Expert Advice: What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book

We’ve all had nightmares — or seen movies — where you feel those first labor pains, tell your husband it’s time and rush to the hospital without the all-important “hospital bag.”

We also know that packing a well-organized bag can alleviate a lot of pre-baby stress (and bad dreams).

So we spoke to Cleveland-based OB/GYN Dr. Marjorie Greenfield, author of Dr. Spock’s Pregnancy Guide and The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book, to get expert tips on what to pack for your labor (and postpartum) bags.

Now you can check one more item off your labor to-do list — and instead focus on the unforgettable journey to come!

Click below for all the tips!

Labor Bag:

Key Documents
If you’ve written a birth plan make sure you pack a copy, along with your insurance card.

Comfort Items
Items such as massage oil or lip balm can help. Pack both energizing and relaxing styles of music, and check if you need to bring a CD player or MP3 speakers, or if the hospital provides them. You should also pack items such as books, magazines or playing cards in case labor progresses slowly — which it might!

Care Essentials
Bring what you’d want in a normal overnight bag (toothbrush, toiletries, etc.), plus a robe, socks and slippers. And pack some snacks. You and your support team will appreciate them while you wait.

Multimedia
Pack a still and/or video camera with extra batteries (check the hospital’s policies first). Also bring your phone/email list. A calling card may come in handy in case the hospital won’t let you use your cell phones in the room. If your hospital has Internet access for guests, you may want to bring a laptop, too.

Postpartum bag:

Nursing Essentials
If you plan on breastfeeding — which offers benefits such as an immunity boost for baby and protection for mom from breast cancer — remember to pack a few essentials like lanolin and nursing pads to get you off to a good start.

One easy option is the Medela Breast Care Gift Set, which includes Tender Care Hydrogel Pads, Lanolin, bra pads, a Mother’s Minder bracelet to help you remember which side you last fed on and a breastfeeding resource booklet. Also be sure to pack a nursing bra. Not sure what size you need? Check out medela.com.

Post-labor Outfit
This includes a few pairs of clean maternity-size underwear, pajamas, socks and soft, loose-fitting clothes for when you leave.

All Things Baby
Choose an outfit that covers your baby’s feet (or includes socks). Also pack a baby hat and blankets to keep your child warm. Finally, make sure you have a diaper bag stocked with diapers, wipes and a change of clothes.

And don’t forget the car seat. It’s best to have it already installed and checked by a certified child passenger safety technician before the big day.

— Kate

Comments

Breath mints too. I was so glad they had them at the hospital because after hours of exhaling out of my mouth during labor, the mints really came in handy.

- Angela on December 27th, 2009

I would add a Boppy. The pillows at the hospital are not thick enough to adequately breast feed. Would have saved me a huge headache to have one.

- KatieKate on December 27th, 2009

Noted! Thanks for the info!

- RaisingChild on December 27th, 2009

I brought a king-size pillow from home. It was so much more comfortable than the hospital pillows (and it smelled like home, which I find comforting), and I used it for support while nursing.

If you are going to have a special gift or t-shirt for an older child, don’t forget to pack it!

- Mama Llama on December 27th, 2009

Ugh, I packed so much stuff and hardly used any of it! I only put my makeup on once, when my mother in-law came, because I really didn’t want her getting all critical of my broken blood vessels on my face. I never showered in the two days I was there, because I could hardly walk or stand (I had a level 3 episiotomy). My labor was so darn short, I never needed any of the “comfort” things I brought. So, basically, all I used was my pillow from home, my nightgown, nursing bra, underwear, and my going home outfit. I wish I would have brought more than one outfit for my baby, because the newborn outfit ended up being really huge, and I wish I had packed a preemie size (even though she wasn’t a preemie, just really small). And I wish I had brought my boppy, because trying to nurse using the crappy hospital pillows was really difficult.

- mrsh on December 27th, 2009

Bring some small snack food to eat when the nurses aren’t around. At no other time would you need to expend so much energy, but be expected not to eat. Giving birth is like running a marathon – you need to eat small, healthy snacks to keep up your energy level.

- skunknuggets on December 27th, 2009

I too way overpacked a HUGE tote bag and diaper bag, and the majority of the contents went unused. I only used my toothbrush and toothpaste, contact case/solution and glasses and going home outfit for me and the baby. That’s IT.

I had even made a labor playlist and not until I was in labor did I realize how ridiculous THAT was. Ha!

I never had time or energy to apply the makeup I brought.

Playing cards? Are you kidding me? I had a pretty quick labor but even if you had a long drawn out labor I doubt you would be in a state to play cards! I brought some magazines because I had seen that on a list and again, reading between contractions didn’t exactly seem feasible.

I packed some snacks but personally solid food sounded atrocious during labor. I drank juice my husband kept refilling for me.

I would say you don’t need lanolin or bra pads until you’re home. And why buy a reminder bracelet? Use a hair band.

Also agree about finding a preemie sized outfit, even if you don’t have a preemie. The newborn size outfit I brought was too big for my 7 pounder.

- Helen on December 27th, 2009

As a doula, I always encourage my clients to purchase a package of Depends and bring them to the hospital. Sounds strange but they’re much more comfortable than the pads and panties the hospital supplies, both during labor after your water’s broken and after the baby’s born.

- Katherine on December 27th, 2009

I would also caution against packing too many diapers as a couple of the previous posters implied. They usually send you home with plenty of diapers, wipes and pads, so you can save the space in your bag for other items. Pack a few diapers to get you home, but you don’t need to bring a huge pack.

- Angela on December 27th, 2009

And they give you those really sexy disposable maternity panties. I wouldn’t worry about bringing those either, especially since you’ll likely end up having to throw out anything you buy.

- Angela on December 27th, 2009

You just never know with the baby outfit – the newborn sized outfit I had in my bag BARELY fit my daughter (she was 8lbs 15oz!)

- Allison on December 28th, 2009

I wouldn’t pack many diapers since the hospital usually provides them. They also often send you home with lots of little goodies for the baby, baby bath, ointment, lotion, etc..

I always packed my own pads, I bought the overnight pads with wings. The pads they give you are ridiculous and huge, so uncomfortable.

I would pack a heating pad for cramping; for breastfeeding, latch assist from Lansinoh (http://www.lansinoh.com/products/latch-assist) available at babies r us or online & soothies gel pads.

- tara on December 28th, 2009

Bring a couple of rolls of toilet paper from home! The hospital toilet paper is truly like sand paper. Trust me on this one.

- Julie on December 29th, 2009

This is a good list. Most hospitals provide you with the basics (peri bottles, pads, disposable undies, diapers), the key is to bring things that will make you feel good (or just normal) after delivery. For 1st time moms (or even 2nd) a baby care book is essential because sometimes the nurses can be non-responsive or too overwhelmed to help.

- Nia on December 29th, 2009

I brought a pair of comfy socks along to keep my feet warm.

- Laura on December 29th, 2009