Hospital_Bag
Motherhood

What I Packed in My Hospital Bag

May 4, 2018

I am a planner through and through. When I was pregnant, I googled everything from “what to pack in my hospital bag” (and started packing weeks in advance) to “what to expect when you bring home a newborn”. Five months later, I realized nothing from that second topic was even close to preparing me for what life is actually like when you have a baby 🙂  However, I picked up a lot of helpful information from different posts about what you should bring in your hospital bag and thought I would share what I ended up bringing with me. I over packed (what else is new) so for any future babies, I will pretty much only bring what is on this list!

*Disclaimer: The links below may be affiliate links, which means while the price of the item won’t change for you, I will receive a small commission from any purchases which helps keep my blog up and running!*

  • A medium sized bag with a zipper – I bought this bag from my Sister-in-Law’s shop (Lily Lane) with the intention to use it for weekend trips. It ended up being the perfect bag to bring with me to the hospital because it was big enough to hold everything I needed, but not so big it was difficult to schlep around the hospital. It also zipped closed and had a few small pockets that I used for small items like chapstick, my ID, jewelry, etc.
  • Black Robe – This robe was great to wear once I moved into the postpartum room. I wanted something dark and something that wasn’t TOO expensive in case it got ruined (just trust me on this). It was great for nursing and to wear those first few hours when you are too tired to get dressed.
  • Comfy Slippers – I love these slippers! They stay on your feet better than the traditional slide on style and have a hard sole bottom which came in handy when I finally was able to get up and walk around the room.
  • Button Up Pajamas– I pretty much only brought pajamas for my stay at the hospital and to be honest…it’s all I wound up wearing until I was released. The ones I wore the most were sleep shirts that buttoned up. It’s easier to not have to wear pants and the button up style was great for breastfeeding while still staying modest when visitors and nurses popped in and out of the room. I also ended up exclusively wearing this style for at least the first two months after I got home and still wear them most nights, so feel like it’s a pretty solid investment.
  • Toiletry Bag– I showered every day in the hospital, but didn’t end up doing my hair and only wore minimal makeup. Still, I was glad I had some basic makeup and toiletry items with me to help me feel more human.
  • Flip Flops – This one is a no brainer…the thought of stepping barefoot into a hospital shower gave me the heeby jeebies so these were a must-have in my book.
  • Make Up Removing Wipes – These were a lifesaver while I was in the hospital. I was so exhausted and had trouble getting in and out of bed, so I was able to grab one of these cleansing wipes to take my makeup off and wash my face for the night.
  • Snacks – If you know me, you know that I get HANGRY. In fact, having enough to eat was the thing I was most worried about when we were on our way to the hospital after my water broke so I made Blake stop at Dunkin Donuts haha! I threw a bunch of Clif Bars into my bag and had one almost immediately after I gave birth and was given the go ahead 🙂
  • Water Tumbler/Bottle– Once I moved to my postpartum room I was given a hospital water bottle, but I was so glad I brought my own for when I was in the L&D room. Water and ice chips were about the only thing I was allowed to have and I chugged water to make sure I was hydrated heading into the actual delivery. I have the one pictured in the image and had it personalized from the online shop I mentioned above (Lily Lane).
  • Going Home Outfit (Mama)– Whatever you bring…make sure you are comfortable in it. I had heard a lot of suggestions to bring an outfit you wore when you were six months pregnant and I totally agree. Besides the fact that your body takes time to readjust after giving birth, you’ll be tired, uncomfortable and swollen. I brought maternity leggings and a long tunic which worked great (I gave birth in December…I would just bring a flowy swing dress if you are giving birth in the warmer months!).
  • Going Home Outfit (Baby)– This is such a fun outfit to buy! Make sure there’s a matching hat if you want a complete outfit, or bring a separate one that coordinates. We had a sweater and pants set and the only thing I would do differently is potentially get a zippered or kimono style outfit because it’s scary putting clothes over their wobbly heads when they are so little!!
  • Extra Long Phone Charger – You have a LOT of downtime in the hospital which, if you can, I would use to sleep! I unfortunately couldn’t sleep at all while I was there so ended up using my phone for entertainment throughout the night while Blake and Luke slept. The outlets are not always convenient to your bed, so bring an extra long cord so you can reach (and so your phone is always charged when you want to snap a picture!).

I hope this is helpful for anyone who is currently pregnant or will be in future! For any of my mom friends…what items were a must have for you in the hospital??

What_I_Packed_Hospital_Bag

xoxo,

Lauren

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