The Hospital Bag Thread

hkom · August 2018

Drop all of the recommendations for what you needed or didn't need for your hospital stay!

kristah2 · August 2018

What's on my list right now:

Food / snacks (I was starving and there was nothing open just vending machines!)
My own pillow
cell charger / extension cord
breast feeding pillow (if you plan to BF)
Water bottle
pads (hospital ones were massive)
breast feeding tanks
pj pants that are loose fitting
slippers
wipes for baby (my hospital only provides dry ones which I don't like)
underwear
going home outfit for me (leggings, BF top and hoodie, plus shoes that will fit my fat feet)
going home outfit for baby
hair elastics
wallet with hospital cards

What I didn't need last time:

multiple outfits for DS - they had stuff there
diapers
bathing products for DS
extra clothes for me (dignity is gone

snugglyduckling25 · August 2018

I just made a list a few weeks ago! I'm interest to see what others have on their lists, maybe I need to add to mine! This is what mine currently looks like:

Me:

comfortable shorts
comfortable pants
nursing tanks
zippered hoodie
always discreet (way better than the mesh undies!)
toiletries (soap, shampoo, conditioner, face wash)
hair ties
slippers or flip flops
ipad
phone charger
promptly journal for footprints
boppy pillow
nipple cream
pillow

Baby

sleeper
onsie and pants
car seat
blanket

PensiveCrayon · August 2018

Random dumb question...provided everything goes smoothly with the birth, how long should I expect to stay in the hospital? Or is it really an individual hospital thing?

katy0990 · August 2018

-Boppy pillow for bfing (I would leave it in the car until after birth in case you switch rooms)
-Baby book for foot/hand prints
-A folder for all of the docs you are given and need to keep track of
-A Notepad and pen for random info they throw at you that you will need to remember later
-Hair ties
-Snacks
-Car seat with cover
-Outfit to wear home (Most likely maternity)
-Outfit for baby to wear home
-Chapstick
-Mints
-Toiletries (Don’t stress too much about this because they will most likely have a stash there in case you forget something)
-Cash for parking/ vending machines, etc.
-Chargers

I know all hospitals are different, but mine provided:
-All meds for during my stay (prenatals, stool softeners, ibuprofen)
-A hat and onsie for LO to wear during our stay
-Diapers
-Birthing balls
-Pacifier (For his circumcision, I’m not sure if you have to request them for girls)
-Pads of varying sizes
-Mesh underwear
-An electric breast pump to borrow, but I got to keep the tubing, flanges, bottles, and parts that touched my milk,
-A manual breast pump (A friend recommended that I ask for it, because if you use it, it’s yours to keep and saves you $40 since lactation services are covered by insurance)
-Slipper socks
-Nipple shield
-Nipple Cream
-A belly binder (I ended up with a c-section, so I’m not sure if it is given to those who have vaginal births)

Keep in mind that everything you take has to be packed up again along with baby and any gifts/flowers you receive, as well as all the loot you take home (swipe all the pads, mesh underwear, and diapers you can!!!), so you will want to pack lightly. Plus, who wants to come home with tons of dirty laundry?

katy0990 · August 2018

@PensiveCrayon Most insurance companies will cover 48 hours for a vaginal birth and 72 hours for a C-section. How long you are required to stay depends on your doctor. My hospital has a birthing center on site and if you deliver there you can leave within 12 hours. It also depends on the baby. My son was not delivered until my water had been broken for over 27 hours, so the pediatrician wanted him to stay an extra day to monitor him for infection, so my doctor just signed for me to stay a bit longer so we could go home together.

hkom · August 2018

Thank goodness I don't have a baby sitting here with me yet, but I am in the hospital, so this is fresh! I'm packing my bag as soon as I get home, since I'm at risk to come back pretty much at any time.

Here's what I've needed or very very much wanted over the course of my stay here (going on 10 days, which is insane):

My own pillow. I went the first two or three nights with just the hospital pillows and I was miserable. My own pillow made an immediate difference.
My own clothes as I was pretty uncomfortable in the hospital gown the first day or two. I will probably only bring one or two sets of clothes in the actual bag, but have a ready-to-grab stash at home in case I have a c-section and a longer stay and H needs to bring me more (He tries, but hasn't the best at picking which clothes to bring me for the past week. Plenty of hits but definitely some misses as well). I will probably bring a nursing nightgown for if nurses need easy access to my nethers. Whatever type of loose, comfy pants you prefer - I've been living in a-size-too-big yoga pants since I've been here. Soft nursing bras and/or nursing tanks, and nursing or easy-access shirts.
I've clearly needed my own underwear here, but I know they provide the mesh ones. I may keep some pads and big undies in the car for H to bring in in case the mesh ones aren't my jam. If I don't use them at the hospital, I'll use them at home.
Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, unscented soap, facewash, moisturizer, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste
Some basic, unscented wet wipes / baby wipes. Can be used for baby or for you if you're feeling yucky but can't / don't want to shower.
Hair brush and hair ties
Chapstick
Contacts/glasses
Snacks
Phone charger with a loooong cord
A bag for dirty clothes

Things I haven't needed:

Grippy socks - my hospital provides them
Water bottle - they have 750ml pitchers and the good crunchy ice
A towel - The hospital ones are small and scratchy, but using them for 30 seconds to dry off after I shower hasn't bothered me enough to request one from home.
Peri bottle - I only know this because there is a pre-stocked supplies bag in the bathroom with mesh undies and a peri bottle. Haven't investigated further to see what else is in there.
Any medicine, including OTC stuff like colace or tylenol. It's a hospital - they should have everything and anything you need.

This I haven't needed this time, but only because I don't have a baby yet:

Going home clothes for baby
A pacifier, just in case
Undecided on bringing a robe for myself.

*ETA @katy0990 Good idea about the folder, notepad, and pen/pencil. Definitely added that to my list.

katy0990 · August 2018

@hkom, I wore a backward hospital gown as a robe. It looked a little silly, but it was one less thing to pack and wash.

kadeephd · August 2018

When should a FTM pack a hospital bag? A lot of the things I'd put in there I'd like to keep using, so I don't want to pack too early. I also don't want to get stuck without one if I go into labor early.

texas_t · August 2018

@katy0990 I wore a backward hospital gown as a robe, too, lol! I felt like a mess, so I think I'm actually going to bring a robe this time just to feel a little more put together for pictures, lol!

katy0990 · August 2018

@kadeephd If you don’t have any reason to believe you will go into preterm labor, then I would start putting it together around 34 weeks. I just made a list last time of the items that I was still using that would need to be thrown together last minute and suck the list on top of my bag. Chances are, you will have time between the time you decide to go to the hospital and the time you need to leave to gather up a few things. Most of those items won’t be needed until after birth, anyway.

runrinserepeat · August 2018

Chapstick is key you guys.

I mentioned this in the randoms, but I only really packed my hospital bag after my water had broken for both kids. I'm pretty minimalist, though, and I just don't think there are many things that are completely necessary. For me, packing too much is more stressful than not having enough.

What I will have:
-The nice camera
-My phone and watch charger
-My slippers
-Comfy clothes/pajamas for me (I hate wearing hospital robes for extended periods of time)
-Clothes for baby to wear home

My hospital provides:
-diapers, wipes, butt cream, and snot sucker
-clothes for baby to wear while we're there
-pads, mesh undies, peri bottle, and dermoplast
-ibuprofen, stool softeners, whatever other medicine I might need
-water bottle

Things I just don't care about:
-my pillow (I'm not going to be getting much sleep anyway)
-breastfeeding pillow (somehow I managed to BF two children for 4+ cumulative years without one)
-food/snacks (the hospital allowed me to order plenty. DH was a doll and took coffee and food orders when the cafeteria wasn't open)
-a breast pump (I don't expect my milk to come in when I'm there anyway)

ebk20 · August 2018

I definitely packed too much stuff last time.

Unnecessary items
Multiple baby outfits
Diapers
Wipes
Multiple outfits of real clothes for me
Robe
Music for the birth
Pump, I didn't pump for like 2 weeks after
A bunch of snacks
Birthing book

Necessary items
Phone charger
Boppy pillow (breast feeding in the hospital beds was super uncomfortable) Must be a preference thing because I absolutely loved my boppy. So much so i bought one to keep upstairs and one downstairs and I bf'd my son for 2 years.
Nursing tank tops
Comfortable clothes that you feel ok about in front of visitors
Slip on shoes
Space in your bag for hospital supplies to take home (pads, mesh undies, witch hazel)
Car seat

hkom · August 2018

@runrinserepeat Yes on the chipstick. I've been using it religiously and I still think the skin on my lips has completely turned over since I've been here. Also, face lotion. It's sooooooo dryyyyyy here.

katy0990 · August 2018

Re: Chapstick This May sound strange, but nipple cream makes the best chapstick.

awells189 · August 2018

All great suggestions! For me, I loved having my super soft robe. I had a csection so I wore that thing while I roamed the hallways (which was as often as I could to get out of that tiny room).

I second the room in your bag to take stuff. I hoarded as much as I could so don’t forget that.

Katzalia · August 2018

I’m team chapstick and also team robe, thiugh I didn’t bring a nice one. Just a basic soft jersey robe in black so no worries about staining etc. it was nice to have a cozier layer while I was there.

I didn’t bring a pillow from home or a boppy nursing pillow last time, and doubt I will this time. I work in a hospital and there are serious resistant germs everywhere in hospitals. I have zero desire to bring pillows from home into contact with those germs and then back home again. So if I need to I’ll roll a regular hospital pillow and use it for support during nursing.

Other things on my list:
-phone, ipad, chargers
-snacks (sometimes not many options with my food allergies)
-nursing tanks tops, leggings, and nursing nightgown
-basic toiletries (the standard I always have packed & ready to go for weekend trips)
-coming home outfit with hat for baby
-carseat and blanket for the ride home
-leggings + sweater or cozy dress for me for heading home
-makeup bag (when feeling awful, I find comfort in looking better than I feel)

things the hospital provided:
-pump parts for use with hospital grade pump
-tiny bottles and related parts
-formula for supplementing when needed
-onsie, hat, and blanket while she was there
-pacifier (she never really used it but still)
-peribottle, dermoplast (amazing stuff!), amd the mesh panties
-baby shampoo, comb, tiny basin for bathing
-really terrible food at limited hours
-any needed meds
-the stylin’ gowns I wore
-extra pillows as needed

katy0990 · August 2018

@Katzalia The germs freak me out, too. I made H wash everything on sanitary when we got home.

CecilB93 · August 2018

I'll try to remember, but my memory sucks lol. Here's what I plan for this time though.

For me:
Comfy clothes for me after (tank top, nursing bra, planning to make a robe for after birth, socks, comfy pants or leggings)
Toiletries
Makeup
Hair ties and brush
Phone and charger
Maybe a snack or two. Our hospital has the kitchen open 24/7 if I remember right, but it still took time to get our food. A snack to hold me over would have been nice.
Cloth menstrual pads. I'll bring these but may not use them until I'm home anyways, we'll see.

For baby:
Going home outfit
Carseat
Maybe one extra outfit, but hospital provides a shirt, hat, and swaddler

Hospital provided:
All meds (ibuprofen, stool softener, etc)
Mesh undies, pads, perri bottles, ice packs, witch hazel pads
Pacifier (given during circumcision)
Nipple shield (I don't plan to buy a new one beforehand unless it's needed)

I had plenty of pillows at the hospital, so I didn't need the boppy or my own pillow. I need a new pillow anyways so mines pretty crappy lol. Plus I'm not about to carry all that crap in while laboring and out while transporting a new baby.

Jens_Hoes · August 2018

I'm team no clothes of my own until I am discharged. The nurses have to check on your bleeding a lot, you need your nipples out to nurse, and I didn't want anything constricting on me at all so I just wore the mesh undies and the hospital gown. I know I've mentioned this before but TMI, I bled a lot initially. Like they had to change my bedsheets. I would recommend waiting a little bit before changing into your own clothes so that you don't bleed on your stuff.

+1 for chapstick, toiletries, ipad/iphone chargers, hair tie
I packed a set of clothes for DH and enough medication for him (he has nightly meds) for three days I think. I figured he would and could go home at some point, but I didn't know how long I'd be laboring for.
I didn't bring my own pillow or nursing pillow, and won't this time around.
I did bring a pacifier (my hospital is pro-breastfeeding and told us not to use pacifiers), and my own wipes. They only have the dry wipes at our hospital, and I don't like those.
I also didn't change the baby out of the hospital onesie or blanket until we left.

The hospital provided: mesh panties, pads, dermoblast, numbing wipes, peri bottle, meds (extra strong ibuprofin, my daily acid reflux meds, stool softener), diapers, bulb syringe for baby, baby body wash/shampoo, clothes, blanket and hat for baby.
Don't forget the carseat!
And room to steal all of the things! Don't feel guilty about taking anything, they've already charged your insurance for it all lol

katy0990 · August 2018

@Jens_Hoes +1 for wearing the hospital gown the whole time! I’m all about avoiding the stains on my clothes and the less I have to sanitize, the better!

I would definitely check with your hospital about the availability of food. I will be taking snacks because my hospital’s Cafeteria is only open during certain windows for meals and any food that is down there in between is ridiculously expensive. Plus, they are closed from like 10 PM until 6 AM. I’m so jealous of those of you with 24 hour service and snack rooms!

Katzalia · August 2018

@Jens_Hoes I forgot about this but when I went in to be induced last time, I brought stuff for me and baby. MH wore shorts and a t shirt and was freezing. I was warm and said no way are we warming up the temp in here, suck it up dude. I actually sent him home to get a sweatshirt and long pants early on, before much was happening. It was pretty funny, the nurse came back in and wondered where he was — and misunderstanding my answer, she thought I was mad at him and sent him home!!

PensiveCrayon · August 2018

I hadn't even thought about food post-birth beyond my first meal (and wondering if I'll get CPS called on me if I bring a bottle of beer along, hahaha ohhhh Alabama). I'll have to ask my doulas and/or the staff during my hospital tour and plan accordingly.

rawarr · August 2018

Something I'll be doing differently this time around is checkong and double checking DH has his bag COMPLETELY PACKED so that I don't have to wait on him to throw a few things in right before leaving for the hospital. We figured I had plenty of time since I was a FTM but we barely made it there in time!

texas_t · August 2018

Our hospital has a "Family Room" that is stocked with drinks and snacks. My favorite thing post-partum was waddling down to the family room and filling up my giant hospital provided mug with ice and water and grabbing a package of nutter butters

I can't imagine wearing pant right after birth because all.the.bleeding. I would just roll off my mesh underwear and pad and throw them away and get a new set. I'd pick up the old ones with my toes and trash them

(couldn't bend over well post c section). I think I'd cry if I had to take off and put on pants!

Probably one of the most important things for me was my phone/long charging cable/head phones. I was induced and had to get there at 9:30pm for them to try to start dialating me, so it was a LONG NIGHT. I was so very nervous and my husband was asleep, so they gave me an Ambien and I put in headphones and listed to music and closed my eyes and tried to doze. I'd have driven myself crazy if I didn't have those head phones. Oh, also earplugs. Because everyone is sofaking loud.

tunnel · August 2018

I packed 2 bags last time. One small bag with the stuff I wanted to have before birth (e.g. long phone cord, camera, chapstick, etc.) that was easy to transport from room to room. The other bag had all the stuff I wanted after delivery (e.g. my own robe, clothes to leave in, baby's outfit, etc.) and it stayed in the car until we were settled in our room post-birth. That way we didn't have to schlep a big bag around with us.

It's a matter of preference, but I will definitely be bringing a nursing pillow with me this time. It was SO HARD to position the baby in the hospital without one.

kristah2 · August 2018

@texas_t good call on the earphones! I just added them to my list!
Last time I lucked into a private room but I can't count on that again so I'll definitely want them for TV/music

runrinserepeat · August 2018

Yeas, headphones! I was at the hospital before labor really started with DS (premature rupture of membranes), so I spend a long time with DH's noise-canceling headphones power walking around the unit. Those were clutch.

snugglyduckling25 · August 2018

I've definitely added pacifiers and chapstick to my list!

I will also agree that you bleed a lot at first. With my first I didn't change out of the hospital gown until going home time. With the twins I changed the next day after I showered, but I can't remember what I put on. It may have just been a night gown. Their birth was way easier and I was up doing more much faster and it felt good to get some of my own clothes on. However, that is why I'm packing the depends or always discreet. I put those on with the giant pads and ice packs and everything feels more "secure".

My hospital also has a room that has a ton of snacks and they provide a giant water bottle and refill that for me, so I don't plan on packing any of that.

@Katzalia I am the one always freezing and DH is always hot. But after DS1 was born he was in my room freezing cold and I was asking for an extra fan to be brought in. I even gave him the warm blankets from my bed to sleep with because I did not want them on me. If he stays the night this time (I might send him home to be with the kids depending on exactly when baby is born) I'm definitely reminding him to bring some warm clothes for himself.

Katzalia · August 2018

@snugglyduckling25 me too — I’m always cold. But apparently not during labor? Lol.

CecilB93 · August 2018

@tunnel oh good idea on separate bags! That may actually be easier on us. I may steal that idea lol.

asun123 · August 2018

What will be in my hospital bag (from my own experience)
For me -
my baby blanket (that I sleep with every night), 2 comfy outfits, undies, socks, slippers, toiletries (travel sizes - shampoo, conditioner, face wash, deodorant, chap stick, tooth brush, toothpaste, hair brush), phone charger.
For baby -
a blanket, coming home outfit (I like soft and comfy for baby, COTTON outfit), and 2 onesies
For husband -
An extra pair of clothes, and deodorant (in case he wants to shower)

I will most likely have two large blankets in my van and will have husband bring them up if we feel like we need them. (I've never had a winter baby so I'm super excited about that. Both times I've given birth before it was over 100 degrees outside)

My hospital provides while in the hospital -
a blanket, beanie, diapers, formula if needed, baby soap, wipes, pacifier if needed, a breast pump for me to use there, pads and hospital underwear which I actually love

Might be forgetting some things..

Activebaby · August 2018

For my first birth I had all I needed, my biggest surprise was how pregnant I still looked, so bring clothes with that in mind that make you feel pretty. With that in mind too- I brought make up. It made me feel better and want to take more pictures (shower and feel normal). For my second birth again I packed a kit with shampoo, conditioner, and another with razor and shave gel(I’m one of those people who shave everyday, even the day I delivered). I found out at the hospital that my shampoo and conditioner had been taken out of my bag (things to think about when you leave a bag packed with a toddler hanging out around..they take stuff out and add new stuff in). Anyway this hospital did not have shampoo. I asked and they gave me a bar soap??? H went out to get me some at the drug store across the street. I am not delivering at that hospital again. I brought a Nursing night gown and robe- glad I did. I did not bring a nursing pillow, the room had plenty to work with.

gorgeousariel · August 2018

Like @tunnel and had 2 bags packed. One for labor one for after.
Labor bag:
Being a FTM I figured I would have hours of labor ahead of me so I packed lots of things. Well I labored so quickly I only used a handful of items. Bold for what I did use:
Bluetooth speaker
Birthing ball
Massage oil
Lavender & another Essential oil
Small hand massager
Grippy socks
Hair ties
Deck of cards
Crossword puzzle/ word search

Post labor bag:
Boppy
I don't remember if I brought my own pillow but I think DH did
Blanket for DH and I
New button down pajamas
Toiletries : shampoo, conditioner, powder make up and mascara
Swaddle blanket for baby- I hate the hospital provided one. So UGLY lol
Camera

I'll probably pack the same this time except for the laboring bag.. Dr has told me the first sign of labor to get to the hospital ASAP. While I was still there with DD the nurses joked I better get a hotel room across from the hospital when I have another one.

tumbleweed-1 · August 2018

Sounds like we have more stuff once the baby is born. Would rolling up a tote bag and putting that in my bag suffice? Or should I bring a bigger bag and only fill it halfway?

My hospital doesn’t have robes. They say we can do the backward gown thing or bring our own. I have a regular heavy winter robe, but I sometimes get too warm wearing it. I’m trying to decide if it’s worth it to buy a lighter one.

I did joke about bringing the ps4 and playing some games because they said the TVs in the rooms have htmi outlets, but,... that probably won’t realistically happen and I’d be super upset if the console broke in transit.

Jens_Hoes · August 2018

@tumbleweed-1 I don’t think we even turned on the tv when I had DD. I was either resting, visiting or tending to her. Plus we were only in the room 8pm Monday- 11 am Wednesday

katy0990 · August 2018

@tumbleweed-1 My BIL went home after his baby was born to get his Xbox to play. His gf was so upset. It was great entertainment for the rest of us haha
Also, we put an empty duffel bad inside my suitcase and used that for all of the supplies we got from the hospital.

CecilB93 · August 2018

Re: tv/entertainment. Between baby, nurses, other hospital personnel, and visitors, we didn't even think about the tv or video games. It was different when we got home and didn't have a revolving door of people, but in the hospital so many people check on you so often that you'll mostly sleep in between.

runrinserepeat · August 2018

Jens_Hoes said:

@tumbleweed-1 I don’t think we even turned on the tv when I had DD. I was either resting, visiting or tending to her. Plus we were only in the room 8pm Monday- 11 am Wednesday

Whaaaa?! Lol we were watching World Cup while I was pushing Ds out. Everyone would take breaks and turn around in between contractions and we’d watch until the next one hit.

We watched plenty of tv. I can only amuse myself on my phone for so long.

texas_t · August 2018

We also never turned on the TV

katy0990 · August 2018

These TV comments reminded me... When I was admitted, the nurse offered to turn on the relaxation channel for me, to give me something to focus on. I took her up on the offer. Once my water had been broken and the Pitocin started to be administered, I never once paid attention to the TV, but apparently DH and my mom did. They still tease me 2.5 years later about forcing them to watch flowers bloom and be rained on for 40 hours. So, yes, the TV was on, but I was so busy trying to breathe through contractions that I had no clue what we were “watching”.

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