What to Pack in Hospital Bag

Okay Berries, help me out! :pray:

What should I pack for delivery?

Are there things you packed and didn’t need?

[name_m]Or[/name_m], are there things you didn’t pack and wished you had?

Our hospital doesn’t have a specific list, and when I asked someone they were kind of like “err…clothes?”

I found a list online, but I’m also keen for some real life advice, please and thank you! :blush: xx

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Charger with long cord, two baby outfits if you’re not sure what size they’ll be. I didn’t wear any clothes myself during the stay.

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I 2nd everything @Casea33 said. Comfy clothes to leave in, a night gown if you dont want to wear a hospital gown just keep in mind you will be getting checked frequently so they need to have easy access to your body, whatever toiletries you would want, (I have heard some hospitals provide basic toiletries, but at least in the US, what is provided by the hospital isnt standardized and varies from hospital to hospital), charger with a long cord. You could also bring blankets and pillows, or if you want to have specific kinds of post partum care items like a nicer peri bottle or padsicles etc. But generally speaking the hospital should have everything you need for post partum care. (Though personall I would recommend bringing depends/adult diapers over the mesh type undies with the huge pad most hospitals provide. I have found them to be much more comfortable)

I tend to over pack a bit for baby but I bring 3 different outifts for baby, a newborn size, and a 1-3 month size since thats whats usually recommended but since my babies are usually small I bring a preemie size as well. I also bring a few diapers though those are usually provided and probably unnecessary. Any blankets or special outifts you want to take pictures of baby in.

But really if you just show up at the hospital with nothing you will be comfortable and taken care of. So really its just up to what you think will make your stay most enjoyable.

Edit: like @namergirl3 said make sure you bring the car seat! Or have a plan for your husband to go home and get it, as you cant leave without it! Also make sure you know how to work it, nurses usually are willing to help but all carseats work a little different. We almost had to go buy another car seat with my 2nd because she was so small and neither us or the nurses could figure out how to get our carseat adjusted to that itty bitty setting. It took us a good 30 minutes of trying and googling to find the correct way to adjust it, and it was a carseat we had used for 2 years!

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For you: comfortable clothes or pajamas, toiletries (I found a great little kit at Walmart that was for camping, with mini shampoo and conditioner, tooth brush, etc), chapstick, nursing bra, long phone chargers, any sort of comforting blanket or pillow you may like

Partner: change of clothes…that’s kind of it…mine didn’t need anything lol

[name_f]Baby[/name_f]: a couple of sleepers, a special going-home outift if you want, hand mitts, blanket, pacifier*, car seat…whatever kind of weather-appropriate stuff you’ll need to take baby out to the car (a blanket to tuck over them, for example)

The hospital typically provides whatever you and baby will need following delivery. For you, pads, mesh underwear, whatever medications you need or normally take (mine didn’t let me bring my own). For baby, that’s diapers, wipes, nose sucker etc.
If delivering at one of those “baby friendly” hospitals, who are very pro-breastfeeding, they most likely will not give you a pacifier, so bring one if you want your baby to have one.

It does vary from hospital to hospital. It also depends how far you will be from home. For instance, my local hospital is literally like 2 minutes from my house, so DH was able to go get whatever we needed/wanted that we forgot to bring pack.

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I guess it depends on where you are. Where I am (Australia) we had to bring our own nappies, wipes, and maternity pads. It sounds like your hospital might supply those, since they didn’t specify that you need to bring them.

One thing I did take was a list of all the people I knew we had to let know once bub had arrived. It made it easy to have everyone’s details in one place so we could just refer to it and then cross off once we had made the calls or sent the messages.

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[name_f]My[/name_f] hot tip is Ear buds and an eye mask… it is so noisy and bright in hospital getting sleep with the nurses, machines people going and coming its impossible even though your exhusted! So something to block noise and light can really help!

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I always bring more than I need–you’d think I’d have learned at some point, but I never do! Baby gets a bag with nappies, wipes, a newborn set of clothes, a 0-3 months set, a hat or two, and a blanket depending on the weather/time of year. I avoid onesies and opt for two piece to avoid irritating baby’s belly button stump. For myself, I prefer to labor in the hospital gown for easy access, but want my own pajamas and depends pads for comfort after that. Slippers that have good traction so you won’t slip but that are easy to get on and off. Toiletries–I preferred some level of skincare/makeup to feel more human and “together” but you might not want to bother. Contact lens case and liquid and/or glasses/case–you’ll be tired, so make sure to bring glasses and even eye drops in case you want them. An outfit to wear going home (you’re still going to look pregnant, so something that fit around 6 months pregnant will probably still fit). A bag for your partner with a change of clothes as well. Snacks for both of you (some hospitals will let you eat during, others not, but you’ll still want something in the middle of the night if when you’re up with baby). I like to bring my own pillow as the hospital ones suck and as so flat and plastic-y. Bring a pen and a notepad–there are forms to fill out and you might want to write something down at some point when your brain is fried so you don’t forget. Cell phone chargers and contact info if needed for anyone you want to announce to asap. Earbuds for music. For all 4 of my labors I made playlists of music to listen to during and DIDN’T DO THIS ONCE. See what I mean about not learning, ha? I brought a bathrobe to wear over hospital gown in case you’re walking the halls. Fluffy socks (hospitals are cold!). The first time I brought a book to read–never opened it. I’ve brought a heating pad too–same thing, it stayed packed. You need to bring the car seat to bring baby home. Some water to drink during (maybe) and after (definitely). You want to be as comfortable as you can be, basically, but just keep in mind you’re going to be tired, excited, uncomfortable, in pain–so you might not have the attention-span for much. Distract yourself if possible, but don’t bring a ton of stuff you might not need. And here in Canada, if all goes well, you’re released in 24 hours (C-section is 3 days I think). So bear that in mind when you pack, but honestly, all the lists promote so much stuff and you don’t really need it imo. Good luck! I look forward to your announcement (you’ve floated some absolutely lovely names btw–I’m excited for you!)

EDIT: scratch mitts are SO important! Can’t believe I forgot this! And a nursing pillow for extra support helps a lot too!

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Pajamas with button down shirts - they are way easier for breastfeeding!

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I just had my first a few weeks ago and my biggest regret was not packing more, as I ended up having a C section and stayed in the hospital longer than I anticipated. We stayed for three days and in hindsight I would have brought:

-2 or 3 comfortable button down pajama sets
-2 pairs of sweatpants
-2 open face/button sweatshirts/cardigans/robe (something warm that can open up for breastfeeding)
-slippers (those cheap sock-like ones you can get at walmart or target are perfect)
-3+ nursing tops/bras/bralettes you can lift easily for breastfeeding
-2 or 3 warm pairs of socks

in my experience it gets cold in the hospital at night! I also found these helpful:

-powdered drink mix packets
-my switch and charger (sometimes I couldn’t sleep even when baby was and it was nice to have something quiet and handheld to play with to distract from the hospital surroundings) plus earbuds
-extra blanket and pillow, ones at hospital are not warm
-boppy to feed baby
-6+ onesies WITH MITTENS for baby (the ones that fold over the hands, my baby scratched his whole face up by the time we left the hospital) or you can bring one of those electric nail files and file them while they’re sleeping
-gum, mints, granola bars, etc

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This is so helpful! Thank you, everyone! :pray::two_hearts: [name_m]Real[/name_m] life experiences are so much more helpful than lists full of fluff from the internet!

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Awww thank you! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts: We settled on our top two combinations recently, which is so exciting! :two_hearts: Although, hubby suggested having some back up combinations in case baby arrives and we don’t think the top contenders suit, so we should probably work on those.

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In addition to many of the things listed already, one thing I packed and was so glad I did: electric (battery operated, switch on/off) candles. At first one of the nurses thought they were real candles and freaked (lol), but I ended up asking for me to be able to breastfeed baby at night with electric candle(s) rather than them turn on all the lights - much better for the nervous system and sleep of mother and baby - plus, being relaxed makes the milk supply flow better. Nurse agreed that they should be available for all mothers. I’d also used them while labouring over night, again to at least try to offset all the crazy machines, beeps and corridor lights. Obviously, you need to be careful about staying awake while feeding - and never falling asleep on your baby. I also used them at home when feeding in might and when didn’t have a lamp handy or lamp going to be too bright (though pretty sure I’d got some nice bulbs too).
Maybe I should have for ones that didn’t look so much like candles - but some sort of portable, soft lighting using batteries (but not the little round lithium ones - def don’t want them anywhere near babies) are great to have around!

A lot of the other stuff I brought wasn’t used. You really do spend most of the time with baby, resting, fielding visitors, getting meals, and for us, going to baby classes. Just some toiletries for you and baby, comfortable and warm clothes for you both, one nicer outfit for your “leaving hospital photo”. Hospital should supply ice packs and maternity pads but you should probably bring a bunch - one old school nurse trick is they fill condoms with water, freeze and you pop in your underwear if have any swelling down there. Hopefully they have some ice packs if needed but that’s a back up option! Lastly, here in Oz, there are licensed carseat installer to install baby seat before coming to (or leaving) hospital - would get a pro to set up for first time. Seat has to be behind passenger and rear facing for at least six months.

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So for my twins I brought the world and didn’t really need it.

Things I really needed/liked.

A bath robe for me. It was easy for me to put on myself after my C-section so I could walk around and be slightly warmer.

[name_f]Baby[/name_f] clothes to come in home. I bought a few but my kids were so tiny from being preemie nothing fit anyway

[name_f]Baby[/name_f] scissors for nails my kids came out with little razor blade nails that needed to be trimmed asap. The hospital will pretty much provide all other baby items like blankets, hair combs a single onesie, hat etc.

[name_f]My[/name_f] husband wasn’t provided a blanket so something so your husband doesn’t complain he’s cold. And his general clothes while he was there.

Snacks, more for hubby. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband wasn’t provided dinner the first night because my C-section was so late for some snacks helped him until he could eat.

Phneone charger and toiletries for you and hubby.

Best of luck to you on a quick and easy delivery!

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