Every expecting person hears about the hospital bag and making sure it’s packed in advance. There are so many blog posts and videos out there about this necessity, and I definitely took a few days to thoroughly go through plenty of opinion pieces on what is necessary to add and what could be left at home. I decided to share my take on it today since I’ll be heading to the hospital before we know it! [Edit: I had this written out before going to the hospital, but all is said and done by the time I’m hitting publish! Good intentions…]

The first time giving birth to Baby Z, I probably opened my hospital bag twice the whole time I was there. I had expected to be there for much more of labor and planned to stay two nights, however, I ended up laboring at home and was discharged after 36 hours (per my request and after being approved to leave!). I missed my bed and cat and wanted my own shower - I am unashamedly a total homebody. 

Some things I used

• Phone charger (I definitely recommend one with an extra-long cable! - Grab one from Amazon here)

• AirPods 

• Lip Chap

• Toothbrush/Toothpaste/Face toiletries

• Water bottle (I highly recommend one with a straw for easy access! - This one from Amazon is nice)

• Extra change of clothes to go home in (think loose and comfy!)

• A self-heating sleep mask - it felt like a total luxury and filtered out some of the light that was in the room. Definitely repeating this item. (This is a similar one to the one I got)

• Snacks! And coconut water!

• Going home outfit for baby. A must.

Some things I didn’t use

• Breast pump (I’ll be taking a Haakaa (best purchase ever!) with me this time around, though, just in case)

• My pajamas! I honestly didn’t mind the hospital gown much and could barely move anyway, so the thought of putting on my own PJs was dismissed.

• Socks/Slippers - the hospital provided those. I’ll be bringing some shower shoes this time - and speaking of shower…

• Shampoo/Conditioner/Body wash - Call me gross, but due to my circumstances, I waited for the second I got home to shower in my own shower. If we had stayed an extra night, I would have showered at the hospital though!

• Nursing bra - It didn’t even occur to me to wear one until later - even though I had one with me! Will definitely be utilizing it this time around!

• Any of my laboring things like a diffuser or a birthing ball (I did it all at home). This time, I will be laboring in the hospital, and they provide a ball so I won’t be bringing it.

Some things I wish I had and will be adding 

• A fan - I felt HOT all day and mostly at night due to all the extra hormones! Seriously gross. A fan would have been great. I bought this one to attach to the stroller in the summer (like this), and I bet one could attach it to a hospital bed, too, so I’m bringing it.

• A white noise machine - the nurses in and out all night was a drag. I’ll try adding some white noise to the mix this time around (I love this one from Amazon).

• My kindle - I had so much downtime and a book or kindle would have been really nice to have with me. Definitely bringing my loaded Kindle with me this time (or maybe my iPad with Kindle app)!

Mamas: What things did you have in your hospital bag that were useful - or not? Let me know in the comments!