What to Pack for Labor and Delivery
With my first baby I was so excited to pack my hospital bag! I still remember the day I did it and how fun it was. Now, here I am about to pack my labor and delivery bag again for baby number 3 and I’m still just as excited! There’s something about getting everything packed up for that long awaited day that just makes it all feel so real and like you’re finally in the home stretch of it all! After 2 births, I’ve learned a thing or two about what’s necessary to pack for the hospital and what’s not, so here’s a list of what’s going in my hospital bag this go round and what isn’t…
Let me explain some of the items I’m bringing along and why I’m bringing them: For mom:
Makeup and makeup wipes – This may not be something every mama wants to bring, but for me, it’s essential and at the top of my list! Once you deliver, you may be going on 40+ hours of no sleep, and you won’t be feeling refreshed or at your best by any means. Makeup helps me look and feel refreshed, awake, and more like myself. Plus, it’s nice to look pretty when guests come to call after the baby is born. And of course, don’t forget your makeup wipes. Getting to the bathroom isn’t as easy when you’ve just pushed a bowling ball out of your lady parts, so you’ll want to limit the number of trips you have to take to the bathroom as much as possible. Enter makeup wipes! They’ll make your life much easier those first few days! You can find them in small quantities and super cheap in the travel section at Walmart or Target.
Chapstick! Your lips get so dry with the cold/dry air of the hospital, plus the fluids they’re pumping you with, plus the heavy breathing you’ll be doing. This one and this one are my two favorites.
Dry shampoo will be a lifesaver if you’re not up to taking a shower right after birth or if you’ve had a C-section.
Ok, so vegetable laxative. Just trust me on this one and bring it with you, K? Safe for breastfeeding!
You need some large maxi pads. Like the biggest ones you can find. The hospital will provide them, but some hospitals have limits on how many they’ll give you, so it’s good to bring some of your own.
Bring a warm robe! The hospitals are so cold! This one is super soft, lightweight, and has amazing reviews!
You’ll definitely want some nursing camis to wear with sweats or when people are visiting. I love these!
Do yourself a favor and DON’T bring your good underwear. Go to Walmart and get a pack of ugly, cheap granny panties that you don’t mind throwing away after your hospital stay. Trust me on this one!
You’ll also really want to bring some comfy PJs that you can nurse in easily. Think button-front types. These are the ones I’m bringing this time.
When you pack your going-home outfit, remember to keep in mind you’ll look about 6 months pregnant still when you leave, so be sure it’s something comfy. I prefer leggings/sweats and a nursing tank with a cardigan over top.
And if you plan to breastfeed, don’t forget your nursing supplies! These items are my favorites: –Earth Mama Nipple Butter –Bamboobies Nursing Pads –Lactation Supplement (to help you produce breastmilk faster) –Nursing cover –Boppy Pillow –Lactation Tea (to help with milk supply)
I loved having a little handheld or stand-up mirror that I could prop up on my hospital tray and use to do my makeup and my hair. You won’t want to stand in the bathroom for long periods of time right after you give birth. Dollar Tree has these!
The mom washer! You NEED one of these. The little squirt bottles the hospital sends home with you are a pain and just don’t get the job done as well as this handy little gadget! Your bottom will THANK YOU for this one!
For Dad:
Be sure to bring him a blanket and pillow to throw on his couch at night.
Make him a cute little bag or basket with all his favorite goodies. Some things you could include are his favorite sports magazines, itunes giftcard so he can download some music or games to play while he waits, beef jerky, candy, granola bars, a “new daddy” or “best dad” coffee mug, celebratory champagne, “daddy’s boy” or “daddy’s girl” bib, 5 hour energy shot, his favorite soda.
For Baby:
You don’t need a ton of outfits because you will more than likely just keep baby in the hospital clothes since they make it easy for the nurses to get to their chest and legs for monitoring, but I’m bringing along a few outfits for when visitors come, brothers visit, and for going home.
Definitely bring mittens! Newborns love to claw at their little faces and will get all scratched up if you don’t have mittens on them.
I’m planning to bring these handy nail files instead of clippers. They are supposed to be way better than clippers for newborns.
If you’re a first-time parent, heck, if you’re a third-time parent, swaddling is downright difficult. That’s why, since our first baby, we’ve always used these swaddlers! They make swaddling simple, and the baby can’t break out of them. Definitely bringing a few of these with us to the hospital.
Extras:
Bring several copies of your birth plan with you to give to the doctors and nurses so everyone is on the same page.
Bring all your important documents, like your licence and insurance card.
You’re going to want to document this special day, so don’t forget all your cameras and chargers.
We like to bring along an extension cord in case we need it for one of our chargers or our sound machine. Always handy to have!
Hospital pillows are super uncomfortable, so do yourself a favor and bring your own. Just be sure to put them in bright-colored pillow cases so they don’t get mixed up with the hospital’s pillows.
I always bring along little gifts for the nurses. Once I figure out what we’re bringing this time, I’ll share with you all and do a post about it. It could be anything from candy packs to Starbucks gift cards to a simple thank-you note.
You will definitely want to bring along some healthy snacks. Healthy snacks are hard to find at a hospital vending machine. Things I like to bring are nut butter packets, RX bars, whole wheat cheese crackers, granola, Belvita cookies, and 100-calorie nut packets.
Bring your own large water bottle and coffee mug (if you drink coffee). It just makes it feel more like home!
I always create a “who to call” list so I (or hubby) can easily notify our friends and family that we’re on our way to the hospital and then let them know when the baby has arrived. You could also just create a list in the notes section of your phone.
If you have other children, you might want to pick up a little gift for them that the new baby brings to them. It was so special last time, and Gabe can still tell you to this day what his baby brother brought him (a little Thomas the train engine). It just makes them feel special and not forgotten.
Definitely bring along the baby book so you can record your birth story and the emotions you felt right after giving birth while it’s all still fresh in your mind.
We have this handheld massager that is amazing for sore muscles and might be a lifesaver for you during labor.
And of course, we don’t travel without our sound machine! We have one for everyone’s room in the house (even the nursery)! We love this thing, and it will be a lifesaver to drown out all the noisiness of the hospital.
Lastly, be sure you have a towel and trash bag in your car to put on your seat on the way to the hospital in case your water breaks or you’re leaking fluid. And don’t forget the car seat!
Things you don’t need:
The hospital has a ton of what you’ll need for baby, so there’s no need to over-pack the diaper bag. They will have diapers, wipes, aspirator, hat, blanket, vaseline, things like that.
Cute jeans, shoes, and clothes. Trust me when I tell you, you ain’t gonna feel like putting on your pre-pregnancy jeans or even your maternity jeans right after giving birth. You’re going to want to live in PJs and sweats for at least the first few weeks, so leave all those cute clothes and shoes at home. Also, remember your feet will most likely be very swollen from the fluids and just your crazy hormones, so you’ll want footwear like slippers and shoes you can slide into.
Curling irons and straighteners. To each his own, and there may be some women out there who can stand long enough after labor to curl their entire head, but that sure isn’t me! That will be the last thing on my mind; therefore, I’m not bringing any of that.
Your postpartum girdle. I tried to get my postpartum girdle on right after giving birth last time and got so frustrated and upset when it wouldn’t fit. Give it a few days before you worry about that, and give your uterus a chance to shrink back down before trying to deal with that thing!
Diapers and wipes. Seriously, you don’t need this at all! The hospital provides them, and then they send you home with some, so no need to have them in your diaper bag at the hospital.
Fancy schmancy hospital gown. I know, I know, they’re all the rage and every Pinterest post and baby blog is telling you you need one, but coming from a mom who’s delivered two babies, I’m telling you it just isn’t necessary, and I personally don’t want to deal with taking that nasty thing home and washing it! I’d much prefer using the disposable ones at the hospital. They aren’t terrible, and they cover what needs to be covered. Plus, you’re only in it for a short period of time. As soon as you deliver, you can put your pjs and granny panties on if you want. So save yourself the $80-$150 and don’t buy a special delivery gown.
So that’s it! That’s what I’m taking and what I’m not taking to the hospital. Let me know if this post was helpful and what you’re planning to bring with you. Now, excuse me while I go finish packing!
XOXO, Anna
