What to pack in your hospital bag
Your grab and go bag for when “I think its happening” becomes “WE NEED TO GO NOW!”
This is a VERY exciting time. You have waited months for this moment, you are finally taking the trip to the hospital to meet your new baby/babies!
Before your big “GO” moment, you will want to pack a bag about 1-2 months prior to your due date. My son was 1 month early, so believe me they come into this world when they are good and ready, even if its early.
I was lucky in the sense that I knew my son would be delivered 1 month early, so I started packing my hospital bag a month prior to his induction. So about 2 months before his actual due date. I am an OVER packer, I always have been I probably always will be, but my friend DO NOT pack like I packed for the hospital. I packed like I was going on a hospital vacation- its not a vacation you just had a baby and if you brought cute clothes (like I did) you will laugh about it later.
Lets start with the bag
Sole Society Weekender Bag
I have this bag. I love this bag. I use this bag for more than just a hospital bag.
Its great because its easy to carry, has a lot of room BUT is compact enough you don’t feel like you cant walk because its so heavy.
What to pack:
FOR BABY
Baby clothes *
Baby book
Pacifier
FOR YOU
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body wash
Face wash
Deodorant
Comfortable pj’s
Comfortable clothes to wear home *
Discreet Boutique Diapers
Extra Strength Tylenol
Grippy Socks
Phone Charger + block
Snacks
FOR PARTNER
Your partners bag will look a lot like yours.
My husband wants to put a disclaimer in here that he would have liked a sleeping bag in addition to his blanket. He also says that all dad’s need a magical product called
”Dude Wipes”
In his words, they are nice on the boys and they are for the dudes…
^Yah’ll I can’t make this stuff up. LOL.
Optional Items I Suggest
Hospital Gown *
Slippers
Announcement Board *
Baby’s first stuffed animal or toy
Journal *
Comfortable pillow *
Fuzzy blanket *
*A few notes
Baby clothes: I wasn’t sure what size my son was going to be since he was being induced a month early, so I over packed and brought preemie, newborn and 0-3 months. He was 6 lbs and had NO FAT on him so he was even swimming in preemie clothing. I would suggest bringing newborn size or if you are measuring to have a 10 lbs baby (totally normal and okay mama!) I would bring newborn and 0-3 months. Fun fact: they HAVE to be dressed in a proper outfit for the car seat, meaning shirt and pants or onsie, no jackets and no blankets no gowns.
Comfortable clothes to wear home: You will most likely (fingers crossed for you mama) be in and out of the hospital, meaning, you deliver and have 24-48 hours until they discharge you and say GOOD LUCK and FAREWELL, so you don’t need to pack your whole closet. You will also be so tired and hormonal, and trying to figure out this new human life, that you are not going to care what you look like, just be comfortable. I wore the PJ’s above home and I would not change a damn thing about it.
Toiletries: Believe me when I tell you, the first shower after baby (even if its in the postpartum room) is LIFE CHANGING. The hot water, the personal space and time, it resets it all for a few minutes. SO make sure you bring good products with you to pamper yourself. I love Beauty Counter products because they don’t have harsh chemicals in them and you can trust they wont harm or seep weird chemically things into your brand new baby.
Hospital Gown: These are 100% PROVIDED to you at the hospital. You do not need this, and well I looked into them but opted to not get one. Hindsight, I was hanging out at the hospital for a week walking in a grandma hospital gown 16x too big and it was NOT cute and I felt uncomfortable the whole time. So if I could do it over, I would bring my own (not to deliver in because that hospital gown gets BURNED let me tell you….) but to wear post delivery to be more comfortable. Your belly will hurt, your nether region will hurt and you will want a comfortable baggy gown to wear and navigate new mom life in.
Announcement Board: I had my sons announcement board ready to go like 2 months before, we knew the name, the month and all I had to do was fill in the date and his stats…well…a week in the NICU and not knowing what the future held botched that board idea out the window. You might not get your perfect announcement, and that’s okay. But, if you want to plan for a cute photo opp with the cute felt board YOU DO IT! because those are just so cute.
Journal: UGH I WISH I DID THIS. I brought one, I didn’t write in it but oh how I wish I wrote down those sweet moments before my son arrived. Captured the excitement and nervousness, and bitched about what his dad was doing LOL. All I have are memories I hold on tight to, but mom brain sometimes seeps in and I forget all those lead up moments.
Comfortable Pillow & Fuzzy Blanket: I think I have said this before in another blog post but these two things CHANGED MY LABOR. I was comfortable, and it put me at ease, and staying a week on a hard pad chair bed does a number on you, so having these saved me and my husband. The pillow I linked isn’t the exact pillow I rave about (I couldn’t find it i’m so upset) but its close.
Congrats mama, labor is an exciting and scary time. But remember, on the other side of it is a beautiful little baby that YOU MADE. You made a human, that’s just freaking cool.
-AG