Congratulations, it’s almost time to have that baby!
So by now you are anxiously awaiting that precious baby. You’re only a few weeks away from your due date but you have no idea what to pack in your hospital bag?!
I’m here to help!
There’s hundreds of articles online that tell you what to pack in your hospital bag. But honestly most of them include entirely too many things. I’m going to give you the 8 necessities that you definitely need to pack in your hospital bag. I’ll also list some things that you could pack as well.
1. Phone Charger
This seems like a no brainer. But trust me, when the time comes to meet your baby, you’re going to be running around like a crazy woman so just have an extra one already packed in your hospital bag (long cord is a must). The last thing you want is for your or your partners phone to die when you’re in the hospital for days. You can’t miss those first baby pics!!
2. Chapstick
Hear me out…. dry lips in the hospital aren’t fun. Pack an extra one in your hospital bag so you don’t even have to worry about forgetting it.
3. Nursing Bra/Tank Top (if you plan to breastfeed)
I brought both a nursing bra and nursing tank top and these were amazing. The nurse or lactation consultant is going to help you with breastfeeding so this just makes everything easier. One or both are definitely a must have to pack in your hospital bag.
4. Comfy/Loose Fitting Clothes
After you finally get out of that dreaded hospital gown, you can put clothes on. I definitely recommend loose fittings pants for a few reasons. One, you’re going to be wearing a HUGE pad and a diaper so you don’t want anything tight to outline your beautiful diaper. Two, if you have a c-section, you don’t want anything tight near your incision. Let’s face it, comfy clothes are just better any way so don’t forget to pack them in your hospital bag!
5. Flip Flops
Yes flip flops! Even if it’s 20 degrees out when you give birth. You’re going to be in the hospital for a few days so you’ll need a shower. You don’t want to touch that icky hospital shower floor bare foot.
6. Toiletry bag
You’ll need some mini bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body wash. I literally could not wait to get a shower. I had an epidural so unfortunately you’re considered a fall risk and you have to wait to shower. Don’t forget a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and a hair brush!
7. Snacks
Sighhhh. This is unfortunately more for your husband or partner. I hate to give you bad news but if you didn’t already know, you can’t eat anything. The most you can eat is some ice chips. So pack the snacks out of the kindness of your heart even though you’re really going to wish you could eat them. Sorry girl!!
8. Baby Clothes
Last but not least, some adorable baby clothes. I’m not going to admit how many outfits I brought with me. It’s a good idea to pack a few different sizes because you don’t really know how big your baby is going to be. Newborn and 0-3 months would be the best option.
Now that we talked about the necessities… let’s talk about some other things to pack in your hospital bag.
Bring a big comfy blanket! The hospital will provide your partner with pillows and a blanket but it’s nothing fancy. We actually brought one of our spare comforters and my husband was super happy he had it.
Make up is a hit or miss. Definitely pack make up in your hospital bag if you plan on having a photographer take photos of your newest addition. I actually brought make up with me but didn’t use any of it. We didn’t have a photographer and the last thing I felt like doing in between visitors and nursing a baby was putting on make up.
Next up is a boopy. This is going to take up a lot of room and won’t fit in your hospital bag so your partner will have to carry this for you. In my post, 7 Essentials for Your Breastfeeding Area I talked about using a boopy. Some momma’s love it, others not so much. I ended up just using the pillows at the hospital from the nurses recommendation. So it’s totally up to you if you think it’s worth packing.
Don’t panic if you forgot something. Our partners and visitors can grab us whatever we need. I mean after all we did just give birth!
