I love watching What’s In My Hospital Bag videos on YouTube and reading the lists on blog posts and Pinterest. I’m a big planner and I love to feel prepared, so maybe that’s part of it. The other part is probably that so much of the birth chapter is unknown and can’t be prepared for, that I enjoy focusing on what I can do. Which is pack a hospital bag!
So let’s get into this! 馃檪
Since we’re living the age of COVID-19 there are a few things that we needed to take into account. Not only could my mother not join us in the delivery room {a devastating hit, I genuinely considered having her there and letting my husband sit out the birth of our first child} but once we’re in the maternity ward we can’t leave. Not for food or for changes of clothes. So we both needed basic clothes and toiletries for our stay.
Bag – I was going to use my Longchamp le Pliage duffle but the bigger I’ve gotten the less I’ve wanted to carry a bag on my shoulder, so I swapped it for a rolling suitcase. My inlaws got us the Away Expandable Carry-On for Christmas so I decided that was the bag to bring. Lots of pockets and separate areas which is great when packing for an undetermined amount of time.
Clothes – I generally pride myself on packing fairly minimally so I was curious how I was going to end up approaching this. I’d say that I didn’t go too overboard, but I definitely tweaked my general packing equation.
- Pajamas – Pants + Shorts {hospitals can get chilly so I brought one pair of each, both button up tops so that breastfeeding would be easy}
- Nightgown
- Lightweight robe
- Socks x2
- Slippers {I am OBSESSED with these slippers that a friend got me as an engagement gift. I’m on my second pair!}
- Nursing bra x2
- Over the bump leggings
- Tunic top
- Boyfriend cardigan
- Maxi maternity dress
PJs, robe and nighty to keep me comfortable before and after birth, though odds are that I’ll end up wearing the hospital gown most of the time. And two going home options, leggings and a top or a dress, depending on how my body feels.
Toiletries – We both packed the basics with some skin care and make-up thrown in for me. If you want to learn more about my skin care and make-up routines during pregnancy check them out.
- Biossance Deodorant
- Cleanser – Farmacy Green Clean
- Eye Cream – Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream
- Serum – Josie Maran Argan Beta Retinol Pink Algae Serum
- Moisturizer – Farmacy Daily Greens Oil Free Gel Moisturizer
- Sun screen – Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen
- Bamboo tooth brush
- Tooth paste
- Floss
- Ear plugs
- Slip eye mask
Postpartum Essentials – The hospital will provide most of this, but I wanted to bring a few things to make me more comfortable post-baby.
- Nursing pads
- Disposable bottoms
- Psyllium husk & prenatal vitamins {though apparently there’s a chance they won’t let me take non-hospital provided medications}
For baby – I found that what to pack for the baby and for the mom post-partum was where I saw the most variation in people’s lists. Some people brought everything – Muliple outfits, breast pump, diapers… I figured the baby would be mostly taken care of by the hospital, hanging out in a diaper and that if breast feeding didn’t happen, we’d be bottle feeding. So I left all of that at home. But here’s what I did bring:
- One newborn onesie + one 0-3 month kimono set + one sleeping gown {since I didn’t know if I’d be taking home a super long baby or a small one}
- Fully packed diaper bag {in case there was a blow out on the way home}
- I also opted to skip a purse and put my insurance & doctor information and wallet in the diaper bag
Miscellaneous – This was a place that it was easy to get carried away and I tried to reign it in. Some women basically bring their entire bedrooms and I knew that I wanted to avoid that. No pillows or bedding or hospital gowns for this mama to be.
- Phone
- Extra long charger + battery pack
- Headphones + charger
- Wireless bluetooth speaker
- Gift cards for the nurses {I had planned to bake cookies but with COVID-19 I didn’t know whether they’d accept them}
- Snacks {We brought a little cooler with coconut water and water bottles, plus trail mix, chocolate covered raisins, and protein bars}
- Essential oils – Lavendar & sandalwood