5 Things to Consider When Packing Your Hospital Bag for Birth

A question often asked during our Birth Planning Sessions: ”what should we pack in our hospital bag?” (Folks birthing at home or a birth center, the preparations you make will be different.) We often respond with “less is more”. Think about the bare essentials to help you feel relaxed, nourished, and loved. The same goes for every person who will be staying with you during your birth and immediate postpartum time. A typical hospital stay will vary between 24-72 hours, depending on the care and attention you and your baby will need after your birth. Think healing retreat vibes while you prepare to recover from something like the flu or a marathon. 

The Essentials…

1.   Toiletries. We have some essentials: toothbrush, deodorant, contact solution, hairbrush and binders, travel-size hair and body wash; and we have some extras: your favorite ChapStick, face and/or body lotion. Don’t worry about pads, peri bottle, or tucks at this point – they have all of that at the hospital – though, it might be nice to stock up for when you get home. Planning for birth often intertwines preparing for postpartum. While you’re at it, check out a few tips we’ve put together for ensuring postpartum success.

2.   Clothing. Elastic waistbands only, folks. Bring your most comfortable robe, sweatpants, crew neck/hoodie, socks, and tees. No need to overdo it here, shift change keeps anyone from knowing you’ve been wearing the same thing since this baby was born. Partners: I also recommend bringing a zip-up or button-down long-sleeve. This is a great thing to have for skin-to-skin, especially in the OR. Birthers: plan on just wearing those amazing mesh underwear with a gown or loose-fitting clothing over the top. Pro-tip: ask to take a few pairs home with you for those first few days. Clothes for during birth: Many of our clients enjoy wearing their own clothes during birth. Great options are loose labor gowns, longer skirts, nursing bras, or tanks. Cute, lacy bralettes are comfy and photograph well if you’re thinking about aesthetics.

3.   Snacks. You’ll want some simple snacks for during labor (remember, it’s so important to eat during this time too!): applesauce/smoothie pouches, nuts, trail mix, fresh or dried fruit (bananas, apples, grapes, dates, avocados), cut up veggies, small sandwiches, honey sticks, granola bars, protein bars, crackers, cheese, yogurt, oatmeal, coconut water, favorite beverages, labor-aid with baking soda, and a water bottle with a straw. And remember prep some food for postpartum too! Here are some recipes we love for postpartum meal prepping. You’ll want something a little more filling in those first few hours after birth for you and your support person/partner: a few sandwiches, salads, chipotle. Quick, easy, filling, yet nourishing.

4.     Important Documents. Be sure to register at the hospital ahead of time, this will save on paperwork later. Still, you might consider bringing insurance card(s), care preference plan, list of important phone numbers (family, doula, birth photographer, care provider, hospital/birth center, pediatrician, lactation consultant, sitter to watch the older kiddos, etc.) Need help making this list? Sharing these resources and creating a circle of support is part of our job as doulas.

5.   Car seat. You can expect hospital staff to check you have a car seat that installed correctly before you head home. Pro-tip: put a bucket and pillow in the car seat. You will likely be sitting back there on the way to the hospital. You can use the pillow to get into the most comfortable position, and the bucket in case all those snacks we talked about earlier…well, you know. This happens in birth sometimes, very normal, but best not to have to get your car detailed in those first few days as a new family.

It is so easy to over-pack. Less is more here. Hospitals are well-stocked with a lot of go-to items you might use in your birth and postpartum. They’ll also take care of baby’s needs: diapers, wipes, swaddle, onesie – save yours at home!).  So even if you're running out the door and packing on the fly, you have this short list to refer back to.

But If You Must…

Cozy details go a long way to help you feel as at-home as possible. We put together a few extras we often hear clients look back and say, “we’re so happy we brought that”.

1.   A favorite blanket – Maybe that fuzzy throw blanket you keep on the back of the couch to curl up in every night?? This is great for partners to catch a quick nap during labor and especially for the whole family after birth.

2.   Pillow – We can all be a bit picky about our pillows. After all, we know sleep patterns are changing once baby arrives and all the grown-ups need to be getting some sound rest between feedings. (During labor though, use those crunchy plastic pillows with the hospital’s pillowcases you can just throw in the linen bin at the end. No need to add extra laundry to your list of to-do’s as you get home.)

3.   Nursing pillow – great for nursing, great to use as a donut pillow for under your rear on the ride home. Multifunctional gems.

What You Can Skip…

Save space and skip these items:

1.   Breast Pump – You really shouldn’t need one. If you are struggling with that first latch, you can utilize hand expression techniques to get that amazing colostrum into babe’s belly. Though, if you are told the use of a hospital-grade pump will be necessary for your lactation goals, every hospital will have one available to you. A haakaa would be a much smaller and more practical alternative.

2.   Cellphone – If you will have a partner present, let them take the lead with any phone calls/texts/communication with the outside world. We often recommend ditching all phones once we’ve joined you in your labor. No need to add pressure with anxious loved ones on repeat, “How are you? Is baby here yet? Can we come visit!?” The best pieces of advice we have for you: keep labor a secret and limit visitors. Soak in your first few hours/days with simplicity and space. This sweet babe has an entire lifetime to be ooo’d and aaa’d over.

3.   Work – Partners, we understand an abrupt change to the work schedule might be difficult, but put work away for these first few days together as a family. Enter in your out-of-office email reply, and allow yourself to be totally present for all the firsts a new baby brings. You are such a vital part of establishing a feeding routine, managing stress, building oxytocin, and baby bonding.