Hospitals routinely stock and supply a comprehensive range of items designed to support the postpartum transition, ensuring immediate hygiene, comfort, and medical needs are met. This provision allows new parents to focus on healing and bonding. The supplies provided are generally included in the overall cost of the stay, making their utilization a practical choice for most families.
Supplies for Maternal Recovery
For the parent’s physical healing, particularly after a vaginal birth, hospitals provide specialized disposable mesh underwear. These stretchy garments comfortably accommodate the large, absorbent maternity pads necessary to manage lochia, or postpartum bleeding. To reduce swelling and pain, immediate relief is offered through chemical ice packs that double as maternity pads, providing cold therapy directly to the site of trauma or stitches.
A peri bottle (plastic squirt bottle) is provided to facilitate gentle cleansing of the perineal area during bathroom use, maintaining hygiene. Nurses also supply witch hazel pads, which provide a soothing, anti-inflammatory effect when placed on the perineum or hemorrhoids. Topical numbing sprays containing benzocaine are offered to temporarily desensitize the area, offering short-term relief from pain.
Systemic comfort is managed with over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, routinely administered to control uterine cramping and general soreness. For C-section recovery, some facilities offer an abdominal binder, which provides gentle compression to the incision site and aids mobility. Stool softeners are also administered to prevent straining, supporting both vaginal and surgical recovery.
Supplies for Newborn Care
The hospital ensures the baby’s immediate needs are met by providing basic disposable items, including newborn-size diapers and unscented wipes. Newborns are kept warm with simple knit hats and soft receiving blankets used for swaddling. Initial feeding needs are covered through access to lactation consultants and hospital-grade breast pumps, or through small, ready-to-feed bottles of formula for those who choose to supplement or formula-feed.
For minor medical care and hygiene, hospitals offer supplies like petroleum jelly, useful after a circumcision to prevent the wound from sticking to the diaper. A bulb syringe is provided to gently suction mucus from the baby’s mouth and nose, assisting with breathing. Necessary initial medical treatments, such as the vitamin K injection and antibiotic eye ointment, are managed using hospital-provided supplies.
Newborns also receive simple hospital-issued clothing, usually a soft t-shirt or side-snap shirt and a blanket, which are easily managed by the nursing staff during checkups. While pacifiers are not universally provided, many facilities offer small, specialized models used for non-nutritive sucking.
Hospital Policy on Taking Supplies Home
The majority of disposable medical and personal hygiene items used during the stay are intended for the patient to take home upon discharge. Once a supply is brought into a patient’s room, it cannot be reused for another patient, even if unopened. Patients are encouraged to take home any remaining mesh underwear, perineal ice packs, witch hazel pads, and peri bottles to ensure continued recovery care at home.
This principle extends to newborn supplies, meaning parents can pack up any unused diapers, wipes, and bulb syringes from their room’s supply drawers. It is common practice to ask the nursing staff for a final refill of these items just before leaving. Items intended to remain hospital property include specialized medical equipment, such as blood pressure cuffs, linens, pillows, and hospital gowns.
Common Items Not Provided
Despite the extensive range of supplies provided for immediate post-delivery care, several items are typically not included. The hospital does not provide a car seat, which is a mandatory safety device that must be properly installed before a newborn can be discharged. Parents must also plan to bring their own going-home outfit for the baby, as the hospital only supplies basic swaddles and shirts during the stay.
While basic pain medication and toiletries are available, personal comfort items are not stocked. This includes specific personal hygiene products like preferred shampoo, conditioner, or lip balm. Specialized breastfeeding gear, such as a personal nursing pillow or nipple cream, must be brought from home, although a hospital-grade pump will be available for use on-site. Parents should also plan to bring their own preferred snacks and drinks, as hospital food service may be limited.