Let’s see what’s in my hospital bag as I procrastinated this topic enough, now it’s really time to pack!
I’m in my 36th pregnancy week and I documented myself a lot for this topic.
First of all I checked what are the hospital requests, then I asked the midwives during the prenatal course and during the exams.
Finally I checked with my already mommy friends and the infinite youtube videos on this topic.
Now I’m ready to share with you what I actually packed in my hospital bag and spoiler alert: I tried to keep it as minimal as possible 😊
I’ll split the list in two: mommy’s and baby’s products.
Let’s start with mommy’s bag:
- Postpartum underwear absorbents – yes ladies, it’s the first item of the list and the most indispensable one. I included 2 packs of 6 pieces (in case I’ll need more – I’ll ask my husband to carry others from home) I chose the underwear absorbents because I expect them to collect better the fluids and seem to me more comfortable ( I know they’re not the best choice for the environment but I’ll be egoistic for the first few days post partum and I also have some advantage points for using the menstrual cup since yearsss)
- Normal post partum absorbents – to be used together with the underwear absorbents in the first few days just to not change the undies every 2 hours
- Nightdresses – 4 comfortable ones, to wear for labor and after that, more easy to handle than the pants with all my absorbents down there 😊 but I’ll pack also one set of normal pajamas and some leggings
- Dressing gown – a long one, it’s a good item to put on you whenever you go on the corridors and you don’t want to show your beautiful all hearts and bears nightdress
- Slippers and/or flip flops – I’ll have both, slippers always and flip flops for the shower time
- Socks and cotton underwear – the undies to be used in case you are not comfortable with the absorbent undies or they’re not needed anymore because the blood flow is not as high as in the beginning
- Going home outfit – please pack comfortable clothes, don’t expect the belly to disappear just because the baby escaped from there, give it time
- Bath towels – no other details needed
- Paper towels – the ones you use in the kitchen but preferably a softer version, to be used to dry your down there area after cleaning it, every 2 hours.. better than the regular towels as you can just throw them away after use (thank me later)
- Products for the personal hygiene – like toothbrush & toothpaste, hair & body shampoo, unscented deodorant, etc
- Intimate hygiene gel – a soft but antibacterial one
- Cosmetic bag – the essentials like mascara, foundation, lip balm, face cream, stretch marks lotion ( I like to use almond oil)
- Calendula tincture – it has anti septic, anti-inflammatory and healing properties, so it’s perfect! it’s usually made in the pharmacy, but you can find it on amazon as well. You’d like to keep this miracle solution into the fridge and pour it on the absorbent for a cool and refreshed sensation
- Tucks pads – to be used on the absorbents to cool that inflamed area (same properties as the calendula tincture, I’ll alternate them)
- Peri bottle – to be used after every pee you make (every breathe you takeeee 😊 ) in this way it’s much easier to keep that area clean, no excuses
- Donut pillow – search this one on google, it’s a specific cushion made for your bottom in case of hemorrhoids issues or in general to be used if it hurts sitting (document yourself since medical personnel don’t recommend it if used 24 hours / a day, but I assume you’ll not do that)
- Nipple cream – since you’ll give to your baby the best food on earth (your breast milk) you might want to have this cream, just in case your nipples will hurt. Try to avoid it by learning together with your baby how to proper latch and remember that if it hurts, you’re not doing it right! Ask the midwives for support
- Silver nipple shield – you might want to google this item as well, this is used in order to prevent the nipple irritations. You just have to leave a couple of breast milk drops in each cup at the end of the breastfeeding session and place the cups directly over the nipples. Keep them as much as possible between feeding sessions
- Breastfeeding pillow – this is not essential as you may use also a normal pillow but you know, the more comfort, the better
- Phone charger – you will want to make thousands of photos to your new baby, so this is important
- Water and snacks – it’s known that the labor phase + delivery + the fine tuning down there lasts for at least 5-6 hours (if you’re lucky) so it’s a good idea to have some healthy snacks and water to maintain the energy level high
- Kindle – just in case you’re easy to get bored and may find 5 minutes for reading (no time wasted with Kindle nearby)
- Pregnancy and personal documents (yours and your partner’s)
Below some photos of the products I mentioned:
Ok so mommy is ready to go, let’s see what the baby needs. Spoiler alert: there are less items on the list.
Baby’s bag:
- Baby clothes – I like to organize them in 5 different bags, each bag will contain: one body suit (long/short sleeve depending on the season), one piece suit preferably with zip and hand covers so you don’t need the mittens, one hat, one teething bibs (yes they don’t have teeth yet but you may want to use it for the extra milk that will get our of their tiny mouths)
- Going home outfit – remember that they easily lose heat as their body is not able yet to control it so consider some warm clothes
- Baby blanket
- Swaddle blanket – it’s known that babies like to be swaddled as it gives them the nice sensation of a small space, remember that they’re used to living in your womb
- Baby towels
- Diapers – I’ll go for disposable diapers in the first weeks, since I expect everything to be messy enough, but my cloth diapers wait for me at home, ready to be used
- Diaper rush cream – although they may have it in the hospital, but just in case, take it with you and be sure to choose one with natural ingredients but also zinc oxide (great for hard rushes)
- Portable diaper changing pad – just in case you’ll not have a changing table near to you
- Water wipes – I’ll use them only when not at home – in general I’m against the wipers for an environmental topic
- Car seat – already installed
See? Easy…
Remember to wash all the baby’s clothes and items before use, with a non-aggressive detergent to avoid any skin rash. You can try this easy DIY laundry detergent, link.
Let’s sum up the list article, side by side, w/o all my explanations of why to carry each article with you.
What’s in my hospital bag
Mommy’s bag:
- Postpartum underwear absorbents
- Normal post partum absorbents
- Nightdresses, pajamas, leggings
- Dressing gown
- Slippers and/or flip flops
- Socks and cotton underwear
- Going home outfit
- Bath towels
- Paper towels
- Products for the personal hygiene
- Intimate hygiene gel
- Cosmetic bag
- Calendula tincture
- Tucks pads
- Perry bottle
- Donut pillow
- Nipple cream
- Silver nipple shield
- Breastfeeding pillow
- Phone charger
- Water and snacks
- Kindle
- Pregnancy documents and personal documents
Baby’s bag:
- Baby clothes
- Going home outfit
- Baby blanket
- Swaddle blanket
- Baby towels
- Diapers
- Diaper rush cream
- Portable diaper changing pad
- Water wipes
- Car seat
I hope I didn’t forget anything, let me know in the comments section down below if you have another essential product that you wouldn’t leave your house without.
Hoping that this article was useful for you, I wish you a great labor and delivery experience and don’t forget that the reason of it all is to bring a new human on this planet!
You’re a superhero momma!!
