Hospital Bag Must-Haves
I cannot believe my baby is 9-weeks old! Time is flying faster than I imagined. When I was pregnant and doing newborn photography, I got the opportunity to talk to so many women who had just had a baby, and they were always so generous in sharing their experiences with me. I told myself I would write a quick blog post about “Hospital Bag Must Haves” because I found it helpful to have first-hand information, and I wanted to share it with other expecting moms. I took their advice and added a few personal suggestions on what to pack in your hospital bag, and this is the COVID-19 edition. There are some things that I didn’t pack and wish I had. If you’re pregnant and wondering what to bring to the hospital, this blog is for you.
Labor
Scrunchies- I like scrunchies because they’re not as tight as the elastic pony holders, and when you’re in labor, you want to be as comfortable as possible.
Headband- to keep your hair out of your face while in labor, washing your face, or in the shower. I also packed a cute floral one that I put on for some quick photos.
Handheld Fan- TRUST me, when you’re in labor, and you’re wearing a mask, you will be grateful to have even the smallest bit of air hitting your face.
Large Tumbler with a straw- You don’t want the large hospital plastic cups, especially with the paper straws in your face spilling everywhere while you’re in labor, and with COVID having your own bottle is better, in my opinion.
Gum- I don’t know if it was just me, but I found my mouth getting dry after pushing for a long time; gum helps. This brings me to the next item...
Lip Balm- your lips will thank you later.
Mask- choose one that is comfortable for you and you can breathe easily with. Most hospitals require women to wear them while in labor; yes, it sucks.
Extra Long Charger- When you’re in the hospital bed, you’ll be glad to have a fully charged phone in your hands. This brings me to my next item:
Camera- With COVID19, photographers cannot come and photograph the birth, so you’ll have to capture your memories. Your phone will work fine, just make sure it is charged. Also, the nurses and staff are great about taking pictures for you, so don’t be afraid to ask. You can even set up a tripod and record your delivery if you want to do that.
Postpartum
Slippers- I brought my Nike slides because I used them to shower. Hospital floors give me weird vibes.
Socks- the hospital will provide non-slip ones, but I liked having my own.
Postpartum Gown- I initially bought this, thinking I would wear it during labor, but I didn’t because when I arrived at the hospital, I was already dilated to a 9.5, and we had to get the show on the road ASAP. I’m so glad I didn’t, though, because it would have been ruined after labor, and it was so comfortable to wear after. The hospital gown is great while giving birth- trust me. It’s the after
Button- up nightgown- You’ll want to avoid pants or having to pull anything over you after giving birth. This is also helpful if you plan on doing skin-to-skin and breastfeeding. Find a cute one that you can wear in photos:)
Towel- the hospital shower towels are thin and smaller than regular size towels. I regret not bringing my own.
Pillow + Blanket- Hospital pillows are not the most comfortable, and again with COVID having your own pillow and blanket is just an extra precaution. I didn’t pack my own because we rushed to the hospital and I wish I had,
Postpartum care- The hospital will provide you with everything you need. However, if there are specific things you want, you can bring your own. A few things I packed in my hospital bag were:
Frida Mom Peri Bottle- The angle on this is so helpful. The hospital one does not work like this.
Depends- I didn’t get to wear the ones I bought because I got the wrong size, but I’m sure they’re better than the hospital cloth ones, lol. That being said, they’re not a must.
Frida mom Ice pads- these were good, but the hospital did provide some as well, so not a must.
Earth Mom Perineal Spray-All-natural cooling spray that helps with cooling and discomfort. The hospital provides one, but I liked this one much better because it is all-natural.
* Frida Mom makes a whole kit with everything you might need. I didn’t know this until after I had my baby, but It’s worth checking out.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding friendly clothes- Button-up gowns help with this, nursing bra, and tanks.
Breastfeeding pillow- Helpful to learn how to latch the baby using this since you’ll likely be using it at home.
Breast pads- You might not need these just yet, but if you’re BF, you will eventually.
Personal care items: your essential toiletries. I packed some light makeup so I could take a few photos.
Snacks: You never know how long your labor will be, and once you’re there, the nurses encourage you to fast for delivery purposes. Also, with COVID, the cafeteria had weird hours, and there wasn’t a snack machine. We forgot our snacks at home because we rushed to the hospital and trust me, it sucked, but eventually, my husband got us some.
The hospital will provide you with all of the basic things you may need. A lot of this stuff is to try and make yourself as comfortable as possible in a time when you’re physically uncomfortable, most likely in pain and exhausted. If I missed anything that you think I should add, please let me know. Everyone’s labor is different, and these are just some things that worked for me.