10/22/2026
Preparing to give birth at Royal Inland Hospital?
I'm a big fan of packing light but with comfort in mind....Let's chat absolute essentials for your labour and postpartum at RIH!
✨For labour:
☺️Comfort Items: birth combs, essential oils, massage oil and tools, electric heat pack
📋Birth preferences (printed and easy to read)
🏠Environment changers: battery operated candles, fairy lights, focus points, affirmation cards,
👚Clothing: labour gown, a bra for the tub (if you care), extra set of clothing for your partner
🍲Easy, quick nutrition: honey sticks, electrolytes, bone broth, protien bars, fruits, and don't forget a high capacity insulated water bottle!
🧴Toiletiries: toothbrushes, toothpaste, mints, lip chap
✨For Postpartum:
👚Clothing: loose comfortable pjs with nursing access (2-3 pairs), nursing bras
🧴Toiletries that make you feel like you, add some dry shampoo in there as well!
🤱For Nursing: ni**le pads, a preferred brand of ni**le cream, maybe silverettes, collected colostrum
🏥The hospital provides lots of great stuff including: disposable underwear, pads, ice pads, ni**le cream, collostrum collection kits, and a typical peri bottle but you may want a few more things!
🫶Extra care items could include: Witch hazel foam or tucks pads and an angled peri bottle
✨For baby:
👶3-4 easy to use sleepers and a going home outfit
🧷Diapers or wipes ONLY if you have a specific brand you want to use over the hospitals brands
📸Photo props and outfit
🚙A valid car seat to take baby home
👃an oogie boogie bear and/or suction bulb
✨For partners:
👖2-3 outfits
💤DONT forget the pjs—lots of staff will be in and out during the night
🥪Easy snacks and food, mom gets meals delivered but partners will need to bring food or head to the cafeteria
💴Cash or card for parking
✨Extras: (if you feel like packing for max comfort)
🧖♀️A comfortable towel
🛌Your own pillow and blanket
Pro Tip: Pack a separate bag with you and your partners essentials for labour to be brought up first, have your environment changers in a specific pouch with someone designated to take them out and set up ASAP.
