The upcoming birth is a time full of excitement, emotion and expectation for mothers-to-be. However, in addition to the joy of the baby’s imminent arrival into the world, there are also practical issues to deal with. One of these is to prepare properly for the hospital stay and to understand the procedures that will take place both before and during the birth itself.
Preparing your hospital bag: What to take with you?
For the mother:
- Identity documents: Necessary for registration at the hospital.
- Medical records: Previous test results, pregnancy charts – anything that may be useful to the medical staff.
- Comfortable clothes: Loose, airy clothes will work well both during and after the birth (including at least one shirt).
- Nursing pillow: Not only will it make breastfeeding easier, but it can also help you find a comfortable position during labour.
- Socks and slippers: The hospital can be chilly and comfortable footwear will keep you comfortable as you move around the ward.
- Postpartum pads: Special, more absorbent pads designed for use after childbirth to help control bleeding and maintain hygiene.
- Moistened wipes: Useful for cleansing the delicate skin in the intimate area, especially when access to water is limited or when discomfort is felt.
- Intimate hygiene soap: A gentle intimate hygiene soap or gel to help maintain adequate hygiene for sensitive skin.
- Cooling packs: Cooling packs can be helpful in relieving pain and swelling after childbirth, especially for natural deliveries or caesarean sections.
- Nipple cream: If you are breastfeeding, nipple cream can help prevent cracking and sore nipples.
- Moisturising breast pads: If you are breastfeeding, moisturising breast pads can help absorb excess breastmilk and keep your skin dry while preventing irritation.
- Plenty of water, which will be essential for proper recovery and to stimulate lactation.
It is worth remembering that each woman may need a different amount and type of hygiene items, cosmetics or clothes after giving birth, depending on individual needs and experiences. It is important to take care of your intimate hygiene and use products that will ensure comfort and fast healing after childbirth. If you are in doubt about the items you need, you can always ask your midwife for advice.
For the baby:
- Nappies 0 (when you are expecting twins, a premature baby or a baby with an extremely low birth weight of less than 2 kg) or 1 (designed as standard for babies weighing between 2 and 5 kg).
- Soft wet wipes.
- Clothes: bodysuit, rompers, hat – prepare several sets for the newborn. Adapt the type of clothes to the season. Remember that you will be leaving the hospital with your baby and will need to dress them. What size should you choose?
- Size 50 – for newborns up to 3 kg birth weight,
- Size 56 – for infants weighing 3-3.5 kg,
- Size 62 – for babies weighing more than 3.5 kg.
- Blanket: Helpful to keep baby warm, especially in the first hours of life.
Zero waste: choosing second-hand items
There are ways to minimise the amount of new things to buy , while keeping mother and baby comfortable and safe. More and more parents-to-be are opting for a zero waste approach, even if they can afford to buy big. Using second-hand items can therefore be good for both the environment and your wallet, while allowing you to reduce the amount of new products produced and consumed. It is also worth noting that by choosing second-hand items, you can also support the swap economy and give a second life to items that are still in good condition, rather than buying new.
Things you can have used:
- Baby clothes: Often baby clothes are only used for a short period of time. You can find lots of clothes in good condition in second-hand baby clothes shops, OLX, Allegro, Vinted or on Facebook groups for mums.
- Breastfeeding equipment: Breast pumps, breastfeeding pillows or thermofors can be found in good condition from other mums who no longer need them.
Things worth having new:
- Bottles and teats: These items should be new to ensure maximum safety for your baby.
- Thermometers: If you need to measure your baby’s temperature, thermometers should be purchased new to prevent the transmission of infection and ensure accurate measurements.
Difficult living situation? Need support with a layette?
Kwitnący Dom donates up to 100 layettes a month to pregnant women and mothers of newborns (up to 3 months old). Do you need this kind of support? Get in touch with us!
We donate many things in layettes: nappies, wipes, clothes, bottles, dummies, toys and much more. Visit the website: https://dommatki.pl/wyprawka-porodowa/ and find out how to apply!
Have you given birth, have unwanted layette items and want to support our beneficiaries?
We accept baby items all the time:
- new bottles and dummies,
- new hygiene items – unused but the packaging may be open: breast pads, nappies of all sizes, postnatal pads, bed pads,
- new and closed: wet wipes, dust-free wipes and gauze pads,
- new and unopened baby cosmetics and ointments,
- both new and unopened supplements for pregnant and nursing mothers,
- disinfectants suitable for babies (e.g. Octenisept),
- clean and undamaged (they can be used, as long as they are washed) clothes in sizes up to 62 (starting with the smallest, for premature babies),
- clean and undamaged (they can be used, just as long as they are washed) blankets, cones, pillows, tetras, cot bumpers, toys, bed sheets,
- clean and disinfected reusable articles/devices: breast pumps, inhalers, bath thermometers (for taking baby’s temperature only new!), blood pressure monitors, etc,
- collapsible travel cots.
What can we not accept?
- bulky items such as: pushchairs, cots (except travel cots!), changing tables, furniture, baths (as we do not have space to store them),
- clothes over size 62 (because we don’t have space to store more than we currently have),
- used items that might be unhygienic (nasal aspirators, pessaries, open cosmetics, reusable nappies).
What does the hospital provide?
Medical staff:
The hospital provides experienced medical staff who will be responsible for the care of mother and baby throughout the birth process. The staff includes doctors, midwives, nurses and other support staff.
Facilities:
- Delivery rooms: Equipped with the necessary medical equipment and facilities to monitor the condition of mother and baby.
- Recovery rooms: In the event that a caesarean section is required, the hospital provides appropriately equipped operating theatres and medical staff to perform the procedure.
- Maternity rooms: After delivery, the mother and child will be provided with appropriate conditions for recovery.
You can check the hospital’s website for details on the equipment of the rooms and the availability of specialised assistance.
If you do not yet know where to give birth, please see the hospital search engine and ranking done by the Birth by Humanity Foundation: https://gdzierodzic.info/szpitale/ .
Hospital admission procedure:
- Contact the maternity ward: The mother-to-be or her guardian should contact the hospital of choice and find out about the admission procedures and any documents required for registration.
- Arrival at the hospital: On arrival at the hospital, the mother-to-be is welcomed by medical staff, who carry out an initial health assessment and register her in the maternity ward.
- Preparation for delivery: Depending on the mother’s state of health and the stage of labour, she will be transferred to the delivery room or prepared for surgery in the case of a caesarean section.
Know your rights in relation to childbirth:
https://rodzicpoludzku.pl/twoje-prawa/poznaj-swoje-prawa/
Additional needs of migrant women:
Migrant women, particularly those who are in a new country during their pregnancy, may face a number of challenges and difficulties when preparing for childbirth. In addition to the standard things that need to be prepared, such as medical documents and clothes for mother and baby, there are additional aspects that may require the attention of migrant women.
The first problem migrant women may face is the language barrier. Communication with medical staff and understanding of medical procedures can be difficult if the migrant woman is not fluent in Polish or English. In such cases, it is advisable to secure the assistance of an interpreter or volunteer beforehand. This may be necessary to ensure that you receive appropriate medical care and understand what is happening. If you do not know where to get such help, contact foundations supporting migrant women in your area.
It may be crucial to find social support among other migrant women, NGOs or support groups for mothers who can point out what to look out for and where to get support.
For comfort and reassurance, it is important to contact local facilities as soon as possible to find a doctor or midwife to support you during pregnancy and childbirth.
And don’t forget to prepare all the necessary medical documents – if some of the relevant documents are written in a language other than Polish or English, be sure to have a translation to keep you and your baby safe.
It is also important to find out in advance what financial options are available to cover the costs of the birth. If you do not know what rules apply for people from your own country, check on the government website: https://www.gov.pl/web/zdrowie/finansowanie-leczenia-cudzoziemcow-w-polsce , and if in doubt, ask at the hospital where you want to give birth.
Your attitude also plays a big part – being open to help from the medical staff and other people around you can also contribute to a calm and safe birth. Remember to always seek support and put your needs and those of your baby first.
Preparing for a hospital birth is a process that requires care and attention. Packing the hospital bag is one of the first tasks that the mother-to-be has to do. The hospital admission procedure can vary from one facility to another, so it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with it beforehand and be prepared for any scenario. Make your time in hospital as comfortable and safe as possible for you and your baby.
