There are many reasons why you may potentially be faced with a labor induction. It can happen if you’ve reached your baby’s due date (or have passed it!) and your little bundle of joy is far too comfortable to come out on their own. Or, you may need to be induced for a medical reason.1 An induction can be planned, or it could be sudden in an emergency. For some women, their medical labor inductions can go quickly, and they’ll deliver their little ones within the same day. For others, their bodies and babies may need more time, and meeting their little ones may take a day or two (or three).2,6,20
There are many different experiences women can have with an induction. However, no matter your experience, you can still plan and prepare in advance if you think a medical labor induction is in your future. If you’re being induced, here are some hospital bag items to have on hand for your labor induction. These can help you with a smoother, more comfortable labor and delivery experience.
Labor Induction Hospital Bag Must-Haves
While you should still pack everything you were planning on bringing (here’s our hospital bag checklist), I recommend packing these additional items to help with your labor induction:
1. Things To Help With Sleep
If you’re being induced and your cervix is still firm and hasn’t dilated, you’ll probably be asked to check into the hospital at night to begin the induction process. Once you’re admitted into your labor and delivery room, they’ll usually start with placing a medication called Cervidil vaginally and having you go to sleep.3 This will stay in place for 12 hours (usually from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.) to help soften your cervix.4,5
Some women don’t experience any issues other than minor discomfort from the Cervidil, while others sometimes experience contractions.4,5 Either way, we want you to get as much rest as possible because you’re about to have a big day in the morning when they begin the Pitocin. Because of this, I recommend bringing something that will help you go to sleep, like Melatonin or Tylenol PM. We don’t want you to not get any sleep and feel exhausted in the morning. We need you to have energy, feel strong, and be ready to start labor and have your baby!
2. Earplugs and an Eye Mask
Hospitals can be loud, especially in the labor and delivery unit. Women will be making lots of different loud noises, and different machines will be beeping and going off. If you’re trying to get some sleep, I suggest bringing a pair of earplugs. Also, most hospital rooms don’t have the best curtains or shades. Light can creep in, and if you want to get a good nap in during the day, an eye mask will help. Again, we want you to get as much rest as possible to have energy for when things build up and you need to push!
3. A Few Comfy Outfits for You and Your Significant Other
As I mentioned before, the labor induction process can be long, so you may be at the hospital for several days.6 A lot of the inductions I’ve attended as a birth doula have usually lasted two to three days. And that doesn’t include their postpartum time, which is usually another day or more, depending on if they have a vaginal or cesarean birth.
Because it can be long, one of the best things you can do to make this a more comfortable experience is to pack a few changes of clothes for you and your significant other in your hospital bag. Remember, you don’t have to wear the hospital gown the whole time you’re in labor if you don’t want to. You can wear other items that feel more comfy to you (here are some options for what to wear at a hospital birth)! Since it may take a while for your baby to be born, you may want to pack two labor gowns or items that are comfortable to wear during labor. Then, if you end up being there for three days in labor, you can rest assured that you’ll have several clean clothes to be comfy in!
4. Entertainment
Checking in for labor induction slightly differs from checking into the hospital when you’re already in labor. Since it can take a little while to get things going, it’s best to plan ahead. For example, bring:
- A few books
- Movies
- Magazines
- Podcasts
- Music
- Netflix
- Games (on your tablet, on your computer, or a deck of cards)
Bring anything to distract and entertain you and your partner. There’s nothing worse than sitting in a hospital room being induced and waiting hours upon hours for some action to occur. Distracting yourself while waiting for labor to start will make things go smoother, and the time may seem to go just a little faster.
5. Snacks
Depending on your hospital’s policy, you may be able to snack during some parts of your induction. (Be sure to ask about this prior to your arrival!) Preparing snacks that will give you some energy to power through labor will help. I recommend bringing things that are sweet and savory. Ensuring your partner also eats will help everyone be on their game when it’s time to welcome your little one into the world. I even recommend bringing a cooler filled with your and your partner’s favorite foods and snacks. (Hospital food doesn’t have the best reputation.) You need food to fuel your energy, so this can really help!
6. Beverages
Speaking of a cooler, I also suggest filling it with some beverages that will help keep you hydrated in labor because water can become boring after a while. A few I recommend are:7
- Coconut water
- Gatorade Zero (has no sugar)
- Electrolyte drink mixes
- Labor-Aide (see recipe)
Your body is working hard, so I always suggest bringing a good electrolyte drink.7 Staying hydrated is extremely important during labor.8 Having some beverages on hand that you enjoy (like the ones above) will help the process.
7. Peanut Ball
A peanut ball is an extremely helpful tool to use while in labor. Thankfully, many hospitals have peanut balls available for you to use; however, some don’t. I recommend asking your hospital if they have peanut balls and if there are usually enough for the people who request one. (It’s good to ask this just in case they don’t have one available for you to use while in labor.) If they don’t have one or might not have one available for you to use during your labor, I suggest bringing your own. Using a peanut ball can help open your pelvis and bring baby down lower onto your cervix while you’re resting and lying in the hospital bed. It can help speed up the process and keep you more comfortable.9,10,11
8. Essential Oils and an Oil Diffuser
If essential oils are your thing and you have a doula or midwife who can help you select essential oils that will help support the labor process, you may want to pack them in your hospital bag! A few that I always like to bring to the births I attend are:12,13,14,15,16,17,18
- Lavender and jasmine (for relaxation)
- Lemon or orange (citrus is great for energy)
- Peppermint (helps with nausea)
- Clary sage (to help stimulate stronger contractions)
Essential oils can also be very calming, which all women need during labor.18 Bring along a diffuser so you can have the essential oil you prefer to smell diffused in your room.
9. Slippers
Hospitals often offer portable IV stands and monitors so you can get up and walk the halls to help progress labor.19 So, pack a comfortable pair of shoes or slippers in your hospital bag to hit the hallways and get that labor progressing!
10. Your Pillow and Blanket
Hospital pillows are notorious for being thin and super uncomfortable. Not only that, they usually only allow three pillows (two for you and one for your partner) in each room. Come prepared with your own pillow from home to be more comfortable while you rest. I suggest using a different-colored pillowcase on your pillow (not white) so the hospital doesn’t accidentally take yours instead of theirs. Also, a cozy blanket can make you feel more at home.
The Bottom Line
The key to any labor induction is to make yourself as relaxed and comfortable as possible to help progress things.21 The last thing you want is to be overly tense and stressed out, which can make the process last longer. So, prepare as much as possible by packing these 10 hospital bag items for your labor induction! Remember that inductions can take many hours or days, so don’t get discouraged.6,20 Your baby will be here soon!
