Today marks 1 month until my due date — YIKES!
Nora and James were both almost 2 weeks late and Simon was born right smack on his due date. So far, this pregnancy has been MUCH more like Simon’s pregnancy than Nora’s and James’ pregnancies — so although I definitely wouldn’t be surprised if I go past my due date, I also won’t complain if this little lady decides to arrive nice and on-time like her big brother did 🙂
No, I don’t actually have my hospital bag packed a full month in advance, but I’ve gotten SOOOOOOOOO many questions asking what I pack in my hospital bag that I figured now was a good time to share… considering I’ll be getting my bag packed very soon!
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First of all, I should mention that the hospital we deliver at is absolutely AMAZING and takes very good care of their new moms and babies. They practically have everything — meaning I truly need to take very little of my own things.
Also, I am not picky. I have NO birth plan, I don’t need my own music or candles, I don’t mind the thin toilet paper and tissues, and I actually love the hospital food (everything is better when it’s served via room service, right!).
And finally, I’m usually only at the hospital for 48 hours or less — and I feel I can make due without most things for 48 hours (maybe everything except my phone!)
That said, here’s a look at what I bring to the hospital when I have a baby.
FOR MOM:
The clothes I wear to the hospital (usually yoga pants, a maternity tank, and a cardigan)
2 Nursing Tops (the Glamourmom ones are my absolute favorites and the only ones I wear now!)
One comfortable “outfit” to wear home
A few toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, mascara, lotion, chapstick, hair wax, hair spray)
Cell phone and charger
Laptop and charger
Our hospital provides comfy robes, slipper socks, water bottles, shampoo, bodywash, mesh underwear, pads, ice packs, all meds, and pretty much anything else I need during my stay.
Also, I use my phone for a camera and for reading ebooks, so I literally don’t need to take any “entertainment” for myself. Just nap, read, hold my baby, take cute pictures, watch HGTV, and order room service! I can handle that for 48 hours!
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FOR BABY:
Infant carseat (we usually have this ready to go and in the car about a week before my due date — just to be safe!)
1 outfit to come home in (including a pair of socks)
1 thin blanket for the ride home
Newborn-size MAM pacifier
Caldesene baby powder — my babies ALWAYS get diaper rash right after they’re born, and this powder is amazing. I use it from day 1!
Our hospital provides all diapers, wipes, Vaseline, rash cream (although I still prefer the powder), onesies, hats, receiving blankets, sleep sacks, bulb syringes, and anything else I might need for the baby. They actually do provide a pacifier too, but I just love the MAM pacies so I bring my own!
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Yes, I’m sure I end up paying for all the “free” things my hospital provides, but since insurance covers a lot of it, and since it’s basically standard procedure for our hospital to give all new moms and babies these items, I just make it easy on myself and pack as minimally as I possibly can for my brief hospital stay.
I’ve never been a hospital patient for anything other than having my 3 babies (and I have been fortunate to have 3 relatively easy and uneventful deliveries) — but I can honestly say that my 2-day hospital stay is basically like a mini vacation for me.
I don’t have any visitors except Dave and my immediate family members, I sleep and/or read as much as I possibly can (usually while snuggling my baby), I make sure to order a chocolate milkshake and slice of cake each day, and I ask the nurses to check on me as minimally as possible.
It is GLORIOUS!
Of course, I’m a sobbing mess on the drive home as my hormones usually kick in right at 36-48 hours, but at least I’m able to enjoy a few super-relaxed hours to snuggle my brand new baby away from everyone and everything else.
I’m back to reality soon enough!
In the meantime, I have a really small bag for Dave to carry to and from my hospital room 🙂
Jennifer says
I have had six hospital births and am about to have my seventh but this time at a birth center. I have never had an uneventful birth, first was six weeks early, second was induced for convience, third was gallbladder surgery three month later, fourth was horrible post partum, fifth was emergency c section, sixth was fine till newer midwife freaked out and dropped me as patient two weeks prior to delivery. All of my hospital births had pitocin and epidurals. I always felt uncomfortable with hospital births but the more I experienced them, decided it was enough. No rest for me, nurses always bothering, even when I had a birth plan, they interfered with the bonding. This time will be different. Birth center gives you skin to skin, delayed cord clamping, no eye ointment, no vitamin K shot, no heptatis B shot for baby. I have researched all of these and have found that these interfer with the bonding time which is most critical 2 hrs after birth. I will have baby with me whole time, no taking to nursery. Sorry so long winded. Just want other women to know. I can give up the food (I never thought it was really good, I try to eat healthy), and I don’t watch tv in hospital if it means keeping myself away from uncessary procedures for me and baby. If we do ever have another we are quite convinced to have baby at home. God intended for women to give birth naturally. We have all just trained to believe we need a hospital to do it ( provided there are no complications).
Andrea says
Jennifer,
I’ve had 3 hospital births with no epidural, pitocin, complications, or negative side effects of any “drugs”. I could have also easily decline the eye ointment, Vitamin K, and Hep B if I had wanted to. I’ve always had the baby with me in my room or my bed the entire time (except for the boy’s circumcisions) and I always ask the nurses not to bother me unless it’s completely necessary, so I hardly ever get interrupted and usually sleep very well.
I agree that God made women with the ability to give birth naturally… BUT there is no doubt in my mind that hospitals and modern medicine can be credited to saving thousands and thousands of baby’s and mother’s lives, thanks to their knowledge and medical equipment — so I think we need to be careful about bashing hospitals. They serve a very real purpose in our lives.
All of that said, I hope you love your experience at the birthing center this time around.
Jenn S. says
I just wanted to say I love this response, Andrea! I hope this last month is as comfortable as it can possibly be for you.
Beth says
My bag was similar. I didn’t bring a laptop, and my post-delivery brain wouldn’t have been able to do much on it anyway. I did bring a boppy. I agree–hospital room service is amazing!! I wish you an uneventful delivery and a happy, good sleeping baby.
Karen says
When I had my daughter 9 years ago it was a mini vacation too! We asked to stay longer since we could watch cable tv and order room service. Fortunately, everything went so well so we were only there for a day. I wish you the best on this precious baby girl’s arrival.
Pixie508 says
So my list looks similar, although our hospital doesn’t provide slipper socks, so I always get a pair for like $5 on amazon, and throw them out before we leave (because the thought of bringing them home kinda grosses me out, they’re not expensive, so I don’t worry about it).
I take my tablet instead of a laptop (I’m not working, so it’s good for games, reading, streaming video, etc), and chargers for both that and my cell phone.
I take my boppy, it’s just easier for me to breastfeed at first with it, and I find it makes my life easier.
I hate our hospital’s shampoo, etc. So I bring my small travel kit (it usually lives in my suite case, so it’s already packed) with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, travel sized poof, toothbrush, toothpaste).
lyss says
Wow, you make it sound so dreamy! lol! I had my first at a birthing center and I can’t remember what I packed. With my second I had nothing since he came 2 months early…was NOT expecting for him to be born that day! But my hospital experience was nothing that you described. I remember having to ask for new sheets, having to ask that the trash be taken out, ask them to please take out the stack of food trays, etc. I remember a nurse telling me that my bandages should have come off x hours ago(c-section). Um, how was I supposed to know that if you don’t tell me? Seriously, it’s like they forgot me. Glad to know that your hospital treats you better! 🙂
Andrea says
Sorry you had a bad experience — but yes, my hospital stays have always been fantastic. I am very thankful for that!
Jessica says
You may have mentioned it previously and I missed it, but I’m wondering if Dave stays at home with the other kiddos during your nights in the hospital. Our families live about an hour away, and I’m trying to think through arrangements for our 2 year old. She’s never stayed overnight with relatives before, and I’m thinking it might be easier to plan on sending my hubby home in the evening rather than worry about her trying to sleep somewhere new or having others put her down for bed. . Any thoughts?
Andrea says
Yes, Dave always goes home — even when we had Nora he went home and slept MUCH better!
We’ve been fortunate that the timing has worked out well — Nora was born in the afternoon, but he still made it home to sleep late that night. The Simon was born around noon, so Dave could easily get home in time to put Nora to bed. And James was born at 1am, so we called my sister (who lives down the road) to come over around 10:30 and the kids were already sleeping. Dave was home again before anyone even woke up!
Who knows when this baby will arrive — but I wouldn’t mind if it were in the middle of the night again — that worked out really well for our kids 🙂
susie says
I never remember what to take, but now I got it down pat- a pair of pajamas and my pillow! So nice to have my own pillow. I also am not fussy and love the hospital service, last time I ordered a fruit platter- the best tasting thing ever!
Andrea says
I got a yogurt parfait the morning after I had James (he was born at 1am) and it was SOOOOOO tasty!
Chris says
Wow! I didn’t know you could get milkshakes at the hospital. LOL
Andrea says
haha — at my hospital you can! They are amazing too!
Meghan says
I enjoy the hospital stay too! After my third I didn’t need any meds so I was very comfortable and really enjoyed the time with the baby. Being a fan of hospital food service, I learned to order my next meal even if I am waiting to be discharged. Even if the food comes right when I can leave, it’s definitely worth it to stay and eat at the hospital before all craziness breaks out when we get home.
Andrea says
wow — you didn’t take any pain meds after your baby was born! I always had tylenol every 4 hours for those first couple of days.
And yes, more food is always better!
Nancy says
I was glad I took something on which to save the newborn’s handprint and footprint. Our oldest was born right before my husband’s birthday, and our nurses very kindly put the baby’s handprint and footprint on a baseball as a birthday gift for my husband. Our daughter finished her first-ever craft project before she was 24 hours old LOL.
Andrea says
that’s a cute idea! I was born on Father’s Day and my mom had 2 cards ready to go “just in case”. One was for a “father to be” and one was for a “new dad” 🙂
Avia says
I packed minimal bags also and I also loved the hospital stay! Most of my friends and family complain about staying and I know people who purposely had a home birth so they wouldn’t have to stay at the hospital. I just don’t see what’s to complain about “having” to lay still and do nothing for two day!!
Andrea says
oh wow — think of ALLLLLL the prep work and clean up involved in a home birth! I’ll take lying in a clean hospital bed and ordering room service over a home birth any day 🙂
Bonnie'sMama says
I’ve had two home births. The set-up and supplies are actually very minimal–Chux pads, some old towels, and a small tray of things like a cord clamp. The midwife brings her equipment, like a Doppler for fetal heart tones, etc. My husband sets up the birth pool; he needs something to do while we wait.
Afterwards, the midwives bag up the trash and start a load of towels in the washer. As soon as my husband cleans out the birth pool, the house is back to normal. I snuggle my baby and eat the biggest Three Musketeers I can find!
I love the utter quiet, the normalcy, and the simplicity of giving birth at home. I’m very thankful it’s worked so well for me.
Caroline says
One tip I heard and used was to have separate bags for labor/delivery and postpartum. We had very little in the labor/delivery bag – medical forms, phones (camera!), tablets, chargers, hair ties, chap stick, and a few snacks/drinks. Postpartum bag had a few clothes for us and additional toiletries.
The thing I’m most glad I brought was a blanket. The nurses did a fantastic job of providing pillows and making up a comfy bed for me, but having that blanket was SO nice. I guess it’s not done often at that hospital, because every staff member that saw me commented on it, thinking it was a great idea.
Prior to delivering I read about several people bringing some of their own medications, like Tylenol or Colace, to help with the overall cost. In my experience, that didn’t matter! The hospital we chose seemed to treat it like an all-inclusive resort – the room, food, care, medication… none of it was charged by item, just a flat fee for the 24 hour period. Knowing that helped me to keep my bags light.
Andrea says
Good tip — considering I’m using in “labor/delivery” for about 2 hours before I move to postpartum, it never seemed necessary for me to have 2 separate bags 🙂
And yes, we know people who bring their own pain meds too — but I figure it’s not going to make that much of a difference.
Pamela says
I never packed tons of stuff either! I also always loved hospital food and enjoyed getting waited on! We had 8 kids so it was definitely a little mini vacation for me for a couple of days! Looking forward to seeing your new little one! ~~Pam
Andrea says
Yeah, with each kid, I enjoy my brief hospital stay more and more!