Please note the question mark in the title. If you’re looking for a post about what to pack for the hospital, this is not it. (Though, I’m hoping that the comment section is filled with valuable information!) You all were so incredibly helpful when I asked for baby registry advice (here’s what we ended up registering for)– and now I’d love to use your expertise again….
What do you really need to pack in your hospital bag?
Tote + Packing Cubes
I’m definitely going on the more minimalist side of things. I don’t want to bring too many things with me, but I am also curious if there are any *must haves* that are off the beaten path a little.
Right now I’m “packed” but I also have a nagging feeling that I’ve forgotten something important. Here’s what I have so far:
– Toiletries (travel sized shampoo/conditioner/lotion/face & body wash, deodorant, hair brush, hair ties, chapstick, a little makeup, toothbrush/toothpaste, etc.)
– Nursing bras, nipple cream, nursing pads, and a few recovery products
– One pair of loose pajamas, a comfortable dress to go home in, flip flops, socks, underwear, and a robe
– Two outfits for baby (in different sizes)
– Long iPhone charger, book, Airpods
– Hospital “packet,” license, insurance, etc.
– Reusable water bottle, cough drops (my friend said they helped her a lot leading up to the delivery!), snacks
– Camera, charger, and memory card
… okay, should I pack anything else?!
I don’t have pregnancy-specific advice, but as a frequent hospital-goer, I’d add two things: a blanket (hospital blankets can be so rough and scratchy!) and an iPad (depending on how things go, you might want to be able to distract yourself with streaming rather than needing to focus on reading!).
I second the comment on blankets! I brought one of my favorites + my own pillow and I was so much more comfortable!!
If you bring your own pillow, put a colorful pillow case on it so it doesn’t get mixed up with the hospital pillows.
Yes! Your own pillow, blanket (in non white case) and an eye mask/ear plugs for both of you (it’s very bright and LOUD- all the monitor alarms) for sleeping. They have to keep track of your intake in mLs (fluid balance) so they’ll make you use their cup w straw.
If able, eat the solid food you can tolerate prior to going in, many times you are liquids only (in case of surgery to prevent aspiration) and you might be able to have popsicle or jello but probably only ice chips [possibly broth allowed] not too fortifying for many hours of work laboring.
Finally- have your partner be your advocate. Be demanding. There is NO shame in being aggressive, repeating things to nurses etc if you are worried about anything/feel “off”, blood pressure goes high, have swelling or headaches etc, you know your body best. Quick intervention is key during labor. It is ok to be assertive! I am sure your nurses will be great, however if one isn’t, please tell the charge nurse. You can “fire”he nurse and get another. Not all nurses are right fits for all patients.
ALSO ASK FOR PAIN MEDS!!!!! Post labor, some places you have to request it as a prn and then… No one tells the patient they have to ask for them 😑. They will have you give a number rating 0-10, then ask you again once the med has hit peak to see what number you’re at again. I work in healthcare. You want to get ahead of the pain (I am referring to during birth/recovery labor wise meds are a personal choice individual to each mom. If one doesn’t get ahead, it can get really high and non manageable later; there’s no prize for the suffering Olympics. All birth is valid and so is both kinds of feeding.
I’m not sure if hospitals provide tucks pads but layering those on top of ice pack in the undies— relief. This is my go to baby shower gift.
high-quality, soft toilet paper. Just leave a 12 pack in the car and have Mike get it after the baby is born, when they move you to the recovery room. You’ll be happy you have soft toilet paper after a vaginal birth. Hospital toilet paper is awful. I just had my third baby, and this was a game changer!
Mask chain for both of you if hospital is still requiring masks! Had a baby in March and my husband and I were constantly scrambling to find our masks when someone walked in the room. It would have been nice to just have it around a chain for easy access.
-A few size 1 diapers. Most hospitals just have newborn and if you have a very big baby he might skip newborn size diapers altogether.
-Eyemask – Nurses come in often to check on you and/or baby and usually have to have a light on to type in their computer to log things.
Your own pillow BUT with a waterproof pillow protector on it, just in case. I hated the mesh underwear that the hospitals give out, so I brought my own c section recovery underwear, and used the hospital pads. I’ve slept with earplugs for 20 years, and hospitals are loud, so I brought those as well, for the moments when I could sleep. I also got really tired of water and hospital juice, so I suggest other things that you like to drink.
I’d also bring a few different newborn pacifiers and a good white noise machine. Newborn babies hate silence, and we gave our son a pacifier in the hospital – never had any nipple confusion. If it takes a bit for your milk to come in, ask the nurses about a SNS nursing system, or Amazon one when you go into labor. It really helped us in that inbetween period when he was so hungry but I hadn’t gotten milk yet.
Oh and a large yoga/exercise ball will be your best friend – I found that most babies don’t want to be rocked, they want to be bounced up and down, similar to when they’re in the womb and we’re walking around. The bouncy ball will save your knees/hips!
Yes to the white noise and earplugs! It’s so loud in hospitals and babies also love it so both of you will sleep better!
I’m in the UK, so what our hospitals provide/allow might be different! But some things I packed that I was really glad I brought were:
– my Bluetooth speaker for playing my own playlist and some battery operated candles and fairy lights. Really helped create a relaxing cosy atmosphere in the hospital room.
– TENS machine. I’m not sure if these are common in America but they are very popular here for use in labour. Most of my friends used them and we all found them very helpful as pain relief in the early stages, especially during the car journey to the hospital when it can be really hard to get comfortable! I highly recommend these!
Otherwise I think you have everything I used. Good luck!
A nursing pillow (ie Boppy or My Brest Friend). I didn’t have one with my first baby and had to stack a few hospital pillows up on my lap to nurse (not ideal & not comfortable). With my second baby I had a breastfeeding pillow, and it made things so much smoother!
I second this! Absolutely bring a nursing pillow, it will be so helpful if you are nursing, especially as you try to figure things out.
Agreed! I used the My Breast Friend and helped a ton with nursing my first and used again with my second!
A nursing pillow for sure!
Boppy, extra dark pajamas in case of accidents (almost inevitable!), Freedom Moses slides (for easy on and off while still keeping your socks on/shower shoes). I also loved having my own pillow and blankets because the hospital ones are often thin! Bring a distinct pillowcase so it doesn’t get lost in the bedding changes. If you plan to swaddle, you may bring your own since the standard hospital swaddles don’t stay put as well.
So excited for you and your sweet family.
Following along! Love the idea of packing cubes!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
You definitely don’t need underwear or recovery products – they give you everything you need! I would add a swaddle in there too – the nurses use the blankets, but I always used the little zip up ones too!
I feel like I didn’t use anything from my well-stocked bag except pj’s, toiletries and chargers (and yes to 2 sizes of going home outfits for baby!). I wore home what I wore in.
But one recommendation is the baby book if you’re doing one. They inked his foot and stamped it in the book. I also added notes into his book from the hospital bed as they were fresh in my mind.
Don’t forget a book to read! For both my kids, I went into labor on Thursday night/Friday morning. Because of that, I wasn’t discharged until Monday! Tv got super boring quick!
You are all set! Your own pillow, blanket, breast feeding pillow and you are all set!
You really don’t need a whole lot! I watched a ton of hospital bag videos before my first and barely used any of it. So excited for you!
Your own pillow if you think you’ll have a hard time sleeping on the hospital pillows!
A pillow! I wouldn’t bring your favorite from home but I got a cheap one at target and was go glad to have it to bring out after I had the baby. Also, depending on your hospitals policy, Tums. They told us at our class/tour, if you have had a lot of heartburn, you will likely have it in labor and to just bring some with so you don’t have to wait for them etc. They were ok with me taking them as needed.
Congratulations again! I just delivered 5 weeks ago and your list looks great! The only other thing I would recommend would be a soft blanket and pillow for recovery. The hospital pillows were the worst and having a soft snuggly blanket was so comforting while holding my sweet girl.
You might find it helpful to bring your own swaddles—getting those blankets from the hospital to work is harder than it looks!
My husband and I knew we wanted to do something special for the nurses so after we were discharged, we picked up trays of sandwiches and fruit to take back and delivered them to the nurses stations. The nurses were very grateful (and said they appreciated food other than candy, cookies, sweets), but really we were so incredibly grateful for all of their amazing care!
Water and snacks for Mike. A overnight bag for Mike left in the car just in case so he doesn’t have to go home for a shower.
– A check to submit with your birth certificate application. This may not apply to you, but at my hospital you could only pay with a check, not cash or credit.
– You might want an eye mask to help you sleep. I found it was fairly bright at night from the monitors.
– I personally wouldn’t recommend bringing a water bottle or recovery supplies since they’ll be provided, but totally up to you! Definitely nice to have at home though.
I packed this light and it was great as the dim lighting options in the hosptial were horrible so this allowed us to turn the lights off completely when we wanted some rest and then use this when we needed some soft lighting. We use the light in the nursery now and love it. I also packed the susher but next time I think I’d just pack the sound machine. And finally, I brought my pump and left it in the car, didn’t want to lug it in but was nice to have my exact one to ask how to use it when the lactation consultant came around.
https://www.vava.com/products/vava-baby-night-light?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI48bWjoz-8QIVsGpvBB137AyqEAAYASAAEgIQvPD_BwE
You have definitely done your research! some of those items may be redundant (recovery items, nipple care) as your hospital should provide you with them- but never a bad idea to have your preferred brands. They toss everything between patients so take anything you might consider wanting. I would add snacks, because you will be starving right after delivery and they may take a awhile to bring you food. I love hot tea (your temp will fluctuate while your hormones settle), so make sure your water bottle is good for hot and cold!
I didn’t comment on the baby registry, but – if you haven’t already- get stroller fans. Great for helping circulate air under the stroller or if you throw a muslin blanket over their carseat while they sleep, and when they get to be toddler age, helps prevent meltdowns if your outing is a little too warm.
Make sure you get the Peri bottle too!! It helped a TON, the hospital (not everyone) does provide one but it was like a salad dressing bottle. Honestly I remember thinking thank god I listened to others and brought my own.
I second this. The Frida peri bottle is worth every penny.
Also re the peri bottle, I made the mistake the first few days of thinking it was just to help with clean-up. To…ahem…minimize wiping… but honestly if you spray *before* in addition to during and after it is a gamechanger. Can’t stress that enough. I was a-okay with the hospital version but have seriously been eyeing the frida mom upgrade for this go round.
I would also pack a pumping bra, just in case you need to pump while in the hospital for whatever reason. I regret not having an eye mask because the lights were always so bright and we were told to keep them on?!? I only took two outfits for baby and ended up wanting/needing more for accidents.
Three suggestions: blankets for you and Mike, slides instead of flip flops (and slides for Mike), and big/loose socks. My feet swelled up so much more than anticipated and my socks were too tight. I had only brought flip flops and was annoyed by trying to walk in socks/flip flops or take off socks. It would have been nice to have slides for my husband too. We did bring blankets and I was grateful we did. I was very cold after delivery and hospital blankets are thin!
I was with you on wanting to be “minimalist” with packing for the hospital. My tip would be to have a lot of these “nice to have items” (like a pillow, blanket, nursing pillow) in the car and don’t bring them in right away since Mike will probably have his hands full anyways. Just leave them in the car and if you decide you want it, Mike can run and grab it. I know everyone recommends a pillow but I could not have cared less and was fine with the hospital one so we kept ours in the car.
If you’re planning to breastfeed, bring your breast pump. I had the mentality I was never going to use it, but I had to supplement feedings. The lactation consultant was able to show me exactly how to use my pump, rather than having to borrow a hospital one then re-learn how to use my own.
Food. Lots of food. Otherwise you could give birth at 2 am, suddenly become ravenously hungry, and only have a packet of slightly stale peanut butter crackers that the nurse finds in a break room somewhere to eat. I learned that the hard way….
Bath towels for you and mike! The hospital ones are soo small and scratchy. Nail clippers for baby – most hospitals don’t have them and my son came needing nails clipped right away.
If you’re planning to nurse, I’d recommend bringing a pumping bra along with your nursing bras! My little one needed some help breathing right after he was born and spent a short time in the NICU, so I needed to pump to stimulate my milk supply (within 3 hours of delivery). I wish someone had told me to bring a pumping bra so I wouldn’t have had to hold the pump flanges in place the whole time! Thankfully, we were able to nurse the next day and had a successful nursing journey after that (always some ups and downs)!
I think you’re pretty much all set! I ended up having a longer stay than anticipated and my SIL brought me a pillow and blanket from home and it was the best best best (and most thoughtful). I also packed my diffuser and lavender/eucalyptus essential oils! It was a nice distraction from all the other smells but I think this is more a *nice to have* and definitely not a *need to have*. xox
Pillows!! The hospital pillows are awful, you will not regret ‘lugging’ your own. Bring for both you and Mike. They are also super helpful to use as you figure out comfortable nursing positions. I also recommend your own towel – the hospital towels are tiny, super thin and feel like sand paper. I brought my own for our second and it made a huge difference. I also agree with all the recommendations for slides so you can avoid bending down to fuss with socks / shoes. Go waterproof so they double as shower shoes :). Good luck – I’m so excited for you both!
I’d add a pack of cards in case screens are bothersome to you as you wait. You can play simple games between contractions. And– ditch the water bottle. The nurses will bring you an endless supply of water in enormous straw cups. They may not be able to refill your own container for sanitary reasons.
Great list! I would recommend leaving those great Frida products at home and using them once you’re home since they have everything you need there. I lived in my lake pajamas robe post partum in the hospital so maybe a second one? My husband and I both brought our own pillows which I highly recommend! A hands free pumping bra is also helpful in case they recommend that you pump. If there is any chance you will be induced, I would recommend some additional clothes because it can take a while! I was induced and it was a full four nights before our baby boy arrived. And even though this seems stressful now, I promise it will be great no matter what you forget because your baby boy will be in your arms 🙂
A Boppy or other nursing pillow. Definitely brought mine with #2.
This is a good list! I would add a pumping bra – if your little one can’t nurse right away for whatever reason, you may have to use the hospital pump a few times. I also packed eye gels on a whim and was so glad I did. The IVs made me sooo puffy and they really helped me feel like my face looked normal for pictures!
The second time around, I brought a nursing pillow and it was soooo much better than the hospital pillows and trying to figure things out with those. You probably won’t need underwear because real talk, you use adult diapers. And keep in mind, you can always send Mike home for stuff and to shower at home, etc. Sometimes that’s just easier 🙂
I just saw a midwife recommend only using the padsicles for the first 48 hours max. The most interesting thing I read was to just pack some Depends so you don’t have to worry.
Top for me were: miso soup powder packets (good for fortifying once I wasn’t allowed to have solids + easy to add hot water from the nurse’s station), ear plugs for Mike to get some good sleep (no reason for both of you to come home completely sleep deprived if avoidable), iced green tea (coffee sounded horrible but then I got a caffeine headache so I needed something), Gatorade, sound machine or white noise app, a paci (our babe almost never used one again but wanted one in the hospital), mouthwash for a refresh where you don’t have to get up, face wipes for the same, Bluetooth speaker (thought I wouldn’t care about music for labor but it was really nice!) Leave all of your postpartum supplies at home (they’ll have plenty and you should def take a bunch home with you) EXCEPT the Frida peri bottle as mentioned below is far superior to the hospital version so take that with you. Also… not to pack but… make sure you have stool softener, hemorrhoid cream, and a sitz bath that fits in the toilet seat waiting at home. Not pleasant to think about but if you really need it you won’t want to send someone out for that stuff or wait for an Amazon order. Better to be prepared 🙂
Eye mask! My hospital room had all these electronic things glowing I made my husband go bring me one so I could sleep. Also bring some snacks (I had chocolate, nuts and kind bars), I delivered late at night after food service was done glad I had something to eat. Also add a breastfeeding pillow (that’s basically all you do after delivery!) and throw in a hands free pump bra in case baby doesn’t latch well or loses weight and you have to pump. Most hospitals don’t have baby wipes either so I would bring a pack.
I would add one of your own towels ( the hospital’s are scratchy and itty bitty), and your favorite snacks (hospital food 😖)
You don’t really need too much – the hospital provides a lot! (Our non-fancy hospital provided a Dopp kit for my partner so they could shower, too!)
Our midwives recommended a water bottle with a straw – made it a lot easier to drink during labor. And bring food, as others said. I recommend bone broth for right after! I missed the dinner service so I was pretty hungry. Also coconut water/Gatorade for during labor.
In terms of entertainment… I wouldn’t worry too much about that. You can send Mike home for a book. Personally, reading was never an option for me, as I spent 3 days in the hospital with an emergency c section and wasn’t really in tip top shape. And if everything goes well you could be going home within a day! For longer stays you can always bring more stuff.
This may sound silly, but make sure Mike packs a sweatshirt or jacket. Your list sounds great….but one thing I remember from our August baby is how cold my husband was in the hospital. My in-laws went out and bought him a sweatshirt as the hospital was 45-50 minutes from our house.
Rubber flip flops, your own towel (hospital ones are scratchy!!), a robe (you really won’t wear clothes much and want easy access to your breasts), and your own pillow with a distinct pillowcase!
I would just wear the hospital gown they give you instead of bothering with pjs. My best advice is when leaving the hospital NEVER separate baby from diaper bag! My husband put the bag in the car, and of course my daughter had her first blow out while he was gone with the bag-lol!
Your list is perfect!! I would only add one thing- the Frida mom peri bottle! (I don’t think it’s part of the recovery box you linked?) It’s sooo much better than the hospital version (which is basically a ketchup bottle for water). Then bring it home for your recovery. Good luck- you’re so close!!!
So excited for you Carly! Agree on a minimal list! You don’t need very much and you will have tons to take home (including your baby!), so less is more.
After reading comments and based on my own experience, these items were key:
– Pillow with colored/patterned pillowcase (so you know which one if yours)
– Flip flops
– Comfy underwear and lots of your favorite pads (you never know what the hospital is going to give you)
– Dark colored pj’s
– A foldable tote to carry home all of the hospital supplies they will give you
Also, I found the hospitals kind of dirty and wanted to wash every thing that we brought the second I got home. I would keep the towels/blankets to a minimum so you don’t have a ton of laundry to do.
Congrats!
Pumping bra! If you’re planning to breast feed, hopefully baby will get it right away but if he doesn’t, they will have you pump to make sure milk comes in. Sitting there holding the pump flanges to myself and not being able to read, scroll my phone etc for the 15-20 minute process made me INSANE. Bring one just in case! Kindred Bravely are my fav.
Also, a portable battery pack is even better than a long phone charger cord.
I would highly recommend some kind of candy to suck on. Once I was admitted, I wasn’t allowed any food or water. I was given ice to suck on and begged my nurse to let me suck on some gummy bears. I would also recommend snacks for after baby is born and snacks for your husband — the hospital provides meals, but no snacks. I found nursing bras to be super annoying, so I would wear a cotton sports bra. You should also bring your directive to physician and medical power of attorney if you have those docs. And I would bring a couple more outfits for baby than you think you’ll need. Between spit up and blow outs, you can never be too prepared.
What you’ve got sounds great! I doubt you need the Frida Mom kit you linked to at the hospital–they’ll have all that stuff for you and some to take home. I noticed others mentioned and iPad–I did like watching our own Hulu/Netflix while I was in the early stages of my induction. And I second the commenter who said Boppy/nursing pillow. I forgot how awful it was trying to prop a newborn on three stacked hospital pillows. Definitely wish I’d just brought my Boppy.
Yes! My husband and I started Downton Abbey on our tablet while I was being induced!
It sounds like you have everything covered! The hospital also really does have all the important things covered and will send you home with extra supplies. My only tip is to wear flip flops in the showers. You probably already knew that. 😂 I might be the only dummy who got athletes foot from the hospital showers.
If you plan on breastfeeding bring your pump. Yes, the hospital has one, but in case you want to try your pump with a lactation consultant I’m glad I brought mine. Also, take home everything the hospital offers! The little dish pan, syringes, formula etc. You never know what you might use and can donate the rest to a women’s shelter if not used. Good luck!
I agree 100% with all those who mentioned eye mask, and also those who mentioned ear plugs (for Mike, but also perhaps for yourself, as there are lots of noises in the hospital, and it’s important to rest as much as you can. And definitely bring food! My babies all arrived at odd hours, and I was left eating graham crackers and cranberry juice cocktail. Even having a Clif bar or an Rx bar is better than nothing! Best of luck to you!
Stroller fan!! You can attach it to your hospital bed and point it toward hour face for major relief. Used this before the baby in labor and after my csection for life saving relief from the hormonal hot flashes that come after delivery. The nurses said it was so smart and the can’t believe all maternity beds don’t come with an attached fan as a standard of care.
I am a little high maintenance about my linens. I brought my own towels and pillows (and tbh a down comforter!) I was only in the hospital for two days with my first but I appreciated the little touches of home. If you are considering avoiding an epidural, there are other things I’d suggest. One thing I forgot with my last birth was hair ties! Thankfully my doula had a brand new pack—super helpful to get hair off my neck. I was hot during contractions.
You may not be able to wear pajamas.. my hospital said I could either be in the gown or a robe for easier access. They will definitely give you all the postpartum recovery things you need and tons to take home lol. Learn from my mistake and also have a few extra clothes for mike in case you end up having to have a C-section and you have to stay for a couple of extra days than you plan. Depending on the hospital they may give you a Velcro swaddle, but mine didn’t and I wish I had had one from the start. So I definitely suggest the Halo Sleep Sack swaddle! Way better than playing origami with a blanket when you can barely stand up.
A tennis or lacrosse ball to roll out back/butt cramps. So helpful!
A roll of quarters for the vending machine I case of a snack emergency!
Not necessarily something to bring to the hospital, but on his birth date don’t forget to get someone to pick up a copy of a news paper. I’ve always loved giving this as a keepsake for friends as their child gets older they’ll have a novelty gift of what happened that day in history.
I just delivered my baby girl on Tuesday (!!!), and 2 things I would second from the comments below are your own pillow and blanket, in a bright color! Just so the pillow and blanket don’t get confused with the hospital’s. They definitely make your hospital stay a little more comfortable. The pillows they give you are not supportive or comfy, in my opinion!
I didn’t pack my breast pump, and Luke had a tongue tie and (truly) a kazillion other issues that made breastfeeding so, so difficult. The breast pump ended up being 100% necessary. My mom had to bring it from our house! (Luckily I had already washed it!). I say, at minimum, bring it in your car. Additionally, if you bring a pillow or blanket, don’t bring a white one! As a nurse I can’t even begin to tell you how many pillows I’ve gotten out of a patient’s empty room after they were discharged because it blended in with the hospital sheets!
It can be helpful to have extra space in your bag or even to bring an extra bag to bring home supplies from the hospital. Every place is different, but most hospitals let you bring home extras of everything you’ve been using in the room (it’s all very practical stuff for baby and you like the peri bottle).
I was told by an OB nurse to bring my own pillow and was so glad to have it for the 2 nights I spent there. Hospital pillows are the worst. I was also glad to have a comfy lounge outfit to wear during the day because people came to visit and I didn’t want to be in PJs. Vistors may not be an issue in the current climate of course.
I would add dry shampoo. Many times I’ve delivered some to a friend in the hospital. So excited for you both!
Completely agree! Minimal is the way to go! Here’s what I found:
1. I only needed clothes for bringing baby home from the hospital. The rest of the time he was in a diaper and either skin-to-skin with one of us or swaddled.
2. Yes! to the people who said extra layers for Mike. You’ll be so hot during labor and post-partum that the room will be freezing. My husband’s tip for all dads is to bring a button-up flannel so he can still wear it during skin-to-skin.
3. Eye mask and ear plugs!
4. I didn’t bring any of my own blankets, pillows or towels. The idea of brining them to the hospital and then having to immediately wash them at home was too much for me. Personally, there was so much other stuff happening that I wasn’t even thinking about it.
5. Ditto to all the people who said pumping bra.
6. Ditto to all the people who said food. We made bone broth ahead of time and I had that during labor – it was all I could eat bc of pitocin. If you don’t have any drugs restricting eating you’ll need to to keep your energy up. I had someone bring my favorite sandwich for right after delivery. And then lots of easy snacks for postpartum – you’ll probably be ravenous as your milk comes in. (I brought RX bars, but butter packets, fruit, nuts, etc)
Saw the cutest thing (totally not necessary) on Instagram where a mom stitched a needlepoint ornament for her baby in the hospital start to finish! It was a simple design and I thought was such a cute idea.
I packed my Bobby nursing pillow and it was so very helpful to have!
I worked on a L&D/Postpartum floor and once saw a mom wearing basketball shorts and I thought it was brilliant. Easy on, easy off, nothing too constricting or precious when you’re trying to get around after a delivery.
(1) Something super comfortable to actually deliver in eg a loose tank top/ crop top;
(2) pyjamas should have a high waist in case you have to have a c-section (you don’t want the waist or knickers sitting on or near the scar). One of those button down nanna nighties is preferable from a practical perspective;
(3) loads of food – I gave birth late and night and have never been so ravenous. During birth you want bite sized snacks, if you can manage to eat. I just yelled at my poor husband for ice chips;
(4) baby mittens (their tiny fingernails are like talons and you don’t need that hassle when learning to breastfeed!); and
(5) something that makes you feel human for after birth eg nice hand cream, soft robe etc.
Also, dreadfully unsexy but useful tip: no matter how you give birth, ask them for a stool softener. This should be Mike’s job to remember, on pain of death haha.
This is such a great list! The only thing I would add is your breast pump if you have one. The nurses/lactation consultants in the hospital were SOO helpful with proper usage/sizing etc.
If you’re thinking about breastfeeding, cardigans, button downs, and camisoles will make it much easier. Leggings with some compression are nice too. The hospital will give you recovery stuff (sounds weird but the mesh underwear IS kind of amazing). In theory, you don’t need to bring anything besides a car seat, but in my experience, a few things that make you feel more human and together go a long way!
One thing my OB recommended that we loved was for my husband to pack a button down shirt! That way he could do skin to skin with the baby too (and not have to be shirtless for when all the nurses randomly stop by). He tells this to every soon to be dad!
This is a great list! I second an eye mask, ear plugs, white noise, snacks, and something warm for Mike. My first was an August baby and I was running hot, so my husband froze. While a little counterintuitive, a girl friend suggested and I loved after both of my deliveries wearing leggings home. They hold everything in/together and I found them soothing after days in a hospital gown. Good luck and I’m excited for you both!
Highly recommend an eye mask!!! Also, consider a nightgown- you may not want something around your waist and it makes it easier to use the bathroom, etc. Some other items- an extra bag (to bring home all the free stuff), hair band or something to keep your hair out of your face, anything you might want to drink besides water (ex I’m a seltzer fiend), sunglasses (for going home).
Hi!! Congratulations! I would recommend bringing your breastfeeding pillow (Boppy or otherwise). The hospital pillows were slippery and difficult to prop my baby up on for nursing. I was inpatient for about a week, so if you’re only in for a couple nights it’s may not make a big difference, but I definitely wished I had mine! I would also recommend bringing a large, dark-colored super fluffy towel – hospital towels are awful and scratchy and tiny (AKA the worst if you have sore nipples from nursing – sorry if TMI!!) I love the Charisma brand bath sheets – they’re huge and soft and get better wash after wash! I hope this helps!! You’re doing amazing already – Baby Boy is so lucky to have you as his Mom!
Your own blanket and pillow (same for Mike!), a nightlight (I loved the Vava light- it helped our nurses avoid flicking on the overhead lights when they check you + baby overnight), chapstick, and an extra bag to take home all of the hospital items you get to keep (diapers, wipes, etc!).
A pillow and blanket for you and the same for Mike… hospital pillows and blankets suck and the ones for partners are even worse. Sleeping eye masks for both and ear plugs and a white noise machine. When the baby was asleep I got way better sleep the second time with the white noise drowning out the other rooms noise.
If you’re delivering at Morristown, each room does have a hair dryer but does NOT provide wipes for baby, extra toothbrushes if your husband forgets like mine did, burp clothes.
We just got home yesterday and something that I majorly wished for (especially as our stay ended up being 4 days which was longer than I anticipated) was an eye mask for sleeping. I’m super sensitive to light and not having one was so hard (I folded over a pair of shorts I had brought but it didn’t work as well as an eye mask would have) – so necessary given that especially rooms in labor and delivery have lots of lights/sensors/etc but even the postpartum rooms have them too. Snacks for spouse and you. If picky about pillows I would definitely bring your own. Some mild form of entertainment (my husband brought his switch) might be helpful in case you have a stretch of time where you are waiting (this probably varies from birth experience to experience – getting induced took a lot longer to happen than it was supposed to so I’m not sure if it would be as useful in a different experience). But definitely the eye mask and snacks!
I would bring an extra tote (reusable grocery bag that folds up small) so you can bring home diapers, pads, etc from the hospital! You leave with a ton and it’s easier not to deal with the patient belonging bags that rip.
Bring a baby book (or two) to read to your newborn! We loved Nancy Tillman “On The Night You Were Born.” Best of luck!
Snacks and drinks for recovery, swaddle blankets, and a nursing pillow. 😘
I’d recommend bribing a velcro swaddle (blankets can be tricky and some babies love to bust out) and a white noice machine. Sending positive vibes for a smooth delivery!
My daughter was in a tough position and labor ended up being long with back labor. The thing that got me through a sleepless night was my husband playing stupid movies on an iPad while fanning me and feeding me ice chips – bring an iPad or laptop to watch stuff to take your mind off some of the discomfort. My other advice is not to bring any pajamas that blood will show up on. Gross but practical.
Currently 8 weeks on the other side! I was very anxious about childbirth, but one of the things that made my life easier at the hospital was having a hands-free pumping bra. The nurses suggested I pump after each feed (which is like 15 times a day in the beginning) and having to sit there and hold the pump would have been miserable.
And also this Old Navy nursing tank, I ended up ordering 3 more while I was in the hospital for at home recovery:
https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=803527022&cid=1171817&pcid=41578&vid=1&nav=hamnav%3AMaternity%3AShop%20Maternity%20Categories%3ANursing#pdp-page-content
Rechargeable night light!! It was a life saver. The rooms have horrible lighting and it was so nice to use during night feeding/changing and nurse check ins. The nurses kept commenting on what a great idea it was. I use it in his nursery every night currently – six months in and it’s still one of my favorite purchases.
Our hospital’s towels were rough, thin, and just didn’t feel good after labor so I’d suggest taking a towel with you. That first shower after delivery will feel that much better when you can dry off with your own towel or at least a softer one that you won’t be frustrated about possibly leaving behind or accidentally getting picked up by housekeeping.
Socks!! It was freezing in the hospital and I was glad I brought fuzzy socks.
Bring a pumping bra. If you end up pumping for jaundice…You’ll be less likely to spill with a pumping bra helping you to hold the flange.
I’d add to the chorus of people who suggest a pillow, blanket, eye mask and ear plugs. This one is a little indulgent, but we also brought a split of champagne.
Swaddle blanket for baby, the hospital ones aren’t very soft, and shower shoes!
Also, save the recovery products for when you get home, the hospital provides plenty. Bring an extra empty bag to take all the extra supplies from your hospital room home too!
👋🏻Mom of 16 yr old here. From my parenthood journey, the one thing missing from the suggestions is just a reminder that no matter what comes your way, it will all work out. Parenthood is full of the unexpected and no amount of planning can alleviate the unexpected. Every parent has to be reminded to roll with the punches, and L&D is the first big test of that. I found it helpful to remind myself to just go with the flow. I found it helpful to have meditation programs at my disposal. You can do this and it will all be fine 😉!
Flip flops for the shower and your own towel/washcloth! Hospital towels are super thin and scratchy and the shower floor can be gross.
Congrats and good luck!!! I just had a baby a few weeks ago(:
My absolute saving grace was an eye shade. It helps and truly was the only thing I ended up using that I packed!
An eye mask (you will be having to sleep with a light on probably), and snacks in case the hospital food is terrible.
Pen and paper! You’ll have questions/instructions for/from the nurses and doctors and writing it down is easier than typing it when holding baby!
-Tennis ball (not kidding) for your hubby to rub on your lower back during contractions, this seriously helps alleviate the pain!
-Socks or slippers, because hospitals can be
super cold and you really don’t want to walk on that floor barefoot
-draw string or elastic waist pants to wear home, don’t try pregnancy jeans like I did…not very comfortable
⚓️Wishing you all the best!
Gave birth 6 weeks ago so the memory is still fresh! My hospital provided really comfy mesh underwear and tons of recovery products. I would inquire about what your hospital will provide and pack accordingly. I brought some heavier duty nipple care: silverette cups (the medela tender care hydrogel pads would work too). It was a life saver. Nipple cream did not cut it for me in the first week of feeding when my skin was the most raw and sore.
I was pretty minimalist too and even then I barely used any of it! I did bring my own towel for that glorious first shower after delivery and was happy I did!
Chiming in as a dog family: you may or may not care about doing this, but I would bring an extra outfit or blanket for the baby that you’ll have family/spouse take home for the dogs to smell before the baby comes home. A lot of trainers suggest this to make sure dogs feel comfortable with the new being coming into their house!
Echoing that you should bring baby wipes!! Most hospitals provide a box of dry thick wipes that you need to wet in a sink for them to work well – great for bathing the baby but not so much with messy diapers. I had a c-section and was in the hospital for 5 nights so wipes came in handy – good luck!
I had my first 2 years ago and am expecting our second at the end of August. I wished I had read this in the weeks leading up to delivery. As a planner, type-A person, I felt like I was unprepared for the hospital. This article is the closest I’ve found that gives you real expectations.
https://www.lucieslist.com/week-38-really-happens-postpartum/
Also, I found the hospital to be gross and didn’t want to touch anything that I used/wore there without doing laundry, so I would say be on the minimalist side and just deal for 2 days. Or, just don’t bring your ‘favorites,’ (towel, blanket, pillow) so those are clean and awaiting you at home.
*Definitely bring your own pillow for sleeping. Have hubby bring his own pillow and an extra blanket.
*you will likely not need your own underwear as you will be wearing the ever-fabulous mesh panties with boat size pad home
*Slippers
*the nurses will be great at swaddling baby in their blankets, we could never do it ourselves so with #2 we brought our own velcro swaddled
You won’t need underwear! You’ll come home in mesh underwear they give you. It’s actually not as nearly as humiliating as it sounds.
I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance in the middle of the night at 35 weeks so I did not even have a hospital bag. I can confirm you really don’t much more than this—the hospital really has everything aside from clothes for you and baby to go home in. They even gave me an abdominal binder for post c section support. I do think toiletries are a good idea though as I had to use the Motel 6 grade soaps they provided until my husband was able to bring me more stuff. A book is a good idea too. I liked wearing the hospital gowns as opposed to my own clothes tbh because of the postpartum night sweats (they will bring you a new one each day). Also they have snaps so you can easily bf or pump.
I would add nipple gel packs, a sleep mask, and face masks. Good luck!
Three of the best things I brought – my favorite Rooibos tea from home, baby mittens, and baby wipes. I started getting really nervous leading up to the pushing part and it was such a comfort to drink my own tea while focusing on breathing. My little girl’s nails were so long that she immediately scratched her face up before I could even put the mittens on! Thankfully I got them on before she scratched her cornea. Goumi makes the best ones. I also didn’t like the Tucks because they sting too badly. Baby wipes are much milder.
PS – I’ve been reading your blog for years, though this is my first comment. Congrats on your pregnancy! I just gave birth to my first in March so can totally relate to what you’re going through!!
Definitely take your favorite cozy blanket and, if you’re picky about pillows, your favorite pillow. After a long delivery, my husband ran home for a quick shower and returned with those items…and it was heavenly to snuggle up with cozy things that were familiar!
Bring an extra bag with you – the hospitals are typically very generous with allowing you to take extra mesh underwear, pads, etc. Also, pack a nice shirt for Mike for the first few pictures of a family of three 🙂 My husband had on collegiate tshirts for two of them and then a Ghostbusters tshirt for the third :0
Bring a large dark bath towel. Hospitals often only have small white towels and that is NOT what you want for a shower after giving birth… for many reasons. It is also helpful at home since you will continue to bleed for a few weeks and that way you won’t ruin your normal towels.
I WAY overpacked when I had my first baby in March 2020. A few additional things I would suggest: long iphone cord, a bath towel (the towels in the hospital are TINY), dark colored pajamas/going home outfit so you aren’t concerned about staining, a hairdryer if you are like me and you hair does not air dry very pretty, a portable sound machine (Marpac Hushh makes a good one), a disposable grocery bag to pack all of the postpartum items they will give (take all of the samples!). I also saw some really cute bassinet sheets online that you can get for the hospital bassinet picture (a splurge, but the pictures look cute!).
Oh my gosh, what a doozy of a post! Good luck in reading through all the comments! This topic seems to be something no mother can resist giving advice on…and everyone has different opinions.
I’m due in a few weeks with my third and I just had to laugh at the “book” on your list. Unless you mean baby book for imprinting the footprint, I don’t see much time for reading in your future, and especially not in the hospital. 🙂
Your list looks good, you most likely will not use 90% of it, and I would just vote for being as minimal as possible- everything you carry in you have to carry out and your hands will be full with a precious car seat on the trip out. Plus not all hospital rooms are that spacious so bags of stuff are going to be in the way.
I encourage you to use anything and everything the hospital provides, and take whatever they give you home! You simply cannot match the hospital grade pads they have. And if they offer you a sitz bath, take it! I ended up buying one when I got home because I didn’t know what it was so I said No. They work miracles for recovery after vaginal deliveries!
Good luck and congratulations to you and your growing family!
Depends! The pads they give are large, bulky and not comfortable. Depends just feel like undies! Best wishes!