When you’re pregnant you spend a lot of time dreaming about the day you finally meet your baby. You buy your baby gear, are gifted some, and may even know how to and already have your baby’s car seat installed. There is that hospital bag though. Did you pack it yet? Do you even know what to put in there? And we mean really know what to put in there, without taking the entire nursery with you. Remember, there’s what you will pack for yourself, for your new baby, and potentially what your partner will need too! Aside from your personal care items you want to have a birth plan as well. But keep reading to get everyone involved ready with the right items in their respective bags.
What Should I pack in my Hospital Bag for Labor?
Based on where you give birth you may receive some items. Most hospitals will supply basic toiletries, disposable underwear, slippers, and a gown. Remember for your first couple of days after the birth you will be mostly in bed so you want to bring items that will help you feel comfortable and more at home. Keep reading for our very detailed list below.
When Should You Pack Your Hospital Bag?
You should ideally have your hospital bag ready at around 34 weeks. If you have complications, your health care provider may caution you to have your bag ready at an earlier time. It’s better to have it packed earlier so it’s handy if you have an emergency so once you have all your essentials you can pack your bag.
What is a Birth Plan?
This is a document (whether physical or digital) that outlines your preferences for labor and delivery. You can include information on who you want to be present during labor if you want pain meds, the type of lighting you would like, and make mention of anything you would like to have present during your labor for personal or religious reasons.
List of Items to Pack
Hospital Bag for Mom
- Birth Plan – As mentioned above this can be physical or digital. If you will have a physical document you may want to have multiple copies to give to nurses or one to put up in your room. If you have no idea what to put into your birth plan you can check out this birth Plan Guide.
2. A Comfortable Robe – This option from Posh Peanut comes in a variety of styles and sizes. They are designed with the new mom in mind so they are soft, comfortable, and allow easy access for nursing.
3. Toiletries – take the guesswork out of which toiletries to bring by simply purchasing a toiletry kit. This option is a 21 piece option with a lot of items from popular and reputable brands and companies. It even comes with a pouch so all your items can be packaged nicely within your hospital bag.
4. Comfortable Clothing – This dress from Ekouaer is super comfortable and offers design features for the best in comfort and convenience. Its open-back design allows ease of access for staff attending to you. It allows easy of breastfeeding as well with a side slit above the breast area with snap buttons. It is available in five different sizes and is available in a multitude of colors as well. Purchase one or a few!
5. Water Bottle – You should pack a reusable water bottle that you can have on hand when you are thirsty. This is more convenient than packing a couple of botels of water. This 1-gallon capacity water bottle is a great choice so once it’s filled in the morning there is no need to refill it through the day. This means more time to rest and bond with baby, also keeps the calls for a nurse or family member to fetch you some water down to a minimum.
6. Extra-long charging cord for your cell phone. This may be something that you don’t even think twice about. Until you want to share pictures of your and baby and realize your battery is dead. An extra-long cord ensures that you can have your phone close by without having to be right next to an outlet, Find options for both android and apple devices at affordable prices here.
7. Nipple Cream – If you have breast feeding in your plans you need to be proactive. Bring the best selling nipple cream from Lansinoh and prepare for this bonding experience.Â
8. Pillows – Bring your pillow from home, it will be nice to have a familiar item for comfort.
9. Bath Towel – It turns out, the towels in hospitals aren’t the best options. They can be small and scratchy so you will be happier if you bring a towel or two from home.
10. Adult Diapers – The hospital will most likely give you mesh underwear and pads. But adult diapers will probably be a more comfortable choice. After having a baby, you really want to be comfortable in every way and comfort down there is a definite must. You can choose any type of adult diaper or you can choose these that are designed specifically for after delivery.Â
10. Portable Bluetooth Speaker – This is another nice touch to help you feel comfortable while at the hospital. It can be used to play music of your choice during labor and delivery. It’s also a great way to start training your baby with your choice of daily routine. This option form OontZ is a reputable and popular option while coming in at a very affordable price.
Hospital Bag or Baby
Now that you have caught up with packing your own bag, now you want to pack the baby’s bag. Now, this doesn’t have to be a separate bag so you can simply place these items within your bag. However, an extra bag will allow you the opportunity to be more organized and able to find things easier for you and the entire support staff.
- Car Seat – This is a non-negotiable item. You won’t be allowed to leave the hospital with your baby if you don’t have a car seat. There is no one suitable car seat for everybody, so check out our review of the best car seats to find the most suitable option for your needs.
2. Going Home Outfit – You want your baby to be the cutest bundle leaving the hospital so you should definitely get a special outfit for just that. If you choose to find out your baby’s gender before birth you will know exactly what to bring. If not check out this simple unisex outfit that is also super affordable so it is a good choice for any budget.
3. Contact Information for a Pediatrician – Have you chosen your pediatrician yet? You should.
4. Bottles – even if you are not planning on bottle-feeding your baby it is recommended you bring bottles just in case things don’t go as planned. This set from NUK is a great starter kit that will work later on in the baby’s life as well.
You may be wondering, so what about the diapers and wipes!? The truth is you don’t necessarily have to bring those as the hospital always has these in droves. Unless you want to go with a particular brand. Truth is, often you can even leave the hospital with diapers and wipes, so maybe bring a bag for those extras!
What Your Partner Should Pack
If your partner will be attending the birth and staying at the hospital you want them to be comfortable as well. They will be doing a lot of waiting so here are some things you can pack to ensure they have things to help pass the time.Â
- Snacks – Pack their favorite snacks.Â
- General Entertainment – Pack their favorite gadgets, loaded with podcasts, music, movies and more.Â
3. Lightweight sleeping bag – This option from Sleepingo is a durable and comfortable option. It won’t give you an excellent night of sleep but it will get you through.
4. Pillow – bring your pillow from home for added sleeping comfort.
Conclusion
With all your bags now packed, you can keep them right by the door for when the baby comes to knocking. With the items mentioned on our list, you will have all the items you need to survive those couple days at the hospital when your baby just enters the world.
Cris
