What to Pack in Hospital Bags for Mom, Dad, Baby (and Big Sibling)
Decker arrived earlier than expected, and the fact that I’m a neurotic planner paid off. That being said, I’ve lost a bit of my mucus plug already on this pregnancy, and definitely feel “more pregnant” than I am, so Type A me wants to get my hospital bags packed.
With Decker, I had to spend five days in the hospital due to her jaundice. So I’m glad that I was over-prepared with everything I might need. This go around, I’ve switched to a more “natural-birth friendly” practice, and their normal protocol is to – for lack of a better phrase – try to “kick you out” after 24 hours. That being said, our past jaundice experience has me packing for an extended stay (just in case).
This list has been updated over the years and reinvented based on my past experiences and new recommendations from friends. Thank you to my sweet friend Caitlin for giving me the first version of this list four years ago, your guidance in motherhood – especially in those early days – is so appreciated.
Okay, let’s get to it:
MAMA’S GEAR:
o Stylish Mom Bag
I’m obsessed with this waterproof bag by CaraaSport. I got it in the nude color and I can’t wait to use it.
o Important Documents
Assuming you’ll have your purse or wallet, but make sure you had your ID, insurance card(s), and a printed copy of your birth plan. Your kid will laugh at your birth plan and come anyway they damn well please.
o Post-Partum Undies (like period undies in that you shouldn’t give a shit what happens to them, but just a lot bigger, softer, and with more coverage)
3 pairs of super cozy, dark-colored, full butt underwear – size up. I loved the Super Soft seamless DKNY ones. If you’re at the hospital longer than 48 hours then you might want more, but definitely have some ready for when you get back home. You’ll want out of the mesh diapers and into something more comfortable to make you feel like you a real human again. I ordered a size up cause you still have a 6 months preggo belly and a fat ass after you deliver. And I recommend black because… well, because blood.
o Eye mask and/or earplugs
If you’re like me and need it pitch black and quiet to sleep. Use these things for a daytime nap after you deliver and hubby/nurses/family/friends/partner has the baby and you need some shut-eye.
o 2 Pillows and 1 Cozy Blanket
You can keep these in the car until after delivery. If you’re planning on getting an epidural, it’s nice to have these with you in the room because you may want to take a nice nap until you’re 10cm dilated. After delivery you can get a little cold and shaky from the meds.
o 2 Bath Towels
I loved having my own comfy towel for my first shower after labor. The hospital towels were really small and not very soft. Take care of you, girl. A human being just exited you.
o Button-Up Jammies
Skip the floral robe, go for dark pajamas with button down shirt – the buttons make it easier for nursing and there’s a possibility these might get ruined so keep that in mind - getting dark colors won’t show blood. I like these babies from Target.
o 2 Nursing Bras
They all kinda suck, find the ones that suck the least for your body and breasts and try to find them on the cheap. I didn’t hate these ones from Targetin the first few days when your milk comes in and your boobs are huge and sore and unmanageable and you’re icing them and think you have a tumor. I found more subtle and attractive ones as my nursing career went on. I nursed Decker for 13 months, so I definitely switched to regular bras at some point, but stuck with bras without underwire for the most part.
ICE ICE BABY: When the milk comes in.
o 1 Hands-free Pumping Bra
In case you have to help your milk come in quicker or you want/need to induce labor naturally. I liked this one. I found a strapless, Velcro pumping bra to be much more life-friendly than other options. (Note that you can skip a pumping bra completely if you go with the Willow Breast Pump). Decker had jaundice and the doctors were pushing formula, but I was able to pump enough in the hospital to give only breastmilk in droppers so we never ended up using formula. I was stubborn but it was important to me. I would nurse her then give additional milk from my pumping sessions with a medicine dropper provided by the hospital. It would have been nice to have a pumping bra packed already - as I had to send a family member home to bring one. You don’t need to bring a pump, as the hospital will have a nice, strong one to let you use.
o Nursing pads
Some mamas may not need these until after you’re home from the hospital but if you’re having a C-section (or baby has jaundice or other complications) then you may still be at the hospital when your milk comes in. **Also, a note on nursing pads: Either use disposable nursing pads and change after every feeding, or get enough of the reusable ones to change them after every feeding (and get enough for a couple days). When you wash the reusable ones, use a little bit of distilled white vinegar in the wash to help kill the yeast that can cause thrush. With my first, I didn’t know anything about thrush and I would just shove my wet nipple back in my nursing bra with reusable pads that were still moist, and I got thrush. It SUCKED and took forever to get rid of and made breastfeeding painful for longer than necessary.
o Nursing Pillow or Boppy? Nahhhh
Nix the nursing pillow and use your two pillows from home to arrange around you for nursing. Your tummy will still be too big for a nursing pillow, but you will definitely want one for when you get back home. I love this one.
Squeeze a little breast milk on your nipples after feeding, then let nips air-dry. After they’re dry, apply Nipple Butter before putting on CLEAN, DRY nursing pads, then your bra. These little extra steps can save you from thrush. I’m also bringing these Silver nipple covers this time – as I’m hearing they work wonders in those early days!
o 3-4 Pairs of Non-Skid Socks
Especially if you plan on an epidural. In my experience, they’ll make you wear their ugly ones if you don’t have you own. They don’t want you to fall when you’re “Bambi on Ice” after the nerve blocker!
o Slippers
So you can shuffle your bloody vagina to the bathroom to pee and try to poop (which is among the scariest post-partum moments). I remember thinking “If I push, everything is gonna fall out. Maybe if I just sit here, it’ll find a way out on its own.”
o Flip flops
For the shower. Mama don’t have time for athlete’s foot.
o Chapstick or lip balm
Your lips can get dry once you’re forbidden from drinking water after being admitted. But that never happened to me, because I snuck a protein bar and liquids almost the entire 6 hours I was in labor. I would never run a marathon without water and fuel (well, I’d probably never run a marathon anyway), so why would I give birth on an empty tank and dehydrated body? For more information on why I feel safe making this call, despite overwhelming pressure from hospitals to avoid food and drinks, I read this book.
o Apple Juice
Kyle snuck some in a metal canister and would give me tiny sips when the nurses weren’t in the room. Since your uterus is a muscle and muscles need fuel to be work efficiently, it makes sense that you’d labor longer if your body is starved of calories. I did two rounds of pushing before she was born and I think it’s because I had the calories and energy to do so efficiently. Or maybe my vagina is big. Who knows? BUT, in my vagina’s defense, Decker did break her collarbone on the way out. After this, I renamed my vagina “Breaker of Bones,” – it’s her Game of Thrones name.
o Toiletries
A travel kit including face wash, moisturizer, lotion, body wash, dry shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant, lotion, hair ties, hair clips, makeup remover wipes, whatever makeup you think you’ll use. Contacts, contact solution, or eyeglasses if you wear them.
o Small Bills and Loose Change
For the vending machines. Or to tip your hot husband for taking his shirt off in the middle of labor… you know, in case there was an emergency and the baby needed immediate skin-to-skin and also, for me. I used his hot topless body to encourage my favorite nurses to stay with me despite the shift change 30 minutes prior to Decker’s arrival. Worked like a charm, not a single one of them left. Who can resist muscular man-titties?
o Snacks
Lots of snacks, hospital food sucks.
o 10ft. Long Phone charger
There will be texts, so many texts. Updating family, friends, coworkers, etc. And the hospital room plugs can be pretty far away. The big boy extension on the charger will allow you a little wiggle room, and I liked having my phone close by to time nursing sessions. In this same vein, bring a charging bank.
o Portable/Bluetooth Speaker
Not necessary but I loved having music to listen to.
o Going Home OOTD (Outfit of the Day)
Maxi dress works great unless you’re giving birth in the winter.
o Nursing Cover
If you plan on having visitors that you don’t want to see your breasts. Honestly, though, it’s all very overwhelming in the beginning and the nursing cover was just another thing I didn’t want to deal with. So I just kicked whomever I wasn’t comfortable with out of the room when I nursed.
o Food Delivery Options
DoorDash, Seamless, etc. But also, close friends and family can do the trick, too. A nice rule I made was to make everyone that visits in the hospital bring one thing you couldn’t have while pregnant: wine, sushi, deli sandwich, oysters, steak tartare, stinky cheeses, etc. It worked out great, and I dined like a Queen those 5 days in the hospital. Also, especially if you had an epidural or pain meds like opiates, try to avoid foods that will constipate you. Stick with fibrous foods so you’re not hating yourself on that first post-partum poop attempt.
o Booty cushion by FridaMom
For the ride home, when you’re too afraid to LOOK at your vagina, let alone sit directly on it.
DAD’S GEAR
o A “Cool Dad” Bag
I went with this one for Kyle.
o Pillow and Blanket from Home
Leave these items in your trunk. If you really want to do it up, come prepared with a twin size blow up mattress to stick on uncomfortable pull out couch or on floor. If dad chooses not to bring comfortable bedding options for himself, be fully prepared to give your hospital bed up to an exhausted baby daddy who literally CANNOT keep their eyes open while your newborn adrenaline has you awake for 24+ hours straight.
o A Change of Clothes
Basketball shorts, an extra tee, and some fresh undies. Last thing you want after labor is a man who stinks like stress-sweat just from watching YOU do something that intense.
o Deodorant
See previous bullet.
o Baseball hat
They won’t look in a mirror once after the baby is born, but doesn’t mean you should have to look at that mop of chaos on his head.
o Phone charger
Or he’ll steal yours. He’s likely the one sending the updates as your dilating and ushering a soul from the heavens to earth… so the least he can do is have a full charge.
o Toothbrush
No amount of oxytocin can make you ignore stanky breath in your face as your pushing.
o Entertainment
He’ll be bored of hearing your birth story over and over when you have visitors. So make sure he loves Instagram or has a book or movies in his bag.
BABY’S GEAR
o Diaper bag
I got this one, which has a cooler compartment, lots of zippy pockets, optional backpack straps (necessary when your hands are full) and a stroller attachment option.
o Baby Book
If you want to get baby’s footprints stamped in it. This go around, we got this one.
o Swaddle Blanket
The hospital provides them, but you may want to use your own because the ones they use in the hospital are REALLY HARD TO WORK. I recommend velcro swaddles or the Miracle Swaddle. **If you have dogs or pets, take home the initial receiving blanket (or have the friends or family members that are watching your pets do it). The pets can sniff the newborn’s scent so when they come home, they’re already familiarized with it.
o Coming home outfit (2)
You’ll want to save these so make it worth it.
o 5 Onesies (3 newborn, 2 preemie)
I liked the kimono or magnet style onesie because it was easier to get on her head, a gown works great too (easy for diaper changes – definitely recommend these in the early days at home for bedtime).
o Hats/bows
Their heads are wonky AF when they’re born, so it’s nice to be able to cover up some of that chaos.
o Scratch Mittens or Nail Clippers
We used the Zoli buzz b nail trimmer. They are born with the longest, sharpest nails! They’ll scratch all over their face if you don’t trim them.
o 2-3 pairs of Socks
o Car seat
Make sure you install this in your car ahead of time and get familiar with putting a doll in and out. It feels VERY high stakes when you’re doing it for the first time with a nurse watching over your shoulder to make sure you’re using it right. **Helpful hint to new moms, release the tautness of the straps when you get the baby in and out – it makes it SO much easier than trying to sidle their shoulders around and through tight straps. Also, make sure baby’s chest clip is level with their armpits.
BIG SIBLING GEAR
We wanted Decker to feel included and special as she arrives to meet her sibling for the first time, so we got her a gift “from” her new baby sibling. Here are a few things we got Decker, from “her baby”:
o Embroidered Tote by Land’s End
To put all the prezzies in.
Cute little customized book with her name on it, describing her new role as a big sister.
o It’s A _____!! Sign
We want Decker to be the one to tell everyone what her new sibling is – a baby brother or a baby sister!
o Baby Care Items
A few newborn diapers and a travel pack of wipes so she can feel like it’s her “Diaper Bag.” Also a newborn pacifier, or “paci,” for Decker to give to her new sibling.
o Travel sized Hand Sanitizer
A good time to teach the importance of having clean hands when getting near the baby.
o Solly Dolly Wrap
So big sis can practice baby-wearing with her dolls. We used to do this with my Solly Wrap from when SHE was a newborn, so I was pumped when they announced they were making a “Dolly” wrap for kids to play pretend with. So dang cute.
o Small Game or Toy
To entertain her at the hospital if she gets bored before my mom is ready to take her back home, we’re doing this Nursery Polly Pocket
ON HAND FOR IMMEDIATELY AFTER RETURNING FROM HOSPITAL
o A Bottle of Wine
STRAIGHT TO THE FACE.
o -Always Extra Heavy Overnight Maxi Pads with Flexi-Wings
I can’t remember the exact amount of time but whenever your bleeding slows down and you’re ready to stop wearing the mesh panties and the padsicles. But once you can change to full butt underwear and wear these, it feels like a nice step in the right direction.
After the full butt under and maxi pads, you can change to these and normal underwear (yay).
o Frida Mom Labor + Delivery Postpartum Recovery Kit
It has nicer, better, easier to use versions of all the stuff the best hospitals will give you. Gown, Socks, Peri Bottle to ease the burning when you pee after delivery, postpartum undies (cause you’re a bloody mess, literally), Ice “diaps” as I call them, “padsicles” (witch hazel cooling pad liners), healing foam (like Dermaplast, but better), and a storage bag for all these absolute essentials so you’re not fiddling around looking for everything when you’re already the conductor on the hot-mess-express.
o White vinegar
To put a little bit in the washing machine with your nursing bras to kill any yeast. Also, on your nipples after nursing if you were given antibiotics in the hospital and are worried about thrush.
o Sunflower Lecithin
For breastfeeding moms, start taking one a day, and up it to 2 a day if you feel any pressure or milk clogs. I got mastitis at 6 weeks postpartum - fever, chills, the whole bit. But with the help of these vitamins, hot showers (while combing my breast from armpit to nipple with a thick toothed comb), dangle nursing, and cabbage (cold from the fridge and in moderation, never more than 20 min so as not to impact milk supply), I was able to kick it in less than 24 hours without needing an antibiotic. From then on, I took one sunflower lecithin a day and never got mastitis or a clogged duck again.
Keep that sweet baby against you so you can sniff that sweet head like an addict taking another hit (and in the meantime, keep milk production up). Not to mention, baby will be happiest snuggled in tight against you.
Happy birthing, ladies! You’re superhuman and amazing in every way!