What I Packed For The Hospital

Top must-have items to pack in your hospital bag for the first-time mamma.

Today I am sharing what I packed in my hospital bag!

I started putting things together for babe, daddy and I, at around 30 weeks. Packing for me was super exciting as I knew packing meant were getting closer to meeting little peach. Were you excited to pack your hospital bag?

If you are in a rush, feel free to pin this post for later {see pinnable image below}

For the complete list, keep scrolling!

For Mom

• 1-2 Nursing Friendly Nightgowns. I am planning on breastfeeding, so to be best prepared I wanted to ensure I have nursing friendly nightgowns. Not only are they convenient for breastfeeding, but they are also comfortable.
• 1 Robe. The quicker I can get out of that hospital gown the better. To maximize my comfort, I wanted to bring along a bathrobe. I love wearing my robe at home, and I want to make this experience is as comfortable as possible.
• 2 Fluffy/Cozy Socks with Grips. I think that these are a must-have to help prevent slipping on the hospital floors, especially if you are after having an epidural and you are still experiencing some numbness. I’d imagine someone would still be helping you around, but knowing you still have some sort of stability with these socks is great.
• Rubber Flip Flops. These are up there at the top of my list for two reasons. A) they make the perfect slippers. B) They’re great for the shower. C) if you end up with swelling, it might be the only thing you can wear home. Also, they are inexpensive and I am sure you’ll use them again.

For Baby

• 3-4 Sleepers. I’d imagine that with a newborn it is likely you will go through many articles of clothing in the run of a day from spit up, to possible blowouts. It certainly doesn’t hurt to pack extras, just in case.
• 1-2 Onesies for Lounging and Swaddling. I personally think onesies are great as they only have a few buttons on the bottom which makes them easy for those quick changes. In a few weeks, I’ll be back with an update on that, haha!
• 2-3 Newborn Hats. Newborns love to be warm and snuggly. Hats are a great way to help them stay warm and cozy.

For Dad

• Birth Plan. This was at the top of my list. Once I created this and reviewed it with my husband, I told him he’d be in charge to make sure that the nurses/doctors were aware of our plan.
• Extra-Long Phone Charger. I added this one to Dad’s list because I feel like he’d be more likely to be charging the phones etc. But, I say extra-long because sometimes those ports are far away from the beds at the hospital.
• Snacks. Snacks are a must for us all, especially when heading to the hospital. I wanted to make sure I had enough snacks for us both. You can never have too many snacks on hand.

I’ve been reading a lot of mommy blogs, surfing Pinterest, and to be truthful it was overwhelming. I mean everyone got different things that work for them, and don’t work for them. So, I decided to just put together what I think will work for us. Hopefully, you find the list below helpful.

I decided to just go with smaller things when it comes to toiletries. I bought travel size items because they do not take up too much room, are inexpensive and convenient to be able to have a little more on hand without feeling like I overpacked for us all, and if I leave anything behind, not a big deal. Will I use everything on my list? Maybe, maybe not. But, I want to be prepared as best as I can be.

You could literally pack as if you were going away for a week, but I tried to be realistic and pack only the essential items that I know would get us through a few day’s stay at the hospital. In saying that, I may have packed a little more for baby girl because I was a little undecided with some outfits {haha, you could say I am a little excited to play dress up}. However, there is no better feeling, than feeling like you are packed and prepared with everything you need. You may think I have over packed, but you never know how long labour will be or if everything will go as planned.

You will see snacks on my list. Speaking of which, you can find my list of favourite pregnancy snacks in a recent post. After a lot of reading, I learned that energy gaining snacks are great during the labouring process, but also to keep dad energized as well. I mean who doesn’t love snacks. I know how important it is to stay energized daily, let alone during labour.

Before you completely scroll down and look at my list, you’ll see make-up. Yes, make-up. #sorrynotsorry, but I feel like just a little mascara, maybe some bronzer might make me feel a little better after childbirth. Before you judge… you do you, and I’ll do what works for me. I am a huge believer in self-care, and if that means just simply lifting my eyelashes with a little mascara, then I’ll do it. #boom

Here is my complete packing list below;

For Mom

• 1-2 Nursing Friendly Nightgowns and 1 Long Pant Pajama Set
• 1 Robe
• 2 Fluffy/Cozy Socks With Grips
• Rubber Flip Flops
• Disposable Nursing Pads
• Disposable Underwear
• Extra-Long, Extra-Heavy Pads
• Extra-Long Charging Cord
• Beachbars
• Mixed Dried Fruits and Nuts
• Water Bottle with a Straw
• Sugar-Free Gummy Candies
• Hydrate or G2 Gatorade
• 1-2 Nursing Bras
• Unscented Face/Body Lotion
• Travel Size Toiletries – Toothbrush/toothpaste, etc.
• Dry Shampoo
• Hair Clips
• Make-Up
• Hand-Held Mirror
• Shower Puff
• Going Home Outfit

For Baby

• 3-4 Sleepers
• 1-2 Onesies for Lounging and Swaddling
• 2-3 Newborn Hats
• Diapers and Wipes
• Diaper Cream/Jelly
• 2-3 Swaddles
• 1 Velcro Swaddle
• 2 Receiving Blankets
• 2 Burp Cloths
• Nursing Pillow
• Going Home Outfit
• Welcome Outfit

For Dad

• Birth Plan
• Snacks
• Toiletries
• Extra-Long Phone Charger
• Sweatpants
• Hoodie
• 2 T-Shirts
• 2 Underwear
• 2 Socks
• Jeans

If you are new and expecting mamma, I hope you find this list helpful!