There’s a million and one things that need to be done to prepare for your little ones arrival, but one of the most important is packing your hospital bag! I always recommend a bag with some stuff be packed and ready by 28 weeks but that’s a different bag and a story for another blog. For this bag I definitely recommend this be packed by 36 weeks. Babies often come a week or two or three weeks early. I was born 2 weeks early and my brother was born 3 weeks early. Being prepared as early as possible is a wonderful thing to be so you don’t have to stress in those final weeks; well at least you don’t have to stress about your bag.
Like most first time mom’s when I had my first I WAY over packed! I’m not kidding when I say I had 3ish bags for a 3 day stay. Full disclosure I did have both my kids out of the country where a 3 day stay is standard and they don’t provide you with much, so this is based on MY experience. I highly recommend asking your nurse/ob/midwife what is provided by the hospital for both you and your baby as well as how long the standard stay is and how long your insurance will allow you to stay. This will allow you to pack only what is needed and be more prepared for what to expect.
The most important thing to make sure you have are clothes that are comfy! I LOVED my leggings, I made sure to bring at least 2 pairs that I could wear rolled down under my bump as well as over my belly button in case I needed an emergency c-section. You want to be sure to have at least 1 pair of pants or skirt or dress that won’t rest on a c-section scare just in case. Another thing I LOVED was my nursing gown which felt great to be “free” and not have to have pants on but could still nurse my baby without anything in the way. It’s similar to a nursing tank top (Also LOVED) but is longer like a dress. I preferred the nursing tank tops that had an inside triangle (not just little straps) that covers the nipple even when you forget to reclip it! (Yes that does happen far too often) Lastly on the comfort clothes items slippers/socks that are super comfy. This is perfect for walking around when in labor or post delivery to keep your feet from feeling gross.
The second thing I highly recommend is ADULT DIAPERS. Yes you read this right! Adult diapers. Whether you have a c-section or a “natural” delivery there’s one thing that you can be sure of and that is there will be blood and lots of it. Adult diapers are so much more comfortable than the hospital panties. They also hold a lot more blood and work well as “underwear” meaning you can use pads inside and then you don’t have to worry about blood leaking out. This helps keep your clothes blood free as well as your furniture.
My third recommendation is your small toiletries bag. In mine I had my basic make up, hair brush, hair band, a bar of soap, shampoo, conditioner, and a towel. (Note my hospital didn’t provide towels to patients so I had to bring my own including hand towels.) These were perfect for when my newborn was asleep and I wanted to feel like myself a bit more. It was also perfect for when I was feeling up to taking pictures.
Fourth I would like to recommend you bring a camera whether it’s your phone or a separate item I highly recommend you bring one. Even if you have a fresh 48 session scheduled and set up I highly recommend you bring one because your photographer won’t be there the entire time you are. You may find some of your absolute favorite images are ones you take yourself.
Next up is my fifth recommendation which is bringing your own pillow. Your pillow can make or break your sleep. I know I for one always sleep better with my own pillow.
Lastly I HIGHLY recommend you bring snacks and food of substance. Where I was meals were tiny (2 pieces of bread, a slice of cheese and a slice of meat for dinner tiny). I brought beef jerky, salami, chips, pretzels, crackers and a ton of other food and snacks with me. Thankfully I did because my husband wasn’t allowed to visit us until it was time to go home, I also didn’t have access to vending machines so what the nurses brought and what I brought is what I was able to have.
A few more things I loved having
- My blanket
- Phone and Charger for sure
- A hoodie
- Headphones - I had a roommate and needed to sleep with white noise so these helped a ton. I just stuck one instead of both of them so I could still wake to my newborn.
So there ya have it, a list of some of the most important things to pack in your hospital bag by a Bellevue, Nebraska newborn photographer and a mom of 2.