Well now, when you are ready to welcome the new member in your family and you must have made his/her room and everything ready. But there are a few other things which you will require for yourself and the baby in the nearest future, which is your maternity bag.

You should start preparing for your maternity bag just after completion of your seventh month, because its difficult for anybody to prepare it in emergency, you have to take care of very small things for its preparation.

Here are some of the items that you need in your maternity bag.

Firstly, you need two bags, one for baby and one for yourself. For yourself you need to do two kinds of preparations, one for labour and another for after delivery.

For labour you will need the following things:

1. Bed sheets
2. Napkins
3. Flasks
4. Dressing gowns with front openings
5. Slippers
6. Socks to avoid cold feet
7. Old nightdress or long T-shirt to wear in labour
8. Toiletries
9. Massage oils or lotions
10. Lip balm
11. Things for relaxation like books or music..
12. Snacks and drinks
13. A camera
14. Some disposable panties
15. Address book to inform relatives and friends

Now, after delivery:

1. Night gowns
2. Hair brush
3. Going home outfit
4. Feeding bra
5. Breast pads
6. Sanitary napkins
7. Some plates and glasses

For baby:

1. Lots of nappies made of soft cloth
2. Baby blanket
3. Soft unisexual clothes
4. Socks and caps
5. Two baby towels
6. 4-5 pieces of soft cloth to wrap baby (made out of an old cotton sari)
7. 2-3 pieces of thick cloth to place in cradle
8. Baby soap, oil and power
9. Calendula to clean baby’s navel
10. A set of going home dresses.

Surely, there will be people with you to take care at this period but if you will take care of your maternity bag, then things will be easier for your partner.

The list may increase or decrease according to the situation and always seek help from your doctor or nurses about things you will need, also experienced friends and relatives have lots of information.

Wish you all the best and happy parenting.