What I'm Bringing To The Hospital
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What I'm Bringing To
The Hospital
I can already hear/read the comments now… “You’re overpacking!!” But hear me out, I’ve always been an over-packer, and having everything (or everything I can think of, at least) brings me some peace and comfort during these tumultuous times and at this phase in the game… Peace and comfort is what I’m looking for here. But maybe, just maybe, this post will either make you giggle at my superfluousness, or it’ll help a fellow parent-to-be out there.
Trust me when I say that I have read nearly all of the lists on the Interwebs and I think I’ve come up with an excellent happy medium. This is not iron-clad, I firmly think that you should assess your situation bring as little or as much as you’d like. I also found it helpful to chat with other people who have delivered at the same hospital to see what they needed/didn’t need. What I will promise you is that once the newborn fog has lifted, I will be happy to reassess this blog post and share the real-real of what I actually ended up using.
For me, it was helpful to divide the list into three categories… for me before/during, for me after, and for the baby. If you’re looking for a checklist format, the one that I followed the closest was Mommy Labor Nurse’s checklist which is printable and includes all of the little details. In the weeks leading up to packing my bag, I kept these bins in an area where I could just throw items I thought maybe I’d use and reassess later on when I was ready to pack. I highly recommend this strategy for packing for anything, as I’d rather edit down than scramble at the last minute to grab everything.
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The packing cubes may seem unnecessary, but I got the tip from another new mom that she used them to divide up her stuff, making it easier for her support person to grab as she needed. I used three packing cubes to divide up my stuff based on the three cubes I mentioned above (for me before/during, after, and for the baby). I do have a packing cube tutorial on this post, in case you missed it!
For myself, I packed some of my favorite pajamas, two of my favorite robes, wire-free nursing/sleep bras, comfortable waterproof slides for walking around/the shower, and these slippers. I did bring my own labor/delivery gown, TBD on whether or not I’ll wear it but it looks promising. I’ll dive more into what I brought once I use it all in my follow-up recap.
BK is in charge of packing his own stuff, but I did throw in a few comfort items for the both of us including our favorite bed pillows (don’t forget a pillowcase) and these sleeping masks. I also packed an old blanket and a couple of old bath sheet-sized and hand towels because I’ve heard hospital ones are tiny and big mama needs a bath sheet. I am also packing this fan which was a shower registry gift meant for strollers, but I’ve heard it can come in handy during delivery. I saw these pouches and couldn’t resist… For some reason, I resonated most with the ones titled “baby” and “snacks” when I added to cart, so that’s what I got.
For our son’s “coming home outfit,” I couldn’t resist this onesie and hat combo which I got his name and initials on, I can’t wait to share with you! I also can’t get enough of these swaddles, they’re nice and big, and I love the print. I only packed one, but I figured it’d be cute to have a print that wasn’t the standard hospital one. I had a friend recently deliver and share her baby was born with super long fingernails and that the hospital won’t cut them. She recommended this nail file set which is battery operated (be sure to put them in there before packing) to have just in case. When my sister-in-law delivered my two nieces, she had a similar welcome sign to this one with the baby’s name and measurements at the hospital which I thought was super cute and to put in their room once you’re home.
I charged up this portable sound machine and packed this multi-plug extension cord. I also packed these battery-operated candles, I’ve heard from several people that they can help with the ambiance and dim lighting. Not a necessity but I figured they couldn’t hurt! For heading home, I threw in one of my beloved blue tote bags in case we had extra stuff to take home from the hospital. I also included many items in this checklist so be sure to check that out if you’re looking for a more comprehensive list.
nurses' basket ideas
I’ve seen several ideas for gift baskets for the healthcare teams pop up all over social media. While not mandatory, I’m sure this small token of appreciation would gladly be accepted and appreciated! I’ve included a few ideas for what I put in my baskets, including mostly self-care items. I layered a bunch of things in these baskets and put a little note on the front from Brian and me. If you decide to do a basket, consider doing two (one for AM and one for the PM shift).
Another sweet gesture is to place a bowl of Lifesaver candies in your room with a little note saying, “thanks, you’re a lifesaver from ___.” Again, not necessary but it could be a nice gesture! If you’re in healthcare and have any other recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments below, and I’d be happy to update the post.
Thanks for reading!
I hope you enjoyed seeing what I’m bringing to the hospital. As mentioned above, I’ll happily reassess what I used and needed during our stay. I’ll either update this blog post or create a new one. If there are any items that you’d highly recommend, feel free to leave them in the comments below! Be sure to check out more on my pregnancy journey so far on the “motherhood” tab of the blog.
xx CMK
