Countdown To Baby: Practical Packing List and Important Tips

I’m not someone who cares what I look like after I give birth – I just want it to go as smoothly as possible for our baby and I know realistically I’ll be soaking in the moments with our son, and give zero F’s about makeup or my hair (let’s be real, I rarely care about that anyway!). So this is my hospital packing bag list – honed down from our first two times at the hospital, with practical suggestions and what I actually needed/wanted/used! There are clickable links so you can see the exact items I specifically pack myself.

Other things I have organized this time since we have two other young boys are childcare for them (for us that’s our parents or siblings in the area), typing up their schedules, having food in the house ready for them, etc. I am someone who stresses out majorly about keeping them on their schedules, and while I know I cannot control it all – I am doing what I can to prepare for what I can control so I can relax and have less anxiety about them at home while I give birth! This is just something I need to do for my anxiety, but it’s different for everyone.

For the hospital, I also looked up where we check in (for us, there are 4 different entrances depending on the time of day!), how to get there (my doctors office is next to it so this is easy for us), how long it takes to drive there, etc. I also checked their visitor policy right now so I can prep relatives. For now, I can have one support person (my husband) and no one else is allowed to come. This is actually easier for us, but I know many people prefer visitors, but that’s not very likely right now. Just check your hospital policies!

Other things to think about:

1. How do you want to feed your baby? Formula, breastmilk, combo? You might not know the answer yet, and that’s okay! But be prepared to advocate for yourself. We are doing formula again this time – it’s just what’s right for me and us overall – and I will not be pushed into breastfeeding. It’s my decision, and I will make sure they know that! The people to tell will be the nursing staff while in labor or shortly after. They should ask, but just FYI. Some assume breastfeeding, so be prepared if that’s not your path. If you are breastfeeding, make sure to ask for a lactation consultant to come immediately! With our first son, they didn’t send anyone in at all, and I ended up back at the hospital a few days later for help!
2. Do you want to get your baby circumcised? This is obviously only applicable for boys, and a personal/religious decision, but you should definitely decide before you go. For our first son, we did the Bris ceremony at home when he was 8 days old. For our second, we had it done at the hospital because of the pandemic restrictions, which honestly ended up being much easier and going much smoother!

For the packing, some of my favorite bags to pack in are either a duffel bag or a carry-on size roller bag – both easy!

THE PACKING LIST FOR BABY DELIVERY

Clothing

2 sets of button up pajamas
Comfortable sports bras or nursing bras*
Regular underwear
Socks with grips
Comfortable clothes to come home in
Cardigan or sweater (it can be chilly in the hospital)
Masks
Baby outfit and hat
Empty Zipper Bag**
*I made the mistake of wearing a sports bra to our first son’s birth, and my boobs felt like they double in size the second I gave birth – I would recommend wearing nothing or a good nursing bra (slightly large) if you’re going to breastfeed! The nursing bras I linked here are SO comfy – I wore them during this pregnancy and I’m obsessed
**The hospital will provide a lot while you’re there – diapers, wipes, formula (if using), postpartum care items, etc. TAKE THEM ALL! It’s not stealing, our nurse last time told us they expect it and understand it’s extremely helpful for new parents! So having an empty bag to stuff full of goodies is very helpful!

Postpartum Care*

Depends
Instant ice pack maxi pads
Maxi Pads (in ultra absorbent)
Witch hazel wipes
Perineal spray bottle
*The hospital usually has a lot of these items, but definitely not the depends – they’ll give you see-through mesh undies, and trust me, the depends were MUCH easier to use! I would put on the depends, line it with a maxi pad, and line the maxi pad with witch hazel wipes for relief! Also optional to use the ice pack sometimes – all throw away so you can start over when you bleed through it all. This list is for a vaginal delivery, but I’ll add c-section add-ons below.
You can just bring the Depends (or similar) with you, and leave the rest at home – which you WILL want when you get home!

Self Care

Disposable toothbrush and toothpaste
Face wipes
Hand lotion
Lip Balm
Deodorant
Hairbrush and scrunchies

Entertainment (in case of longer labor)*

Kindle/book
Reading glasses (because I cannot see without them!)
iPhone
Chargers
Snacks
*You might not end up using any or most of these items, but you’ll be glad to have them in case! For snacks, I recommend bringing a baggie of easy, go-to things like granola bars, dried fruit, nuts. Hospital food is usually sub par + you never know when you’ll be brought the food (usually when you’re finally asleep!), so good to have snacks on hand for postpartum too!

Medicines

Prescription Meds
Daily vitamins
*The hospital often will dose things out for you, but I like having it myself also so I can make sure I can take my meds on time

Other Essentials

ID/Drivers License
Vaccination Card
Journal and Pen – my husband wrote down the details of the birth as it was happening, which was very special to have after!

C-Section

From what I’ve seen, there aren’t particular items recommended for the hospital, as they should have everything you need there. Overall, the biggest recommendation is making sure you have comfortable clothing for after, that will not irritate where the incision is made.

This actually goes for vaginal births as well though – do not bring tight pants! Bring baggy sweats – I promise you this is the best option. Your scar or your vagina will be swollen and you will prioritize comfort. Either way you’ll be bleeding after (I bled a lot after my first birth because I also tore and had to be stitched up), so between my depends and pads, only oversized sweats fit! Also your uterus takes time to go down (you’ll feel contractions after birth for this), so be patient with your body as it adjusts to life after birth!

***DISCOUNTS JUST FOR YOU***

1. The most comfortable jogger/sweatshirt set I have is from Cozy Earth, and you can get 40% off the whole site with my code: CE-WHENEVERYBODYMATTERS
2. ALEX15 for 15% off prenatals, good for postpartum health too!

Another important thing is to check your baby registry to make sure you have everything you need on there! If not, most registeries offer a completion discount, but it’s only available for a short time – so take advantage now!

And as always, you can find more information and support by following me @ourbeautifulsurprise. You can also find great suggestions of personal items, baby items, gifts, and more here.

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