The Hospital Bag Post
Well, here we are! 34 weeks, 2 days and our hospital bags are officially packed. Here’s what’s in ‘em.
The Baby’s Bag
Clockwise from top left: two swaddle blankets, nursing cover, grooming kit, pacifier, baby mittens & socks
“Going Home” outfits + hat: the white outfit is newborn size and the green and white one is 0-3 month size, just in case this baby is giant (doubtful, B and I were both on the tiny side).
Extra clothes for the hospital stay or if the going home outfits aren’t cutting it: a newborn-sized sleep gown, hat, two newborn size kimono tops (easier on the baby’s belly button), plus two pairs of pants (again, one newborn size (the brown) and one 0-3 month size (the striped)).
Miscellaneous extras (totally not needed but thrown in the diaper bag in hopes of following the motto “be prepared!”): burp cloth, two diapers & some travel wipes.
The Mommy’s Bag
Toiletries: travel-size versions of shampoo & conditioner, lotion & deodorant, toothpaste, and soap, a razor, a travel-size toothbrush for both me and B, face wipes.
Labor & Nursing Stuff: mints & gum for the hubs for labor, nipple soothies, some Always Infinity pads, some disposable nursing pads & lanolin.
Clothing: a nursing sleep gown, socks, a nursing tank…
…pajama pants & my favorite cardigan…
…and a super soft bath robe & sandals for the shower.
Assorted Miscellany: a fluffy towel since I heard the hospital ones are crap-tastic, extra bag for taking home everything not nailed down in the hospital room, a folder for miscellaneous paperwork, a blank notebook, some pens, and a portable radio hook up for either our iPods or cell phones (aka for rocking the Dave Matthews Band and the Beatles during labor and delivery).
NOT PICTURED but coming along:
Boppy nursing pillow
My own pillow (with a navy pillowcase, to distinguish mine from the hospital’s)
A nursing sleep bra, regular nursing bra, and underwear
Slippers
Change of clothes for the Daddy
Snacks
Cell phones + chargers
Camera, cord + charger
My Kindle + the laptop
A few notes:
*On the Baby’s bag:
–probably not going to use the nursing cover at all, but would like to have it along just in case. I figure I’ll just be whipping my boobs out as necessary and if people are uncomfortable they can leave the room for a little bit.
–I realize I’ve packed a lot of clothes for him and that he will likely end up in hospital stuff anyways, but I’d rather have it packed along than not.
–I know I’ll probably just end up using the hospital’s blankets but I thought some nicer swaddles would be good for photos, etc.
*On the Mommy’s bag:
–I’m totally planning on utilizing the hospital mesh undies & pads. The only reason I am packing any undies and those Always pads at all are in case I want to wear them home. I’m guessing not, but thought I’d rather pack them anyway.
–Makeup & face moisturizer will be packed in the bag last minute, since I use that every day. My daily routine literally consists of moisturizer, a swipe of blush, and filling in my brows, so I plan to do that in the hospital just like normal (and seriously, I figure it will at least make me feel presentable for post-delivery photos).
–I also realize I will likely not need those nursing pads yet, but you never know. I hear the soothies & lanolin, on the other hand, could come in handy QUITE early on.
–I’m mostly planning on rocking a hospital gown with my robe while we’re there, but I bought the nursing gown so I could have an alternative if I wanted. I am planning on wearing the nursing tank, pajama pants (they are nice and comfy, even now at 34 weeks) and cardigan as my going home outfit.
–YES I know the last thing on my mind is going to be reading or surfing the Internet. The Kindle and the laptop are more for if I have a long labor or if B wants to email any photos out, etc.
So, there you have it—our hospital bags! Now we’re really ready, haha. Now go comment and tell me what I missed!
I think this is a great round-up! I took along a lot of the same things – and I’m *so* glad I took my own pillow. Something about the uncomfy hospital pillows made me really glad I took my own. Oh, and for the record, I loved the mesh undies and miss them a little bit. Perhaps TMI, but maybe helpful: I rocked the mesh undies with a frozen ice pack inside on the ride home – I would really suggest this, since every little bump in the road is going to hurt a bit, most likely. And ask for extras of those when you’re at the hospital! They’re awesome and there’s nothing like them, IMHO – not the soaked/frozen maxi pads, not the gel-filled ice packs…nada. Stock up!
Taking notes now…ice pack/mesh undies–
Excellent excellent!! I used the mesh undies and even asked for extras to take home. They were SO much more comfortable than mine and I didn’t worry about ruining them then tossing them.
Also, about 20 minutes after Noah was born, I had the nurse help me put up my hair (my hand was numb from epidural) and I put on makeup. It helped me feel more normal and presentable for the thousands of pics taken.
Facial wipes were ESSENTIAL for me as I didn’t want to get out of bed (and couldn’t at first) and could clean up right there. Good call on that one!!
I wish I had remembered my Boppy! I totally forgot it. Lol.
After the second day in the hospital, it was nice to shower and put on my sweats rather than the gown so good idea to take some clothes with you, even if you just wear them home.
Ok. I’m done rambling — go have a baby!!!
You’re very prepared! My only suggestion is to make sure all that stuff makes it to the bag. I made the mistake of putting all my hospital bag stuff in a pile on my dresser. Then I went into labor so I was reliant on my husband to make sure all that stuff got into the bag. Of course he forgot a few things.
All of the things pictured are packed in a bag already, and there is a giant sheet on top of the bag with the items we need to grab at “go time.” I also went over it with Brad so he knows what we need!
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Agreed on the mesh undies from everyone else. Also, I would put a small pillow in the car for the ride home for you to sit on. Something soft but not as big as a bed pillow. It helps. Having my own pillow at the hospital was awesome. My husband only got one pillow, so I gave him my hospital pillow and used my pillow plus the boppy to sleep. Good call on taking comfy clothes. You feel human the next day once you shower and put your favorite things on.
That nursing tank? My absolute favorite. I had one in ever color (Mom actually went out and bought them for me when we got home) and I lived in them during my maternity leave. They don’t press against your chest in any awkward ways so they help with not getting clogged ducts. It also folds down completely so you are fully exposed for baby.
One last thing I would suggest – an extension cord for your cables. The plugs were too far away and our extension cord was a great save for us.
Nice! I will add that to my list!
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Snacks. Lots of snacks. My labor progressed quickly and there was no way I wanted to be without my husband while he tracked down food. There was a daddy fridge but it was out of sandwiches so he ate a lot of protein bars, nuts, etc that I packed.
I would also say to make a list of important people you want to personally notify after delivery. It would suck if you forgot to call someone like your sister and she found out ia Facebook or twitter.
Have both of those at the ready already!
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A couple things I’ll do differently with my 2nd child’s delivery:
1. Use my own pads exclusively. I thought the hospital’s were really big and cumbersome. They made it unnecessarily challenging just to walk or sit comfortably.
2. I regret having only one change of clothes with me. I showered and changed into my own clothes within a couple hours of baby’s birth, and I ended up wearing the same thing for almost 3 days.
Other than that I don’t remember opening my bag much at all. I’ll probably pack lightly this time. The hospital has samples and extras of pretty much everything anyway.
I’ve been waiting for this post! This is my big to-do for the week and as dumb as it sounds, I needed your post to get my common senses going in what to pack!
I actually need to return some nursing bras for tanks too, so now I can add some other goodies to the list! 
Oh gosh, I’m such a slacker…I haven’t even considered what to pack!
I know two people who delivered at 36 weeks and were totally unprepared, so I made sure our bags were packed by 34 weeks!
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I think you have everything too!!
I totally overpacked with Morgan, but I agree that it’s better to have more than less… and since everyone is different, who knows what you will want/need!! I used all the hospital stuff too; gown, undies, pads, etc…. because I didn’t want to bleed all over my own stuff. Even when I came home, I actually bought special “post baby” underwear (just black cotton ones that I could either throw away or use only for another baby later… lol). because it’s pretty gross for a while after and even jumbo-tron pads sometimes don’t cut it. LOL… tmi, but so true!! So that would be my only suggestion to have when you get back. Good luck, I will be watching for news!!!
So cute seeing you become a mommy (kimono tops
). BLANKET, bring your blankie too!
Good call! Adding one to the pile now.
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Amazing list. As a second time mama-to-be I just pinned this so that I can use it for when I pack mine! I’ll give you some unsolicited (or maybe it is solicited since you told us to comment!
) …
1) Have two bags – a labor bag and a post baby bag – leave the post baby bag in the car and have Dad or another family member go get it after the baby is born.
2) Definitely keep the gown for while the baby is in the hospital — but don’t try to buckle him into the car seat with it on!! My brother & SIL only had gowns and they felt so bad buckling their daughter because her little leggies were exposed
3) Use the notebook!!! Both Greg and I wrote in a notebook the whole time I was in labor. I remember most of it, but it’s interesting to see what time things happened. “10:07 water broke” “1:10 1cm dilated” etc etc … I just looked over it at Lyle’s birthday and was surprised by a few things I forgot. Also make sure to write down visitors or guests and gifts received while in the hospital because your head is a mess!
4) Boppy pillow is really really helpful for not only breastfeeding but for nervous grandfathers or aunties/uncles who aren’t used to tiny babies!
Otherwise – rock on girlfriend!! So close!
Wow, I am so behind! I am just now visitng your blog…it’s been a while! Congratulations on your pregnancy! I can’t wait to hear how everything goes and see pics of your baby!
Glad all is well.
OMG this is major eye-opening for me. I’m like O_O over here hahah.
My only suggestion (since I’m such a baby expert, ha) is another pair of baby mitten/glove things. My nephew had a glove or two come off while he was in the nursery and they couldn’t find it, luckily they had brought like a 3 pack with them. I don’t know how absolutely necessary they are but a spare pair might help?
Adding another to my bag! Thanks!
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