Clothing
This item keeps your feet warm during labour and delivery
This item is essential for keeping your breath fresh, especially after long labor
Toothbrush & Toothpaste
This item keeps newborns warm and snug
Swadle Blanket or Moss Bag
A clear liquid that hydrates and provides quick energy during labor.
Coconut Water or Electrolyte Drink
This traditional practice involves keeping the placenta after birth for ceremonial purposes.
Placenta Burial or Keeping the Placenta for Sacred Use
Many people bring this loose and comfortable item to wear instead of a hospital gown
Robe
This toiletry helps keep lips from getting dry during labor
Lip Balm
Hospitals provide these, but many parents bring their own to ensure a good fit for the ride home.
Newborn Diapers)
These small, high-energy snacks provide a quick boost for laboring mothers.
Granola Bars or Nuts
This item, often made by family members, provides warmth and spiritual protection for the baby.
Ribbon Skirt or Star Blanket
These items provide support for swollen feet and are easy to slip on.
Slippers or Flip-Flops
People often bring this item to freshen up their hair when they can’t shower immediately.
Dry Shampoo
This item helps protect a baby’s feet in cold weather.
Baby Socks or Booties
Some hospitals allow these soothing candies to keep the mouth moist.
Hard Candies or Lozenges
This form of rhythmic sound can be played to provide strength and focus during labor.
Drumming or Singing Traditional Songs
This clothing item is often preferred by postpartum mothers because it's soft and easy for breastfeeding.
Nursing Bra or Loose T-shirt
Hospitals may provide these, but some prefer to bring their own with wings for postpartum bleeding.
Maternity Pads or Adult Diapers
It is required by law to bring this item for transporting a baby safely home from the hospital.
Car Seat
This Indigenous food is nutrient-dense and often eaten during postpartum recovery
Bannock or Dried Meat/Fish
This traditional practice involves a close community supporting the birthing parent.
Birth with Family and Elders Present
This type of undergarment is recommended after birth, especially for C-section recovery.
High-waisted underwear or mesh underwear.
A natural option for perineal healing, often used in Indigenous medicine
Witch Hazel or Herbal Sitz Bath
In Indigenous traditions, this item may be kept after birth as it holds a spiritual connection to the child
Placenta
This warm drink is often given postpartum to promote healing and relaxation.
Herbal Tea, such as Raspberry Leaf Tea or Labrador Tea in Indigenous cultures
Some Indigenous families use this natural item for smudging to cleanse the hospital space before birth.
Sage, Sweetgrass, or Cedar for Smudging