What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag
Happy Thursday, Lovelies!
I turn 38 weeks today and the waiting game is officially ON for baby boy. I am not going to lie, this pregnancy has been a much easier one at the end than mine with Lilly, but I think that is partially because we have been so busy between getting ready for baby and home renovations to have time to think about it much.
A few weeks ago, I shared on my Instagram Stories what I was planning to bring with me to the hospital, and got so many questions and suggestions that I thought I would share them all in one place to make it easier to reference in the future.
I know that for me personally, I like to feel over-prepared for every situation I go into. Labor is one of those things that can happen pretty spontaneously and is pretty unexpected, which is why I feel like packing a hospital bag ahead of time is just a great way to put any expecting mama’s mind at ease.
So let’s dive in, below I have created graphics and lists that will help you pack for the hospital like a pro!
Hospital Bag Checklist:
I am a chronic over-packer but I really try to keep things simple when it comes to packing my hospital bag. Mostly because I feel for my husband who has to carry it all in with us when we arrive! A few tips that I think will help first-time moms:
- Use clear toiletry cases. I can’t tell you how many times I asked Alex to grab something for me during labor or after I delivered Lilly. It makes it much easier for them to help/find things if they are clearly labeled or easy to find.
- Bring snacks. I gave birth to Lilly at 4:30 PM but we didn’t get to our room until maybe 8:00 PM. At that point, I was going on 24 hours of no food. By the time Alex was able to run out and grab something for us to eat, it was like 10 or 11:00 PM. Make sure to have some easy snacks on hand because you will be hungry. Trust me.
- Bring comfy pajamas and nursing bras. I don’t think I even owned a nursing bra before delivering Lilly. I really wish I had brought comfier clothes/nursing bras because you will be living in them.
Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom:
- Toiletries
- Hair Ties & Hair Brush
- (2) Comfy Nursing-Friendly Pajama Sets (mine have robes with them)
- Grippy Socks
- Slippers
- (2) Nursing Bras
- Loose Knit Dress or Outfit for Coming Home
- Flip Flops for Shower
- Lip Balm, Mints (my mouth was so dry during labor)
- Water bottle or Cup
- Snacks
- Nuun Hydration Tabs
- Face Mask
- Eye Mask/Ear Plugs
Tech:
- White Noise Machine
- Vava Nightlight
- Portable Self-Charger
- Phone Chargers with Extra Long Cords
- Camera and Batteries
Hospital Bag Checklist for Baby:
- Diaper Bag
- Car Seat
- Arrival Day Sleep Gown/Swaddle/Hat
- Coming Home Outfit
- Name Tag for Pictures
- Blanket/Swaddle
- Boppy Pillow to Nurse with (and for mom to sit on)
- Baby Shusher White Noise Machine
- Carseat Cover/Nursing Cover
Hospital Bag Packing Checklist:
Things You Do Not Need to Bring:
In my opinion things like your own postpartum care items, baby bottles, things like that can stay at home. The hospital provides everything from diapers and wipes to all your postpartum care needs. They are a good idea to have cleaned and ready to go at home though. So far, I have:
- Put all my postpartum care items in a basket that will be easy to access when I get home
- Washed all my breast pump parts and organized them
- Washed all of baby’s bottles, pacifiers, and clothes he will be wearing immediately
- Set up his bassinet, swing, a diaper changing station
That way I don’t have to worry about these things when we get home from the hospital and can just focus on caring for baby boy and my postpartum recovery.
I hope you find this post helpful! You got this mama!
xoxo,
Kalyn
