Packing Your Hospital Bag

I'm going to keep this short and sweet, because let's face it, if you're reading this then you are pregnant, and about ready to pop. Sure, your ankles may have disappeared but that's honestly the least of your problems now. So let's dive into what you should bring to the hospital, and note that every hospital is different, I had my daughter at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore MD, so what you may need might be different.

Things to Bring

-Chapstick

-Snacks

-Birthing Gown/Robe

-Clothes that fit you at 6 months

-Belly Support Bands

-Baby Clothes, one premie, one newborn, one 1-3 month. Maybe a cute outfit for pictures

-Boppy

-Face wash// Toothbrush// Toothpaste// Face Lotion// Mascara (or that one makeup item you NEED)

-Breast pump

-Infant Car seat (with infant insert inside)

-Nursing Bra//Tank Top

-CHAPSTICK, for the love of god do not forget your Chapstick at home

-phone charger, I bought a super long charging cord on Amazon (go to the "shop" tab for a quick link. You will be up basically all night either changing, feeding, or talking to the nurses.

-Snacks. All. The. Snacks. really no one warned me about this one and when your partner is sleeping at 3am and no one is around and you are a hungry wild animal because you just ran a marathon giving birth and now you are creating food for your baby, you will think only about food and how mad you are at everyone that you didn't pack some (or 40)

-A Birthing Gown (I will link the one I got to my "buy" page) or a robe, but they allow you to feed your baby every 20 minutes and still look ok for photos in the recovery room. they have snaps up the back and at the top of each breast. I did not give birth in mine, I used the tried and true hospital gown but changed right into it when I switched rooms.

-A couple changes of clothes, you really won't know how long you will be at the hospital so pack your husbands sweatpants and t-shirts or whatever you fit into at 6 months.

-A belly support band. I chose the 3-in-1, it was three separate ones that all worked together to support my whole body, I didn't realize your belly becomes a bowl of jelly after labor and totally gives up and needs time to heal.

-Baby Clothes- They only had a wrap long sleeve shirt on my baby and then a swaddle and honestly I think babies need more layers than that to be warm, they essentially just came out of an over at 98.7 degrees and now they are in a 65 degree hospital. I packed a couple sizes of zip up onesies and then the long nightgown that is open at the bottom with an elastic for easy changing. They also had to prick my baby's foot every two hours because she was a big baby (about 9 lbs) and they had to keep doing a glucose test. I say to bring a couple sizes because you have no idea how big your baby will be, mine was estimated at 7 lbs and she came out at 9 lbs. The premie (babies lose weight at birth and may fit into this at the hospital) and newborn didn't fit and she went right into 1-3 month clothes.

-Boppy- If you plan to breast feed then this is your life saver. It is also great to lay the baby on to keep them close to you without making your arms tired. All in all I would recommend the boppy at the hospital and then wash the cover when you get home.

-Face Wash// Toiletries- Keep these pretty light, you will want to wash your face but you will be kissing all over your baby and don't want a full face of makeup (or maybe you do because you hired a photographer!) Either way, I suggest mascara, tinted lotion instead of full on foundation and little things that make you feel pretty and natural- you just had a baby for goodness sake

-Breast Pump- If you have any questions now is the time to ask your lactation consultant that is on staff at the hospital. You can pump if your baby is sleeping and you want to keep your supply up or to help reduce engorgement, then use your pump for the first minute and then let your baby latch, this can help reduce gas bubbles with babies- also engorged milk may not taste as good to your baby. It's also good to have your pump on hand in case your baby needs to go to the NICU- you can pump and they can give it in a bottle and that way your supply stays up. (the best way to keep up supply is putting your baby on the boob constantly and drinking lots of water).

-Infant Car Seat- You will need the base installed, usually there is a quick install manual and you need to make sure it is level and rear facing and you'll be good to go! Typically there is an infant insert to keep in the car seat but nothing else should be in the car seat. A blanket can be used over the straps to keep your baby warm but you don't want bulky jackets or any clothing that would obstruct the straps from being tightened onto the baby. (you can leave this in the car until you have to leave unless you have no one to help you leave the hospital- then bring it when you check in)

-Nursing Bra//Nursing Tank Top- I got my nursing bras and tank tops from Target and amazon and I didn't like the ones with removeable pads- I always lost them in the wash and they would get bunched up every time I would fold down a side to feed my daughter. There is one from Target that has built in neoprene pads and not only is it supportive and soft but they LASTED through many many washes. Honestly, I got 6 in black and that is what I wore almost everyday/night. Again, this is for those planning to breastfeed.

**When you do you hospital walk through pay attention to what is included in the recovery room- you have no idea how long you will be there and it could be days or longer. My meals were included in the "room service" but my husband was not, so I ordered a lot of food and we shared. But check to see if your husband can leave (sometimes can only leave once a day) to get food and what time the cafeteria closes. you will most likely be up all night and hungry all night too. The should provide you all the pads, Tuck's//witch hazel pads (THESE ARE THE REAL MVPs) and giant underwear you will need.

Up To You (but I was happy I packed them)

-Pillows

-Water Flavoring// Packets (like liquidIV or Mio Water Drops)

-Socks

-iPad

-Tripod

-GIANT Water Bottle

-White Noise Machine

-Pillows. as many as you want. the hospital beds are as thick as a yoga matt after a while and your tailbone will ache after birthing your baby. Not to mention they help prop you up to watch tv and feed the baby.

-Water Flavoring. You are going to be drinking a lot of fluids the ENTIRE time and once they admit you and before you have the baby, they aren't supposed to allow you to eat and you may not want to with contractions, but the flavored water (I used Mio water flavoring) during labor and A LOT after in the recovery room. Hospital water flavor gets old quick.

-Socks- Hospitals are cold and in a weird way I liked having socks on while giving birth because it didn't make me feel totally naked in front of the 15 nurses who ended up in my room, it was the one piece of control I had over everything (it's weird but pregnancy makes you do and believe weirder stuff)

-iPad- During the night feedings to help keep me awake I would put one airpod in and set the iPad on the side table and watch tv. Babies like to cluster feed and that takes a lot of time and you have to stay awake so get your favorite shows ready! You could watch TV but I didn't want to wake my sleeping husband and I kept it dark and quiet for baby.

-Tripod- During COVID times we aren't allowed to have photographers and maybe you don't want the added traffic in your room if you get a small tripod you can take some amazing photos of your family all by yourself and save you stress and money!

-GIANT Water Bottle- Like I said, you just ran a marathon having that baby and recovery requires a lot of water. Making milk requires a lot of water. You will be craving water! The nurses will have to bring you water (during COVID) so bring a big water bottle to help.

-White Noise Machine- Babies are so used to hearing your heart and blood pumping and you talking and everything else inside your body, the white noise machine helps them sleep soundly and reminds them of the womb (our little girl has slept with it since day one and she is 14 months now). The volume level should be at the same level of a running shower while you stand next to it. It may sound a little loud but it's perfect for them.

***I will caveat this article by saying that you could walk into the hospital with none of this and be COMPLETELY FINE. Don't put so much stress on yourself that it keeps you up at night, I absolutely overpacked when I went to the hospital, but I felt prepared and now I know what to expect and what I actually need. If you want to bring three suitcases- then do it! Whatever feels right for you is what you should do and don't let anyone tell you different.

With Lots of Love,

Brandi