Preparing your hospital bag can seem like such a daunting task, especially for first time mommas! The first time I needed to pack one, I had zero idea what to pack and wished I had brought so many random things when I was in the hospital which resulted in my partner having to run home and grab things as I remembered them. After having baby #4 in April 2021, I feel like a hospital bag packing pro now!
Timing
I recommend having your hospital bag packed around weeks 32-34 of your pregnancy. You never know when your little one will make their grand entrance, so it’s always better to get this task out of the way sooner than later. I ended up putting mine right in the trunk of my car around 32 weeks so that I had it handy in case I went into labor at work. I have quick births so running home first to grab my bag would not have been an option if I went into labor while out and about.
If you’re like me and don’t want to buy doubles of certain things that you use often so you can have one in the bag, just write a checklist and tape it to the top of the bag! My checklist included my glasses/contact case, phone charger, hair straightener, and my wallet with ID/insurance cards. Although it wouldn’t help if I was at work or anywhere away from home, I thankfully started laboring at home and was able to grab everything from my checklist quickly before heading out the door to go to the hospital.
Packing for Momma
So what are some must-haves you may want to pack? Here’s a list of my favorites!
- Comfy Clothes for you / comfortable outfit to leave the hospital in
- Chapstick – I was never so happy to see chapstick in my life. My lips were so dry after labor!
- Old underwear
- Hairties – the last thing you want is your hair in your face while laboring.
- Grippy socks or slippers
- Flipflops for the shower
- A light sweater or sweatshirt in case you get cold
- Nursing bra
- ID card / Insurance cards
- Deodorant / face wash / small sample bottle of shampoo and conditioner (the hospital usually provides these, but they seem to make my hair feel more yucky and extra dry!)
- Hair products/curling iron or straightener – this may seem weird, but it felt so good to straighten my hair after a fresh shower before heading home from the hospital. It helped to give me a feeling of normalicy during that crazy time of change!
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Pads – the hospital will provide you with pads or what I like to call women’s diapers (which are so amazing after birth, although they do take away a small bit of your dignity!), but I always pack a few extras of my own as well.
- SNACKS & DRINKS! I can’t explain how good a snack that you love tastes after birth. SO GOOD!
- Birth plan if you have one!
- Phone charger – the longer, the better!
- Glasses/contact case & solution
- Boppy – I LOVE the boppy. Not only do I love it for breastfeeding, but I also may have stolen my daughter’s to use for myself. I sleep with one every night and it is so dang comfortable for belly sleeping. It will double as a comfy pillow to use while sleeping in the uncomfortable hospital bed, and also help aid you with breastfeeding positioning! That’s a win win if you ask me!
Packing for Baby
- Two coming home outfits (incase one gets soiled prior to coming home!)
- Hat, mittens, & socks to go home in
- Any customized blankets or signs you may want to use to announce their birth
- Carseat
- Pediatrician’s phone number – you will usually set up the first visit while still in the hospital!
Packing for Dad
- Comfy clothes
- Socks & underwear
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Pillow & blanket – those hospital ones can be uncomfortable!
- ID card
- Phone Charger- the longer, the better!
- Glasses/contact case & solution
Okay, okay. This may seem like a lot. But I promise that when you are in the moment and coming down from that post-birth high, you will be SO thankful for so many things on this list! Plus it will save your partner so many trips home or to the store to grab whatever you may have missed!
Do you have any other must-haves for your hospital bag? Feel free to comment below on what you couldn’t live without after birth!
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