Hospital Bag Packing List

So, I’m currently 36 weeks along (eek) and coming up on my last month of pregnancy before Baby Malone arrives! It’s safe to say I have been spending most of my free time making to-do list after to-do list and obsessively checking over everything to make sure no stone is left unturned. Of course, one huge component is making sure our hospital bag is packed and ready to go!

Although I’m still (hopefully) a few weeks away from my due date, I truly feel like the only way to be prepare is to be prepared, so here we are! I also feel like being a first-time mom who is giving birth in a foreign country gives me a little leeway when it comes to being paranoid about preparing well in advance (haha).

When it came to packing my hospital bag, I actually found this to be a tad more difficult than I thought it would be. Why? Because it’s super easy to get sucked into the rabbit hole of packing everything and anything you think you might need. Before you know it, you’ve compiled a 50-pound pile on your bed and you’re wondering why your husband is looking at you like you have 15 heads. After packing and re-packing about 100 times, I think I FINALLY came up with a good, solid list, comprised of only the essential items for myself, Baby, and Ryan.

For Mama

• Two pairs of pajamas that button: Button-up tops will make nursing much easier!
• Slippers: So I can walk around my room without being barefoot.
• A few pairs of thick, cozy socks: In case the toes get chilly and I don’t feel like putting shoes or slippers on.
• Full-Coverage Underwear: Preferably old pairs you wouldn’t mind tossing shortly after if need be.
• Robe: To cover-up in the hospital. Especially convenient if you will be having lots of visitors!
• Two Nursing Bras: For when I feel like wearing normal clothes again.
• Nipple Cream: For obvious reasons…
• Nipple Cooling Pads: Enough said.
• Nursing Pads: To place inside my nursing bras.
• Discrete Underwear: I am aware that the hospital provides mesh undies to use, however, other mom friends have informed me of how uncomfortable these truly are. Some friends have recommended wearing disposable underwear (okay, okay, let’s call it what it is…a diaper) for the first stage of postpartum life because they are comfier and overall easier! So…let’s see how this goes (haha).
• Nursing Pillow: The hospital recommended I bring one in order to help with positioning the baby when we begin nursing.
• Peri-Bottle: Basically…a bidet for you va-jay (haha). Don’t ask…
• Bath Towel: Your own towel from home will be better than the tiny, stiff ones from the hospital.
• Flip flops for the shower: Because…germs.
• Toiletries
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body Wash
  • Face Wash
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Hairbrush
  • Contact solution + contact case
  • Light Makeup
  • Deodorant
  • Chapstick
  • Hair ties + hair clips
• Prenatal Vitamins: You should definitely continue to take your prenatals, even after the baby is born!
• Baby Book: For their footprints.
• Camera: To capture those oh-so-special moments…and even maybe the birth if you’re into that sort of thing!
• Cell Phone Charger: Duh!
• Snacks + Drinks: You’ll have to check with your hospital’s and doctor’s policies on this one, but ours actually encourage the laboring mom to stay hydrated during labor/delivery and have a few snacks if possible. I packed things such as protein bars, crackers, Powerade, and lots of Ningxia to help keep my energy levels up!
• Going-home outfit: I’m anticipating that I will still be sporting a good-sized bump when we begin our journey home, so I packed loose-fitting maternity pieces such as leggings and a button-up top. I also packed a long cardigan that covers my bum because…you know…the diaper situation.
• Wallet with ID, insurance card, any hospital paperwork you need to bring: Definitely one of the most important items you wouldn’t want to forget!
• Affirmation Cards: I thought it would be helpful to bring these along to read for encouragement during my labor! Especially since I plan on going all-natural!
• Essential Oils: I’ll be writing a whole separate post on this, but I have put together an entire “toolbox” of oils and oily goodies to use during labor, delivery, and postpartum life!

For Baby

• A few outfits in various sizes: Although your doctor may have given you a prediction of how large your baby will be at birth, it’s still best to be prepared and come with a few different sized outfits to bring the baby home in.
• Hat: Protect that head!
• Socks: Because their little feet get cold.
• Teddy Bear Suit: Since I am delivering at the end of winter/beginning of Spring, we are anticipating chilly weather when we leave the hospital with our babe. With that being said, we packed this cuddly jumpsuit to keep them warm!
• Blanket: To lay over the car seat or wrap the baby in.
• Pacifier: Will we need it? Who knows…
• Car Seat: MUST.NOT.FORGET.THIS

For Daddy

• 2-3 outfits: Dads will need a change of clothes too!
• Pajamas: Because I don’t think you’ll want them sleeping in their underwear.
• Slippers: To walk around the hospital in.
• Flip Flops: To wear in the shower.
• Toiletries
  • Shampoo
  • Body Wash
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Deodorant
  • Hair Products
• Sweatshirt: In case the hospital is chilly.
• iPad: In the rare chance they get bored and need some entertainment.
• Phone Charger: So they can make all the calls to family members and announce the arrival of Baby!

Things I Left Out

Okay, let’s chat about the few things that I’m choosing to leave out of my hospital bag. After digging around on the internet, these are common items many pregnant women recommend packing in your hospital bags, but honestly just seemed a bit unnecessary to me!

• Pads: I’ll just use whatever the hospital provides and save mine for when we return home.
• Pillows: I know some people recommend bringing your own pillow so you feel more “at home”. To me, this just seemed like overkill and one more thing to have to carry.
• Blankets: If I get cold, I’ll ask the nurses for another blanket (haha).
• Night Light: Just…why?
• Perineal Cold Packs: I made some homemade DIY “Padsicles” that are currently sitting in my freezer. So, if I feel the need to use them, I’ll just whip these out when I return home.
• Baby Mittens: Our teddy bear suit has built-in mittens so these just seemed unnecessary for us.

And there you have it! Anything else you have to add to this list of what to bring and what not to?! Share in the comments below to help out all the mamas!