Winter Hospital Bag: Our Tips for Giving Birth During the Cold Season

PackingPacking your is already a tricky task, given the lists found on the the internet that contradict each other, and the advice from friends and family that vary from one generation to , and the difficulty of predict what we’ll really need in a context we don’t yet know yet.

Giving Birth in Winter adds an to the experience. The temperatures outside. The cold in the maternity ward hallways. The trip home in the rain or in the cold. The first few weeks at home with a baby born in the middle of cold season. And the in a bedroom that gets chilly at night.

That suitcase deserves a few seasonal adjustments that the generic lists don’t always account for. It’s exactly what we’re explain here.

What Winter Changes for the maternity bag

The has a few essential items that are essential no matter the season. But winter calls for in several key categories.

The Heat During the First Few Days in the Maternity Ward

Maternity wards are generally well heated, but “well-heated” can mean and in the early morning, and nights when the temperature in the drops. You get up to go to the bathroom at 3 a.m. a.m. after giving birth—it’s not way am I going to walk down the hallway in just a light T-shirt.

Coming Home

This is the most vulnerable moment. Leaving the maternity ward with a newborn in the middle of winter requires level of organization that summer births don’t have to . You need to be protected from the cold, and your baby even more so. Those thirty seconds between the maternity ward door and the car may seem insignificant, but with a newborn whose thermoregulation is not yet fully developed, they are are not.

Materials Suitable for Cold Weather

In winter, lightweight fabrics summer fabrics—fine cotton and aren’t the most suitable. The first weeks after giving birth call for fabrics that retain heat without making you feel stuffy, that manage night sweats, and that remain gentle against the skin that has been sensitized by childbirth.

What's left in all the suitcases, no matter the season

Before we get into the specifics for winter, here are a few reminders about the essential so that your suitcase is fully equipped for all areas.

Documents

Chealth insurance card and supplemental health insurance certificate, , proof , blood type card , current prescriptions, if you have written one. Keep everything in a , placed at the front.

Essentials for You

Pants Disposable or large-size sufficient quantities for postpartum discharge lasts several days and are heavy. Overnight sanitary pads Overnight sanitary pads. Lanolin for the nipples from the very first feedings, cracks may appear appear quickly. Disposable nursing pads for the first instances of of milk.

Essentials for Baby

Three to four long-sleeved in newborn and size 1 month. Two to three onesies made of soft cotton. Socks and hat. Diapers are usually provided by the maternity ward—check in advance.

Phone charger long, because outlets are rarely next to the bed in maternity wards.

What winter changes in your suitcase: your clothes

It is here that the difference is most noticeable. The clothes you pack in your suitcase for a birth in December or January aren’t the same as for a birth in July.

For childbirth: prioritize thermal comfort

While you're working, you'll likely get hot from physical exertion, concentration, and contractions cause your body temperature. But between contractions, and during rest periods, the chill can return quickly.

A nightgown that’s light but not too thin, or a loose-fitting, comfortable cotton outfit outfit, with something something warm within reach if you need it. A pair of warm socks—your feet tend to get cold during work, especially if you’re walking up and down the hallways.

For your stay in the maternity ward: Dress in layers

The First Few Days at the maternity ward in winter call for a wardrobe in layers to adapt to temperature fluctuations between the room, the bathroom, and the hallways.

Our Breastfeeding t-shirts made of soft cotton are the centerpiece of this wardrobe. Two or three are enough to rotate through first few days. Wear a or a light cardigan that can be easily take off in the and put back on for when you’re out and about.

Our nursing tank tops make excellent base layers for winter—they keep your tummy covered and warm at all times, even when you open your T-shirt for those first feedings.

The one item you definitely shouldn't forget: a warm vest or cardigan

It’s the item that never makes it onto generic packing lists—and one you almost always regret not bringing. A warm vest or long cardigan, easy to slip on and off, that you can wear as you walk through the maternity ward hallways, to the bathroom, and whenever the room feels a little chilly.

Our nursing sweatshirts are perfect for this purpose—warm enough for cold weather, and easy to take off when you're breastfeeding or when the room is well heated.

For nights at the maternity ward: winter nursing pajamas

This might be the most important item in your winter hospital bag. Nights at the maternity ward in winter are long—feedings come one after another, the midwives drop by at all hours, and in between, you try to get some rest in a room where the temperature can drop.

Bring two—one to wear and a clean spare. Milk leaks don't give you any warning.

What Changes in a Baby's Suitcase During Winter

A baby born in winter has specific needs that generic hospital bag checklists don't always cover.

A Warm Onesie for Coming Home

This is the most important item in a baby’s winter travel bag. The onesie for the trip home should be warm enough for the few minutes of exposure to the cold outside, but not too warm to ensure comfort in the heated car.

A onesie made of thick cotton or soft velour is ideal. Make sure it fits in the car seat—some onesies are too thick, which can prevent the seat from being properly secured.

The Hat 

A newborn loses a significant amount of body heat through the head—it’s just the way the body is built. In winter, a hat is a must. Be sure to have two or three on hand—they fall off easily, get lost, and get wet.

Socks and mittens

The A newborn’s feet and hands get cold quickly. Socks made of cotton or soft, fine-knit cotton or wool, and small mittens for outings, even short ones.

The swaddling blanket or the blanket for going out

For the trip back, a thick blanket thick blanket wrap your baby snugly in the car seat complements the system protection against the cold. Warning: Do not wrap your baby in a thick blanket under the car seat straps as this reduces their effectiveness. The blanket should be placed over the straps, not underneath them.

Preparing to Return Home in Winter

Coming home is a moment we rarely plan out in detail, but one that deserves special consideration in the winter.

For you

A warm coat that you can easily slip on over your maternity clothes. Keep in mind that your body has just given birth, so you might not want a coat that’s tight-fitting or hard to put on. A loose-fitting jacket, an oversized coat, or a large, thick cardigan are more comfortable.

Shoes that are easy to slip on—lacing them up is one hassle too many in the first few days. Flat ballet flats, zip-up boots, slip-on sneakers.

For babies

A warm onesie. A hat. A blanket draped over the car seat straps. And if it’s a long ride, check the temperature inside the car well before picking up your baby from the maternity ward.

Logistics for Departure

In winter, leaving the maternity ward requires a slightly different approach. Ask the person accompanying you to bring the car out early to let it warm up. If you’re taking a taxi or a ride-hailing service, let the driver know you have an infant so they can wait in a sheltered area. And make sure you’re picked up as close to the entrance as possible.

Preparing Your Home to Welcome a Baby in Winter

The hospital bag is for the trip there. But the home that awaits you also deserves some winter preparations.

The temperature in the baby's room

The ideal temperature for an infant to sleep is between 18 and 20°C. A room that is too warm is a risk factor. Conversely, an infant cannot maintain its body temperature in a room that is too cold.

Before heading to the maternity ward, make sure the radiator in the baby's room is set to the right temperature. If necessary, buy a room thermometer—it's inexpensive and very useful during the first few weeks.

A sleeping bag suited to the season

A sleep sack is the recommended sleep accessory for recommended by pediatricians—no loose blanket in the crib. In winter, choose a sleeping bag suitable for the room temperature Sleeping bags are classified by warmth (TOG): 2.5 TOG for a room at 18–20°C, 3.5 TOG for a cooler room.

Your Winter Postpartum Wardrobe

When you return from the maternity ward, you’ll need a wardrobe breastfeeding wardrobe suitable for winter. Our knit sweaters are ideal for the first warm, comfortable, and easy to use for feedings. Our nursing sweatshirts for casual days at home. And our Breastfeeding pyjamas for nights —be sure to have at least three to rotate through for the first few weeks when the laundry come one after another.

What we often regret we often regret having forgotten during a winter birth

Warm, Non-Slip Slippers

Not just lightweight slippers— lined slippers, non-slip slippers that keep you warm on the cold floor of the maternity ward. It’s a detail that makes a huge difference when you get up for the first time after giving birth, on cold tile floors, at 5 a.m.

A warm vest or cardigan

As mentioned, but it’s so important that it deserves its own line in the regrets section. Almost all moms who have given birth in winter mention a warm cardigan as the item they should have packed in their suitcase.

An extra layer for nighttime

Maternity wards set their heating to a average temperature that may may not match your personal comfort level, especially after giving birth. Having an extra light blanket or a throw in your suitcase can make a real difference in your at night.

The outfit for coming home, prepared separately

Put on your travel clothes at home—your own and your baby’s in a or a separate bag inside the suitcase. You don't want to rummage through the whole suitcase to find the baby’s hat while the midwife is waiting and your partner carries the luggage.

Winter, a wonderful time of year to give birth

It is often described winter is often portrayed as an additional challenge for childbirth. It’s a somewhat simplistic way of looking at things.

Winter has its own beauty. The first weeks with a baby, snuggled up home while while the cold rages outside. Evenings under a blanket with your baby snuggled up against you. The special light of short that gives every moment a special special tenderness.

Maternity wards are well-equipped for winter births. The healthcare teams are familiar with the specific requirements. And with a well- packed and suited to the season, and your stay carefully your stay at the maternity ward and your return home will be as possible comfort.

At 23 Mai Paris, our maternity clothes and our nursing clothes are designed for all seasons, including getting through the first few of winter with warmth, comfort, and that softness you can only find in those first moments with your baby.

Discover our new collection and our affordable basics to fill your winter maternity bag with the pieces that really make a difference