As a highly anxious pregnant lady with an acute fear of labor and a fairly low pain threshold, I embraced the epidural birth plan almost immediately. Self-medicating before a wax was my norm. How could I get through a "natural" birth? But when my doctor explained that I might be ineligible for an epidural because of my low red blood cell count, I realized I would have to loosen my grip on my birth plan. Since I wouldn't be able to control how I gave birth, I channeled my type-A energy into something that gave me tremendous comfort: packing the most chill-inducing hospital bag ever. While there were a couple of things in there I never touched, like my hair dryer, there were a handful of indulgent items that helped make my birth (which did include an epidural) feel really relaxing and special. Would I pack them again? In a heartbeat.

Lavender Essential Oil + Diffuser:

I started reading about the powerful effects of essential oils during my quest to pack the perfect hospital bag. Lavender essential oil is particularly effective with combatting anxiety [1], so I purchased this diffuser [2] and essential oils starter kit [3] on Amazon Prime and used it throughout my labor and hospital stay. Wow. Aside from helping me relax, the lavender oil made my stale hospital room smell amazing. "It smells like a spa in here!" said pretty much every doctor and nurse after entering the room. Just like some brides choose a special perfume [4] to wear on their wedding day, I wanted to have a scent that connected me with home and my son's birth. Scientists know that scents are strongly linked to our emotional memories [5]. By using the diffuser and lavender oil at home towards the end of my pregnancy, I was able to create a comforting and familiar environment in the hospital. When I smell lavender now, I feel the same sense of calm and joy I remember feeling the day I gave birth.

Flameless Candles:

If I had you with the lavender essential oil, I'm guessing I may be losing you with the battery-operated candles, but hear me out. With the overhead lights dimmed and a couple of these flameless candles [6] flickering, it was so much easier to close my eyes and rest up a little before the pushing began. If you've ever been to a yoga class that uses these, you probably know how much it can help to focus on one while holding a challenging pose and breathing through it. These candles and my essential oil diffuser with its light that slowly changes colors helped me to channel my discomfort during pre-epidural contractions.

Bluetooth Speaker:

You know that feeling you get when a song you love starts to play? I wanted to bottle that feeling up and release it through a playlist that could carry me through the ebb and flow of labor. I created a Spotify playlist and packed my Jawbone Mini Jambox Wireless Bluetooth Speaker [7]. My tunes ranged from heart-felt ballads that celebrated maternal love, like Beyonce's Blue and Lauryn Hill's Zion, to chill Indie anthems with badass female leads, like Phantogram's 16. Having a playlist going gave my husband and I something to sing along to and helped maintain a happy, relaxed atmosphere.

Battery-Operated Fan:

Thanks to hormones, strange things happen to your body during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I was experiencing major hot flashes and having this small, foldable, battery-operated fan [8] was a lifesaver. I can't tell you how sweet it is to have a cool, steady wind flow blowing against your hot face and neck as you push. Just trust me on this. I've since used it a ton for camping and situations where outlets aren't available.

Electric Heating Pad:

I used this soft, extra-large heating pad [9] on my lower back a lot during my third trimester and across my abdomen on the lowest setting during those cramp-filled, pre-labor hours. I packed it in my hospital bag and am so glad I did. Between that and the fan, I was able to easily regulate my ever-changing body temperature and used it to soothe every sore part of my body postpartum.