What do I really need in my hospital bag?

SweetPea0902 · November 2013

I've read plenty of websites that tell you what you should and shouldn't pack in your hospital bag. I need to hear from other moms about what they loved having and what they could have done without. Please help this FTM

Soap1 · November 2013

Tucks hemorrhoid wipes were my life for the first week or so post delivery. I also liked having socks with no-skid bumps on the soles. Comfy yoga pants and a nursing top for the day or two after birth. Nipple cream and the breast pump and accessories.

Other than that, just the basics that you'd take on any overnight trip.

greenmama2013 · November 2013

I remember being cold at night in the hospital, and the flimsy blankets they provided didn't feel warm enough. Bring a warm blanket, and your own pillow so you'll be sure you're comfortable at night. Slippers are good too. Other than that just comfy clothes, a cute outfit for first baby pics, and the hospital should provide the rest (hemorrhoid wipes, pads, breast pump, etc.). I'm bringing my make-up bag as well! Ha.

CopperT0p · November 2013

One thing we didn't pack, but that I sent DH home for after DS was born was some of our own swaddling blankets. The ones at the hospital were so rough they chapped his skin. We also didn't bring enough outfits initially. We were planning on only being in overnight (he was a c/s), however some complications with him after birth meant we were there for 5 days. I only brought 3 outfits but I needed more like 3/day.

dglvrk2 · November 2013

I'm on pregnancy #2. Based on my first experience, I'd keep it as minimal as possible, especially if you can send DH or another family member home to get stuff if necessary. You may not have much room in your recovery room.

My essentials this time: hemroid wipes, nipple cream (the hospital may supply you with some), nursing bras (the really flimsy, comfy kind; not the ones you wear in public!), nursing pads, night gown (this may be your most comfortable option if you have a c-section) or loose fitting pajamas, toilet bag, and going home outfits for you and LO.

I'm going to have a book, boppy pillow, and my pump ready for my mom or DH to grab, but will leave them at home to start. My hospital gives great receiving blankes, but you may want a few ready in case yours does not do this.

RNmommyof2 · November 2013

You don't need to bring your own blankets. If you get cold ask your nurse to bring you a warm blanket. They'll bring you as many as you need and they're great - like a blanket fresh out of the dryer at home.

smiling76 · November 2013

If you are having a vag birth--then some yoga pants and a shirt that you can breastfeed in. socks. Slippers if you like. You'll be in and out of the hospital in now time. Oh--a zip up hoody if it's chilly. Everything for baby they will supply. You'll want an outfit though for pics and to bring him/her back home. Honestly--you could wear the same clothes home as you came in with--you'll only be in them for a few minutes before they have you dis-robe.

If you are having a c/section then you won't need clothes until you are going home as you won't want much on the tummy.

You'll also want to bring any phone chargers, laptop to play movies during labor, ipod if you want music, etc.

Mints, chapstick and a notepad to take notes for when you go home with baby.

SweetPea0902 · November 2013

Thank you everyone. My plan is to do a vag-birth, but we all know how plans go. I'm due Jan 3, so I'll be sure to pack warm clothes for both of us. I'm getting so excited. The last thing I have to do to prep is pack my bag. I have two showers coming up, one the 24th, and the other on Thanksgiving, so I'll have a lot of stuff for Liam when he gets here. I'm counting down the days, and can't wait to hold my little bear!!

henderson1026 · November 2013

I packed so much that I didn't use and WISHED I had brought other things.

1) your pillow - the hospital ones sucked and it was so hard to be comfortable.

2) a nursing gown or pajamas - the hospital gown was really uncomfortable, I was pretty much naked the whole time because of this.

3) towels - the hospital towels were so itty-bitty, I couldn't wrap it around myself.

You don't need to bring anything for LO but a going home outfit.

Angel5218 · November 2013

Robe, a outfit or two of very comfy/loose fitting clothes, chap stick/eye drops (my lips got very chapped), phone charger/camera charger along with phone/camera. Clothes for your LO (PJ's and a going home outfit), swaddle for your LO, Tucks pads if you are having a vaginal birth, nursing pillow and nursing bra/tanks if your planning to nurse, underwear that can handle the HUGE pads they give you after you deliver, slippers with no-skid grips (I got pretty cold at the hospital), your pillow if you have a favorite b/c the hospital pillows are lame.

You will not need anything then the clothes for your LO b/c they provide everything else (and will probably send you home with diapers/wipes that they opened while you were staying there). If you want a book/Kindle or a laptop with DVDs that's up to you. We had a DVD player in the hospital room so my husband grabbed some movies we could watch. Really you don't need a lot.

abertocchini · November 2013

This is obviously not an essential but I really liked having it there with my first- a hair dryer. If you end up with a C-section and are there 5 days or so, it's pretty nice to have the little things that make you feel more like you. I didn't bring a breast pump- if you need one the hospital has them. Chapstick is nice and cozy socks are too. Whatever things make you feel more comfortable.

Smores730 · November 2013

I haven't seen mentioned a few things. The baby book if you're doing one. The nurses will sometimes do the ink footprints for you when they're getting them for the official papers. I also liked having a notepad and pen to write down the birthing experience while it was still fresh on my mind. Lastly a folder to keep hospital paperwork organized.
My personal must haves were toiletries, some comfy clothes, slippers, phone/charger, boppy pillow, and high fiber snacks

Whisperscloset · November 2013

SweetPea0902 said:

Thank you everyone. My plan is to do a vag-birth, but we all know how plans go. I'm due Jan 3, so I'll be sure to pack warm clothes for both of us. I'm getting so excited. The last thing I have to do to prep is pack my bag. I have two showers coming up, one the 24th, and the other on Thanksgiving, so I'll have a lot of stuff for Liam when he gets here. I'm counting down the days, and can't wait to hold my little bear!!

thats my BDAY....your having a capricorn..you will do just fine..dont forget your own soap, sanitary napkins , deodarent,gowns, slippers, mints, lotion, toothpaste...etc

chicki1012 · November 2013

SweetPea0902 said:
Thank you everyone. My plan is to do a vag-birth, but we all know how plans go. I'm due Jan 3, so I'll be sure to pack warm clothes for both of us. I'm getting so excited. The last thing I have to do to prep is pack my bag. I have two showers coming up, one the 24th, and the other on Thanksgiving, so I'll have a lot of stuff for Liam when he gets here. I'm counting down the days, and can't wait to hold my little bear!!

How ironic but my due date is also 1/3/14. But I think it will be a few days later. But my husband and I have the same name picked out!!!

. Great name.

SweetPea0902 · November 2013

chicki1012 said:

Thank you everyone. My plan is to do a vag-birth, but we all know how plans go. I'm due Jan 3, so I'll be sure to pack warm clothes for both of us. I'm getting so excited. The last thing I have to do to prep is pack my bag. I have two showers coming up, one the 24th, and the other on Thanksgiving, so I'll have a lot of stuff for Liam when he gets here. I'm counting down the days, and can't wait to hold my little bear!!
How ironic but my due date is also 1/3/14. But I think it will be a few days later. But my husband and I have the same name picked out!!! . Great name.

My birthday is the 13, and his dad's is the 14, so we will just be a January family. I'm hoping I go close to that date because my semester of school starts the 13 and it's going to be hard enough if he's born the 3.

ktpaladino · November 2013

joules235 said:

Chap stick, going home outfit for both you and baby. Separate from the clothes you arrived in, mine got all covered in mucus plug and bloody show. I had a birth center birth so I bought 2 cheap night gowns with easy breastfeeding access to hang out in. If I had been at the hospital I would have just worn their gown. I also bought a cheap pack of bikini panties but they were awful. I will buy the more expensive ones with the wrapped waist band that are made of softer cotton, they will also be all black.
Swaddling blankets, car seat, baby hat, camera, showering supplies and a hair brush.

I brought my breast pump and nursing pillow last time and didn't use them at all. Having the pump was especially pointless because there is no reason to pump right away unless you use it for nipple stimulation during labor.

I disagree with the last point. If you have latching issues, you are going to need a pump. I had to pump my colostrum and feed my baby by syringe his first few days because he came early and would not latch. My hospital, however, did insist that I used their pump, so packing mine was pretty pointless anyways. I did not even bother wearing my own underwear. I wore the disposable mesh underwear the hospital provided. They were great because I didn't have to worry about ruining my own. They also gave me these cold-pack sanitary napkins that helped the pain and swelling which were my best friends while recovering, especially after my episiotomy!

teshy1 · November 2013

I agree with others - I brought a lot of stuff in my hospital bag for DD's delivery that I didn't use at all.
Stuff I did use/need: going home outfit and blankets for baby, going home outfit for me (leggings and nursing top and bra for me), slipper socks, toiletry kit.
Despite the robe and pajamas I packed, I found it much easier to stay in the hospital gown, plus I didn't care when it got dirty - I could just get a clean one. While in labour, I just listened to music on the hospital's AV system and talked with DH - didn't use any of the other stuff I'd brought.

MJC1116 · November 2013

I cannot stress the importance of a really good nursing bra as some pp's have mentioned. Nursing made my nipples soooo sore from the very beginning and the only nursing bra I had was some ridiculous lacy number. OMG the pain! What the hell was I thinking!? I highly recommend the Medela Seamless Nursing bra. You can get them on amazon. It's hard to guess how big you'll get once you start nursing, but they're pretty stretchy. Maybe a size up. I wore them non-stop for the first couple of months.

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