What’s in my hospital bag for giving birth in Tokyo

I’m giving birth at Ikuryo Clinic in Nakameguro. While this is my first time giving birth and I’m not sure what to expect, both the clinic as well as other mothers in Tokyo have given me great advice on what to bring along that I’ll share with you, here.

Here’s what my hospital advised I bring:

One thing that may be unique to Japan is that the hospital stay is about 5 days including the day you give birth and check out. Based on that and the postnatal items that the clinic will provide, here is what they advised I bring:

• Hospital info (i.e. patient ID, appointment tracker, etc.)

• 4 Days worth of comfortable outfits (the first outfit for giving birth should get pretty sweaty/messy, the outfits during my stay should be comfortable loungewear, and the last outfit will be what I wear home. The hospital room has a washing machine which is helpful so it’s not necessary to overpack).

• Postpartum underwear

• Nursing bras

• Pelvic support band (I am planning on bringing my maternity band; I’m not sure if it’s the right kind but I imagine it’ll do the trick)

• A few face towels (this is more for mopping up sweat during labor and to clean up from nursing, rather than to use for drying my face)

• Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, face lotions)

• Gauze handkerchiefs for the baby (this is similar to swaddle material but a bit smaller and more convenient to use as a burp cloth, etc.).

• A plastic twist-on straw that fits PET bottles (it may be hard to drink on my own from a glass, so this makes it easy for supporters to help me drink)

• 1 Set of clothes to take the baby home in

Here are items that the hospital will provide:

• Shower goods (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bath towels)

• Nursing pillow

• Laundry detergent

• Donut cushion (to use in the hospital, not to take home)

• Slippers

• Postpartum pads

• Clothes for the baby during the stay

• Diapers

• Wipes

• Bellybutton care

Here are some items I decided to bring myself:

• Frida Mom Postpartum Recovery Items

  • Disposable underwear (just in case the fit of the ones at the hospital is awkward)

  • Postpartum pads (just in case the fit of the ones at the hospital is awkward)

  • Witch Hazel wipes (apparently you can wrap these around pads)

  • Peri Bottle (as of now, I think this was a dumb purchase; I thought that the bottle came full with a medicated spray, but it’s actually just an empty bottle that sprays in an upward trajectory. Japanese toilets have spray functions so this may not have been necessary to get…but I’ll bring it anyway since I bought it…)

  • Donut cushion (they have one at the hospital, but not one for going home so this could be good for the taxi ride home)

• Mama Earth Organic Perennial Spray (to heal the hooha)

• Konny FLEX Airmesh baby carrier (to bring the baby home in - since it’s the summer time, I got this since the material is thin and cool)

And here are items recommended to me by other moms in Tokyo:

• Portable Electric Fan (I’m giving birth in the summer so expect it to be quite hot, but even women who gave birth in other seasons recommend bringing a fan. It’s also a good idea to bring a non-electric regular handheld fan in case the electric one needs to be recharged.

• Gel strips

• Water & Sports Drinks

• Snacks (I decided to bring Lara Bars)

• Vitamin Jelly Packs (These apparently are good to have on hand during labor since it has lots of vitamins/nutrition but is also easy to eat and digest. There are a variety of brands; the ones I linked are marketed as both for adults and kids)

• Laundry Bag (like either a net to use when doing washing at the hospital, or to generally carry dirty laundry home in)

• Pillow from home (apparently hospital pillows aren’t that great so having a pillow from home provides comfort)