Baby Alert! What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag + Essential Oils

It’s the final countdown to meeting the newest addition to your family, and you couldn’t be more excited! You’re about to experience one of the biggest milestones of your life, and so you try to plan every single detail to make it as seamless and special as possible. If you’re about to become a parent for the first time, you may have no idea what to expect, and that includes what you should bring to the hospital. To help guide the way, EG has curated a few helpful tips on what to pack in your hospital bag.

One of the biggest tips you may receive for your hospital stay is to pack light. Many experienced mothers can attest to having packed multiple outfits and items they thought they’d need, but ended up never using. Most hospitals provide everything you need, from toiletries to non-slip socks. It’s good to ask your hospital in advance what they provide, and if they have a checklist of items they recommend you bring.

Hospital Bag Must-Haves:

• (1) Going home outfit: You will most likely be wearing a hospital robe for your entire stay
• (1) Going home baby outfit: Most hospitals provide clothing for the baby’s hospital stay. Baby’s want to be warm and comfortable so a soft onesie is a great choice
• Your favorite toiletries: Unless you don’t mind what the hospital provides, don’t forget your toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, brush, deodorant and lotion
• Snacks: If you plan on breastfeeding, chances are you will be as hungry as you were when your little one still inside of you. Bring snacks if you want to keep your hospital bills at a minimum
• Breastfeeding pillow: On the subject of breastfeeding, you may wish to bring a breastfeeding pillow and nursing bra

EOs for the Hospital Stay:

• Lavender: The mother of all EOs, Lavender’s analgesic properties help to soothe pregnancy pangs. The gentle aroma of Lavender is also calming to the senses, helping everyone present to be at ease. This oil is best inhaled during labor and delivery.
• Mandarin: High in limonene, Mandarin’s uplifting and analgesic properties makes this oil a blissful pick for the mother who wishes to enjoy labor and delivery to the fullest. The energizing aroma of Mandarin is also a good choice for unexpected nighttime deliveries.
• Clary Sage: In a study of 156 women in labor, Jasmine or Clary Sage was given through inhalation. The women who used Clary Sage had significantly reduced pain and labor duration than those who used Jasmine.1
• Frankincense: High stress during labor is understandable, but that doesn’t make it any less stressful. To encourage relaxation, inhale the serene aroma of Frankincense.
• Roman Chamomile: In a study in which 585 pregnant women participated, 10 essential oils, including Chamomile, were used to try to relieve pain and calm mothers during labor. Of these women, 62% found essential oils to be effective.2 Roman Chamomile was chosen as it is known for its soothing, analgesic and antispasmodic properties.

Note: These oils are best inhaled with a personal pocket inhaler. We only advise using essential oils during pregnancy, labor and delivery under the consultation of your doctor and an aromatherapist. Essential oils are generally not allowed to be used during cesarean section as the environment must be as sterile as possible. A special thanks to aromatherapist, Mikki Anderson for providing information on essential oils for labor and delivery.

1. Tiran, Denise. Aromatherapy in Midwifery Practice. Singing Dragon, 2016.
2. Price, Shirley, and Len Price. Aromatherapy for Health Professionals. Churchill Livingstone, 2012.