![\"Countdown](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ourbeautifulsurprise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/The-Essential-Hospital-Packing-List-1.png?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nI\u2019m 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\u2019ll be soaking in the moments with our son, and give zero F\u2019s about makeup or my hair (let\u2019s be real, I rarely care about that anyway!). So this is my hospital packing bag list<\/strong> – honed down from our first two times at the hospital, with practical suggestions and what I actually needed\/wanted\/used<\/strong>! There are clickable links so you can see the exact items I specifically pack myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other things I have organized this time since we have two other young boys are childcare for them<\/strong> (for us that\u2019s 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<\/em> 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\u2019s different for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the hospital, I also looked up where we check in<\/strong> (for us, there are 4 different entrances depending on the time of day!), how to get there<\/strong> (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\u2019s not very likely right now. Just check your hospital policies<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the packing, some of my favorite bags to pack in are either a duffel bag<\/a> or a carry-on size roller bag – both easy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 sets of button up pajamas<\/a> Depends<\/a> Disposable toothbrush and toothpaste<\/a> Kindle\/book Prescription Meds ID\/Drivers License 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another important thing is to check your baby registry<\/a><\/strong> 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n And as always, you can find more information and support by following me @ourbeautifulsurprise<\/a>. You can also find great suggestions of personal items, baby items, gifts, and more here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I don\u2019t care what I look like after giving birth to our baby, so this is my practical hospital packing bag list. There are links with items I specifically pack.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":906,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","WB4WB4WP_MODE":"","WB4WP_PAGE_SCRIPTS":"","WB4WP_PAGE_STYLES":"","WB4WP_PAGE_FONTS":"","WB4WP_PAGE_HEADER":"","WB4WP_PAGE_FOOTER":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[122,1],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ourbeautifulsurprise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/The-Essential-Hospital-Packing-List.png?fit=1000%2C1500&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourbeautifulsurprise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/905"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourbeautifulsurprise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourbeautifulsurprise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourbeautifulsurprise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourbeautifulsurprise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=905"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ourbeautifulsurprise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/905\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":921,"href":"https:\/\/ourbeautifulsurprise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/905\/revisions\/921"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourbeautifulsurprise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/906"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourbeautifulsurprise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourbeautifulsurprise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourbeautifulsurprise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Other things to think about:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
THE PACKING LIST<\/strong> FOR BABY DELIVERY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Clothing<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Comfortable sports bras<\/a> or nursing bras<\/a>*
Regular underwear<\/a>
Socks with grips<\/a>
Comfortable clothes<\/a> to come home in
Cardigan<\/a> or sweater<\/a> (it can be chilly in the hospital)
Masks<\/a>
Baby outfit <\/a>and hat<\/a>
Empty Zipper Bag<\/a>**
*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\u2019re there – diapers, wipes, formula (if using), postpartum care items, etc. TAKE THEM ALL! It\u2019s not stealing, our nurse last time told us they expect it and understand it\u2019s extremely helpful for new parents! So having an empty bag to stuff full of goodies is very helpful!<\/p>\n\n\n\nPostpartum Care*<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Instant ice pack maxi pads<\/a>
Maxi Pads (in ultra absorbent)<\/a>
Witch hazel wipes<\/a>
Perineal spray bottle<\/a>
*The hospital usually has a lot of these items, but definitely not the depends – they\u2019ll 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\u2019ll 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\nSelf Care<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Face wipes<\/a>
Hand lotion
Lip Balm<\/a>
Deodorant
Hairbrush and scrunchies<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nEntertainment (in case of longer labor)*<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019ll 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\u2019ll be brought the food (usually when you\u2019re finally asleep!), so good to have snacks on hand for postpartum too!<\/p>\n\n\n\nMedicines<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Daily vitamins<\/a>
*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<\/p>\n\n\n\nOther Essentials<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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!<\/p>\n\n\n\nC-Section<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
***DISCOUNTS JUST FOR YOU***<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n