My Hospital Bag Checklist

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I have been a mother/baby, postpartum, women’s health nurse for 6 years now. Throughout my career, I have spent a LOT of time in the hospital. I’ve had my own babies in the hospital environment. And I have also witnessed a LOT of other mothers have that experience as well. 

You don’t need much when it comes to having a baby in the hospital, but having the right things can ease your healing & your journey home. 

I’ve kept my hospital bag checklist simple & split it into three parts:

• What to pack for mama

• What to pack for baby

• General items 

I have left the partner/support person off of this list because…well to be frank, they aren’t the focus! They can help you pack this bag though :)

Download the Hospital Bag Checklist here. Check out most of the items on my Amazon Storefront here. Now let’s dive into what items you should bring with you for your hospital birth & postpartum experience.

Packing For Mama

Most of your ‘needed’ hospital bag checklist items will be in this category. One, because you’re important. And two, because it’s helpful to have breastfeeding items or postpartum items that make healing more comfortable. 

1. Comfortable pajamas— you COULD wear the hospital gown for your entire stay but it’s itchy & not very comfortable in my opinion. Breastfeeding-friendly (button-down) pajamas are a must for me. 

2. Adult Diapers— using the hospital mesh undies & pads is a great option RIGHT after delivery. I find the adult diaper route more comfortable and secure….way less blood leaking this way too!

3. Comfy slippers/socks— also not a MUST, but so much better than going barefoot or hospital socks once you’re settled into your postpartum room

4. Toiletry Bag— myself & my patients always love having our facewash, moisturizer, toothpaste/toothbrush, shampoo/conditioner hair ties, and lotion handy. There are some choices for these items in the hospital but not many! And you don’t want to run the risk of them not having toothpaste, etc.

5. Breastfeeding Pillow— THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE, IN MY OPINION, SORRY I AM SCREAMING. But seriously. Hospital pillows are horrible, flat, and offer little to no support. Could you get by using the pillows there? Absolutely. But why not be more comfortable starting out your breastfeeding journey?

6. Pumping Items— a hand pump & pumping bra are on my list. I put them there because although NO ONE plans for a NICU stay it is always a possibility. You will want/need to start pumping if you are separated from baby. The hospital will have a breast pump however, they won’t have a pumping bra. Also, hospital breast pump flanges are standard and typically not the right size for you personally. This is why I love having a hand pump handy, fitted to me, and sterilized!

7. Nipple Care— silverettes are amazing for cracked, sore, damaged nipples and I always suggest them to my patients. We never know how our breastfeeding journey will begin, and it’s nice to be able to protect & care for ourselves right from the start. 

Visit my amazon storefront here & shop everything in one place!

Packing For Baby

As I have stated in almost every blog post I write: your baby truly only needs you. All else is ‘extra’. Here are some baby items I like to have with me. I have also included my announcement sticky I love to use with my kiddos!

1. Swaddles— it has taken me a good 6 years to swaddle baby perfectly in a hospital blanket. Therefore, I always suggest families bring some velcro or zip swaddles to make the process easy (if you plan on swaddling baby).

2. Outfit— notice how I only said one? The best thing for a newborn is skin-to-skin contact with mama. And I suggest that through your entire hospital stay. For bonding & for breastfeeding! One going-home outfit is perfect. You can even pack a second ‘just in case’ baby poops or spits up on the first.

3. Nails— I love having my favorite little baby nail grinder handy. Newborn nails are long. And mitts fall off & aren’t typically suggested for babies. They are used to feeling their own hands & have in utero for months and months. Having your nail grinder ready to go will help trim away any long nails causing harm to their skin. 

We never know the gender of our babies before they arrive. So, we never know which name we want! I love these little sticky notes as an announcement. You can have the name already printed on them, or write it yourself after delivery. It’s a nice, cost-effective way to announce baby to the world!

General Items 

Here are some other random goodies I think will make your hospital stay more comfortable.

1. Phone Charger— hospital plugs are 47,000 miles away from where you sit/sleep. I suggest a long phone charger so you can easily charge your phone while feeding baby in bed, etc. 

2. Suitcase— I suggest a roller suitcase for your hospital bag. There are so many things you will be carrying out with you that being able to wheel your bag is SO NICE. 

3. Sound Machine— newborns don’t typically like silence, they aren’t used to it! I loved having a portable sound machine in my room to play some light white noise while we were sleeping (or trying to get sleep)

4. Comfy Blanket– this one is 10000% extra but it is SO NICE to have a nice cozy blanket to cuddle baby. You can even just grab your favorite one from home as you run out of the house!

There you have it: a quick & concise hospital bag checklist that will have you comfortable & prepared for your postpartum stay. You can always make this list your own just remember the most important part is YOU. I typically have my hospital bag packed and ready to go by 34 weeks. That way I don’t have to think about it–just grab & go!