Does the internet really need another list of “what I packed in my hospital bag”? Probably not, and that is why my angle today is the less is more approach. Rather than affiliate link out all of the items necessary for any contingency, I am going to kick this off by addressing what you do not need.
But first, my credentials. I just delivered for the second time. Lucky for me, both were vaginal deliveries, which – to me at least – are preferable to Caesarian section deliveries due to the “easier” recovery. While I was in a DC-based hospital (the hospital in DC to give birth #iykyk) with my first, I was in a Philadelphia-based hospital for my second. With the first delivery, I was in the hospital from Monday morning to Thursday morning; only two of those nights were post-delivery recovery. With the second delivery, I was in the hospital from Friday night to Monday morning; again only two of those nights were post delivery recovery.
leave it at home
- Postpartum recovery supplies: The hospital has everything you will need. Also, you won’t know for sure whether you will need vaginal birth recovery or Caesarean section birth recovery supplies until after it is done. On that note, use the supplies liberally and ask for replacements as needed. (I took daily inventory and asked for a re-up at the beginning of every night shift to avoid running out.)
- Underpants: Time to check your modesty at the door. You will be losing underwear shortly after passing through triage. The hospital will have disposable underpants along with postpartum supplies.
- Colace: Bringing medications to the hospital is like bringing sand to the beach. The medical team will provide you this and furthermore, they will be managing and monitoring all of your medications. Don’t throw something they don’t know about into the mix. Valium included.
- Breast pump: The hospital should have a hospital grade pump and starter kit. Again, like the extra postpartum recovery supplies, bring the starter kit home.
- Boppy: Unless you know you absolutely need this for breastfeeding, leave it at home.
- Gift baskets for healthcare workers: While it is thoughtful to provide a gift basket, consider that across the three nights of postpartum alone, you will be running across so many healthcare providers: nurses, techs, doctors, midwifes. At one point during my second’s delivery, his heart rate lowered and before I knew it, there was a team of eight in my room, giving fresh eyes in order to avoid a c-section situation. All that is to say that rather than providing gift baskets, just be a kind and personable patient. Remember your manners, their names, and when the time comes to fill out a survey, send glowing reviews to whomever deserves them.
- Jewelry, including a watch: The healthcare team will make you remove your jewelry and watch. Fun fact: While I was in triage, I had to sign a waiver that the hospital staff was allowed to remove my jewelry and watch by mechanical means if necessary, should an emergency situation require it.
- Extensive personal care and makeup supplies: Applying makeup will be the furthest thing on your mind in the days after giving birth. At least, it was for me, especially after pushing for three hours during my first’s birth. On that note, it is so silly to see influencers really done up in their post-birth hospital photos. I had just taken my first shower (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, shave legs, deodorant, facial moisturizer, body lotion) in over 48 hours before our first photos of us as a family of four and that was work enough.
- Laptop, tablet, other digital media devices: Take any opportunity you have to take a nap. Trust me when I say that you will want to take advantage of any sleeping opportunity; don’t waste it on a Netflix binge.
- Tripod and camera: Girl, quit being extra!
pack it
This is what was on my hospital bag checklist and with the exception of the snacks, which we packed in a collapsible cooler, it all fit in a LV 55 Keepall.
- I packed my Havaiana flip flops to wear in the shower. Equally as important, I packed a gallon size Ziploc baggy to transport them within my Keepall without contaminating the remaining items in my bag.
- Not noted in my list because it was the first set of items in, but I brought the baby Hatch to Hospital gift set. Part of the set is the cutest pair of socks which I originally missed throwing in the washer with the remaining items. I wanted to be sure they got packed.
- I bought two monogrammed hospital gowns from Petite Plume. I wore one (the navy stripes) during the beginning of my labor, until after I got my epidural and promptly lost my dinner of Humpty’s Dumplings all over the front of it. I opted to save the other (the blue toile) for the recovery room, where I was complimented on being brave for wearing white post labor. (I wore the hospital provided gowns for delivery and the day after.)
- I packed socks for the recovery and for the outfit home.
- I rounded up all of the travel toiletries for myself and my husband: toothpaste, toothbrushes, razor (I admit, I shaved my legs on recovery day two), body wash, face wash, facial moisturizer, body moisturizer, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, extra set of lenses, contact case, and solution.
- My going home outfit was a roomy black Asos sweatsuit. Always pick out something with a dark bottom.
- Rather than an extra long charger, I packed a spare battery.
- I packed three nursing bras, based upon the idea that recovery could be three days.
- During my first delivery, I wanted to pull my hair back mid-pushing, but neither I nor my husband was unable to do so. For different reasons, obviously. I packed a scrunchie this time and wore it on my wrist as a reminder to throw my hair up and away from my face before pushing began. Turns out, the blowout I got the day before was still fresh and I kept my hair down.
- Pack water bottle, stay hydrated.
- Pack a dirty clothes bag. It will come in handy once you lose dinner all over your first string hospital gown and bra.
- I gave birth to my first at 2:06 am in the morning. By the time I made it to recovery, it was 5 am, I had not eaten in 22 hours and was ravenous. Luckily, my husband packed a wheel of brie that I went to town on as the sun was coming up.
- I packed a silk pillowcase and light blanket to make resting more comfortable and used both during labor and recovery. (They were removed from the bed during pushing and delivery.)
- After wearing my contact lenses for over 48 hours, I was relived to switch over to eyeglasses during recovery.
1 Comment