It can be hard to pack a hospital bag with all the unknowns of how labor and delivery will go, how long you will be there, and if there will be any complications. Not wanting to pack too much or too little is a struggle most mom’s are concerned about.
As a first time mom I have researched a lot what others have brought and used during their hospital stay to deliver their babies. I have chosen what I am bringing for my birth so here is my lists. My hope is to show you what I am doing and why so that you can get ideas for yourself. This helped me a ton in my process of deciding what to bring.
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What to pack in your hospital bag
I chose to have options for if I ended up needing to stay longer than expected and have options for sizes for the baby’s clothes and have a button option incase he needed to go to the NICU. I’ve seen a lot of NICU mom’s recommending to do this so I am making sure I am prepared incase.
I will also be packing it at 30 weeks and putting it in my care just so I have it if I ever need. I will be getting multiples of everything I can so that I don’t have anything to pack when the time comes to go to the hospital. I chose to do this because of seeing may people unknowingly go to their doctors appointments and end up getting sent to the hospital to have their baby. That’s enough stress, so I want to take some of the stress off by knowing I’d have the things I’d like if that does happen.
A lot of times people remember to bring stuff for baby or themselves and forget about the dad. Make sure to have a list for each person staying and your little one on the way so that everyone has what they need and you aren’t worrying about other things once you’re at the hospital.
My bag
- 2 outfits for after birth- I wanted to have enough clothes for if I’d need to stay 2 nights and the outfits be very comfortable after birth.
- Robe- seems easy to have on and not have to get dresses. I may where this during labor, but probably just a bra and the mess underwear.
- Socks- I love wearing fluffy socks, especially if I am cold so I want to have these since many say they shake and are cold after birth.
- Nursing bra- I probably won’t be buying any structured ones but using the soft non structured kind.
- Belly band- lot’s have said it’s uncountable not having pressure on your belly after so I will be bring one that won’t be tight, but hold compression. I sized up for this. Click here to see the band I’m bringing.
- Silverettes- I have heard people rave about these so I am excited to have these and try these out to help with the pain of breastfeeding. Click here to buy silverettes.
- Nipple cream- to pair with the Silverettes I am going to be trying everything I can to help myself with the pain that can come with breastfeeding when first starting out. Click here to see the cream I’m bringing.
- After ease- I have been recommended this to help with after birth contractions that happen when you breastfeed to help with the pain. I am excited to see if it works for me. Click here to check out After ease.
- Ice packs- I’m not sure if I’ll need these at the hospital, but better safe than sorry. I want to have them incase I decide they would be nice to have. Click here to see the one’s I’m bringing.
- Hair brush- now we get into the toiletries. This is a must
- Hair tie- I will be bringing a normal one and not a clip so that it’s comfortable when I’m laying down.
- Shower shoes- This is a must for showering in the hospital.
- Tooth brush and paste- I will be backing a travel size one so that I don’t forget to bring this.
- Shampoo and conditioner travel pack- I don’t want to bring too much so just bring a little of what products I use will help minimize the space taken by the item.
- Deodorant- This is a must.
- Chapstick- I have been so dry so I need to have this!
- Lotion- Same reason as chapstick I have been so dry!
Random items
- 10ft+ charger or portable charger- this has been one thing that has stuck out to me that others have mentioned to bring. You can’t use extension cords and if you want to be able to use your phone while it’s charging this length would be helpful.
- Blanket- It’s cold in the hospital and the comfort of a soft blanket from home will be nice to have.
- Laptop- I want to bring this to watch shows with my husband once the baby is here and we are settled in the hospital.
- Bag for things from hospital- I will be bringing an empty bag to bring home all the items they stocked up in my hospital room.
- Folder for paperwork they give and my birth plan- They give some important things at the hospital and appointments so I wanted to have a designated folder to keep track of these papers. Click here to see the file folder I’m bringing.
- Food and snacks- I want to be comfortable during my stay and always having food available is one thing that does this.
- Fan- I don’t want to be overheated so I will be bringing a fan to cool me down in labor. Click here to see the fan I’m bringing. This fan is for strollers and the legs wrap around so you can wrap around the bed in the hospital.
- Speaker- I will be bringing this to play my labor playlist.
- Heating pad- I have seen may recommend this so I will be packing it incase I think it’ll be helpful for me.
Baby’s bag
- 2 onsies’s in each size and a button option incase- I will be bringing preemie and newborn sizes most likely. I want to make sure he is not swimming in his outfits so I want to have different size options. As well as buttons incase there are complications with him.
- Swaddle- this is just for photos, he probably will be wearing the hospital one’s during his stay.
- Hat- again or a photo, he will use what they give.
- Nail file- the hospital can’t clip their nails and babies have long sharp nails. So I will be bringing this to shorten them myself. Click here to see what nail file I’m bringing.
- Colostrum syringes- just incase he needs it!
- Nursing pads- some say you won’t be yet and others say they needed them so I will be bringing them just incase.
- Vitamin d drops- I plan on breastfeeding and they recommended these types of drops. I am not sure when I am supposed to start these so I will bring them incase.
- Few burp clothes- another thing some say is pointless and others said they needed because of reflux so I will bring one or two just incase.
Husband’s bag
- 2 outfits- Don’t forget to have a bag ready for the dad. He will need clothes for each day as well.
- Tooth brush- The normal toiletries he uses is important as well.
- Deodorant- This is a must
- Socks- walking around barefoot at the hospital isn’t ideal so make sure everyone has these.
- Blanket- again bring comfort from home is a must for everyone.
Once I go to the hospital I will follow up and say what I used and recommend packing. This is what I will be bringing as a first time mom, myself so I will see what I liked and didn’t.
My hospital provides diapers, wipes, and postpartum items. If your hospital doesn’t or you have a preference on what you are using you may what to or will have to bring these items yourself.
Other items you may want to consider bring are shampoo and lotion for your baby. If you chose to have your baby bathed there you may want to use what you plan on using at home if you have a strong preference. I have seen some recommend this because their baby had a reaction to what their hospital was using.
What are you bringing in your hospital bag?
It’s important to have a list so that even if you aren’t packed and the time comes you don’t have to scrabble around thinking of all the things you should bring. Making a list can be daunting, but is so worth preparing a head of time so you know what you need to buy and what you need to have available to you.
You don’t need to pack your whole home or nothing, but a good in between is great just incase you may need things.
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