What To Pack In Your C-Section Hospital Bag

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Preparing for childbirth is an exciting and joyful time, and one important aspect of preparation is packing your hospital bag. If you’re scheduled for a cesarean (C-section) delivery, it’s essential to have a well-organized hospital bag for a scheduled C-section that contains everything for you, your baby, and for dad-to-be.

Preparing ahead for Cesarean delivery is crucial for several reasons. Unlike a vaginal birth, a cesarean delivery is a surgical procedure that requires careful planning and preparation. By preparing ahead, you can ensure that you have all the necessary information, support, and resources in place.

Therefore, ahead preparation makes you feel comfortable and helpful. In this article, we have short-listed the necessary items for a hospital bag and a checklist to make your journey smooth and easy.

1. What is C-Section Delivery?

Cesarean delivery is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus. It’s not a natural process and is planned ahead of time when/if you develop pregnancy complications.

Sometimes, a C-section delivery is much safer for you and your baby than a vaginal delivery because of these reasons:

• Your labor is not progressing
• You’re carrying multiple
• Your baby or babies are in an abnormal position or distress
• There’s a problem with your placenta
• You’ve had a previous C-section
• Mechanical obstruction
• You have a health concern
• Prolapsed umbilical cord

It may simply be very tempting to try to schedule a C-section delivery of your baby and avoid the quandary and pain of labor. But, in any case, C-sections should never be granted lightly.

2. Can I opt for a C-section delivery?

Can you request to have a C-section? Could you get a C-section by choice? Can I opt for a C-section? If you have any of these questions bugging you, let me tell you what your right are, in regards to choosing your preferred delivery type.

There’s a lot of debate about the birth of a baby via elective cesarean (EC). We use the word “Elective” here as it means that there is no medical reason (like mentioned above) for the mother or labor or the baby that would require a C-section birth.

As it’s known that cesarean delivery has higher risks for both the mother and the baby, it is something that needs a conversation. A conversation with your hospital.

They would want to talk to you in detail about why you want to go with a C-section surgery. And, most probably, would try to find a way to ease your fears and concerns. But do you have any right to choose a C-section?

“Giving birth is often characterized as a crucial issue of reproductive autonomy; because how pregnancy is delivered is a reproductive choice”, as mentioned in research by Burrow, S.

Further extended, “A woman’s choice of delivery is not about reproduction, but how she uses her body to complete reproduction.”

“MRCS is about a woman’s body, her bodily autonomy, and integrity. This paper argues all women are entitled to decide what physical consequences of reproduction they are willing to assume.”

I think this best answers your question about the rights you have to request a C-section. Let’s move forward to our list of What To Pack In Your C Section Hospital Bag.

 3. C-section recovery items packing tips.

I hope that I haven’t scared you. If you already feel overwhelmed, do not be discouraged. I’ve got your back, and your bags, covered. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while you pack your C-section hospital bag.

1. Pack early: Do not wait until the day before your scheduled C-section must haves! You must look forward to having everything ready around 37 weeks in case your water breaks or you go into spontaneous labor.
2. Edit down to your final essentials list: Most women spend 3 to 5 days in the hospital following a C-section. True that you’ll want to have everything you need, but overpacking and giving yourself too many alternatives can backfire.
3. Take advantage of hospital supplies: There are plenty of items you do not need to pack depending on the choice of your hospital. The hospital offers a whole lot of essentials including diapers, wipes, pads, etc.
4. Leave home without it: You should think about leaving expensive items like jewelry, laptops, and other costly personal items at home, if possible.
5. Cash money: While you would obviously want to carry your credit card, you must keep some cash readily available.

4. What To Pack In Your C Section Delivery Bag: A checklist.

A C-section hospital bag would always look somewhat different than the one prepared for instant vaginal delivery.

Mothers who deliver via scheduled c-section generally do not have the time for magazines and Netflix, the reason behind this being their labor lasts as long as the operation. But their time in the hospital, after the operation, is usually longer (3-5 days) as compared to vaginal delivery (1-2 days).

And that’s a good thing.

Your body needs more rest because it’s recovering from surgery and childbirth. Since you’ll be at the hospital for quite some time, consider dividing your hospital must-haves into two different bags.

• One with the common essentials for before and spontaneously after c-section surgery.
• One with the supplies for the rest of the time you stay in the hospital.

This will also help you lighten the load when you first arrive at the hospital; you can leave the bag in the car or later ask a friend or a family member to get it.

Wanna know what you’ll need for this whole exciting event? Here are our top picks for a c-section hospital bag.

5. Best Hospital Bag For Mom

• A credit card and a small amount of cash
• Printed copies of your cesarean birth plan
• A file or folder with important medical paperwork, a list of ongoing medications, insurance cards, etc.
• A list of essential contact numbers if you don’t have them saved in your phone
• Your cell phone (OBVIOUSLY)
• A camera
• Chargers for electronic items – make sure you bring an extra-long phone charger so you can keep your device charging even if the switchboard is far away
• Comfy no-slip socks
• Eyeglasses if you think you’ll need them (if you wear contact lenses, note that some anesthesiologists will make you take those off before surgery)
• Moisturizer and lip balm
• A music playlist of your favorite soothing songs
• An interesting book, in case there’s a delay in hospital admittance or you have an unexpectedly long pre-op wait

5. What to Pack in Your Postpartum Hospital-Stay Bag?

C-section mothers need to be thoughtful of the clothes they’re planning to wear post-op. “You want light clothing that moves freely and is easy to get on,” says Malinski, a labor and delivery nurse with more than 40 years of experience and childbirth educator with the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center.

The list starts here, let me guide you through the things you need to pack hospital clothes for mom.

A. C-section Recovery Packing List

• Toiletries (i.e., toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc.)
• Makeup
• A hairbrush
• A comfortable pillow — consider using a non-white or patterned pillowcase 
• Your own nightgown and/or robe
• Underwear with a high-waisted band that sits above your incision
• Bras (2) – nursing bras if you plan to nurse, or sports bras if you don’t
• Breastfeeding pillow to keep baby off your incision
• Slip-on shoes, so you don’t have to bend over
• Going home outfit for mom – choose pants that wouldn’t dig into your incision because you’ll still look and feel 6 months pregnant
• A baby journal — in case you feel like documenting your experience
• snacks with fiber
• A breast pump (if you plan to pump early on), although your hospital will likely make one available should you need one
• Contact lenses

B. What to wear at hospital after giving birth?

You’ll want to wear high-waist (granny panties) that reach quite above your incision site. Dresses or really lose pants that won’t squeeze your abdominal area or rub against your incision.

C. What to pack for baby in hospital bag?

You might receive baby clothes for the first few days from the hospital, but that doesn’t happen in every hospital. Most hospitals suggest you not use any products on your newborn for the first few days after surgery.

Post C-section Clothes For Baby

• Comfy soft onesies with socks at the end
• Receiving blanket — even if the hospital provides this for your baby, carrying one of yourself will be helpful to keep your baby warm
• Infant diapers
• Baby mittens
• Baby nail clippers
• Infant car seat — fit it before you reach the hospital
• One cute and comfy outfit that your baby will wear on the day of going home
• Bibs
• Baby talcum powder
• Baby cap — it helps the baby feel warm
• Infant feeding bottle — would help if your baby is having any issues in latching on

D. What to pack in hospital bag for c-section with twins?

Preparing for the delivery of twins can be a very exhausting task — especially if it’s your first time. It’s nearly impossible to understand what you might need at the hospital while giving birth to twins.

That’s a lie.

It’s too easy, let alone impossible. The baby things you need for a c-section with twins is basically almost the same as what you need for one baby. There are a few more additions, which I’m doing in the list below.

Best C-section Recovery Items

• mam pacifier
• baby mittens
• newborn socks
• baby burp cloths
• muslin swaddles
• woobie – the safest, most natural way to swaddle your baby
• comfy soft onesies with socks at the end
• receiving blankets
• infant diapers
• baby nail clippers
• Infant car seats — fit them before you reach the hospital
• two cute and comfy outfits that your twin babies will wear on the day of going home
• bibs
• baby talcum powder
• Baby cap — it helps the baby feel warm
• Infant feeding bottle — would help if your baby is having any issues in latching on

6. What to pack in hospital bag for dad?

In the hurry to figure out what to pack for the mother and baby, people tend to forget dad. Why forget the dad? It’s not good.

Dad Hospital Bag Checklist

• Wallet (you know why it’s essential) and identification papers
• Change for vending machines
• Phone, charger, headphones
• Separate toiletries
• A comfortable pair of clothes
• A comfy blanket – he might have to sleep in the waiting area or on the couch in the hospital and will surely need an extra blanket.
• Car and house keys
• A patterned pillow
• Socks and comfortable footwear

With the dad’s c-section hospital bag checklist complete, we now are done with all the possible hospital bag essentials you might need for a c-section delivery. But we aren’t done here, let’s make sure you pack everything in the right way.

What Not to Pack in C-Section Hospital Bag

The below items are not recommended to be packed in a C-section hospital bag because the hospital provides these items

• Nourishing Snacks
• Reusable Water Bottle
• Cozy Robe or Pajamas
• Toiletries
• Supportive Pillows
• Baby Care Items (Diapers, wipes, baby clothes)
• Hospital gowns and slipper socks
• Swaddle blanket
• breast pump (if not needed)
• Mesh underwear
• peri bottle

Additional Questions And Answers Related C-section

When to pack hospital bag 2nd baby? 

Bottom Line.

A C-Section surgery may be difficult but is still childbirth. It would be beautiful no matter what if you keep yourself away from stress and anxiety. One way to reduce stress & tension is to feel adequately prepared.

Make sure you do your research, ask questions in communities, and pack your c-section postpartum essentials early. Having everything in bump bag, you need or might want right next to you will make this experience really easy, as well as enable you to keep your focus on what actually matters: the birth of your baby. Good luck, mama! Ciao.

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