What I actually used in my hospital bag (mom edition)
As a first time mom, as per usual, I overpacked. Granted, my entire labor was only about 14 hours from start to finish and I stayed in the hospital for about 2 days. Here are the essential items I used in my hospital bag and I’ll also include a list of things I did NOT use that are always on checklists and my quick little reason why!
indoor slippers
There were super helpful to have in my hospital bag as I walked around the room and especially the bathroom and shower! Couple this with a nice pair of socks and I was set. I had originally brought a much less comfortable version than the one linked above and regretted it. The few extra dollars are worth it. I bought a pair of these after I got home from the hospital and wished I had these instead!
recovery kit
If you can’t tell, i’m a sucker for sets and kits. Efficiency is where I live and this postpartum kit has all the essentials you need during your hospital stay. Remember this is more of like a starter kit and you will need to buy additional supplies for the remainder of your postpartum experience (like postpartum underwear and ice pads)
toiletries
This was super convenient and easy to have and use. I didn’t have to think about forgetting anything and just plopped the whole set in my bag! The only thing I would add is a stick of chapstick for my lips, some facewash and a moisturizer. I absolutely did not focus on my skincare routine at all and forgot about it most of the time during my stay (even though I brought literally my entire set). Also, bring your own towel!
going home outfit
A lot of the checklists told me to bring several outfits and I honestly just lived in the hospital gown and one comfy outfit 90% of the time. I brought a few extra underwear to change each day but the gown that comes in the postpartum kit and a set of pjs (no buttons) was all I really needed. Bringing a fresh outfit to go home in though is definitely nice!
phone chargers
Absolutely yes. The outlets are SO FAR AWAY. I’m the type of person where I need to be on my phone to fall asleep (I know, bad habit but whatever) and this super long charger was so clutch to have. Especially since I change positions often and appreciated the slack to maneuver however I needed to be comfortable. The checklists were right about this one. Get the long charger.
blanket + pillow
The hospital blankets were super thin and not very comfortable, so I brought my travel blanket with me to add some coziness to my stay! You can always bring one from home, I just opted for a travel version to save space so I wouldn’t have to lug around a huge bag into the hospital when it was crunch time. Also, bring your own pillow.
WHAT I DID NOT USE
I AM JUST GOING THROUGH popular HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST (THIS IS WHAT I USED TO PACK MY OVERNIGHT BAG THE FIRST TIME)
Please remember that the list below is just what I personally did not use. Please feel free to bring any of the items below for your own comfort and peace of mind!
Nursing bras/tanks: I didn’t find the need for these at the hospital. It was actually more convenient to just use the nursing gown that was in the postpartum kit. I was so new to breastfeeding I didn’t want anything in the way as I learned from the nurses. I was trying several different positions to see what worked best for me and baby, I just found anything in the way of that annoying. That being said, having nursing bras/tanks anytime after the hospital is nice once you feel more confident in what you’re doing
Stretchy joggers/leggings: Again, I kind of just lived in my gowns and pajamas. I was only in the hospital total of two days so spending two days in my pjs is not out of the norm for me. Because labor and delivery is so intensive, I wanted to stay in bed as much as I could to save energy and recover.
Nipple balm: The hospital gave me a supply of lanolin cream so this was totally unneeded!
Bluetooth speakers: This might just be a personal thing but I didn’t even think of playing music during my labor and didn’t miss it at all. I enjoyed being present and being able to focus on what my body what telling me to do.
Big plushy robe: I think a lightweight one would be fine but since I already packed a blanket, I found this repetitive. Maybe a light robe for when visitors arrive just for some extra coverage. If you prefer the plushy robe, I would opt for a long one and substitute it for the blanket.
2-3 pairs of warm fuzzy socks: 1 is enough.
Breastfeeding pillow: The lactation nurse actually wanted me to try regular pillows first to see what positions I liked. They brought in several pillows for support so I could adjust and learn the way that worked best for baby and I.
Breastpump: I brought mine and never took it out of the bag. The hospital came in with theirs and I was able to take home the extra parts and goodies!