations become more intense and their duration increases.

Amniotic fluid

The classic course of labor suggests that amniotic fluid should be released when the cervix dilates 3-7 mm.

The fetus puts pressure on the amniotic membrane, and under its influence it ruptures - as a result, some of the water pours out.

In some cases, the water may recede gradually.

Then the woman notices wet spots on the bed or underwear.

Sometimes this process begins before labor contractions occur and the cervix opens. Amniotic fluid may break

and after full opening of the throat. These deviations do not mean at all that childbirth will occur with complications.

Typically, gynecologists use special tactics for conducting such labor, which allows them to avoid negative consequences.

Comparison of the contents of a maternity hospital bag at different times of the year

The contents of the maternity hospital bag will differ in summer and winter. What does a mother need in the maternity hospital in winter, and what does she need in summer? Please take into account the following nuances:

In winter, postpartum wards are usually hot - about 25 degrees. Accordingly, the air is dry in such heat. To avoid drying out the mucous membranes of your child's respiratory tract, take a humidifier with you.
Depending on the season, consider bringing a warm blanket or blanket to wrap your newborn after delivery.
In the summer heat, it is convenient to dress your baby in bodysuits that can be completely unbuttoned and have short sleeves.
In winter and cold autumn, take flannelette vests, bodysuits and rompers.
On the day of discharge, the baby can be dressed in a beautiful jumpsuit: in the summer, made of light fabrics, in the winter, you need to wear a warm one over the light ones.
During the cold season, take several pairs of warm socks and slippers with you in case the floor in the room is cold.
In summer, take plenty of still water with you. It will be useful to you and your partner.

Getting ready for the maternity hospital is a troublesome, but such a pleasant experience. Even if you forget something, your family can always bring everything you need at any time.