Can’t figure out what to pack and what not to pack for the delivery room? These are the hospital bag essentials you can’t forget at home….
There are two types of moms, those who pack their hospital bag the moment they find out they are pregnant, and those who leave it till the last minute, as contractions start!
No matter where you fall on this spectrum, there are some essential items that you need to pack into your hospital bag. You will need to pack items for yourself and your baby, which will make your hospital stay comfortable and organized, making sure you have all the essentials you might need.
To help you pack your bag with everything you and your baby will need, here is an essential list of all the items that should be packed:
Hospital Bag Essentials
Underwear
Most hospitals will provide you with mesh underwear, but anyone who has had a baby before can tell you that these mesh undies are as uncomfortable as can be. They are oversized and slip around easily.
Find some maternity underwear to pack. Granny panties work great as well, as well as they give you full coverage, and will not interfere with your cesarean scar if that was the type of birth you had.
Pads
The hospital will provide you with medical pads to deal with bleeding after birth, but you should pack some heavy-duty pads or disposable underwear of your own.
These are usually more comfortable than the pads the hospitals provide, although you might have to change them more often.
Change of Clothes
You will spend most of your time in the hospital wearing a hospital gown, but you should pack a pair of pajamas and extra clothes to leave the hospital in.
If you are wanting to breastfeed, choose pajamas that accommodate for this, to be more comfortable at night, and then an extra change of clothes to wear when leaving the hospital.
Change of Clothes For Your Partner
If this is your first baby, you and your partner might not be prepared for all the spit ups that babies have!
Pack an extra shirt and pants for your partner, in case your baby does spit upon them.
Baby Clothes
Pack a couple of comfortable outfits for your baby. Make sure that you pack clothes that will fit a newborn, and try to keep them as comfortable as possible.
Remember to pack baby socks, mittens (newborns tend to scratch themselves, and mittens help to prevent this) and a warm baby beanie.
Diapers
Some hospitals do provide diapers for your baby, but it will be worth your while to keep a few extra diapers, and wet wipes, on hand in case you need them.
Baby Blanket
Once again, the hospital will more than likely provide a hospital blanket, but these can often be thin.
Pack one or two extra baby blankets, a thin one and a thick one, to use as extra layers for your little one, and to keep them warm when you leave the hospital.
Toiletries
You will spend more than one night in the hospital, and the time will come to shower. Pack some gentle body wash and a sponge.
Remember to pack your toothpaste, toothbrush, face wash, and face cloth. Having these necessities from home will help you feel a little more ‘human’ after giving birth.
There are some great travel size products available to purchase, which will take up less space in your baby bag.
You can also purchase travel bottles and decant your favorite products into these. Keep these in a waterproof toiletry bag to stop them from spilling into the rest of your bag.
Slippers
Spoil yourself and purchase some cozy slippers to pack into your maternity bag.
These will keep the cold off your feet, hospital floors tend to be quite chilly, and will be an added comfort while you’re away from home.
Don’t forget to pack some new socks as well to keep your feet warm while you are in bed.
Nipple Cream
If you are planning on breastfeeding, you will need some nipple cream in your baby bag.
The first few days of breastfeeding can be hard on your nipples as they get used to it all, and a good nipple cream will help to heal and soothe them, making the first few days of breastfeeding a little more bearable.
Towel
Don’t forget to pack your own towel for the hospital. You will feel more comfortable using your own towel from home, rather than the hospital towels.
You might want to pack two, to use one while the other one dries after a shower.
Phone Charger
It is a good idea to purchase a spare phone charger to leave in your maternity bag, to avoid forgetting it at home when you rush off to the hospital.
You will have a lot of announcement messages to send, and a fully charged phone will help with this.
Snacks
You would have just been through labor, and you deserve some treats.
Closer to the time, pack some biscuits, chocolates, dried fruits and nuts into your maternity bag.
These will be great to munch on while you watch your beautiful baby sleep.
Tablet
Newborns sleep a lot, so you will need to find a way to entertain yourself in the hospital.
There will be a hospital TV, but with a tablet, you will have more control over what you watch, and you can download some games to keep you busy as well.
Birthing Plan
Many moms choose to have a birthing plan written up before the big day.
Your birthing plan will contain your wishes for your birth, ranging from the birth you are hoping for, who should be in the room, and what you want to happen with your baby straight after birth.
Keep your birthing plan in a secure folder in your baby bag.
Packing The Essentials
You should look to have your baby bag packed and ready to go by week 35 of your pregnancy. Leave it somewhere where it is easy to grab, and somewhere which makes it easy to add in last-minute essentials, such as your phone and wallet.
Make sure you have all the essentials ticked off, and some extra comforts to make your hospital stay that much more enjoyable!
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