You’ve probably already heard about all the necessities you should pack in your hospital bag — you’ve packed your clothes and toiletries, and you’ve even put Baby‘s car seat in the car — but here are a few items you might not have thought to bring, but will be thankful that you did.
Snacks, both small and substantial
A lot of people bring snacks when going to the hospital for other reasons, thinking that the food offerings might be subpar during their stay. But what about during labor? Especially if it’s long? Not all people feel well enough to eat during labor, but if you can, you may be glad to have some munchies on hand to power you through. Nausea is common during labor, so you may want to pack something that will be easy to keep down — just in case. Yogurt, simple soups, granola bars or protein shakes are all popular choices. After delivery, if you’re getting sick of hospital food or give birth in the middle of the night, you might want to have a favorite meal on hand or some good takeout options in mind.
Eye mask and ear plugs
These goodies can help you shut out the world and sleep, rest, or just zone out during labor and then later on during your hospital stay. When laboring, you might need a break to just chill and recharge or recenter and focus, and afterwards, you may be trying to sleep in a space full of lights and noisy interruptions. These can help you get the rest you need.
Music
Not for everybody, but sometimes labor can be made a little easier with some tunes. Maybe you decide to make a labor playlist of songs that will help you cope or sounds that will take you far and away. You can bring headphones or a small speaker — whatever you think will work for you. The same goes for other forms of entertainment. Magazines, your favorite show on demand — bring what you like, but keep in mind that heavy reading and viewing might not really be something you can handle during this rather intense time.
Hair ties, head wraps, or headbands
This is the time for an easy do, so unless you have short hair, you’ll want to bring a few things to get your hair out of your way. Hair also tends to get really tangled in the midst of labor and birth, so keeping it out of the way is key. The bright side? This very special occasion can be a fine excuse to get a new head wrap or headband.
Health and beauty shortcuts
Even if you are already a beauty minimalist, you’ll find that during your hospital stay simplicity is essential. You might skip drying your hair to feed Baby or even feel too uncomfortable to walk to the bathroom to wash your face or brush your teeth. Packing some health and beauty items that make taking care of yourself a little easier is a big help. Products like dry shampoo (which may soon be your new best friend as a parent anyway), face wipes, or little water-free toothbrushes can be great options.
Going-home outfit options
Have you already packed the super cute outfit Baby will be wearing home after your hospital stay? Then you’re ahead of the game. But since you just can’t be certain of what size theywill be when they arrive, it can actually be helpful to pack a few options in various sizes. And what about you? Pack some comfy options — shoes for swollen feet included — that you’ll feel good in, and keep in mind that you won’t lose that bump immediately after giving birth. Your body will still be a somewhat pregnant-looking shape and size (think 4 or 5 months along) when you go home. It’s also helpful to think ahead in terms of outerwear, especially if you live somewhere cold or are delivering during a season in which the weather changes quickly. Is there a chance that you’ll need coats, hats, or snuggly blankets for going home? If so, plan accordingly, even if it’s mild when you head to the hospital.
Something that will bring you comfort
Maybe it’s a favorite blanket or a picture to use as a focal point. Maybe it’s a massage ball or an overstuffed pillow. Having items you think will provide you with physical or emotional comfort can go a long way when you’re laboring and during your postpartum hospital stay. You might even want to bring in something special, like a new baby book, to start recording baby’s firsts before you head home. One exception? Don’t bring something so valuable you’d be devastated if it were lost or damaged.
Any daily toiletries, medications, or healthcare items
If you’ve been a busy bee and packed your bag well in advance, you may have already packed toiletries like travel shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and such, but it’s important to remember the things you can’t really pack ahead of time. This might include regular medications, your everyday face lotion, hairbrush, eyeglasses and other items that might be stored elsewhere — like in your medicine cabinet or on your nightstand — in the days and weeks leading up to labor. It can be helpful to make a list of these sorts of necessities in advance so that when you do go into labor, you or a loved one can gather these items quickly and easily so you’re not caught without them.
Breastfeeding
If you are planning on breastfeeding, you may want to bring coconut oil or nipple cream to soothe what may soon be tender nipples and two comfortable nursing bras. Keep in mind that you’ll want something soft, supportive, and roomy, as your breasts may swell and become engorged once your milk comes in. If you plan to exclusively pump, bring all of your equipment as well. If you’ve collected colostrum, transport it in a cooler lined with ice packs.
Plan ahead for tech!
This is a friendly reminder to pack all your chargers for all the tech and devices you bring! A portable power bank is excellent in a pinch when your charge is running low. If you don’t have a smartphone or digital camera with ample storage, you might run out of space if you take loads of pictures or record videos. Freeing up storage before heading to the hospital is a good idea. Also, bring a few extra SD cards for those devices that need them, and make sure you have your passwords and cloud access ready. Also, hospital WiFi can sometimes be spotty, so if you have a personal hotspot on your phone or a hotspot device, make sure you have it set up on your phone or tucked in your bag.
But do you run the risk of overpacking?
Do you know that old rule about how to avoid overpacking? The one that says once packed, you should look over your bag and remove a few items. Here, you might do that by unpacking anything that the hospital or birthing center will provide you with during your stay. Some of what will likely be on hand include a hospital gown, postpartum underwear, pads, peri bottles, witch hazel wipes for you, diapers, wipes, cream, nail files, and bath soap for Baby. Your location may even provide you with an exercise ball to labor on or a special blanket or hat for baby. Certainly, many parents do want to bring some of their own items for a bit of comfort and normalcy. For example, you may want to change out of your hospital gown and into a favorite nightgown and bathrobe from home after delivery. But if you’d be just as happy using the items provided, you should check with your hospital or birthing center in advance to learn exactly what they’ll have on hand for you. Pro tip? If you have to share a room or bathroom postpartum, you’ll definitely want flip-flops or shower shoes.
And remember, if heading to the hospital catches you off guard, don’t stress — you can, in reality, pack lighter than you think — since you don’t really need much when you’re there. In truth, if you have some clothes to go home in, toiletries and health care items, your phone and charger, and some clothes and a car seat for baby, then you’ve got your basics covered. These extra items above aren’t necessities, but they can be nice. So, pack that eye mask and those nursing bras if you’re able!
