There’s so much to be overwhelmed about once that stick turns pink – your hospital bag shouldn’t be one of them!
I am giving you all my tips and tricks for the perfect hospital bag checklist for first time moms.
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There’s only one way I remember the day I got the news that I was pregnant for the first time: it was crazy! Along with everything else, thinking and researching on what to take to the hospital for delivery took forever!
I packed way too much and was so overwhelmed with everything, and looking back now I wish I had been more assertive to not have so much “stuff” that I didn’t need.
Just to give you an idea: I had a diaper bag, a mom bag, a husband bag, AND a carry-on suitcase with me. Way – Too – Much!
The Perfect Hospital Bag Checklist For First Time Moms
Don’t make your hospital bag too early in the game.
For a simple reason: you’re still in the dreamy stages of being pregnant for the first time, it’s easy to get lost on things and, if you’re anything like me, your list will end up being 3 pages long.
Putting together the perfect hospital bag for first time moms doesn’t need to be overwhelming. And if you are able to “keep cool”, you won’t get buried on just stuff.
Remember: most hospitals will give you the essentials.
It was a surprise to me when I found out the hospital actually supplied diapers, wipes, diaper cream, onesies, blankies, and a whole lot of other things.
A good idea is to contact the labor & delivery at your hospital and get a list of things that will be available to you. I, for one, didn’t do that the first time and ended up hauling 2 packs of diapers, many packs of wipes, and a full bag of blankies that were never touched.
You might not use all the cutesy outfits in the maternity ward.
I packed 12 carefully chosen outfits for the first couple of days of my daughter’s life. And used I total of zero. Yes, really.
As I was learning to breastfeed, change diapers, hunger cues, or even how to properly hold a newborn in my arms, the last thing I was worried about was her Instragrammable outfits.
And, truth be told: to me, she looked like the cutest thing in the world no matter what she was wearing. The hospital supplied a limitless amount of onesies and blankets that were easy to use and wouldn’t need to be washed by me. And I counted that as a win!
DO pack a going home outfit.
I’m happy to have chosen a cute “going home” outfit, along with a handmade blanket that her grandma sewed. It was the perfect combo for an emotional day!
But, truth be told: we are not Kate Middleton. We don’t need to overwhelm ourselves to the point of getting so stressed about what they will be wearing when we leave the hospital. After all, there will not be an ocean of paparazzi by the door waiting to greet us!
Pick an outfit that will make you happy, without stressing yourself out. You’ll be happy you did!
Things To Consider: The Perfect Hospital Bag Checklist For First Time Moms
1: Think of the things you, the mom, will need first.
I know it seems impossible to think about ourselves at this time, but trust me, your baby will be well taken care of no matter what.
It’s the things YOU will need that will truly make a difference. After all, if you are not supported, it will be that much harder to care for your baby.
Remember to bring things like a phone charger, chapstick, socks, and personal care. You can check the full list of what I, personally, think is a good idea to bring at the end of the post.
2: Resist the urge to bring too much.
As I’ve said before, please don’t overwhelm yourself (or your husband) by having millions of bags to carry in and out of the hospital. That way, you can focus solely on your baby without worrying about all the “stuff”.
“Oh, but I want to be prepared. It’s best to have too much rather than too little” – not always true. Like I’ve mentioned, most hospitals will provide everything you truly need for your baby.
For instance, you do not need half a carry-on filled with snacks like me. Just ask the nurse to bring you a yogurt or some fruit. They will be happy to do so.
3: If you can swing it, bring a doula.
She won’t fit in your hospital bag, but if there is one thing I would recommend you bring to the hospital, is a doula.
Doulas are an amazing support to the mother, especially first time ones. They will keep you calm, give you tons of information and advocate for you when needed.
Most hospitals will allow it, so make sure you check before you hire someone. I didn’t have a “doula” exactly (because I wasn’t aware of them at the time), but I did bring someone that acted as such.
One of my best friends came to the hospital with me and it was amazing! She kept me calm, discussed labor-related things with me, and was also incredible support to my husband.
* During the pandemic, most hospitals are only allowing one guest present during delivery, however, if you hire a doula, they may permit it. Don’t be afraid to ask!
What NOT to bring to the hospital for labor and delivery.
The Perfect Hospital Bag Checklist For First Time Moms
If I ever get to have another baby delivery, these are some of the things I made the mistake of bringing the first time and would not ever bring again:
- Makeup. I am a makeup addict and have so much of it, so of course I thought I should bring a few essentials to the hospital. Not only I didn’t use any of it, I also got frustrated looking at it for some reason. If you do bring makeup, stick to the bare minimum: mascara and blush.
- Reading material. I don’t know who was the genius that said you should bring a book or an iPad with movies for labor and delivery. But I did listen to it and brough it – what a mistake! Such an extra, unnecessary weight on my bags. When you have a baby, you will be grasping for every extra second of sleep you can get. And, if you think you will have a lot of time to spare before delivery (even with an epidural), that wasn’t my case. I slept, I talked to the nurses, my husband, and the midwife… I had so much on my mind to concentrate on a book.
- Diapers and wipes. Totally unnecessary as the hospital will provide you with loads of it. No need to bring it at all.
- Baby blankets and burp cloths. Again, the hospital will supply you with those. Bring a couple burp cloths and one baby blanket for the ride home, any more is unnecessary.
- “Lots” of snacks and cash for vending machines. It’s funny to me when I read hospital bag checklists and see them all mentioning “bring a lot of snacks”. In both of my experiences with labor and delivery, I didn’t need any snacks whatsoever. I was surprised to find out that they actually feed you very well at the hospital, and you can always ask for an in-between meals snack, as well as beverages. Also, after delivery the last thing I wanted was a “snack” – I always ask my husband to pick up some food at my favorite restaurant.
- Outfits for me and the baby. I personally used the hospital provided onesies and blankets the whole time I was in the hospital. They were surprisingly soft, clean and easy to use. As for me, I brough 2 outfits per day and didn’t use not one. I stayed in my gown the whole time, just marveling at my newborn and enjoying some rest/sleep when I could.
- Pacifiers and bottles. The hospital supplies pacifiers. I personally chose to breastfeed, so bottles weren’t a necessity for me – however, if you opt to bottle feed, check with your hospital to see if they provide that as well (most do).
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Get your hospital bag ready to go!
The Perfect Hospital Bag Checklist For First Time Moms
The essentials:
- Car seat
- Birth Plan
- ID and Insurance Card
For Mom:
- Disposable Postpartum Underwear – although the hospital will supply you with pads and adult diapers, I found that these were way more comfortable and felt more secure than the pads. It’s one of the only things I used of my own rather than the hospital’s provided ones. I chose the Always Discreet Boutique and it was one of my best purchases for the hospital bag!
- Lip Balm – Hospitals are cold and dry. And having a lip balm in your pocket (or rather, your husband’s pocket) is the best idea. Try to pick something organic and not too sticky, that way it’s not umconfortable to wear and you can kiss your baby without worrying!
- Portable Phone Charger – this was a game changer for me! You don’t know where the plugs will be located in your room, so it’s always a good idea to have a plan B for charging your phone. This one is amazing because of its 30,000mah power, which means it can fully charge your phone up to 6-8 times. If you can’t get a portable charger, make sure you choose an extra long phone cord.
- Nursing Bras – this is for sure a must have if you plan on breastfeeding. It’s so important to choose a good, supporting nursing bra, and that become very costly! If you want a more affordable option for the maternity bag while you are still getting the hang of breastfeeding, I’d recommend these. They are extremely comfortable, very cost efficient (less than $20 for 3 bras) and were a heaven-sent to me in the hospital, however, because of the thin material, it didn’t hold up very long after that. I still use it to sleep because I havent found anything as comfortable so far, but they aren’t very supportive to use on outtings anymore.
- Hair brush, towels and personal care – while the hospital will provide you a few things, I found it useful to have my favorites. I got it all in travel sizes to optimize space. This set is a great addition to your hospital bag. I brough 4 towels with me and it was definitely too much – one or two is more enough. And, of course: don’t forget the toothbrush, deodorant and hair ties!
- Socks, flip-flops, and slippers – these were also must-haves for me! Trust me, you dont want to shower barefoot in the hospital. Bring cheap flip-flops that you can toss out after your stay.
- Comfortable buttoned PJs and robe – while my hospital’s gown was not umconfortable, I did feel better in my own because it was new and soft. These were the perfect set to wear, and is cute enough to use to this day – and this robe is pure perfection!
- Going home outfit – I personall always go for comfort over style! I chose comfortable, soft pants, a nursing top and overall blouse that were practical and cute at the same time!
For Baby:
- Going home outfit – bring two sizes (usually NB and 0-3) since you don’t know how big or small your baby will be.
- Baby blanket – you will want to have one for the ride home. And yes, one is more than enough!
- Nursing pillow – a must! As you are learning to breastfeed, having a nursing pillow will make your life so much easier. It’s also extremely helpful if you choose the bottles, so definitely a good idea to have at the hospital. The Boppy one is still my favorite!
For Daddy:
- Phone Charger
- 1 change of clothes (shirt, pants, underwear and socks).
PRINTABLE: The Perfect Hospital Bag Checklist For First Time Moms
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