What’s in My Hospital Bag
Today I am sharing everything that I have packed in my hospital bag for labor and delivery! I recently shared most of the items on my instagram stories, but I ended up adding a few extra items after hearing some of your feedback. This is not an extensive list by any means. As a first time mom, I am bringing what I think will help me feel comfortable while I am there. I am sure I will not use everything that I brought, but I would rather be over-prepared! Once the baby is born, I will update this list to include all the items that I ACTUALLY used or wished I had.
I am also including what I am bringing for the baby and what JD is packing for himself! Our hospital currently has a visitor restriction, so once JD is in the hospital, he will not be allowed to leave.
Let’s get started! Below is the final list of what I am bringing in my hospital bag!
What I’m bringing in my Hospital Bag
My Bag
I am packing everything in this weekender bag from Lo & Sons!
3/9/21 Update: Below I will list all the items that we used while in the hospital. Honestly, there was nothing else on this list that I wish I brought with me. Every hospital is different, but ours provided basically everything that I could need for myself and baby post partum. I could have showed up with just my identification and gotten by just fine. Most of these items were just for added comfort!
Clothing
- Pajamas – I am bring two dark colored pajamas to wear after the baby is born. I grabbed this sleep shirt and this pajama set (use code KMM20 for 20% off this one!), both in black. Both are nursing friendly. (*** used)
- Robe – one short, lightweight robe (*** used)
- Labor Gown – not necessary, but my OB is allowing me to wear this. I think it will be helpful to be more comfortable in my own clothing, especially if labor is long. This one opens in the back and front. (*** did not use, my water broke almost right away and it was easier to use the hospital one and change it as needed due to that, I would have used this otherwise!)
- Going home outfit – Keeping it simple here, it will still be cold in NY and I will likely wear my winter jacket over whatever I bring. I am packing this mama sweatshirt and these loose fitting black jogger pants(*** used)
- Underwear – I am not sure if I will use because I am also bringing disposable underwear and will use the ones at the hospital, but I wanted to have them just in case. I grabbed these ones off Amazon in black. They have good coverage and are a big high waisted, and I won’t worry too much if they get ruined. ( *** did not use in the hospital but have been wearing them post partum after I no longer needed the disposable ones)
- Slipper Socks + slippers (*** used)
- Shower sandals (*** used)
Postpartum Items
the hospital will provide most of this for me, but I am bringing just a few things in case.
- Nursing bra (+ one for sleeping) + one nursing tank (use code KMM20 for 20% off bras/tanks) (*** did not use, only because they were the wrong size, OOPS. I wish I did have ones that fit me while I was there).
- Disposable underwear, only bringing a couple of these and will save the rest for home (*** did not use, hospital provided)
- Nursing pads (***did not use)
- Nipple cream/butter (*** did not use, hospital provided)
- Nursing pillow – this was a top suggestion from you guys. Many suggested bringing the pillow you plan to use at home for nursing so that you can use it and troubleshoot in the hospital if needed. (***used! this was one of the best things I brought with me, highly recommend if you plan on breast feeding.)
Tolietries
- Chapstick – this was the number one recommended thing to bring from you guys! (*** used)
- Body wash, face wash, + face wipes (*** used)
- travel size moisturizer, eye cream, body lotion + dry shampoo (*** used)
- Contact case, eyeglasses, contact solution. (*** used)
- Hairbrush + hairties (*** used)
- deodorant (*** used)
- Toothpaste, toothbrush + my Invisalign retainer (*** used)
- prenatal vitamins + medications (***ended up not bringing these!)
Miscellaneous Items
- drivers license + insurance card (*** used)
- 6 ft phone charger + portable power bank(*** used)
- IPAD – this is more for JD, since he cannot leave the hospital and if he needs something to keep busy. (*** did not use)
- Night light – for middle of the night feedings and when the nurses come in. (*** used)
- white noise machine (*** used)
- Hydroflask (*** used)
- Pillow and blanket – working in the hospital for years I know what the quality of pillows and blankets are there, not good! We will just grab this on the way out the door. (*** used the blanket, I left my pillow at home by accident!)
- Snacks!
Baby’s Bag
- 2 going home outfits in two sizes, one newborn and one 0-3m since we don’t know how big she will be (*** used the newborn size outfit)
- Mittens(*** used)
- 1 swaddle – We will use this if we want to take photos in the hospital. The rest of the time I plan to use the hospital blankets because I am anticipating a lot of unwrapping by me, JD, nurses, and doctors, and a lot of spit ups! (***did not use, the hospital provided kimono style shirts and swaddle blankets that we used while we were there. I never got around to taking her announcement photo until I got home because I was so tired!)
- Baby blanket – for car ride home, it will still be winter here! (*** used)
- Milestone/name card – for photos! (*** did not use)
JD’s Bag
Lot’s of you asked what JD will be bringing with him to the hospital. In NY state, spouses/partners are not allowed to leave the hospital due to the COVID pandemic restrictions. He will mostly pack for himself like he would for a long weekend trip. Besides his toiletries, he is just going to bring 2 comfortable outfits (likely t-shirts/sweatshirts/joggers), clothes to sleep in, pillow, blanket, his AirPods, Yeti cup and cash for vending machines/food. Our hospital will provide meals for him during this time for an extra cost (we found this out by asking ahead of time!), so we will either utilize that, or door dash for food for him. We are fortunate our hospital is located just outside the city center, so we have a lot of options for take out if needed. We will also be bringing snacks for him to have!