What to actually pack in hospital bag

Comfy pair of clothes to go home in. Comfy socks or slippers to walk around in. If you are planning to nurse, a nursing friendly bra. Chapstick, tooth brush, tooth paste. Brush for hair and hair ties. For baby was where I packed way more!

Comfy clothes, shampoo conditioner body wash.. brush hair tyes.. late night snacks. I brought my pillow and blanket. Baby I packed a couple outfits. And a very small amount of diapers and wipes. The hospital will provide the rest

I only packed a couple changes of clothes for me and baby (pajamas lol) and a pumping/nursing bra, and a tooth brush and toothpaste. Pumping bra was so necessary because baby was in the NICU. For such a large amount of time, I was in a hospital gown, and baby was in a diaper and wrapped in a hospital blanket. So honestly we didn’t even use our clothes until the last couple of days. Hospital provided diapers, wipes, blankets, Velcro swaddle and a bottle for baby. Also provided pump and pump parts for me to use while I was there. Also provided pads, mesh underwear, peri bottle, witch hazel pads, shampoo, body wash, water bottle jug, and food for me. This was all what my hospital provided but from what I’ve heard it sounds like most hospitals provide most of this. ☺️

@Mikaela thank you for your reply! Yea thinking of definitely going minimalistic 😆 I think a lot of moms end up over packing

@Bethany ty!! Hopefully I'll have the energy to even shower or wash my hair lol from my sisters experience, she said she didn't wanna do anything haha

@Valerie ty!! The hospital gives that much? Lol I was gonna buy the frida post partum kit

I'm not bringing anything besides charger phone id coming home outfit and announcement outfit

@Jennifer take a bath, skip the shower! The hospital usually has bath salts that are super good for recovery

@Jennifer mine gave me like 4 gift bags; one for postpartum, baby stuff, formula, and Breastfeeding

Remind me to come back to this later. I'll go through my old packing list for my go-bag vs. what I actually used!

@Mikaela well noted!

@Victoria ooh nice! Hopefully my hospital gives lots of free goodies XD

@Allison thank you!

@Jennifer i hope so I think they all should

Pack a towel for after you shower my hospital towels were so small and so rough.

@Jennifer my hospital did! Not sure what all hospitals provide. You can ask your hospital and they should be able to tell you what they provide. But from what I’ve heard, a lot of the times people buy the frida kit to use at home after they discharge. It’s not uncommon to only be in the hospital for a day or two after birth, and you’ll likely be using some of the supplies for several days postpartum. Sometimes you’ll have a little extra from the hospital to bring home. But in my case I didn’t have enough mesh underwear/pads from the hospital to bring home - so I used the frida kit at home.

@Valerie i will definitely try to find that out about my hospital :) Thank you for your advice! Everything feels so overwhelming as a first time expecting mom haha

chapstick, toothbrush/paste, and comfy hospital gowns! i forgot a hairbrush and wound up not caring. a weather-appropriate outfit for baby too, with a backup. also snacks. the milk thing makes you really hungry and if dad is staying there with you, sometimes they don’t provide him food.

@Kalia ty for the advice! :)

There’s plenty of things I could say, but my cotton robe was most useful for me!! I was able to easily have skin to skin/nurse and still cover up if there were visitors.

@Katie well noted! Ty

Okay I couldn't find my original list, but I made a list of what I distinctly remember bringing and using vs. Not using: Things I brought and *didn't use* —A sound machine. I just played regular music on my iPad. By regular music, I mean a playlist of rainy day animal crossing music —A birthing gown. I DID wear it in the postpartum unit for nursing, but I labored and gave birth in a regular hospital gown, and I'm glad I did because that birthing gown would've been in the trash after the hemorrhage I had. —Half my clothes. I really thought I needed my whole damn closet for some reason. I was in a hospital gown or my birthing gown the whole time. —Multiple outfits for baby. Like, two of each in preemie, newborn, and 0-3 month. You should bring ONE outfit in each of those sizes, not multiple. Just for going home in. Your baby will likely just be in a diaper and swaddle and hat (hospital-provided) the whole time since they'll have to have regular check-ins.

@Allison thank you so much!

Things I brought and used: —Face wash, my own wash cloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant. I labored for 36 hours, and being able to take off my makeup and just generally freshen up halfway through was really nice. —A comfortable headband and scrunchies/hair ties. You do NOT wanna have hair touching your face or neck when you hit those sweaty dont-touch-me contractions. —Your purse. Have your insurance card, cash for vending machines, ID, etc. in your purse. Anything small you use on a daily basis that you don't want to pack away in your go-bag should go in your purse. —Chapstick!! Your lips will dry out sooo bad idk why but the instructor of the labor class I took told us all we needed to bring it and she was so right. —My iPad for Netflix, music, etc. —Phone chargers for myself and my husband. —Headphones/ear buds because if you have a long labor there will be times you will be the only one awake. (They had to wake my husband up when it was time to push lol) —My Nintendo switch

Things the hospital provided, but you should check the amenities of yours: —a birthing ball —all my postpartum supplies (witch hazel pads, the big hospital pads for postpartum bleeding, disposable underwear, dermaplast, disposable ice packs, etc.) whatever they provide, ASK FOR EXTRA WHEN YOU LEAVE. They will most likely give it to you. Take everything that isn't nailed down (or linens) —baby hats, swaddles, and even some shirts. All the baby formula when my baby wasn't latching and I wasn't pumping yet. If you want baby on a specific formula, bring it. My hospital provided enfamil neuropro.

Things I wish I brought: —a pillow or blanket from home. Something to make my longer stay a little easier. —more food!!! I brought some snacks, but I wish I brought more. I wasn't able to eat during labor, but I gave birth around 3am and couldn't order breakfast until 7am 😭 —a nice folder for all the many, many documents we were handed —my Polaroid camera —more stuff for my husband. He was really unwell at the time, and he was so uncomfortable on the couch. I wish I brought him a pillow or blanket as well. I did bring him deodorant, a change of clothes, snacks just for him, and his own toothbrush and toothpaste. Basically whoever is gonna be there to support you should have their own mini go-bag too.

Okay now I'm done lol sorry that was a lot

For both my previous deliveries I went pretty minimal. Comfy clothes for going home, extra clothes for my husband, toothbrushes, toothpaste, phone charger, comb, deodorant, and lots of snacks. For the babes we just brought a going home outfit. I think with baby number 3 we may bring our own swaddle as well. The hospital swaddles/blankets aren’t the softest or most comfortable.