I have gotten so many questions about what to pack in your hospital bag, and I have a confession to make: I didn’t actually put together a hospital bag the first time around with James, and I totally regret it. What was I thinking, really? Honestly, I thought hospital bags were kind of BS, and I didn’t get why I would need a blowdryer or makeup, or why everyone makes such a big deal about the coming home outfit. The only thing I really understood from the list was the phone charger. LOL. How I learned! Now, I definitely know what to pack in your hospital bag. I don’t want you to be like me and learn the hard way, or be without some key items, so I thought I’d put together a guide for what to pack in your hospital bag, which I actually referenced when prepping for Charlotte’s arrival and will use now for baby #3.
First, you definitely want to pack your hospital bag in advance, because when you’re in labor, you really don’t care what you’ll be wearing at the hospital. But as I discovered, after you give birth, you will wish you had some cute, presentable outfits and something to brush your hair with, so you look somewhat cute for visitors and pics. Don’t be like me and not want to look at any of the pics you took at the hospital because you look terrible and are wearing gross college sweats, glasses, and sporting crazy hair. It’s a special moment, and no matter how you feel, you’ll want to document it. Ok, and so you don’t feel like blowdrying your hair, doing your makeup, or changing out of the hospital gown? No worries. You can just not use that stuff, but if you decide you want to, you’ll be glad you have it. That’s why it’s important to think about what to pack in your hospital bag a few weeks before you approach your due date (in case you go early, like I did with both babies).
My other advice would be to have some cute outfits for baby in both newborn and 0-3 months in case you go early, a cute swaddle or two, and a cute going-home outfit for yourself. I had yoga pants and a sweatshirt to go home in with James because I packed at 3am when I was in the middle of intense labor, and I just threw some crap in a bag. I looked like a disaster leaving the hospital, which just made me feel really gross and again, not want to document the special moment of leaving the house with my first baby. I was also embarrassed waiting for Andrew to pull around the car in my gross sweats, and sweating because it was a hundred degrees outside and I was dressed for winter. A maxi dress that I had worn during my pregnancy would have been just as comfy, a lot less hot, would have hid the diaper (and wee wee pad I was wearing — yep, that’s what you’ll be wearing home) and made me feel a lot better. So I’m a huge advocate now for planning what to pack in your hospital bag in advance and including some photo-friendly options in case you want them. With that said, don’t feel pressure to dress up or do your hair or anything after giving birth. I guarantee no one looked like as big of a mess as I did, and I don’t think anyone cared but me. Giving birth is a huge feat and you shouldn’t feel compelled to do anything you don’t feel like afterward. You have plenty of other things to worry about like breastfeeding (if you choose to), taking care of your new baby and just as important, recovering. Still, I am a big fan of figuring out what to pack in your hospital bag in advance. I put together a hospital bag checklist with everything I wish I had my first time and what I used my second time to help.
So if you want to be better prepared than I was the first time around, here’s everything I recommend packing in your hospital bag (and what I’ll be packing for baby #3).
Cute Robe
A cute robe is a nice way to cover up the hospital gown if people come like five minutes after you give birth, and to cover your pajamas when you attend the mandatory classes etc. This one is sweet and soft and cozy. I have on that I wear all the time, pregnant or not, and I love robes for late night and early morning nursing. I also love this matching set for baby and me.
Nursing Tanks
These make nursing so easy. I wear them to bed, with robes, under all my clothes and especially at the hospital after giving birth when my boobs are sore from getting my milk and I just want something soft on my skin that makes breastfeeding easy.
Cashmere Cardigan
Easy to throw over nursing tanks and pajamas because the hospital is always freezing IMO. I love that you can wear this one home from the hospital as well and is great to wear with a nursing tank postpartum and you’ll have forever.
Cute Pajamas
These are my favorite pajamas pregnant, not pregnant, post partum and beyond and what I’ll be bringing for if/when I have any visitors or want some cute pics. But I also this soft and nursing-friendly pair and darker colors are great to wear right after giving birth because there is a lot of blood and substances that will get all over you. This gingham pair is also adorable and would look cute with the coming-home outfits for baby. I’m also tempted to get this super cozy set from my favorite maternity brand, especially since I’ll be giving birth during March this time.
Chargers
I’m bringing two phone chargers this time — one for me and one for my husband. A lot of people recommend extra long chargers because plugs are so far away from the bed, and I would agree with that.
Laptop, iPad and Book
I found during downtime, when the baby was sleeping or getting bathed or checked out, or when I couldn’t sleep from the adrenaline, I wanted something other than the hospital TV to watch/do. It was also nice to have a laptop so I could do a few last-minute work things, send an email to our friends/family announcing the news, update the blog, and watch Netflix.
Blowdryer/Straightner
This is my new favorite two-in-one blowdryer. It’s also the one every blogger has and raves about — and for good reason. I didn’t do my hair either time, but I know some people really feel better and you’ll have the option to put the baby in the nursery so it may be one of the few chances you’ll get for the next few weeks to shower and do your hair.
Cosmetics and Makeup
Just picked up this cute monogrammed bag to house them all. I highly recommend bringing makeup and your face wash and lotion etc. I did find I wanted to put on a little makeup to take some pics and before I had visitors.
Flip Flops (for Shower)
I actually think hospitals are pretty clean, but it’s still a shower hundreds of other people have used, so I’ll be doing the shower shoes thing. These flip-flops are less than $3, making them a no-brainer.
Presents for James and Charlotte from the New Baby
Everyone told me to do this to get James on board with his new sibling and it really worked. He still remembers the toy Charlotte brought him when she was born. I remember he looked when he was walking into the hospital room and having something for him to open and play with really helped. I don’t know that the kids will be able to visit this time, but I’m going to bring the gifts with me anyway so we can give them to them when we get home with the new baby.
Going Home Outfit for Mom
Definitely bring something cute to go home in. You may not wear it but you’ll be glad you have as an option. It doesn’t have to be a dress. Leggings and a cute sweater or joggers or a cute athleisure set works great. Just something clean and cute and comfy. Personally, I avoid jeans and anything too constricting as I was wearing a diaper home with both babies and in case you have a c-section or a lot of stitches down there (which I did). With my other two, I gave birth in summer, so a pretty maxi dress and flat, comfy sandals worked great. This time, I will probably go with a dress and sweater or leggings and an oversized sweater. Again, I’d pick a dark color (i.e., not white) because you are still bleeding when you go home.
Going Home Outfit for Baby
I like to bring a few — one in newborn size, one in 0-3 months (in case you have a bigger baby) and an extra one for pics or the unexpected spit-up or blowout while waiting to be discharged (trust me, it’ll happen and in the cutest outfit you had planned. I love this one and this one.
Cute Receiving Blanket for Baby
This is really just for the pics if you want it. It’s also nice to put over the baby in the carseat if it’s cold outside.
Snacks
These are totally just for my husband. You aren’t allowed to eat during labor (or at least where I gave birth), I was nauseous for hours after, and then when I was finally hungry, I wanted sushi, pizza, and a big caffeine-filled latte, so I sent my husband out. Luckily, my hospital is in the city where there are plenty of options for all of those things. With that said, nursing always makes me ravenous, so I did appreciate having extra snacks on hand.
Cozy Slippers
These are great for if you need to walk around after you give birth. It may not happen this time due to Covid, but if you have surgery, sometimes they’ll have you walk around after you’ve recovered for awhile or walk to another room to attend a breastfeeding or infant care class so these are always nice to have. The hospital provides warm socks with grippers on that I always use, but I find having an extra pair of slippers is nice.
Anything else you’d add to my list of what to pack in your hospital bag? Now on pregnancy number 3, I feel like I have a good handle on what you need and what you don’t need, but it’s always great to hear from other moms about what they found helpful.
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