When Annabelle was born, I brought three bags to the hospital. I spent quite a bit of time planning what I would pack in Mommy, Daddy, and Baby’s bags. Then I remember opening my and the baby’s bags a day when we got home to see all that was untouched. “What is all this junk?!” I wondered. I had overpacked, but also left out a few key items. Here’s what’s in my hospital bag for my second pregnancy.
For my second pregnancy, I packed a little more lightly and with more thought. One bag for Mommy and Baby – and Daddy is just going to toss his stuff together when it’s time for us to go.
1. For Mommy
PAJAMAS – After two days in my hospital gown, I finally showered and put on normal clothes. I hated the nursing pajamas I bought to wear after Annabelle was born – so this time, I’m sticking to what I know I like. Victoria Secret’s Mayfair Pajamas are my go-to for comfortable, cotton sleepwear. I don’t understand how girls put on leggings after giving labor (what with the diaper/pads you have to wear), so I’m also packing my favorite pair of maternity sleep pants from GAP.
UNDERWEAR (optional) – If you don’t know already, the hospital is going to give you a couple pairs of mesh shorts that you won’t want to lose. These tight but stretchy shorts hold all the padding you’ll have to wear on your lady parts after you give birth. Personally, I like to put a pair of stretchy boyshorts over the mesh shorts for added support and coverage. My favorite boyshorts are seamless from Target.
NURSING BRA – A good nursing bra is hard to find because it really is all about personal preference. I don’t know what size my breasts will be this time around, so I didn’t go crazy buying bras just yet. Just bring something that looks comfortable – I actually only wore a nursing tank top for the first few days until my milk came in.
SHOES – Slippers for walking the halls and flip flops for the shower – I loved the socks that they give you in the hospital, but don’t trust the funky floors.
BATHROBE – I like to wear a bathrobe over my tank top and pj’s because it can be chilly in the hospital. Plus, if you decide to forgo clothing for a hospital robe, having a bathrobe on hand for when guests pop in is very helpful.
2. Toiletries
Pretend you are going to stay two nights at a hotel that has zero toiletries… and pack for that trip. Everyone told me to just use what the hospital would give me in the shower and I deeply regretted not bringing my own. No offense to my hospital (I LOVE IT), but their products are terrible. Here is a great toiletry travel set by Burt’s Bees and another cosmetic kit for women. I also recommend hair ties, dry shampoo (in case you don’t want to wash your hair), a razor, chapstick, toothbrush/paste, and your phone charger.
3. For the Baby
Don’t overpack for the baby! The hospital is going to hook you up on baby stuff – diapers, wipes, a cute onesie, socks, a blanket, and a hat. I brought Annabelle 15 outfits and she wore only 1 1/2. She stayed in the hospital onesie for a day, then she wore a personalized onesie, and finally she put on a little coming home outfit.
What To Leave at Home
- Diapers/Wipes – I bet you’ll take home a bag of supplies for your new baby from the hospital.
- Sanitary Pads – the hospital will give you all the sanitary supplies you could ever want, plus ice packs, witch hazel, and a fun spray bottle you can use to clean yourself after going to the bathroom.
- Snacks – our hospital has a family room stocked with treats and guests brought us goodies to eat while we were there. Unless your husband really loves beef jerky and can’t go a night without it, leave the food at home.
- Nursing pads, creams, or a pump – if you plan on breastfeeding, they are going to give you everything you need to get started. The lactation consultant at my hospital even sent me home with new pump parts!
- Baby toys – in case you didn’t already know, newborns only want to eat or sleep.
- Water bottle – one of my favorite takeaways from our stay in the hospital was a ginormous plastic mug for ice water. I used mine at home for months until I accidentally put the straw in the garbage disposal.
I was just thinking about this! I’m going with some comfy clothes for myself, two outfits for baby, and that’s about it. I wouldn’t say I overpacked last time but I definitely over-planned; you really can just throw some stuff together in a bag at the last minute if you need. Plus, at least in our case, my husband will have to come back home to stay with our toddler. So anything I forget he can easily get later.
The only thing I really want to make sure I do is to buy stuff for home ahead of time, specifically large undies and pads and whatnot. I don’t want to be running out to the store for that stuff afterwards. You don’t need it at the hospital, though.
I ended up with 2 huge plastic mugs from the hospital and use them both on a daily basis! They are the best!
I definitely over packed too- so much stuff and I seriously barely used any of it.
I had my little one in January in CT so freezing cold. I brought my own fleece Vera Bradley favorite blanket and my own pillow in a bright pillow case. It made me extra cozy. Nursing tanks were all I lived in the entire time I was home. I got some at Walmart I loved!! And my heating pad was my best friend!
Don’t forget your phone charger! And some snacks aren’t a bad idea, really. If you deliver late, your options at the hospital might be limited.
So jealous of the supplies your hospital had! And I totally agree on nursing tanks being the best thing ever. My hospital had NOTHING for supplies. I even ran out of pads and ice packs….. I won’t describe the final hours of my stay after running out of pads….the horrible nurse wouldn’t even bring me my pain pills. The best part was when we were finally ready to check out and I demanded another pad and ice pack and Advil before I would leave, and the horrible nurse stood there to watch us pack and told us we “weren’t allowed to steal anything”…like I wanted the one awful blanket they provided. I had brought my own blankets and clothes which my daughter was clearly wearing. My husband was so mad when she turned around he stole the baby hat the hospital had put on our little girl when she was first born.
CHAPSTICK! My must have. I actually packed my razor and shaving cream and shaved right before they started the pitocin (I was induced and spent the night in the hospital before), but then I left all my toiletries in the L&D room and they were long gone by the time I got to recovery. I packed nursing pads & had no need for them since my milk didn’t come in for 4 days. I also packed my dryer & straightener and was lucky I could even stand up in the shower – my dizziness was terrible! I also had no idea we could actually leave our room (duh, right?).