Things You ACTUALLY Need in Your Hospital Bag for Labor
When I was close to my due date I began constant searches about what to put in my hospital bag. I came up with a list, packed my bag countless times, and thought I was SET. Well, all the planning I did and nothing prepared me for what if you end up in the hospital longer?
Today I want to tell you all the things I brought to the hospital that were LIVE SAVERS and all the things I wish I had In my hospital bag. As always this will be broken down into categories to keep the list organized.
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Personal Care Hospital Bag Must Haves
A lot of these things are definitely up to you on if you find it necessary. I personally just did and its good to think about.
Bath Products
This includes, body wash, shampoo, lotion.
I brought shampoo for my fiancé and dry shampoo for me because I didn’t want to have to worry about doing my crazy hair. As far as body wash and lotion we had travel size ones and that was great.
I also didn’t want to have to worry about packing my toothbrush when leaving so I bought travel tooth brushes that we just threw away after.
Hair Brush/Hair Ties
I of course had my hair brush but also multiple hair ties to make sure my hair was completely out of my way for labor. I had back ups incase one broke and it did, definitely bring a few.
Personal Fan/ Spray Bottle
I HIGHLY suggest both of these, I Had a mini fan that my fiancé pointed at me and since I’m real extra I had one of those aerosol bottles of water. A regular squirt bottle would have worked too. These were true live savers that I 100% NEEDED.
Skincare/Makeup
Now, any blog, YouTube video or social post around hospital bag prep is going to tell you make sure you are your most comfortable and at home feeling. Skincare and makeup are comforting to me so I brought travel sizes of all my favorite things and Im very glad I did. Being able to do my normal routine after being up for almost 2 days straight felt great, or as great as it could :’)
Comfort
You NEED to be comfortable and so does your support person, before, during and after for as long as you have to stay.
Pillows/Blankets
I promise you don’t want the hospitals, trust me. Consider bringing at least one pillow for you and one pillow for your support person. Also a blanket for each of you or maybe two, however you will be most comfortable.
Shoes/Socks
I knew I did not want my feet touching the hospital floor.
- Slippers/Fuzzy Socks
I had both but either would be fine, I wore my slippers there and just had them on top of my bag so I could grab them when it was time. But I also had a pair of fuzzy socks packed, wish I would have had more but thought I was only going to be there 24 hours after labor. I was wrong, I think I will be sharing my labor story at some point and I will share everything then.
I used these for the shower because I was really against being bare foot. Im sure they clean well, but not as well as me. Kidding, kind of lol.
SNACKS
Bring a lot, like a lot a lot. I had a small separate bag of just snacks and like I said we thought we would only be there 24 hours after. We needed WAY more snacks. I didn’t know a head of time you get three meals a day for yourself but not your support person. That left my fiancé with nothing if we didn’t want to use a card which brings me to my next point.
Change
Vending machines, bring change. I quit coffee my whole pregnancy but the second he was born I was drinking Starbucks out of the vending machine. They also had all the way better snacks and drinks in there. Have change for when and if your snacks run out like ours did.
Clothing
I loved wearing night gowns the first day or so when healing, bring a few. Between baby spit, breast milk and everything else you are going to need to change.
Also, bring some comfortable outfits for you and your support person, multiples. Don’t be like me and only bring one set of clothes and end up in the hospital for days. I will keep pushing that one hard because I had no idea I could end up staying so I’m sure someone else won’t know either.
Entertainment
Whatever this means to you, bring it. All we brought was a portable charger and two iPhone chargers because I knew our phones would be our source of entertainment.
If yours is a laptop, a book, an iPad, maybe even a Playstation or Xbox. Bring it with, you can be in labor a VERY long time.
Baby
The hospital provides you a lot of things for baby so don’t feel the need to over pack, here are the few things you should have.
Extra Baby Clothes
My hospital only gave a long sleeve shirt, a hat and multiple blankets. We only brought a coming home outfit and one sleeper. That one sleeper got dirty very quickly we had to use our coming home outfit way before we were heading home.
Baby Book
I was so glad I had my book to get his foot prints right away but also I was able to write down his birth story right away before forgetting anything so ill have that memory forever.
Pacifiers
This can be a touchy topic but if you are going to use them bring at least one. My son ended up with pretty intense jaundice and had to be under lights at all times with his eyes covered unless he was being fed. He would cry and cry unless we had that pacifier which was a huge help. We used the MAM newborn pacifiers.
Breast Pump
This is on here for multiple reasons, I did not bring mine but definitely wish I would have.
When in the hospital you meet with a breast feeding specialist so if you have your pump they can teach you how to properly use it.
Also, my son had a tongue tie that no one found until his two week appointment. He could not latch and my hospital kept telling me to just keep practicing when asking for a pump. I wish I would have had my pump to just get my baby the milk he needed.
Postpartum
Let’s get down to the uncomfortable details. Postpartum can suck, be prepared for the worst and then you will be pleased when it’s a little better. I will say, NONE of this is needed, your hospital will give you everything you need for at least your stay there. I just suggest some purchases to make things easier.
Frida Mom
Truly whatever a mom could need they thought of, I highly suggest a few of these items.
A better angle for ease.
I had a hard time sitting after, that was my biggest complain, I didn’t purchase this but I really wish I would have.
This is also a great option to just get everything you need. If I was able to do it over I would have gotten this. It comes with the upside down peri bottle, a gown, socks, postpartum underwear and so much more.
Pads/ Postpartum Underwear
your hospital will provide you with enough for your stay and a few to bring home. I personally still brought my own to be most comfortable.
Frida Mom makes postpartum underwear which I wish I would have got but I got the Always Discreet Postpartum Underwear, these works great.
I was able to which to normal pads by the time I got home, Honey Pot makes specific Postpartum Pads that are cooling, that’s what I went with.
Stomach Wrap
I believe a postpartum stomach wrap is extremely important, This helps hold everything in place and properly put it back together. I went with this one from amazon, it comes in 3 parts for your transition back to your normal stomach, or new normal anyways.
Thats it lovelies! My hospital bag check list, make sure you find me on Instagram and tell me if we had any of the same must have items, also check out my newborn must haves if you are a soon to be mama. Lots of helpful info in that one.
