“How big can my bag be?” I asked a friend who recently gave birth.
“I saw people checking in with suitcases,” she said.
Finally, I welcomed Daniel with the same Big Red Suitcase I moved to Georgia with 9 years ago. How symbolic is that?
To be honest, I thought it would be less stuff, but there were two of us, plus a lot of things for the little one. Baby registry lists from all around the internet, including the page of Gagua Clinic, were long. Zviad and I are quite big, and the winter weather might have required something warm, so we put everything into the Big Red Suitcase without any doubt.
Everything went well until I started checking in. Having filled in all the forms, with my cervix checked, blood pressure measured and PCR test taken, I was ready to go upstairs and meet my son. A side note: having a partner during this process is really nice because you start being concentrated on your sensations more and more, and give fewer and fewer efs about things happening around.
“Now, leave that suitcase outside until you give birth and get into your room”, the nurse in Gagua clinic said. “You do have a car, don’t you?”
I wonder what would have happened if we didn’t, but there was no time to make assumptions. I fished out a small bag with rubber slippers inside, and added some snacks, tea, a pair of panties and the phone charger. The Big Red Suitcase went downstairs with Zviad, and I changed into the nightgown (I brought a birthing gown with me) and went upstairs to the delivery room.
So basically what you need for the delivery is:
clothes for delivery (in Georgia they also insist on you having a robe - like a bathrobe, for example, but I was fine with my gown, really)
fresh underwear (the pads were provided in the clinic) - Gagus Clinic’s website side, disposable ones, and I got a pack in the pharmacy, but finally, they looked at me wildly when I asked if I should wear those, so I ended up wearing my regular panties;
slippers,
socks (they really insist on you wearing socks)
phone charger,
water and snacks (nevermind if they tell you to stay hungry! You need energy for the process)
your documents! You get registered before going up to the delivery room, and the next day the personnel comes to ask questions, and on day two you usually go to another room to register the baby. In the optimal cases dads do that (thanks, Zviad!), but in case you are performing solo, have your documents with you, please;
first clothes for the baby - a short sleeve, a long sleeve, socks, a hat;
We also had a USB drive with some favorite music and movies of mine, but it didn’t work well on the TV in the delivery room, so during the first stage of birth, I had to watch Age of Ultron on my phone. So a charger is really essential!
I know some people who also packed a bottle of wine. Well, I didn't go for it, but I had camomile tea, granola, almond spread and churchkhela. Boring, I know :)
For later you’ll also need:
Nursing bra
Nursing pads (the milk doesn’t come immediately, but just in case)
Personal hygiene items (shampoo, shower gel, treatment for sore nipples, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, towel - however, in Gagua the towels were provided).
For the baby:
2-3 short sleeve onesies
2-3 long sleeve onesies
SOCKS (I mistakenly packed the mittens instead and the doctors were very confused :D)
Hat (pack two, we dropped one and didn’t use it)
Blanket
Clothes for check-out, if it matters to you
They also ask for the bottle and pacifier, but I deliberately ignored the pacifier request. The bottle I had, and we used it 2-3 times for making formula, as Daniel was born big and all my squeezed colostrum was not enough during day 2. However, we fed him from the syringe in order to save the proper latch.
Gagua Clinic provides the diapers - as much as needed, but I’m not sure about the rest of the clinics.
So why would I need a Big Red Suitcase for all this? Well, it was February, so we needed some warm clothes. Plus I was in it with Zviad, and he stayed with us all the time. By the way, dads get nothing even in the good (Lux, VIP) rooms - so make sure he has something to eat, drink, wear and clean himself with. Also Zviad brought a sleeping sack in order to make his sleep on the couch warmer and cozier.
So far, that's it! I wish you a smooth delivery and postpartum experience. Let me know if you have any questions!
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