My due date was June 3rd, so when my water broke 18 days early at 4:40 AM to say it was unexpected is an understatement. I had loosely packed my bag already - meaning I had a bag and all my things I thought I would need next to it. My husband on the other hand was panic packing while I was on the phone with the hospital. The hospital told me to come over within an hour or so and to shower and try to eat something. Well, the shower I could do - eating at almost 5 AM isn’t my typical schedule so I wasn’t even hungry.
Once we got down to the hospital, ours was about a twenty-minute drive away, we got all checked in which seemed to move a lot slower than I had expected. The hysteria surrounding going into labor in the movies is much different than what I experienced. While I’m sure that there are some birth experiences that have that sense of urgency - my grandma had to tell my mom not to squat in the parking lot of the hospital when having my little sister - this was not the case with the birth of my daughter.
I didn’t have much of a birth plan just a healthy baby and healthy me. I didn’t want to set myself up for disappointment if something didn’t go as planned and spike my anxiety in an already stressful situation. I ultimately had an epidural after laboring from 6 AM -11 AM and started pushing around 5 PM and our little girl finally decided to make her entrance to the world at 9:50 PM. What I think a lot of people do not think about is that you’re going to the hospital, not a hotel, so while they will have everything you pretty much need there are a lot of things you can bring to make your experience much more enjoyable. Now onto what I packed, what I ended up using, and what I wish I had brought with me.
FOR MOM
- Photo ID, Medical Record Information, Birth Plan
While you probably have your ID and medical card in your wallet - make sure you print out a copy of your birth plan or any information you want the hospital staff to know. To be safe I would take pictures of all three of these on your phone as a backup.
- Phone
This goes without saying but make sure to bring your phone. Labor is very long and you’ll want to be able to talk to someone else besides your partner and the nurses. Also, you’ll want to tell everyone the news once your little one has arrived.
I was able to sleep for a solid five hours after my epidural but it was daytime - so having a sleep mask was amazing so I could actually get some amazing sleep. It was also great in the recovery room since you’ll take any sleep you can get no matter what time of day - also you’ll be checked on constantly by the hospital staff so being able to block out some of that light
Hospital outlets are tricky - there are some by your bed but you don’t know if you’re able to use them or if they’ll set off an alarm. Then the other outlets you’ll find in very inconvenient places. I purchased the charging cords specifically because of the bright colors so I could easily find them in the mess of cords in the hospital bed. Also, be sure to get the longest cords you can find – the ones I used were 10 feet – that paired with the power strip I was able to have plenty of lead on the charging cord.
Having a nice little portable speaker was nice to have in the delivery room when I didn’t want to watch anything on tv. It was also handy in the recovery room for the same reason but also, I could play white noise on it via YouTube or Spotify at nighttime. Just make sure it’s charged up before you pack it in your bag.
- Headphones / Earbuds
There is surprisingly a lot of downtime during labor. After I got my epidural I was able to get some sleep so being able to block out all the sounds of the hospital was crucial. I plugged in my headphones and got a solid five hours of sleep.
While the hospital will provide you with a water cup – I liked having my own for a few reasons. I knew I couldn’t accidentally knock it over and get water everywhere also my water would be ice cold.
If you choose to get an epidural they don’t let you really drink anything after the procedure. I got a big cup of nugget ice that I was able to chew on but not as satisfying as a drink of cold water. I had packed a few bottles of BodyArmor in my favorite flavor Peach Mango – they let me take small sips of this during labor which was super refreshing.
I had purchased a few nursing bras and tops to prepare for baby girl both the pull-down and snapped. Ultimately, I decided to go with the pull-down since it would be much easier to access than dealing with snaps, especially under a hospital gown. Depending on how long you’re in the hospital you’re going to want to pack a few nursing bras.
These two things were a complete must-have in my hospital bag. Both you and baby are figuring out breastfeeding especially your little one which means they’ll be a lot of trial and error when it comes to latching. I was super sensitive and sore so the silverettes paired with a balm were excellent in providing relief. The silverettes gave a cooling sensation and promoted healing while the balm was super soothing. For an extra cooling effect, I would pop the silverettes in the fridge for a few minutes before reapplying.
The hospital will have your standard toiletries available – but much like a hotel, it’s not the best and usually is super drying. I packed what I normally would for a weekend trip plus a few extras. While I had thought there would be a possibility I would be able to labor in the shower that didn’t end up happening. I packed some shower steamers with the idea of having the fragrance be a distraction. So instead I was able to use them for my first shower post-delivery which made me feel a little more human.
- Slippers
Pack an old pair of slippers or purchase a cheap pair you don’t mind getting dirty. Labor can be messy so you don’t want to ruin your nice pair of slippers. You'll want to have something on your feet that are easy to slip on and off so you can easily go to the bathroom or walk around your room.
This was the one thing that I wish I had remembered to bring with me. While the hospital had an abundance of pillows I’ll be honest they were all super thin and terrible. I would have definitely been much more comfortable with my own pillow and probably would have gotten a little more rest. I love this memory foam pillow that has a curved shape on one side so my shoulder has some room.
- Camera / Photographer
I’ve been doing photography since I was a teenager so I’m lucky enough to have all the equipment to take photographs myself. While your phone will suffice to get some photos I highly recommend either bringing a camera, asking a family member, or hiring someone to come take photos of your new little one before you leave the hospital. This moment won’t happen again so capture those memories you’ll cherish forever.
- Going Home Outfit
You will want to pack something super comfortable that isn’t too restricting. I packed my most comfortable Vuori sweatpants, a loose T-shirt, and a cardigan sweater. Of course, this may all depend on where you live, the time of year, and the weather the day you are leaving the hospital.
FOR PARTNER
Have your partner pack their own bag with what they would typically take on a weekend vacation. Make sure they bring something to keep them entertained – handheld video games, books, their tablet/laptop. More importantly, make sure they are packing whatever will make them most comfortable to sleep – because they will inevitably complain about the bed they have to sleep on. You may want to reach out to the hospital to see what they offer your partner when in the delivery and recovery room before they narrow down their packing list.
- Photo ID
- Phone
- Pillow
- Headphones
- Sleep Mask
- Blanket
- Pajamas
- Change of Clothes
- Toiletries
- Phone Charger & Block
- Snacks / Beverages
- Water Bottle
FOR BABY
Your baby will only need a few things after they are born, but the hospital will have everything you need in the recovery room. The first thing is you’ll want to make sure you have the car seat installed you will not be able to leave the hospital without one. Also, you’ll want to know how to put baby in the set and out of the seat. There are plenty of videos online that show exactly how to do this for the particular seat you purchased. Pack a few outfits in a few sizes and props you want for any photos you’ll want to take and something to take them home in. For us, our daughter was in a diaper and wrapped in a swaddle with a beanie on the majority of our stay – baby will be checked on often so having to put clothes on and off was a nuisance.
- Going Home Outfit
- Birth Announcement Props
- Birth Announcement Outfit
- Outfit for Photos
- Car Seat (Installed)
What did you pack in your hospital bag? Comment below and let me know!
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
