Hooray, we are in the 8th month already! 6 more weeks to go before I popped out! Hehe
So now, it's time to prepare our hospital bag :) The goal is to have them ready and waiting in the car by 36 weeks AOG (or for some, 34 weeks).
I have read a lot of blogs and forums on what to prepare, but of course it really depends on the patient, right? Actually, I also think it depends on the hospital because their rules and package inclusions also vary.
So this is our hospital list. We are going to give birth on Cardinal Medical Santos, under the service of Dr. Angela Aguilar, and so far, NSD is still the plan. We have a prenatal check up scheduled on Monday, and we're going to try to go to the nursery, and ask if they have a list of things to buy or prepare for giving birth... or whatever is included if we're going to take the package? Like, for certain hospitals, they will charge you for the diapers, maternity pads, cotton, thermometer, wound cleaning solution, abdominal binder, etc. I am going to ask if we can prepare them in advance so they don't have to charge us.
Labor Bag
o Paperwork:
o Birth Plan
o Admitting Order
o Maternal Information Sheet
o Philhealth contributions, MDR
o Marriage contract
o Government IDs
o Medical Records/Lab Work-up
o Apparel:
o Socks
o Slippers
o Things to do:
o Cellphone
o Charger
o Labor:*
o Massage oil or lotion?
o Heat pad
o Gym ball?
o TENS machine
o Toiletries:
o Eye glasses
o Petroleum Jelly
o Hair tie
o Betadine vaginal wash
o Cordlife Kit
*I know that Cardinal offers a Lamaze room for a really expensive price (more expensive than a suite) for those who plan to give birth naturally (meaning without epidural). I myself thought about it and wanted to try natural birth... but I also want to have the reassurance of an anesthesiologist because they say giving birth REALLY hurts. Second, we didn't really officially go to Lamaze class and don't have a certificate (because I'm already a doctor, and my OB told me it's not necessary for me because I have already seen and birth other mothers).
So I am thinking if their Labor room would allow this stuff? And would allow me to attempt for natural pain relief? I myself know acupuncture, so I am planning to use the TENS machine when the time comes (actually, I am planning to induce myself with acupuncture haha)... Though I wonder if I could do it myself if I am in soooo much pain. I did wonder if I could give birth in St. Luke's QC (because my current OB also have visiting rights there), because I know another OB who also practices acupuncture, and I could call on him when I am in labor, right? He did help me with my morning sickness and my constipation back on my first trimester...
Recovery Bag
o Postpartum recovery:
o Adult diapers or maternity pads
o Abdominal binder
o Cutasept would cleaning solution? (I read in another blog from someone who gave birth on St. Lukes... I also know this was given to my sister in UST post-surgery)
o Apparel:
o Going-home outfit
o Front-opening pajamas
o Bathrobe
o Bath towel
o Disposable undies
o Nursing:
o Nursing bras
o Nursing pads
o Nursing cover? Or use the bathrobe?
o Nipple cream?
o Nursing pillow?
o Breast pump
o Toiletries – toothbrush, deodorant, contact lens
Partner’s Bag
o Change of clothes
o Toiletries - include tissue
o Pillow and blanket
o Things to do
o Cash, credit card
Babies Bag
o Health
o Thermometer?
o Cotton/Baby wipes
o Alcohol?
o Powder?
o Toiletries
o Hooded towel
o Small cetaphil?
o Diapers
o Receiving blanket
o Lampin
o Clothes
o Tie-sides
o Swaddle
o Going-home outfit
o Bonnet, mittens, booties/socks
o Baby book
o Feeding bottle?
So there... but I will update this list especially after our prenatal check up on Monday.
Update (7/7/18):
I sent an email to Cardinal Medical Center. The admitting section replied promptly, indicating the following in their admission kit (so i don't have to bring) :
1. Toothpaste (small)
2. Toothbrush
3. Face towel
4. Soap
5. Spoon and fork
6. Medicine cup and glass
7. 1 roll of bathroom tissue (one time charge only)
8. 1 500ml of bottled water (one time charge only)
9. 1 pillow
For the nursery, they will provide everything in the kit such as: white basin for bathing, kidney basin where we place the cotton mix with soft in there, cotton buds, cotton applicator, alcohol 70%, J & J top to toe wash, diaper, digital thermometer, cotton and 1 box of gloves. Other inclusions are Bcg, hepa b, vit.k, erythromycin, bld typing, newborn kit, newborn hearing, and baby diploma. They will just ask for the clothes and swaddle when the baby is roomed in.
When I asked about the DR rules, they told me that I cannot bring supplies or machines including cellphones in the Labor room and delivery room complex.
So I guess, I can remove a lot of the things I have on the list... Though the basis of this list is actually based on US websites. Though I am wondering how am I going to manage labor in the labor room without my ball, warm compress, cellphone to monitor my contractions. Will they let me do labor in my room? Haha
I remember the Labor room as a boring place to wait for the contractions and for the labor to progress.
I know that they have a Lamaze room but I find it expensive. It's like a birthing suite. And for practical reasons, I don't want to have to get that. Maybe i should just monitor my contractions at home then when they're like 3 to 4 minutes apart, I will go to the hospital then haha I don't know yet... A part of me wants an unmedicated chilbirth but I know that it's not a popular thought in the Philippines. And I am a doctor haha
