SHOP THE POST
dress // duffle bag (another version) // weekend bag // diaper backpack
TOP 10 RECOMMENDED ITEMS FROM READERS
- Extra Long Chargers // Extension Cords
- Favorite Pillows and Blankets
- Socks // Slippers
- Makeup Remover Wipes
- Snacks
- Comfy Pajamas // Robe
- Chapstick
- Headband and Hair ties
- Nursing Pillow
- Basic Toiletries
TIPS
- CALL YOUR HOSPITAL BEFORE ANYTHING. Every hospital is different and with Covid happening right now, rules are stricter than before. Ask them what you can and can not bring, if your husband (or whoever is with you) will be able to go back out to your car, if they will be able to leave at all, if the hospital cafe open and etc.
- Pack like you are going away for a long weekend but the truth is, you really won’t need a lot. The hospital really does provide almost everything for you in regards to what the baby will need and all of your postpartum care.
- When you first get to the hospital, leave everything except for your purse/wallet in the car, and then once you are moved into your L&D room, have your husband (or whoever is with you) go down to get it.
- If possible, eat a meal before going to the hospital! Even if it’s just Chick-fi-la on your way there. I didn’t know this but once you are admitted, they won’t let you eat anything (only broth or popsicles) throughout your whole labor, so I ended up not eating anything for over 24 hours before actually giving birth and I was starving, to say the least.
- Ask the nurses for extras of all the postpartum supplies you liked and used at the hospital. While I had most of the items waiting for me at home, your recovery can take up to six weeks, so the more the merrier!
- Don’t feel like you have to rush out of the hospital. We had the option the leave the next afternoon after giving birth (so a little over 24 hours) but opted to stay until the next morning. While sleeping at the hospital isn’t ideal (or the most comfortable) the constant help from the nurses, doctors, and lactation consultants was extremely helpful for us being first-time parents. We worked with them and learned a lot, making our transition home so much less stressful. As opposed to feeling overwhelmed, we left feeling relaxed and ready.
HOW WE PACKED
Weekend Bag for Mommy
Weekend Bag for Daddy
Diaper Bag to hold of babies things (Code: LAUREN for 15% off)
Backpack for all electronics and snacks
Pillows/Blankets we brought in separately on their own
GENERAL
Packed & Needed
(2) Pillows: One for Mommy and one for Daddy. The hospital pillows are the worst and having our own was a lifesaver. Colton forgot to grab his own pillow and it was the one thing he complained about our whole stay.
(2) Blankets: We brought our Barefoot Dreams Blankets.
Yeti Mug w/ Straw: Hospitals provide their own mugs but I personally liked having mine from home.
Camera and Polaroid Camera
Snacks
Extra longer chargers or extension cord.
Packed but Didn’t Need
Travel Fan: I’ve had many girls say the hospital was super hot and to bring a fan but for us, it was the opposite. Ours was freezing!
Stool Softeners: The hospital provided these for me.
Towels: Towels from home came super recommended but we forgot ours in the car and just used the ones from the hospital. I’m sure our own towels would have been nice but it wasn’t worth the extra trip down to the car.
Nursing Pillow: This came highly recommended from everyone to bring but I kind of forgot we had it and it stayed on the couch next to our bags during our whole stay.
MOMMY
Packed & Needed
Hospital Gown: Totally not necessary but I was being extra and wanted my own gown lol. I am glad I had it though because I was in this gown for over 24hrs so the fact that I liked my gown made it not so bad. I also love this one!
(2) Nursing Pajamas: I brought this one that has buttons and this one that’s meant for nursing.
Nursing Bra(s) and Nipple Cream
(1) Regular Outfit: This nursing tank and these shorts. While I stayed in pajamas most of the time, it was nice having one outfit that wasn’t pajamas that made me feel like a human.
Going home outfit: You’ll want something easy, flowy, and none restrictive. I wore this dress and my Tory sandals.
Eye Gel Patches: Totally not necessary but I had someone suggest bringing some and I am so glad she did! My eyes were so swollen the whole time and having my favorite patches not only helped with the swelling but made me feel like myself.
Post Partum Panties: If you deliver vaginally (& depending on your bleeding) you’ll be in diapers but after a day, I was really over the huge bulky diapers and was happy I had regular underwear that I could just put a pad in.
Makeup Bag // Basic Toiletries // Makeup Remover Wipes
Dry Shampoo // Hair Brush
Hair Ties // Headbands
Packed but Didn’t Need
Nipple Shields // Pads (the hospital provided these)
Post Partum Panties // Pads (the hospital provided these – saved mine for home)
FridaBaby Post Partum Kit (hospital provided everything – saved for when we got home)
Hair Dryer // Travel Shampoo and Conditioner (I was thankfully able to shower before heading to the hospital so all I needed was my dry shampoo)
Comfy Robe: Another top recommended item that I just kind of forgot about and didn’t use.
DADDY
Packed & Needed
(1) short sleeve
(1) long sleeve
(1) pair of shorts and (1) pair of pants/joggers
(1) long sleeve jacket or sweatshirt
Pair of pajamas
Extra socks
Shower Shoes
Toiletries
BABY
Packed & Needed
Basic Onesies (in multiple sizes): Just because you won’t know what size they will be until they are born!
Socks // Mittens (the mittens keep them from scratching their faces)
Newborn Nest Outfit: Not necessary but I bought one to take pictures of him in at the hospital. Luckily the hat // blanket // pajamas became some of our most used items there!
Baby Nail File/Nail Clippers: Babies are born with really long nails that the hospital doesn’t trim for you because they count it as a “surgery”.
Pacifiers (so far these Mam Pacifiers are the only ones Teddy will use)
Baby Shusher: Lifesaver to help calm your fussy baby! The sound it makes reminds them of the blood flow sound they are used to hearing in the womb and will literally stop them from crying in a matter of seconds.
Packed but Didn’t Need
Multiple Swaddles: He literally used the same one the whole time
Random Outfits: Baby stayed in just a diaper or his regular white onesie the whole stay. Babies get lots of tests and other things done to them the entire time they’re there and the nurses need the babies easily accessible and not all dressed up. Plus, lots of skin-to-skin is encouraged for most of the stay which requires only a diaper.
Hatch Sound Machine: we just used the White Noise app on our phones
Going Home Outfit: He came home in his basic white onesie and swaddle from his Newborn Nest Set.
If you have any questions – just leave them in the comments section below!
xo,
Lauren
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