Hospital Bag Must-Have Essentials: for Mama & Baby

Today, you are curious about what to pack for yourself in your hospital bag. I will share with you, new parents, what you need and, separately, include a list of items that your hospital will provide for you so that it can lighten what you pack in your suitcase. This list will ease your wallet, especially if you are on a budget, and any worries you may have if you are on a budget. I hope the list helps you as much as it helped me with my second round of delivery.

 

Checklist

 

1. Toothbrush & Paste

 

2. Soap (if breastfeeding, use non-scented soap), Lotion, Hair products, and Deodorant.

 

3. Shower shoes, Slippers

 

4. Loose clothes

Loose clothes after birth might help you feel relaxed and free instead of confined in something tight. It will also feel comfortable if you are a nursing mama or if you plan on recovering from a C-section.

• Dress, Shorts, Sweats, T-shirt (3-4 outfits)
• You could also wear the gown provided and switch gowns when needed.
• Nursing Bra (whether you choose to nurse or not, colostrum milk could be triggered and released from your chest, so be sure to add nursing pads.)
• Comfy socks

5. Postpartum belly support wrap girdle (Belly Binder)

• The girdle wrap allows your organs and muscles to recenter to their previous locations in your body before pregnancy. It supports your abdominal muscles and helps shrink the uterus after birth. It also helps decrease postpartum bleeding in time by removing blood, but it also relieves you from any back and pelvic floor pain that might occur in your healing process.
• It is best to wear it every day for about six months to heal. It will help your body maintain its shape and improve posture. Please read your manual before using your belly wrap.

 

6. Postpartum underwear

• The hospital will have plenty of underwear for you to have and take home if you need to, but if you prefer to buy stylish postpartum underwear, do as you please.

 

7. Peri bottle

A peri bottle is a bottle that you fill up with warm water, and while you are peeing in the toilet, you aim the bottle and spray your vagina while you are peeing so that your urine does not sting you.

• It helps you pee by relieving the stingy burning sensation in your urine after vaginal birth
• It is beneficial if you tore while pushing and received stitches.

 

8. Pillow & Blanket for spouse

• If you have a particular body pillow you cannot part with, I will pack it. (But let me remind you that you will be bringing your pillow into a hospital with germs, and when you get home, you might have to work to deep clean that pillow to use in the comfort of your home. If you think you will have the energy again, go for it, but I would leave it behind.

 

9. Heating pad

• The heating pad is my favorite. Your heating pad will relieve your contractions after delivery and soothe any discomfort of cramps and aches in your back or wherever you are. Yes, if you did not know when you gave birth, your uterus tries to shrink back to average size over a long period, causing your body to feel the contraction in the process of shrinking. If you are nursing, you will feel the contractions every nursing session until they go away, which can take up to 6 weeks or longer. So, the heating pad will be a fantastic helper.

 

10. Phone charger

You do not want to miss your moment to take pictures and record your sweet, precious moments. It is a last-minute item you need daily, but if you need to, buy an extra charger and pack it in your bag.

 

11. Money

• If you have your spouse or a guest to assist you during this time, they will, for the most part, need to purchase their own meal.
• Parking garages usually give you one free voucher for your time in the hospital, but other hospitals may charge you or your spouse a fee if you leave and return.

 

12. Insurance card

 

13.Focal Point

When you are in early labor and find yourself only dilated to a 2 out of 10, then the waiting period can become long and might leave you anxious with thoughts. To prevent that from happening, I suggest you bring something you can do to entertain and distract you, but I will also advise you to get a focal point object as your labor increases to active labor. A focal point object can vary from a stuffed animal, a picture on the wall, music on your phone, and maybe your spouse/ assistant who will be helping you through the journey of pushing out your bundle of joy.

 

14. Birth Plan

PRAY, and pray some more! Pray for what you want, and pray for your doctors, who will assist you throughout your hospital stay. Pray in Jesus’ name and have faith that everything will be good. I know that you have a birth plan ready with no hesitation for your doctors, but remember that God forbid anything goes south; it is about you and the baby in the end. The doctors will do what is necessary for your and your baby’s health!

 

15. Bible

Whether it’s on your phone or a book, never leave behind God’s Word. It helped soothe me, just having it near me as a focal point to remind me of God’s presence during heavy contractions. But even if you do not get the chance to prepare it personally, you can ask your spouse to read to you or hug it for comfort.

 

16. Breast Pump

For nursing mamas, if you plan on nursing and want to increase your milk supply or are engorged with an excessive amount of milk and need it released, then a breast pump would be necessary to pack. Some mothers might experience a temporary phase of the newborn baby not latching, or the mothers might choose to bottle feed their babies their “Golden milk.” Again, packing your breast pump just in case will be beneficial overall.

 

17. Snacks and Drinks

The hospital has a kitchen that brings you three meals daily throughout your stay but does work on kitchen hours that usually open around 7:30 am – 7:00 pm. Do not hesitate to Pick your must-have snacks after delivery because you might gain an appetite after putting your body through so much work delivering a baby!

Plus, packing the snacks of your liking might save you money.