Two and-a-half years ago, when I packed my hospital bag for my first labor, I had no idea what to expect. This time, I took much less – in fact, G and I shared a bag! I can tell you this: what I did pack, I LOVED having with us and that’s why I wanted to share this post.
As a note for first-time mamas, something I wasn’t expecting last time was just HOW MUCH the hospital provides for you. At least ours did. Everything from toiletries to pads, diapers for baby and even wipes and onesies. We could have come in with nothing and still been well taken care of! That being said – there are a few comforts I brought from home and am so glad I did!
What to Pack for Mom.
First, let’s talk about the recovery products I brought in my hospital bag.
Frida Mom Products
FRIDA MOM PERINEAL WITCH HAZEL COOLING PAD LINERS – If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen me talk about the ‘Padcicles‘ I’ve made recently for a friend. They’re so great for recovery when you get home from the hospital, but they need to remain frozen. These pad liners, accompanied by the hospital ice packs, actually offered a pretty close alternative to my padcicles! They were so cooling and refreshing and I used the whole pack while in the hospital for 4 days!
FRIDA MOM PERINEAL WITCH HAZEL HEALING FOAM – Same with this witch hazel foam. The padcicles I make have ‘cooling’ Tucks pads and witch hazel in them so this was another non-frozen alternative. You pump a little bit of this foam onto the pad liners and it offers another layer of healing and comfort.
FRIDA MOM UPSIDE DOWN PERI BOTTLE – I’d heard so many mamas rave about this peri bottle for after labor – turns out for good reason! This one is meant to be used ‘upside down’ – which makes so much more sense for what it’s designed for. I was so glad I brought this to the hospital instead of leaving it at home to be used later.
Peppermint Essential Oil and an Anecdote
These are two items I’d recommend packing in your hospital bag as a precaution, but aren’t totally necessary.
PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL – Originally, I brought this to help me go pee after labor. You heard me, lol. But it ended up being great to have on hand in other ways too! Story time:
After delivering my first son, I was so swollen that it was REALLY hard (and painful) to pee the first time few times – which is something that’s really important medically. I had such a hard time that the nurse I had said if I didn’t go by a certain point they’d have to insert a catheter to relieve my bladder (the last thing someone wants to hear just after giving birth lol). Eventually, I was able to empty my bladder enough that it didn’t cause an issue. But that scenario stuck with me and as my second labor approached I started to Google ways to help prevent that happening again. One thing I came across a few times was the suggestion to put a few drops of peppermint essential oil in the toilet to help your muscles relax enough to pee. So, that’s what I did thinking it was worth a shot!
However, it happened AGAIN with this labor and this time, I wasn’t so lucky. My bladder ended up getting SO full without me being able to empty it that it was pushing my uterus to the side of my abdomen and causing so much pain and cramping. They ended up putting in a catheter (OUCH) but the relief was almost immediate! They ended up filling TWO AND A HALF catheter packs of urine which, my nurses said, was almost a record. Ugh – lol.
BUT! Although the peppermint oil didn’t quite work for what I brought it for this time, I think it DID help me to go a little bit AND it did lend some cooling power as I sat over the toilet even after I’d relieved my bladder. It was also so refreshing to have in the bathroom. If you’re a first time mama – just trust me when I say it’s nice to have something fresh and familiar around!
Other Helpful Items to Have on Hand
DEPENDS DISPOSABLE UNDERWEAR – The hospital disposable underwear gets the job done. However, by the time you pack them with your huge pad and ice pack, they’re tricky to keep up! Not a huge deal, since you’re mostly sitting in a hospital bed, but I remember just feeling so uncomfortable in them last time. This time, I packed these to offer a little more support. I didn’t use them the whole time, mainly the last day we were there and to go home, but I was glad I had some on hand, plus I used them at home!
NURSING PADS – To be honest, I brought these mainly as a precaution and for going home in. Most women don’t get to the point of needing nursing pads until a few days after birth when they’re already at home. But my milk came in fast and furious the very first day after my first son and I was engorged by our first full night there (something the lactation consultant said was fairly unusual). So I brought a few pairs of these and actually ended up using more than one!
BOPPY NURSING PILLOW – I didn’t bring this the first time and wish I had. It’s super helpful to have on hand in my opinion! It helps so much as you learn how to hold your baby while nursing. And since every baby is different, it was even helpful this second time around as Beckham and I were working on his first latches!
What to Pack to Make Your Hospital Stay More Comfortable
While everyone we encountered at the hospital was wonderful and did everything they could to make us feel comfortable, a hospital is far from homie. Since you never know how long you’ll actually have to be there (I’ve had friends be there 36-48 hours but we were there 3 days the first time and 4 days this time), it’s nice to pack things in your hospital bag that will make you feel a little more at home!
Clothes.
Clothes can have a profound way of making you feel more comfortable and more like yourself. Keep that in mind when you’re packing your hospital bag! My best advice is to bring something you’re going to be comfortable in – both being around people (there are nurses and hospital staff coming in and out what feels like CONSTANTLY) and for nursing!
Here are the outfits I brought for hanging out in the hospital:
- Black nursing nightgown + comfy robe
- Nursing tank + black drawstring shorts
- Nursing tank + black comfy jogger pants
To go home, I brought my favorite Zella leggings and a tunic-length comfy top.
Accessories.
Hair:
- Headband
- Scrunchies
- Dry Shampoo
Toiletries + Makeup:
As I said before, our hospital provides all the essential toiletries – but I’m just one of those people who much prefers to have my own on hand. It just makes me feel less like I’m in a foreign place.. not to mention my stuff is usually higher quality 🙂
One thing to note! Normally, I’d try to get through the hospital stay without washing my hair, but I’ve brought shampoo and conditioner for both deliveries now and I used them both times! There’s just something about wanting to feel as much like you as possible after labor and part of that – at least for me – is
Diffuser:
Something I did differently this time was bring an essential oil diffuser and my favorite bottle of lavender essential oil. At first, I was nervous about whether or not they’d let me use it, but every single person that came into our room made a comment about how good it smelled and how much they enjoyed it! So, I think it was a hit! It also really helped to calm my nerves during labor and made our recovery room feel more like home.
Snacks:
The hospital provided my meals, but nothing for G – and there were several times when I was glad we had brought some food from home. Here’s a list of what we brought:
- Clif energy bars
- Individual Quaker oatmeal cups
- Gum
- Water bottles
- Kind granola bars
- Trail Mix (my favorite is the Kirkland brand from Costco)
- Goldfish
What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for Baby
When it comes to packing for baby, there are a couple things to keep in mind.
First, the hospital will put baby in a white top with mittens, diaper, socks, hat and blanket swaddle. They’ll supply these things throughout your stay, so all you really need to worry about is a going home outfit. That being said, if you plan on taking photos and/or would prefer that baby wears his own clothes, bring what you want!
For my first delivery, I brought the works. I packed my diaper bag full of outfits and pacifiers and hats, etc. This time, I left the diaper bag at home and simply brought the following in the hospital bag G and I shared.
To take photos in:
- Lou Lou & Company Ultimate Newborn Bundle (knotted gown, matching hat, mittens and swaddle)
- ‘Hello World’ wooden sign
I actually also brought him an outfit to go home in, but didn’t end up using it. After we took photos in the hospital room, I put Beckham back in his hospital top and then used the knotted gown again as his going home outfit. Why? Two reasons. One, Beckham had to be on the blue lights up until the morning we went home, so the more exposed skin the better. Two, I fell in LOVE with the knotted gown we bought. It lends easy access for diaper changes and the material is SO SOFT and comfy! The built-in fold-over mittens also made life so much easier (baby’s are notorious for scratching their faces).
Well, friends – that’s it! Did you learn anything or are you a seasoned mama with more suggestions?? I’d love for you to leave your advice in the comments below!
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