Preparing for labour

Have your hospital bag packed from 36 weeks and go through your birth preferences with your birthing support person and midwife.

What to bring

For mothers

• Your Pregnancy Health Record
• Comfortable clothing
• Toiletries and tissues
• Maternity bras
• Massage oil, barley sugar, glucose drinks or music for labour
• Current medications
• Maternity sanitary pads

For baby

• 24 newborn size nappies
• Newborn clothes including singlets, jumpsuits or warm outfits
• Small cotton blankets
• Baby wipes or cotton wool
• Face washers

Birth partners should also prepare a bag.

Support during labour

It can be helpful to have a partner, family or friend providing emotional and physical support during labour. The hospital allows two support people with you during labour that can help you by:

• supporting your decisions, such as the pain relief methods that you choose
• explaining to the doctor or midwife what you need – and the other way round – which can help you feel much more in control of the situation
• cut the umbilical cord – talk to your midwife about this
• some women choose to hire a doula, a person who is not a member of your maternity team but is experienced in supporting women and their partners during labour
• check with your GP or midwife about policies regarding support people.

Personal photography and digital recording

(including cameras, mobile phone devices and other recording devices)

Personal photography may occur in the Birth Suite, Birth Centre and Theatre at your request as long as it does not interfere with the important work of the Medical and Midwifery staff involved in your care. Video recording is not permitted in labour and birth but can be used following the birth of your baby.

Photography or other media imaging have the potential to be distracting to staff and they may request that the activity cease if it interferes with their capacity to provide appropriate care.

Hospital staff members should not be photographed or recorded without their specific consent.

For information regarding professional birth photography, please login to GLOW