So you’re having a baby. It’s such an exciting time! Your due date is getting closer, and you’ve packed and unpacked your hospital bag more times than you can count- folding and refolding that first, cute outfit for baby to wear home, tiny socks, a nightgown for you…but what do you really need? How do you pack for something you’ve never experienced before?
If you’re like many parents it can all seem a little overwhelming. Today I wanted to share five things I’m glad I brought along (or wished I brought along!) for each of my three children’s births.
- Comfortable pajamas. This was only something I packed with my third baby, and I was so happy I did. It was a wonderful, refreshing feeling to put on comfortable (nursing friendly) pjs after taking a shower at the hospital. I brought this set along from Target. In the past, I had always just worn the hospital gown but I actually found these button front pajamas a much easier choice for nursing and just feeling good while in recovery.
- Nursing Pillow. By the third baby I was a seasoned pro at nursing and didn’t bring along a pillow, but the first time around I wish I would have had one. The birthing center we were at for each child had lactation consultants on call, and it would be have been great to get the hang of how I’d be nursing at home while there.
- A file folder. Sounds weird, I know…but you’ll be getting some special things like baby’s footprints on a card, their birth info card, hospital bracelets…and you’ll want someplace safe to store these without them getting bent or torn on the way home. They’re really great keepsakes for the baby book so I like to tuck them away in a safe spot.
- Extra long cord/cable/portable charger for your phone. With my first two births, the cord wouldn’t reach the bed in the hospital room! Sounds like a silly problem to have and the least of your worries, but being stuck in one room for an extended period of time is made better when you can connect with the people you love AND take a ton of photos of you and your new baby. Don’t forget to clear off your phone/back it up before you come to the hospital so you don’t have to worry about making space for all of the new photos you’re bound to take.
- A bag of favorite snacks. I loved having protein bars, fresh fruit, beef jerky, etc on hand. We brought a big bag full of snacks from home and it was great to have them on hand for me, and also for friends and family who stopped by.
Good luck, and happy birthing vibes to you!
Danielle Hampton is a writer and blogger enjoying small town life in the mountains of Northern Arizona with her husband Hank and their two boys, Henry and Charlie, and daughter Olive. She’s a former high school English teacher who now authors the blog Sometimes Sweet and does freelance writing, editing and social media consulting, contributing to a variety of sites.
