Let’s Talk About: Top 30 Hospital Bag Essentials You Never Thought Of Before

The last time I packed a birth bag for the hospital, I brought way too many items that I never used. I was determined this time around to only bring the essentials that I needed. So I sat down and made a comprehensive list of these items and wanted to share them with you in case it gives you any ideas of what you need to bring to the hospital in your birth bag!

 

1. Chocolate and Premade Thank you Notes for Nurses – I stopped by See’s Candies and bought a box of chocolates for the day nurses and one box for the night nurses. I also wrote quick, generic thank you notes for the day and night nurses as well.
2. Vitamin K – Typically it is standard for a newborn to receive a Vitamin K shot soon after birth. I opted out of this with my daughter and am opting out again for my son. Instead, I worked with my doctor and a local compound pharmacy to supply me with a Vitamin K liquid to use instead. This way my little itty bitty avoids an injection on his birthday but will also get the Vitamin K he needs.
3. Gift for Dad – As a first time dad, I bought my husband a mug that said “New Dad” and gave him a card the day our daughter was born. Not many moms that I know think to do this but I always suggest it to moms-to-be. This time around I have a card and a small gift to give my husband as well (which is a surprise in case he reads this post!)
4. Gift for Toddler – The new baby will be getting a lot of attention and I want to help my daughter feel included and loved so I bought her an assortment of books (one is titled “You’re Getting a Baby Brother” and a new doll (with boy clothes), play diapers, and accessories. I figure that she will want to practice taking care of her brother and change her doll’s diapers when I am changing her brother’s diapers!
5. Gift for Baby – In a similar respect, I wanted our daughter to feel included in the birth of her brother, so we went to the store and I had her pick out a gift for him. She chose a stuffed animal bunny rabbit to give him. She keeps hugging it and saying how soft it is and can’t wait to give it to him when she meets him at the hospital!
6. Diffuser + Oils – I want the delivery room to be as peaceful as possible. I want to feel relaxed so I am bringing my diffuser and essential oils. I am bringing lavender for relaxation, peppermint and ginger for nausea, and a few others like lemon and orange for a pop of energy when I start pushing! I also have a Lavender roll-on that I’m bringing in case I want a smell close to me that doesn’t smell up the entire room.
7. Cooler for Placenta – I didn’t do this for my first birth, but this time around I am encapsulating my placenta and have to bring a cooler from home to put it in for the doula that is doing the procedure for me. I brought a small old one that we really don’t use often that is unlikely we will use again.
8. Copies of Birth Plan – I shared my birth plan with my doula and my doctor and with their approval, I made a half dozen copies to bring to the hospital. We plan to give one to each new nurse on shift and have one posted in the room, etc.
9. Waterproof Camera + Charger – We own a waterproof camera that we often take into the ocean when snorkeling or into the pool when we are on vacation and I am bringing it to the hospital for when I am laboring in the bathtub and or shower – just in case it falls in and gets wet!
10. Glasses/Sparkling Cider for Toast – I love solidifying special occasions with a toast so I bought two single serving mini bottles of sparkling cider and two plastic champagne glasses to celebrate with my husband after birth when we are alone in the room together with our son. It’s just a small gesture to celebrate our marriage and his birth!
11. Swimsuit – This suit is also for when I am laboring in the shower and or the tub at the hospital. I am fortunate to birth at a hospital that has these available to me as an option, however, I can’t give birth in the tub I can be in there during the labor itself!
12. Speakers – We have a wireless speaker that we use with our phones to listen to music, whether it’s on iTunes or Pandora. I made a set list of Hypnobirthing affirmations and relaxation music as well as a set list of my favorite soothing artists like Tristan Prettyman and Ray LaMontagne!
13. Eye Mask and Earphones – To coincide with the Hypnobirthing method, I will be laboring with an eye mask on and earphones in my ears to tune out what is going on around me and focusing on my breathing and so forth with as little distraction and interruption as possible. I will be listening to my birthing affirmations and tracks specifically used during a Hypnobirthing labor. I own the Bucky 40 Blinks Ultralight Sleep Mask.
14. iPad and Charger – I am not sure how long labor will take and may need a cognitive distraction like a show, social media, or seeing videos and pictures of my daughter, so I am bringing my iPad for labor and postpartum to use with my earphones after the baby is born in case I want to use it when my husband and baby are sleeping. There is a TV in the room, but I want to have something close and personal to me. However, if I end up being in the hospital on Thanksgiving, then you bet I’ll be watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and football on the hospital TV!
15. Pillows and Blanket – My husband will be spending the night with me in the labor and delivery room and the pillows and blankets that are often provided by the hospital aren’t as comfortable or warm as the ones from home, so we will bring a pillow and blanket for him and also for myself. It makes it feel more personal and cozy, too! There’s nothing like smells from home when you are in a sterile environment!
16. Robe and socks/slippers – I will be wirelessly monitored during labor, so I will have the freedom to walk around and even go down the hallway and or outside so I want to have on comfy footwear and a robe to cover my hospital gown. I have a robe from Freshly Picked “Bringing Home Baby Bundle” that I’m packing as well as some non skid socks that say “Ready, Set, Push!” on them!
17. Candles – As I previously mentioned, I would like to labor and bring my baby into a peaceful, dark, relaxing room so I am bringing some “fake” candles to put around the room since the lights will be dim. Labor was not that relaxing from my last experience and I am trying to make it less stressful this time! In addition to the candles, for more light if your room will be dark pre and post birth, bring a book light with you in case you want to read a book or magazine.
18. Video Camera and Charger – This is a pretty standard item to bring to the hospital, but now with social media and camera phones, maybe it’s more old school than I think! Nonetheless, I am bringing it anyway, because one regret I have from my daughter’s birth was the lack of video. I had plenty of still shots, but wanted more live action during labor, birth, and postpartum.
19. iPhone and Charger – Again, this seems like a standard item to pack but its also the most vital and I don’t want to forget so I put it on my list. Most likely I wouldn’t forget to pack the phone, but I would forget to pack the charger!
20. Chapstick – I live and breath by my chapstick daily so this one is a no brainer for me but my lips tend to get extra dry this time of year and also in hospital settings. I remember last time I applied chapstick a lot during my stay. This is a must have!
21. Glasses – I normally wear contact lenses 90% of the time, but depending on what time I go into labor or how long I’m laboring for I wont want my eyes to get dry and may want the option to where my glasses. And since I don’t sleep in my contacts, I will want my glasses for the middle of the night for feedings, etc while we stay overnight. Also, for any reason I need to have a c-section, I am not allowed to wear contacts during the procedure and will need my glasses there as a back-up.
22. Lactation Bars/Tea/Drinks/Honey Sticks – I always pack food with me wherever I go! It’s great to have some food on hand because the hospital only has so many options. I also want to get a headstart on boosting my milk supply, so I am bringing lactation bars and tea, too! Plus I can only drink so much water, so I’m bringing my Baby Booster shaker and powder to mix and drink while I am at the hospital. It is so important to stay hydrated during labor and I need all the vitamins, minerals, and protein I can get! My doula suggested the honey sticks to use in labor to get a quick boost of energy! I’m sure I will also pack a few snack food favorites, too in case I get hungry in the middle of the night!
23. Comfortable Clothes – During your stay, especially after you have the baby, whether you have a natural or belly birth, you will want comfortable clothes and you will bleed a lot so I suggest bringing old clothes and preferably black or dark colors. You will lose a few pounds, but you won’t be too much smaller when you leave the hospital, so packing your stretchy clothes or even your maternity clothes will do. Just do not expect to fit into your regular clothes for a few weeks postpartum. Your tummy won’t be as round and hard, but you will still have a lot of extra fat/swelling on your body that will take time to go back to “normal” even if that means a new normal. And don’t forget a hat – just in case you don’t have the energy or time to do for hair!
24. Clothes for Photos – So last time I gave birth I was surprised when a professional photographer came to my hospital room asking me to take photos of the baby (which made sense) but then she asked to take photos of my husband and I with the baby for our “first family photo.” Luckily I had just showered but I didn’t have a formal outfit for my daughter and my husband and I certainly weren’t prepared for a photo shoot. My husband had on an old t-shirt with a huge logo on the front and I was in a t-shirt as well that was not complimentary to his shirt. Now it’s not the end of the world, but I always look back on those photos and wish we would have known and been more prepared. So this is why I am telling you to bring a set of clothes that will look good for a family photo and bring a cute outfit or swaddle and hat for the baby to be photographed in. Pictures last a lifetime and you’ll want to frame at least one of them because they are so sentimental, so be prepared!
25. Carseat– The hospital typically will not discharge you unless you show them that you have a carseat for the baby (at least my hospital has that policy). So make sure you have the carseat installed and with you when you arrive at the hospital. You can get the carseat checked for safety and position and correct installation by a local police officer/police department as well as other local providers.
26. Coming Home Outfit – In addition, make sure you have an outfit and blanket to bring the baby home in from the hospital. I recommend something memorable and comfortable for the baby. And depending on the weather and time of year you give birth, you may want to consider short sleeves or long sleeve outfit and either a light blanket or a heavier blanket.
27. Nursing Clothes & Nipple Balm – You will also want to bring a nursing bra and or a nursing cover because you will be nursing your baby when you are there and you will have doctors, nurses, and guests visiting you, so cover up! And bring some nipple balm to help those sore nipples from getting chapped. This is definitely a must. I am going to use Zoe Organics Nipple Balm!
28. Birthing Ball – If you don’t already have one, get one now! Sit on it during your 8^th and 9^th month of pregnancy to open your pelvis and prep your body for birth. There are so many benefits of a birthing ball I could write a whole blog about it, but for now, trust me and start using one! Bring it to the hospital for your labor, as you will find comfortable positions to be in on the ball, whether you are sitting on it or leaning over it.
29. Toiletries – In addition to these essentials, make sure you pack bathroom essentials like make-up, brushes, toothbrush, and other toiletries to make you feel beautiful and refreshed before and after birth! Don’t forget your hairdryer! The hospital will supply you with almost anything else! I didn’t shower before my last childbirth and once I was in active labor it was the last thing on my mind but I didn’t like the fact that I had no make-up on for days and my hair was a mess and dirty. I wasn’t about being vein or about the photos we took, it was honestly because I didn’t feel like my best self. This time around I want to feel beautiful and refreshed.
30. Husband Essentials – If your husband is anything like mine it takes a little convincing to pack a hospital bag, so offer to pack it with him or for him if need be. The last thing you need as a mom in labor is worrying that your husband has nothing packed at the last minute. Especially if you are a mom that has quick labors, you don’t want to wait around for him to pack as soon as your water breaks or as soon as your contractions start to pack his bag. Make a mini date night out of it and put on some music and pack together if need be but make sure he has a bag packed with some essentials before you actually need to leave for the hospital.