What to pack in case of transfer?

[Breathless Wonder]

So according to the midwife's information sheet, I have to have a bag packed and ready, in case of transfer.

I'm not sure what to pack.  Does anyone have any guidelines? 

[nicolian]

I would assume the things you would want in case of a planned hospital birth. Some things I brought - outfit(s) and diapers for baby and mom, breastfeeding pillow, socks, snacks, drinks..

[MegBoz]

Yeah, what Nicolian wrote in addition to:

• Birth plan (Obviously if you're transferring, things have gone wrong, but I would still want things documented like no formula for my DC, & my CS birth plans.)
• Receiving blanket for baby (they had these felt-like ones at the hospital when I had DS. HATED them! they weren't stretchy, so you couldn't get as good a swaddle, but they left these little fuzzies in his lips which ended up embedded in my nipples! I will only use knit-type fabrics this time around.)
• Baby clothes - be sure to include either outfits with built-in "mittens" or separate mittens both to keep baby's hands warm & prevent him scratching his face
• Baby socks - if you haven't packed outfits with feet. But footsie-PJs are so much easier anyway since the socks never stay put.
• Camera
• I liked button-front shirts for me at first to make constant BFing easier. While you're still learning, it's easier not to have the fabric in the way like it can be if you pull a shirt up.

Make sure you have snacks for DH too.

[carrierwright]

You might want to also add a journal or your laptop so that you can jot down details of the birth you want to remember while you're still in the moment. I loved writing my boys' birth stories the night after their births (one in hospital;one at home)

[loveneverfails]

Not all transfers are before birth, or for mom.  So, here's what I'd pack for an urgent newborn transfer (had to do this transfer in May)

*Books/ipod/etc

*Hemorrhoid treatments, because chairs in NICU are danged hard to sit on right after giving birth

*Make up, so that you can look less exhausted than you are and have lower likelihood of getting people bugging you about how you "need your rest"

*Lotion for your hands having washed them so much

*Snacks, but also easy to have meals like cold cereal, protein bars, etc

*Depends, so that you're not worrying about leaking on your clothes

*Things belonging to your baby that are uniquely theirs, so that *you* remember that that's your baby, not the NICU's baby.  For me, this was a bunch of bows and headbands and eventually even toenail polish (we were there way too long, and got crazy bored), for a baby boy maybe I'd bring baseball hats, etc.  And ask to dress any baby who isn't under a warmer in their own clothes.  The psychological element of NICU is what can be so so so hard. 

[lunarlady]

I had an emergency transfer, so went with nothing. Luckily, we don't live far from the hospital. Now that I've gone, here's what I would pack:

One outfit for me, and one for baby
Diapers, wipes, burp cloths and hat for baby
Mama pads, several pair of undies, and nursing gown or PJ's for me
Slippers and shoes for me
A toiletriy bag full of new, small, special toiletries - shampoo, soap, lotion, chapstick, hairbrush...I felt lousy, and my birth didn't go as planned so I felt emotionally down too. Having special things to pamper myself with was key. Trying to describe these items to dh was impossible. The lemony soap, and the lavender lotion...you would think I was speaking Greek or something.
Small pack of special foods...celebratory things like chocolate. Same reason as above.
I never read/watch TV or do anything else like that when baby is new. Too busy resting/nursing/baby watching. But you might put in a book or journal, just in case.

[Sk8ermaiden]

Really comfortable clothes in the event of a Cesarean. You don't want anything that would come anywhere close to resting on your incision. I lived in my knit/jersey dresses (casual ones, like from Kohl's.) Make sure you have nursing bras or something nurse-able.

Chapstick!

Baby outfit or two

A full change of clothes for your partner.

Both your toothbrushes, razors, toilitries...

Camera and charger

Cell phone chargers

Computer and charger if you'd like to have it. (obviously not something you'd grab in an emergency transfer.)

Don't forget cash and/or your cards, although cash is easier to have stashed in the bag. The hospital may feed you, but at least at mine, they did not feed hubby.

I think that's the very basics. A lot of people are inclined to think they'll be in and out, and most probably are, but I was kept there for 5 days for uncontrollable high blood pressure, so that's my POV.

[Comtessa]

I second the suggestion of nice, smelly lotions and soaps that make you feel a little pampered -- I was feeling really bummed about being in the hospital after my transfer, and having a bunch of essential oils, nice-smelling lotions, and yummy shampoo at hand was a really nice pick-me-up.  Especially because everything in the hospital smells like disinfectant!  It was nice to be the exception to that rule.  You may also want to bring more frivolous things like a nail file, hair bands/clips and brush, makeup, razor, hairspray, jewelry, and perfume.  It helps you feel less like a 'patient.'  So do comfy clothes (rather than jammies) and shoes (rather than slippers).  You'll want to bring maternity clothes 'cause you'll still have a six-month (or so) belly after your birth -- so don't pack pre-pregnancy clothes, they won't fit yet! 

Don't forget to pack things for your partner!  I was totally prepared for myself, but neither of us ever thought to pack things for him.  So he was calling his sister at 6 in the morning to beg her to go to our house and pick up his toothbrush, phone charger, and a change of clothes. 

Snacks are a good idea.  Bring oranges or some other nice juicy fruit; stuff with lots of fiber is very smart.  And your favorite juices or sodas; I got sick to death of sugary apple juice and Pepsi at the hospital.  Yeughh. 

Change for vending machines. 

Clothes for the baby, some special soft blankets, and a bunting or something to bundle your LO up to get her/him home in cold weather. 

Not in the transfer bag, but along the same lines: install your baby's car seat in your car right away and make sure it's installed correctly.  Just a good thing to have taken care of 'just in case.' 

If your transfer hospital has registration paperwork available to pick up from L&D, or online, it's a good idea to have this filled out ahead of time.  It only takes a couple of minutes, and it keeps you from having to do it when you get there.  I was a non-emergent transfer, and I would have had to sit around filling out paperwork if I hadn't had it all with me already.  On my early-labor list of things to do, I included "put driver's license and insurance card in transfer bag" as well, and I'm really glad I had it all together when I got there.

Another good piece of paper to bring is a sign to put on the baby's bassinet listing things you absolutely do not want for your baby.  It's a bit in-your-face, but it's harder to ignore than a birth plan, when it comes down to it.  I think ours said something like, "Thank you for taking good care of me!  Please do NOT: circumcise me, give me a bath, give me any formula or pacifiers, or stick me with any needles without one of my parents present."  (I should have added, "do NOT take me out of my mother's room when she is sleeping."  Talk about an instant heart attack situation!) 

And I know it's been said already, but for goodness' sake, don't forget to bring a few extra copies of a transfer birth plan!  I made sure I kept the original, signed version with my OB's signature at the bottom, just in case there were any problems with the hospital staff.  Having a signed birth plan made a huge difference in the way we were treated when we transferred. 

Sending you lots of good wishes for a peaceful home birth without  a transfer!!! :)