IT doesn't feel like too long ago that I had a hospital bag all ready and packed months ahead in anticipation of the birth of my babies. What an exciting time that was! One bag for me, and another little one for my newborn.
There were quite a few cute things to pack, especially clothes the baby would need when he/she came home. Things for new mothers also included loose, comfortable clothing as well as salves and balms to facilitate breastfeeding.
Fast forward to the present. Many years have passed since and my children are now adults of voting age. Bags that I pack for the hospital have nothing to do with having babies or their needs anymore.
Now the bags contain things that I'd need for myself, which I don't even have the opportunity to pack (myself) because going to the hospital and getting admitted would be totally unexpected.
In such instances, I'd depend largely on my family to pack for me. The first few times, they didn't really know where all my things were. They never had any reason to go through my things, like my clothes, skincare and other daily needs. Then there were my kaftans — which ones to choose? From day and night wear; silk, cotton or synthetic; home or for functions?
With every new detail they learnt through the experience, my children suddenly realised that the woman they'd thought to be their simple mama wasn't that simple after all! It was really a revelation for them — a learning curve not just for them, but for me too.
GETTING RE-ACQUAINTED
After the first time I was admitted into hospital for an emergency, we made it a point to learn more about each other, like our favourite colours, food and drinks, to personal preferences for intimate things like types of underwear. Go ahead and laugh. Not knowing the details is where mistakes can be made.
A few days after returning home from hospital, we talked about what it was like for them to have me away from home because of an illness. They told me how they had to cope — from being at home without mama's supervision as well as providing what they thought would cheer me up when they visited me.
Suddenly they had extra things to do in addition to their already busy lives of school and extracurricular activities. And quite suddenly too they found themselves on the other side of the line — asking me how my day was and what I'd like to have from home that would cheer me up. It was their turn to worry about me.
From this experience, I made a list of what I'd like to have with me should I need to spend time away from home. I shared this with my family and encouraged them to do the same for themselves. This really helps when we have to pack for each other. It's like packing for a three-day trip, but with a few more things.
PACKING 101
Packing for three days means that you have enough clothes to wash and recycle should you, for some weird reason, not be able to get a fresh supply of clothes to change into.
This would mean something like having two sleepwears, whether it's kaftan or pyjamas. If you were going in for surgery, it's better to have a two-piece clothing of a front-button top and elasticated bottom instead of a one-piece loose dress or kaftan.
Wearing separates makes it easier for actually wearing your clothes as well as for toileting and wound-cleaning. Of course, if you soil your clothes and run out of fresh ones, you could always borrow the hospital clothes.
Other essentials include a shawl, cardigan, face towel, toiletries, lip balm, lotions, thermos for hot or cold drinks, your own cup and even cutleries. Some hospitals may provide you with standard toiletries, but they may not suit you. Shawls give you that extra cover when you don't want to be seen in your sleepwear.
I've been hospitalised in a so-called high-end hospital that served food on dismal paper plates and disposable plastic utensils that bent even with soft food. That same hospital also provided bath towels that looked like they'd seen better days and would now serve better as rags.
If that's happened to you, ensure that someone in your family brings something nicer and more familiar from home. It's also good to pack some packet premixed drinks and crackers for when you get peckish.
Sometimes this also benefits the caregiver who's accompanying you, especially when the sundry shop has closed for the day. Bring your own bedroom slippers and/or flipflops. It never hurts to bring your own tissue paper and toilet roll either.
(The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.)
Putri Juneita Johari volunteers for the Special Community Society of Ampang. She can be reached at [email protected].
