If you’ve been around for a while you probably know I’m a planner! The doctor always laughs and says I hope you brought your pencil today, not a sharpie! I would love to live in a sharpie world, but know that isn’t realistic. Since you don’t know exactly when your baby will come into this world I told myself I wanted to be packed and ready to go by 35 weeks. Well fast forward and I’m now 38 weeks with things lying out in our bedroom, but not packed. Y’all I can’t bring myself to pull the trigger. It’s like it makes this whole thing that much more real I guess? Did you feel this way? I’m so curious to know!
During this pregnancy, I did a ton of research on what to pack, read numerous blogs, and talked to my sister and other friends that recently had babies. The list below is everything mama, daddy, and baby need without over packing! I’ve been told the hospital gives you lots of things, so take full advantage! You know we’re paying for it in the long run anyway!
Here we go! Let’s hope all of this gets packed up and placed in our car this weekend! You never know when baby B will make his appearance. My doctors seem to think it will be sooner rather than later!
For Mom
- ID
- Insurance Card
- Labor gown (I wanted my own labor gown and bought this one)
- Plastic bag or an empty packing cube for dirty clothes (we’re using these)
- Nursing Bras and these
- Nursing pads + nipple butter
- Nursing tanks
- Nursing cover (I bought two carseat covers that can be used as a nursing cover too!)
- My Breast Friend Nursing Pillow
- Your favorite PJ’s (I’m packing these and these)
- Loungewear (I’m packing these pants and a couple of these breastfeeding friendly tops)
- Lightweight robe (I’m packing this one gifted to me by PinkBlush)
- Makeup bag
- Diabetes Set (since I have Gestational Diabetes and will have to check my blood sugars throughout delivery they recommend I bring my own for comfort. Obviously they will have one if you forget)
- Medications (Tylenol / Zantac / Routine Medications / Prenatal Vitamin / Colace / MiraLAX)
- Chapstick
- Face wash / face wipes
- Travel size (shampoo, conditioner, and body wash)
- Dry shampoo
- Hair spray
- Contacts and Contact solution
- Eye glasses
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush + toothpaste
- Non-scented lotion (one the baby arrives you will want to be fragrance free)
- Towel (shower and face towels from home. I hear the hospital towels are tiny and rough)
- Portable Fan (We’re packing the one we will use for the baby’s stroller)
- 2-night lights (The hospital lighting is super bright so we will use night light to get around instead of turning on those florescent lights).
- Shower sandals
- Comfy socks with grips
- Slippers (I packed a pair from a past hotel stay, so I can dispose them at the end of our stay)
- Curling wand (or whatever makes you feel like yourself)
- 12 ft iPhone charger (since you will be tied to the bed most of your stay)
- Yeti with Metal Straw + fresh lemons (there is a refrigerator in our room so feel free to pack fresh produce. Not sure I could live without my fresh lemons!)
- Snacks (we made a Trader Joe’s run for all of my favorite things)
- Basket – to keep all the little things organized in the room. This was a recommendation from my sweet friend Elizabeth. There are so many little things you need to access and want out on your hospital table and when the nurses come to check on you you have to move them all out of the way! This way you can keep all your things in a basket and quickly move them out of the way. This is why we’re friends!!
- Going home outfit and Shoes
For Dad
- ID
- Day time outfits
- Loungewear (zippered hoodie for skin to skin time)
- Boxers
- Baseball cap
- Socks
- Shower shoes / flip flops
- iPhone charger + extension cord (or you can buy two 12ft iPhone chargers)
- Outlet plug adapter (to plug multiple items in at once)
- Bluetooth speaker
- Apple TV
- Camera / charger / tripod
- Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shower items)
- Snacks
- Yeti
- Book
- Shower towel
- Twin sheet set
- Pillows
For Baby
- Diaper Bag to pack his things in
- Car seat base installed in your car
- Car seat (bring this into the hospital once you are moved to the postpartum room)
- Wooden name plate for photos
- Love love
- 2 swaddles
- 1 blanket
- Monogram hat
- Booties
- Socks
- Going home outfit (pack 2 different sizes. I love these two outfits.)
P.S. I’ve heard it was recommended to have your bedroom set up before you leave for the hospital. So, I created a postpartum, snack, and diapering station in our bedroom since he will be in a bassinet for a couple of months. Here’s what I included.
Mamas let me know if I’m missing anything!
Here we go!
Inspired, Maryashley