What’s In My Hospital Bag: First Time Mom

As a first-time mom, I have zero clue what to expect from my delivery stay at the hospital! I'm simply winging this whole new mom thing with the anticipation of creating a follow-up post concluding what I actually found to be necessary for this endeavor. As long as vaginal delivery goes as planned, we plan to discharge at 24 hours post-delivery, but I am trying to pack as if our plans do not go accordingly. I'd like to start off this post by saying that this packing list is super minimal! I plan to take full advantage of all the hospital "swag" during our stay, mesh panties and all (no shame here)! Packing for a delivery shouldn't feel like packing for a vacation and I'm going to place a bet that I won't even use a quarter of the items I pack, even with such few items! When it came to packing for baby, I also kept it super simple. The hospital will provide all the new baby necessities such as wipes, diapers, swaddles, pacifiers... you name it! But don't forget those picture worthy items such as a cute bow and swaddle for sending out that mass announcement text!

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Mom Essentials

Nursing Friendly Pajamas- I chose this style because I personally cannot sleep in gown style pajamas and prefer my legs not touching while I sleep (weird, I know!). The neckline makes these very accessible for nursing and they are super soft.

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Robe- I chose to bring my oversized (because pregnancy belly) DARK colored robe that would not show staining if any occurred. I would have gone for a lighter material robe if I were delivering in warmer months.

Slippers- I chose to bring my own slippers versus wearing hospital socks with grips, but I would say slippers are optional if you don't mind roaming the halls in early labor in hospital socks. I chose an easy slip on style with rubber soles.

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Nursing Bras x 2- I will be wearing a bra to the hospital, but do plan to do some laboring in the AquaDoula pool, therefore will need a back up bra or two for my 1-2 day stay. I chose very basic, inexpensive ones just in case they were to get stained.

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Mom’s Going Home Outfit- I kept my going home outfit very simple and loose. I chose an athletic type jogger in black, a black nursing camisole and an oversized pull-over sweatshirt from American Eagle. I contemplated long and hard about wearing leggings home, but if delivery resulted in a C-section, I knew I'd wish I had a looser style pant. And of course I'll pack socks and tennis shoes!

Washable Nursing Pads- From what I've been told, it may be days before my milk supply comes in, but to be on the safe side, I'm bringing 2 sets of washable breast pads.

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Postpartum Girdle- My plan is to wear this almost immediately after delivery (again, vaginal). Obviously, my plan might change if delivery results in a C-section.

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Nipple Cream- While the hospital may have some, I don't want to be out of luck if not!

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Dermoplast- I've heard so many people say this pain relieving spray is a game changer, especially when it comes to using the restroom post-delivery. Again, if the hospital has this available, you can bet I'll be using theirs up first!

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Personal Pillow- I don't know about you, but I don't sleep well without something that's my own. I plan to bring my own pillow with a darker colored pillow case (You don't want it to blend in with the hospital pillows and it accidentally be left behind).

Toiletries Worth Mentioning- Make-up removing wipes, dry shampoo, chapstick, body lotion, shower cap and flip flops for the shower. I don't plan to wash my hair during my stay (sorry if that grosses you out). My hope is that our stay will be short and sweet and honestly, it's a lot of work and requires a lot supplies/tools to wash, dry and style long hair. Do keep in mind your spouse or significant other though before you leave the shampoo and conditioner off your list.

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Baby Essentials

Easy Access Gown- I just adore these knotted gowns by Ella's Bows! These are perfect for late night changes and come in such cute patterns.

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Baby’s Going Home Outfit- I chose a one piece outfit that was on the thicker side, as we will be bringing our baby home in the middle of February in Ohio.

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Boppy Pillow- I plan to take full advantage of the lactation consultants at the hospital, therefore I want to as closely mimic the situation I would be nursing in at home. I feel using the boppy with a tiny newborn sounds easier than using a flat hospital pillow.

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Swaddle- I love these muslin swaddles and plan to bring one to the hospital.

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Socks, mittens, and hats- These are obviously newborn essentials, especially in the winter months! I plan to bring two of each.

Miscellaneous Items- Don’t forget important items such as phone chargers, camera, tripods, necessities to keep dad comfortable and anybother items you use on the daily such as medications.

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