1/28/20: *This post has been updated- sharing what I actually used below!
Now that I am nearly 36 weeks pregnant, it is time to start thinking about what to pack for the hospital! Now, this is my first rodeo, so I am likely missing some important things, but I do think I compiled a list of pretty important items! For any of you expecting (or if you know of anyone expecting!), I hope this is helpful and guides you in the right direction!
Up first- what to pack for baby! Although Scott and I know the gender of our baby, we are surprising our family and friends at the birth, so I can’t reveal too much of what I am exactly packing. However, I did create this list below to serve as a guide for you expectant parents!
For moms, I tried to focus on comfort and necessities. So many of you recommended black button down pajamas- buttons to make feeding easier and black, well because things may get messy haha! I purchased a long-sleeve set from Target plus a matching black robe. I also have this set in a short-sleeve version and will bringing it as well just in case I get hot. I will also be bringing this button down thermal gown– many of you mentioned that the nurses will be coming in frequently to ‘check’ you post-delivery and that wearing pants/shorts makes it more difficult. I made sure to pack slippers, socks, nursing bras and flip-flops for showering too! I plan on wearing these comfy joggers and this sweatshirt as my going home look- nothing fancy!
I will also be bringing a boppy to assist with feeding, nipple cream, and a night light for late-night feeds. Many of you recommended bringing an extra long phone charger, but I will be bringing my portable charger instead (same concept- just different devices!). Hospitals can be noisy, so I am also packing a white noise machine and will be bringing a portable fan in case I get a little hot! My travel mirror will be coming as well in case I want to sit in bed and do my makeup- yes, I am that girl. As far as toiletries, I basically am packing everything I would pack for a trip – shower stuff, makeup, face wash, toothbrush, etc. I will also be bringing a towel and washcloth as many of you said the ones at the hospital are not the best/biggest. A comfy blanket and pillow from home will definitely be coming along! I also hear that chapped lips are a big issue after delivery and many of you recommended bringing a good lip balm.
A follower who is an L&D nurse recommended bringing your own OTC medication like Motrin/Tylenol and Colace, as the hospital will charge these medications to your final bill if they are administered.
The hospital will provide postpartum items and I do plan on bringing quite a bit of that home. I will also be creating ‘thank you’ baskets for the nurses that will include lots of snacks and drinks. The nurses can take the baskets to their break room/nurses station as a thank you from the Anglin family 🙂 As a side note, keep in mind that there are day and night shift nurses, so I actually will be making 2 baskets so everyone can have some goodies!
I also have a folder with all of our medical/insurance information as well as a pad of paper and pen packed!
Below, I linked almost all of the items that I will be packing!
As a side note- I didn’t forget about the husbands, but I generally do not pack for Scott. I feel like this sounds mean, but he is a big boy and can pack his own items haha! He will be bringing some comfy clothes (told him that it may get chilly, so lots of layers!), toiletries, a pillow/blanket, phone charger, laptop, and loose change for the vending machine (if you saw my stories about this you know haha!). Other than that, I think he will be good to go!
As far as once I get home, I did try to prepare and order some postpartum items that I felt would be beneficial. Again, this is my first delivery, so I may end up not using/liking any of these items, but many of you have reached out to say that these products are amazing!
I hope this post was helpful for any of you expecting a little one soon! I am so excited for you and your family and pray that you have a smooth delivery! If there is anything you feel like I may have missed within this list, please include it in the comments below!
UPDATED LIST
1/28/20: Hi friends! So many of you have asked for an updated hospital list and to share what I actually used! I actually was looking back to see when I posted this originally- it was 10/22/19, literally 5 days before Gray was born! Little did knew what I was in for haha!
I was fully expecting to have a vaginal delivery and I was very prepared for the postpartum care. I even had a basket set up in my bathroom with everything I could possibly need- pads, Tucks, etc. All the of items I purchased are linked above.
Although I was expecting a vaginal delivery, I actually ended up having a c-section because once we got to the hospital, we found out Gray was breech! This is still a little bit of a mystery, as I never had been told that he was breech (during all OB visits I was told he was head down; I was seen 2 days prior to his delivery and was told he was head down) and I never felt some ‘big movement’ of him flipping. Who knows what was really going on?! Anyways, the entire delivery process happened very quickly and Gray was delivered via c-section 4 hours after we arrived to the hospital.
Now, I did ZERO research about postpartum care for a c-section because even though I knew there could always be a chance of me having one, I honestly didn’t expect it. *WARNING* I am going to talk about my c-section postpartum experience below, so if you are squeamish, just a heads up!
Immediately following the delivery, I was taken back to my labor/delivery room. I had received spinal anesthesia immediately before the c-section, so I couldn’t feel anything waist down. I also was uncontrollably shaking (this can be a side effect of anesthesia) and it lasted about 30–45 minutes or so. I was transferred 1-2 hours later to my postpartum room. That first night I stayed in my hospital gown (still was trying to get sensation back in my legs) and the nurses had me wearing a hospital pad with mesh underwear. I also had a catheter in (placed right before the c-section), so I didn’t have to worry about getting up to use the bathroom. In the middle of the night, the nurse came in and asked if I would be willing to try to stand at the side of the bed and get my pad changed. It took the nurse and Scott both to help me stand, but I was able to get up and she took care of the rest.
The next day, my catheter was removed, so I knew that I would need to eventually get up and use the bathroom. Before I got up, the nurse brought in an abdominal binder for me to wear around my midsection. This helped to keep everything in place- it also helped to decrease pain whenever I would try to get up- you really don’t realized how many core muscles you use to move around until you have a surgery like this! I am not sure of the brand of the binder as it was prescribed by my OB, but it was similar to this. I also was taking prescribed pain medication- I used them for 36 hours post-op and then switched over to Ibuprofen. I actually brought my own Ibuprofen and Colace (stool softener they will prescribe you in the hospital) so I wouldn’t be charged for hospital medication. All postpartum women are prescribed a stool softener to get things moving because a major side effect of anesthesia/pain medication is constipation. I will say it can get a little awkward to take your own medication in the hospital because generally speaking this is frowned upon. The nurses would come in every few hours and ask about my pain level to which I would say I was “fine.” I had a feeling they likely knew I was taking something on my own because someone who just had a c-section doesn’t have a “fine” pain level haha! The last day we were there, I did tell the nurse that I was taking my own Motrin and Colace because she *nicely* kept asking about my pain. We were literally in the process of being discharged, so I knew there wouldn’t be much she could say/do.
Anyways, once I did get up, I was able to SLOWLY shuffle to the bathroom where I was able to change into comfy joggers , a nursing bra, and an oversized t-shirt. I cannot recommend these joggers enough- so soft and they sit very high up which was perfect with my incision. I also threw on some socks and these slippers. I used this cardigan as needed whenever I felt chilly. At night, I wore these pajamas– they sit pretty high-waisted which I liked and I was able to easily nurse since the top unbuttoned. Instead of wearing the pad with mesh underwear, I switched over to these because I felt like they were less bulky. As a side note, I believe that I continued to wear these for about 3 weeks post-op until all of the bleeding subsided. In the hospital bathroom, there were plenty of washcloths and towels, so I was able to clean myself up a bit.
At night, we decided to have Gray stay in the room with us instead of going to the nursery. I would feed him often and the last thing we wanted to do was to turn on the bright overhead lights. Instead, I kept this nightlight on my bedside table, and would turn it on for feedings/diaper changes. I cannot recommend it enough- I even used it once we got home while Gray was sleeping in our room! We also brought this sound machine– the hospital can be a loud place (even at night) and this helped to dull any extra sounds. Also a must have in my opinion!
My stay at the hospital lasted less than 48 hours – normally, c-section patients stay a minimum of 72 hours, but both myself and Gray were doing well, so they let us leave. I honestly didn’t use the vast majority of the things I had packed in my bag because most of it was for a postpartum vaginal delivery. I also didn’t end up showering at the hospital because I wanted to wait until I got home. If we would have stayed another day, I would have definitely showered though! I ended up only using/needing:
- 2 pairs of joggers
- 2 tshirts
- cardigan
- pajamas (button-ups are a must if breastfeeding!)
- socks
- slippers
- sneakers (to wear when leaving)
- nursing bra
- night light
- sound machine
- mini fan (hot flashes are real!)
- blanket from home
- pillow from home
- reusable water bottle
- snacks from home
- toiletry bag (face wash, lotion, contact solution, toothbrush, etc)
- makeup bag
- vanity mirror, less expensive one here (I did my makeup sitting in bed)
- pen, paper, and folder to keep up with things/hold documents
- portable charger; you’ll want to charge your phone and sit in bed, so either bring an extra long charger to reach the outlet or a portable charger
- computer
- postpartum underwear
- chapstick- I had super dry lips!
I didn’t use anything related to postpartum for a vaginal delivery, but the hospital has everything for you, so don’t worry about bringing anything! I also brought a robe and towels to shower (hospital towels aren’t super nice), but didn’t end up using either.
As far as Gray, the hospital will have diapers/wipes, so no need to bring that! I packed a few outfits, socks, beanies, mittens (no scratching that face!), swaddles, and a blanket- probably went overboard, but you never can be too prepared. We also brought a little canvas and ink pad which was used to stamp his footprint on- the nurses did it for us which was great! The nurses will also bathe your baby, so no need to worry about that!
I hope this is helpful for any of you planning your hospital bag! I am so excited for all of you expecting a little one and send you lots of love and prayers- you got this mama! You are strong and women’s bodies are just so amazing!
As always, thank you for reading! XO, -A
