Hospital Bag
I have been thinking about writing this for a few weeks (in real life, months). A friend of mine is preggo, and now due SUPER soon, so when we hung out, I was so excited to brain dump all things baby on her. Which, in hindsight, was probably totally overwhelming and terrifying for her, but she took it so well. (Thanks, and SORRY, Jen!) I tried to keep the wisdom-dump to at least the labor and first few weeks of motherhood, but one thing we didn’t talk about was the all-important HOSPITAL BAG! And now that she is inching ever closer to her due date, I wanted to finish what I started.
In the final few weeks of my pregnancy (or what I hoped was the last few weeks), I started doing some hardcore research on what to pack in my bag. Seeing that it takes me FOREVER to pack a suitcase for a typical trip, I knew I need a hefty amount of time to safely pack, unpack, repack, (possibly unpack again) and then save room for those last minute “shoves-ins” to feel comfortable with my Hospital Bag choices.
I learned a lot from reading other women’s experiences and from my own experience so here are a few standout tips/advice on prepping for the hospital.
- #1 Tip/Advise - Don’t over pack – you won’t use any of it! At least I didn’t. And I didn’t even pack a big suitcase…just a normal-everyday carry on sized suitcase, with a few other bags on the side, of course.
- #2 Tip/Advice - Do your nails, girl! It’ll help you feel pretty. I painted my toes a sensational color that I can’t remember, but had my fingernails manicured with NO COLOR; bold, I know, but I was afraid they would start chipping long before The Little Monkey arrived. This way I was safe.
- #3 Tip/Advice - Back up your phone before your due date (your computer too)!! You should do this anyway in life but even more so now because we’re SO clumsy that last month (believe it or not!!). I had to have my computer completely rebuilt three weeks before my due date because I spilled a whole Nalgene bottle of water on it! That sucked. Don’t be like me.
Let me preface this section by saying, while I was in the hospital, I literally only wore the hospital gown, the disposable underwear, my robe and a nursing sweatshirt. No bra and no “real underwear.” I was always either nursing or going to the bathroom, and both of those tasks took 45 minutes each.
Now on to what to pack:
- A comfy, long sleeve robe. This was my everything. I got a simple dark blue Gillian & O’Malley robe at Target for $25. Not only was it soft, but it was also SUPER flattering, and after giving birth to a baby, girl you need that! It worked perfectly for those in-hospital photos too!
- Let’s circle back to the disposable undies mentioned above - - The hospital I was at gave me disposable underwear but I’m not sure if all hospitals do that so I recommend getting a package of the boyshort kind as they don’t cut in as much or, and I’m dead serious, Depends Fit Flex were amazing.
- Toiletries – Toothbrush & toothpaste, hair ties, brush. That’s it. Maybe face wipes? Honestly, I didn’t end up showering until I got home. I had “heard” that the baby bonds with your smell, so naturally, like all new moms, I was super paranoid about ruining that. Plus, I didn’t have any time to shower! How the hell was I so damn busy? Oh yeah, I just had a baby.
- Slippers that don’t slip off. They give you the gripper socks in the joint, which I wore as well because that floor is slick!
- Super comfy baggie pants & nursing shirt to travel home in. . I think I packed like three options, and that was overkill. Oh, and do yourself a favor, don’t forget slip-on shoes to go home in. You won’t want to be bending over to tie any sneaker at that point.
- I also found these Gillian & O'Malley nursing bras I really liked. They are sleep bras in a jersey material, so there's zero real support but were perfect for those late night feedings and those tender nips.
- A nursing sweatshirt! These were my lifesaver! My hormones we so out of control afterward, I was constantly freezing; ya know, when I wasn’t having night sweats, so this helped keep me warmer and was easy to nurse in.
- Spill proof water bottle (This is Camelbak is my jam)
- Chapstick
- Good lotion. For your hands AND face. It’s hella dry in the hospital.
- I’m always about a good nasal saline spray. I never travel without it.
- Soft tissues – because the ones in the hospital are like sand paper. My nose runs a lot anyway but it was especially runny (and bloody, gross) while I was preggo.
- The long cord phone charger – so you can have your phone plugged in and still use it while in bed.
- Lastly, I wish I had brought a warm, cozy blanket with me, but I didn’t. Heed my warning – It’s SO cold in there! They give you blankets, but it’s not the same. I wanted something excessively soft and cozy to comfy me.
Unless my mom brain is shorting out, those are my top must-haves in the hospital bag. Oh, wait, my last tip –
- #4 Tip/Advice – All the stuff they give you at the hospital; use it! And then take it home with you. The pads, the numbing spray, the witch hazel wipes, the sits bath (if you have a vaginal birth, holy shit, USE THE SITS BATH, it’s fantastic!), the diapers, the nipple cream, the nipple gel pads (take EVERYTHING that will or could help your nipples if you’re breastfeeding!). Leave no stone unturned. Take. That. Stuff!
Ailish and I - Day 2 - February 2017
Ok, that’s it for me. If you’re a mom, I’d love to hear what you used to get you through your hospital stay and/or the first few weeks of post-partum.
UPDATE: Another essential to bring with you, that my friend Amy reminded me of -- a NURSING PILLOW! For shame, I can't believe I forgot about this! I used (and loved) My Breast Friend nursing pillow. It wraps around your body and has a clip, so it stays in place becomes a sort of shelf around you. Also, there's a handy little pocket on the front, so my chapstick and tissues were never far away. But seriously, the nursing pillow makes breastfeeding just a tad more comfortable.
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