What's in My Hospital Bag?`
Round 3
We are here again my friends! The time has come to where I need a packed hospital bag, ready to go at any moment now. I have definitely modified what’s in my hospital bag this time around. I would say I didn’t use a lot of the stuff I had packed for baby number two and I have no memory of what I packed for baby number one.
With that being said, it’s okay to pack minimally and it’s okay to over-pack. Pack whatever is going to make your labor and delivery the most comfortable to you.
So let’s start with the baby because that’s the easiest.
I’m bringing one newborn and one 0-3 month outfit for baby for her going home outfit. I obviously have no idea how big baby will be so, I’m just going to bring one of each size.
I am bringing a small nursing pillow for support during breastfeeding. This nursing pillow is actually smaller than the Boppy pillow.
I do intend to bring a Velcro swaddle because they are super easy to use.
I’ve also packed a blanket, car-seat cold-weather cover and made sure to install my car-seat already. It’s Winter during my due date, so I obviously want to keep baby warm.
Diapers, wipes, etc. will all be provided by the hospital, so I have no need to bring my own.
Now for me:
I am bringing a nursing gown/pajamas, just to keep covered but still make it accessible for breastfeeding and the nurses. My nursing gown buttons in the front.
I will most likely spend the majority of my time in a nursing bra, postpartum underwear, either the ones I brought from home or the ones the hospital provides, and my robe.
Don’t forget your sandals/slides and some no-slip grip socks.
For my going home outfit, I’m just bringing leggings, a long-sleeve maternity t-shirt, cardigan, and regular socks. This is probably going to be a similar outfit I wear to the hospital. You will still appear to be about 6 months pregnant when you go home, so keep that in mind when picking out your going home clothes.
I am bringing my own towel and washcloth, as well as a set of reusable nursing pads and nipple cream. Most hospitals will provide nursing pads and nipple cream but mine are so small, why not bring my own?
Don’t forget your toiletries! So for me, I’m just bringing makeup remover wipes, face wash/lotion, small brush, hair ties and headband, body lotion and chapstick, toothbrush/toothpaste, hair wash and hair styling cream, lavender oil, and my eyebrow pencil and gel. I am not concerned with wearing makeup while there or before I leave. I may not even wash my hair. I probably will just keep my hair in a bun because #bunlife. Nothing I am bringing is full-sized, I have condensed everything to be travel-sized and to fit in my travel toiletry bag.
Other things you want to bring:
Don’t forget to have snacks like granola bars, gum, and mints. I would bring $20 in cash for vending machines if needed. Also a $12 money order for my baby’s birth certificate. I am bringing my Sony camera, vitamins, and a phone charger as well.
Now as far as my other kids go, we have packed them a small overnight bag to stay with my friend who lives by the hospital but they will mostly be at the hospital with us once baby is born. We’re even considering the idea of my husband going home at night to be with the kids and bring them back during the day. It’s still an up in the air idea. My best friend has kids too, so I’m sure they’ll just want to stay at her house.
Also, my husband is in charge of his own bag, which will probably just include his toiletries, his outfit, his laptop and phone and their chargers, and his own towel, washcloth and maybe a blanket/pillow.
I hope all of this information was helpful. We’re just trying to keep everything as simple as possible. With my second child, it was a very quick labor process, so we’re hoping the same for this one.
If you want to see what I brought with my second delivery, you can check it out here.
Love & Light,
Jalesa