Hospital Bag Essentials

Friends….it’s the final countdown! Apologies in advance if the 80’s song is now stuck in your head. It’s 4 weeks or less until Baby #2 is here…eeek! Which of course means I should probably pack my hospital bag.

I was fairly convinced Monica was going to be born early (she came 1 week late), but I didn’t have my bags packed until maybe 3 weeks before her due date. See Exhibit A for an entertaining conversation with my dad:

Apparently I could sense she would be a week late.

This time around, I’m getting my bags packed a little sooner. Not because I think the baby will be born early, but because I don’t have the luxury of time to procrastinate and do everything last minute. I’ve been taking care of things a little bit at a time. Plus, I’m feeling (or maybe just noticing) some extra twinges earlier than I did when pregnant with Monica. And I’m more tired, even after taking iron supplements.

This is what I plan on bringing to the hospital, as well as items I brought last time, but didn’t need. This is based on my experience of having a C section with Baby #1 and hoping for a VBAC (but also preparing for a C section) with Baby #2. Obviously there are some items that need to be put in the bag last minute, like toiletries:

For Mom

• Clothes to wear home, including a nursing bra. Maternity clothes will be the most comfortable.
  • Some new mamas wear a maxi dress home, but I plan on bringing a T shirt and full-panel leggings. The full-panel helps suck everything in and won’t rub on a C section incision.
• Flip flops. Very important for the shower! The hospital provided non-slip socks.
• Toiletries and makeup, be sure to include:
  • My sister-in-law recommended bringing face wipes instead of face wash and it was super convenient.
  • Lip balm
  • Hair tie/headbands
  • Contacts or glasses, if you wear them.
• Pillow and a pretty patterned pillow case
  • It will add some color to your hospital room and distract people from looking at your puffy face. Though the baby does a pretty good job at that too ;)
  • Plus, it helps make sure your pillow doesn’t get thrown into the hospital laundry.
• Light weight bathrobe
  • Especially good when walking the halls so your butt isn’t hanging out.
• Nursing (boob) pads
  • While it can take 2 to 5 days for your milk to come in, my milk came in fast and furious while at the hospital. Since I had a C section, I was there 4 days after birth and feeling like Dolly Parton by the time we left.
  • I have an Amazon subscription for the Lansinoh ones.
• Phone and camera with chargers
• Lamaze breathing tips and birth plan
• We are preregistered at the hospital and I need to bring a copy of my ID and insurance card.
• Insurance and FMLA information
  • Have Dad or another family member make the insurance phone calls while at the hospital.
• Extra empty bag to bring home extra diapers, gifts, etc. from the hospital.

For Baby

• Going home outfit
  • For Monica, I brought newborn and 3 month sizes since I didn’t know how big she would be.
  • For Baby #2, I just picked up this 0-3M from Baby Gap. Even if the baby is on the smaller side, there will be a little extra room for the cord stump.
• Other onesies, socks, jackets, mittens (particularly to prevent scratching), etc. depending on the weather
• Swaddle blankets, bows, headbands, and/or hats for newborn pictures
• Nail clippers
  • Fortunately, Monica’s nails didn’t need to be trimmed while at the hospital.
  • I also brought emery boards, but found the nail clippers to be a little easier to use.
• Car seat with the base already installed in the car

For Dad

• Phone, camera, and iPad with chargers
• iPod and docking station
• Snacks. Our hospital also provided some.

Things I wish I brought the first time

• Razor
  • I was in the hospital from Thursday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon, so I felt a bit European by the time I was discharged.
• • Since they monitored the baby and me throughout the night, the screens were a little bright and distracting
• Baby book or something to put footprints on
  • They gave us an unofficial birth certificate with footprints and a hat with her footprints

Provided by the hospital, so I’ll leave at home (check to see what yours provides)

• Hospital gown
  • I know some ladies bring a fancy gown, but I was too tired to worry about how I looked.
• Birthing ball
• Hot packs for labor/recovery
  • Though I plan on bringing some Pariday TendHer Perineal Packs, which can be used during labor or to help with recovery after a natural birth or C section.
• Food for mom and some snacks for dad
• Breastfeeding/diaper log
  • We later downloaded the Baby Connect app when we got home. Totally worth the $5!
• Electric breast pump and bottles to pump into (and bottle nipples if going to feed baby with bottle)
• They also provided a manual, hand pump which I was able to take home, even though I didn’t use it at the hospital
• Pillows to prop up baby for breastfeeding – a boppy wouldn’t have been comfortable with the C section
• Lanolin (boob cream) – helps soothe sore nipples
  • The hospital provided Medela lanolin and I ended up preferring that over the Lansinoh lanolin.
• Ibuprofen and other pain medications (if necessary)
• Mesh undies
• Giant pads
• Spray bottle
• Stool softener
• Diapers/wipes
• Nose sucker
• Pacifier
• Hair dryer

Things I brought the first time, but didn’t use

• Lanolin (boob cream) – hospital provided
• Socks – used the hospital’s non-slip socks
• Hand sanitizer – hospital provided
• Magazines – I didn’t really have time to read them. Instead, I watched some TV in the room, read blogs on my iPhone, talked with people, and tried to nap.
• Lansinoh Soothies gel pads for boobs – hospital provided
• Gum

Things I’d consider sneaking into the hospital, but won’t ;)

• Wine or craft beer. Too bad alcohol doesn’t play well with pain meds.
• Sushi. We don’t get sushi very often, but now that I can’t have it, I want it!
• Eggs Benedict or a burger with a fried egg on top. Same as the sushi…I keep hearing the sweet siren song of runny eggs.

What was your must-have item to bring to the hospital? Am I missing anything critical?