An Homage to Hospital Bag Checklists
When I was pregnant I loooved a good hospital bag checklist, couldn’t get enough. At a time when nearly everything was unpredictable, it felt comforting to have control over something. I especially felt this way during my second pregnancy. Looking back, my desire for a minimal, streamlined and perfectly organized hospital bag was a subconcious way of feeling some sense of order - likely the result of a chaotic pregnancy, during a chaotic time, with a lot of uncertainty. In fact, I had an emergency hospital visit around 33 weeks and had to be admitted for two days. Due to COVID precautions, my husband could not come into the hospital and I was totally isolated. It was an emergency situation and in the rush to the hospital I left my phone charger, along with anything else that would have prepared me for a two day hospital stay. My phone died within a few hours of arrival, and I found myself in triage for over 12 hours and eventually, in labor and delivery for another day and half without a working phone, without a tv, without reading material, without water, without food (at the I time I was having contractions and considered to be in labor) a lot to unpack here… As I tried to calm my mind and fight off boredom, I started to mentally prepare my hospital bag. I laid out each thing in my mind and slowly and carefully folded it and packed in away into my bag. It was like a meditative state and it helped calm me down and get some rest. Needless to say, once I was out of there, and c-section scheduled for 37 weeks, I went home and packed that bag in real life. Obviously, packing a hospital bag is a practical thing to do, but it’s also a mental game - a signal that this is really happening, you’re as prepared as you can reasonbly be, and you can let go of the many things that are out of your hands.
So here is my own “minimal” hospital bag packing list, heavily editorialized. It’s an homage to the countless lists before this one that comforted me and helped me feel prepared during my own pregnancies. I hope it’s a useful checklist and brings you some calm as well. Also just know that if you run to the hospital without a perfectly packed bag, or without a bag at all, everything will be juuuust fine (but maybe bring a phone charger).
Minimal Hospital Bag Packing List
For the birthing parent:
The bag itself: I used a Lo and Sons weekender bag, which was the perfect size for my minimal-ish approach. I especially love the zippered bottom compartment for dirty clothes and shoes. My husband brought a backpack.
1-2 pair of pajamas (optional, in my opinion). I wore a hospital gown almost the entire time, for both births. Everything is so messy during labor and the first few days after, I’d rather spare my cute pajamas. On the other hand, I was happy to have this set for treks to the NICU. If you want pajamas to make you feel more comfortable, or less institutionalized, then by all means! If you’re planning to forgo the hospital gown after delivery then you might want to consider a nursing friendly sleep shirt since doctors and nurses need what feels like constant access to your nether regions.
A practical outfit to go home in. I went home in high-waisted black joggers and a nursing friendly henly sweatshirt that covered my butt. A few things to keep in mind when packing your own “going home outfit”:
you’ll be bleeding and either wearing a diaper or the biggest pad you’ve ever seen, your pantyline situation is not going to be cute.
Your stomach will still look pregnant. Opt for maternity or high waisted stretchy bottoms (also a lot more comfortable for c-section incisions).
Dresses are also great, but I personally liked pants to feel more “held-in” - see above re adult diaper and pads.
Given all the bodily fluids, I would opt for darker colors on the bottom and avoid anything that might stain easily.
A robe or oversized cardigan. Even if you decide to skip pajams, I would still bring one of these. I forgot this for my second birth and it would have made trips to the NICU waaay more comfortable.
Sandals/ slippers - be prepared for your feet to get (even more) swollen. Stick to roomy options.
Nursing/sleep bras
Eye mask - the lights are often on throughout the night and you should also try to nap as much as possible during the day.
Earplugs - hospitals are so noisy, especially if your room is by the nurse’s station. If you’re worried about not hearing your baby then use them when your partner or support person is up with the baby or the baby is in the nursery. Trust me trust me trust me. You need sleep.
Toiletries - my list included a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, lipbalm, skincare, deodorant, make-up, and hair ties.
Water bottle - the hospital will give you a big ass lidded cup, but I was so thirsty all the time and I went through it quickly. I liked having the extra water bottle so I didn’t have to keep bothering the nurses to fill my cup up.
Pen and notebook for writing down your birth story and any other thoughts and memories.
Baby book - if you have/want to bring you can record birth stats and birth story and the hospital staff can take footprints - I did not remember to get these with either baby, oh well
Wallet with ID and insurance cards
Parental leave and insurance paperwork, as needed
Aromatherapy, if that’s your thing. I brought lavendar essential oil which I used often during both stays
Hand sanitizer
Face Masks
If you’ll be laboring at the hospital, I also highly recommend an inflatable yoga ball - it was annoying to bring and inflate, but so worth it
Phone, computer/tablet, camera, chargers, headphones etc.
Snacks! Lots and lots of snacks***
If you’re planning to breastfeed:
Nursing pillow. I really went back and forth on this one. During my first birth I brought the My Breast Friend Pillow and really appreciated having it. The seond time around I decided at literally the last minute, as we were walking out the door, not to bring it. I didn’t miss it. If you’re on the fence I say leave it - it’s big and bulky and can be recreated with some creative hospital pillow stacking.
Nipple balm - use it prophylactically! I brought both a natural version and the big guns (lanolin). I had to resort to the big guns both times.
For the baby
I packed the prototype of the Layinne clutch/changing pad and it was the perfect solution for all my baby items. I packed everything for the baby into the clutch and then threw it into my hospital bag. It was so nice to have those items neatly stored in one place and protected from everything else in my bag (e.g. accidental toiletry leakage, pen marks etc. - you never know!)
One going home outfit. Your baby wil be in a wrap top provided by the hospital and swaddled for most of your stay. You really don’t need multiple outfits unless that will bring you joy, in which case, pack as many outfits as you’d like. Of course, I think Layinne sets are the perfect going home outfit. They are designed to facilitate skin-to-skin while still keeping baby warm and include thoughtful features specifically for newborns. Coming soon - you can join our email list to be notified when we launch!
I brought two pacifiers and stored them in a small silicone bag. I would also consider this optional. I believe most hospitals can provide upon request.
Your newborn carseat
A seasonally appropriate blanket to keep baby warm in the carseat
I relied on the hosptial for 1) mesh underwear 2) multiple hospital gowns (you can request an extra to wear like a robe, and cover your bum, a hot tip from my doula, thanks Gemma! Change it out for a fresh one whenever you need 3) those grippy sock/slipper things. They will also send you home with lots of newborn diapers, gauze, pads, mesh underwear etc. Bring an extra bag for all of the freebies.
For Partners and Support People
Bring comfy clothes that you can sleep in, toiletries, electronics, a blanket and neck pillow, and, it bears repeating again, SNACKS.
*** A note on snacks: check your hospital or birthing center’s COVID-related restrictions. My husband was not allowed to leave and we were not able to get food delivered. The hospital cafeteria was also closed. Had we been better prepared we would have brought snacks and even full meals. I was reliant on terrible hospital meals served at the oddest hours (dinner at 4:45?) and my husband was even worse off - they brought him the “partner meal”, which was like a stingier version of my terrible meal. Learn from my mistakes - bring snacks!
What else would you add? I have a lot of suggestions in the 2020 holiday gift guides if you’re looking for product recs for your hospital bags - especially the guides for Expecting Moms and Expecting Dads/Partners.