I cannot believe that we are weeks away from welcoming this final babe into our family- family of SIX, are we insane?!
Last week I started packing my hospital bag because after needing to depend on Phil to pack me an unexpected bag at 32 weeks with our first- never again. Too soon is not soon enough in this household. Things are about to get real honest around here. I figured as a four-time pro at this rate, I’d share with you what you really need in your hospital bag and what you really DON’T need.
Essentials for Mom
I’ve been there. Call me the queen of over packing. But truthfully, when it comes to a hospital bag and birth, there is already more than enough going on. There is no need to stress yourself out with packing unnecessary items.
Clothing
- Robe. It makes nursing easy, those wound and after care checks on your belly easy, and just overall comfort. Honestly, less is more. This is the robe I ordered a while back and still use.
- 1-2 pairs of comfortable pajamas or very loose-fitting tops so I have some room to breathe.
- 1-2 nursing bras/tank tops packed just in case, as well as nursing pads just in case leakage happens during those post-partum contractions (yes, first time Mama’s, those contractions continue AFTER birth. I wish someone warned me of this. Your body is working a LOT out of its system, not just a baby. Also, the more babies you’ve had, the worse those are- YAY!).
- Depends (not even kidding ladies!) a bit more sturdy than the hospital underwear.
- 1-2 good pairs of spandex shorts/biker shorts/yoga pants/ leggings to hold everything in place nice and tight (those hospital diapers just ain’t strong enough to hold close those giant pads, ice pads, and everything else in between).
- Ponytail, headband, hair clip, etc. to easily put up my hair.
Toiletries
This can be kept simple, standard: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash, hairbrush, dry shampoo (honestly, leave your hair washing for a nice, long, warm shower back at home when nobody is in and out of your room every 30 minutes), face wash, lotion, chapstick, glasses/contacts, honestly, whatever your general, quick weekend away, minimum go-to’s are…pack ’em!
If you’re anything like me, after a single night in a hospital, I feel gross. So things like washing my face and using my face lotion help keep me feeling as fresh as possible in that environment. Travel-sized products will be your best friend! Get small, cheap bottles worth and leave them behind. You already have enough coming back with you!
Comfort Items
- My own pillow. It adds a little extra comfort.
- A blanket.
- A pair of cheap slippers to be tossed when we leave. I ordered these slippers this time around.
Now these items are by no means essential. But, of course, like everyone else, I saw on the internet once…
A nurse posted a story about her hospital bag and mentioned how she brings these items. That she has seen way too much that ends up on the floors of hospitals, the use of pillows and blankets, and although in my head, I know it all gets washed/bleached/reused/etc. my head spiraled! So now these are three comfort items I bring with me to feel a little more clean in an already, very messy situation.
Essentials for Baby
Clothing
- A pack of white kimono onesies: the one’s I get are from Carter’s and you can find them here.
- Cute outfit for photos, and of course, a going home outfit.
In reality, only one outfit to go home is actually needed. Most hospitals will provide you with the wrap/kimono onesies during your stay there. These are easiest and practical until that umbilical cord falls off.
All the Extras
- Car seat. Hospitals will not allow you to leave without one.
- I will bring bows and hats this time around, just to prepare for either gender (again, an unnecessary item).
- A swaddle blanket or two. Usually these get used for cute photos or as an easy burp rag. My absolute favorite swaddle blanket company is Aden & Anais. They make the softest, lightest muslin blankets around!
I do not bother to bring any diapers and wipes for the baby. The hospital supplies you with all of those things. They are yours when you leave, so make sure you take all of that with you! The hospital stay is expensive enough- might as well cash in on those diapers.
Everything Outside of Self-Care
Outside of all of the self-care items and clothing, there are obviously a few other items needed to get you through the hospital stay.
- Wallet (don’t be me and forget this half way to the hospital with the below items in it- true story!)
- ID
- Insurance Card
- Phone chargers (extra-long cords)
- Snacks (for post-birth and significant other)
- Water Bottle (except the hospital bottles are top tier)
All the Unnecessary Necessities
The following list can feel necessary for some, while completely optional for others and I’ll explain exactly why:
- Camera (me, this is an essential- I have four ready to go)
- Computer/Tablet (the last time, our hospital tv wasn’t showing the best entertainment, so I was happy to have my computer for movie watching)
- Sound Machine (I’ve always felt my phone is sufficient, plus also the sound machine is not really needed this soon. Remember, we’re talking the first 24, MAYBE 48 hours of life.)
- Headphones (I’m not a fan, but Phil always packs some for music listening)
- Pacifiers (this could be advised against by the doctors/nurses in order to not mess with baby’s latching)
- Name/Announcement Sign (for those adorable hospital photos- obviously if this is your vibe)
- Birth comb (this helps refocus your brain mid-contraction to a different area of pain, versus your body focusing on the contraction pain. I have never used one, instead have had Phil pinch me somewhere. I suppose this is less aggressive haha)
- Night Light (while this isn’t the worst idea because hospital lights can be very harsh, I have yet to try it myself. A great option would be this gadget. It’s portable, chargeable, and I use it in our room for night nurses.)
- Car Seat Cover (depending on the time of year you deliver!)
- Bluetooth Speaker/Playlist/Essential Oils (I have never used any of these, the tv served as enough distraction for me. But I could see how these would create a more relaxing environment.)
The Hard PASS, Absolute No’s I Have Seen on Lists
And finally, my shit talking prevails. All of the hard PASS items that I have seen on lists that have made me roll my eyes so hard it’s not even funny.
- Birthing Ball: who the hell wants to lug that around?? Just ask the hospital. They’ll have one.
- Perineal Ice Packs: Nope. Hospital will have them. In fact, make sure to ask for plenty of extras before you leave.
- Book: Hot take. Okay, in all fairness, I’m not a reader. BUT- I can’t imagine having the time between nursing, being checked in on, needing to get up and walk, nursing again, trying to sleep, etc. that you’d actually want to or have the time to read a book. Plus, believe me, you’ll spend a ridiculous amount of time just staring at your new babe.
- Ziploc Bags: I’m not even sure what you would need this for. Baby keepsakes? I’m not sure, but just putting those in a backpack was sufficient enough for us.
- Pen: uhhhhh. Certainly a hospital has a pen laying around.
- Different Diaper Brands: oh my gosh, please do not spend or waste your money doing that. If your baby has a rash/reaction to a diaper brand, you will not figure that out in the one-two days at the hospital. That is an at home problem. Do not preemptively spend all of that money.
- Nail Clippers for Baby: nope. You will not be doing that hours after birth. Believe me, that shit is intimidating. (I would highly recommend getting this tool– it is much easier and less scary to use on such tiny fingers, yet still unnecessary to bring to the hospital.)
- Baby mittens/hand gloves: Another hot take. But I have never used these for my babies and do not plan to this last go around. As a former special education teacher, it is so vital that your baby uses their hands and senses- their smell, touch, and taste are their most vital senses at the start. Those motor skills are so important! The touch, the sucking, the exploration of their senses. Baby mittens cut them off from that ability and are only used to avoid scratching. Just trim their nails.
- Contraction Timer App: the LAST thing you will be doing during contractions is tracking them in an app. I promise you. You will mentally be tracking them, no worries, they’re nearly impossible to ignore. The hospital is also tracking them from the moment you walk in. Don’t add the unnecessary work.
- Nipple Cream/Shield: while both can be lifesaving, no doubt, these are not things that will come up in the first few hours of life. If you know you have a larger nipple and a smaller baby that will have a difficult time latching, sure! But also, this is something you won’t discover or figure out until after birth and into your breastfeeding journey together. So, just wait until you are home to dive into these items.
- Journal/Baby Book: do it at home. Really. Spare yourself the extra packing.
You’ll already have so much going on. From learning your new baby, to being checked on every hour, to feedings and changings, and trying to sleep, all while staying wide awake to stare at your new obsession. There’s really no reason to stress yourself out with overpacking and then not even using half of what you bring. You’re about to leave with a whole lot more than what you walked in with. Keeping things minimal and light is the best way to go!
Download my FREE Hospital Bag Checklist HERE! Tune into this conversation over on Instagram @kait_ejensen!
First Time Moms! Leave in the comments below: what are you second thinking packing in your bag?
Veteran Moms! Leave in the comments below: what did you pack that was absolutely essential and saved your sanity?
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