What I packed in my hospital bag (as a second-time mom)
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Packing your hospital bag for D-Day is one of the most exciting ways to prepare for the baby's arrival! As a second-time mom, I knew what to pack out of necessity, what to leave at home, and what my personal preferences were. I hope this list is helpful for you, whether you are a first-time mom or looking for some new ideas!
For Mama:
Pillow: (you will be using a ton of pillows, especially to help support the baby while nursing, but having your own makes all the difference)
Blanket: bring your favorite blanket to snuggle up in since you are spending so much time in the hospital bed
Water Bottle & Liquid IV: (I was SO thirsty all the time. Bringing my own water bottle and adding in flavor and extra hydration was a personal preference for me. A lot of hospitals provide moms with the "fancy" plastic bottles, but I prefer my own ;) Use this link to receive 20% off at Liquid IV
Phone charger. Bring a cordless option, so you don't have to have the phone plugged into the wall across the room. Trust me, the less you have to get out of bed, the better!
Other toiletries: toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, body wash, deodorant, face wash. I was so sweaty and just felt gross after delivery, so once I got the all-clear from the nurses, I did a gentle rinse-off in the shower, and that made all the difference.
Make-up: I didn't bring my full bag of make-up, but packing a few basics helped me feel put-together when sleep deprived. This is a personal preference too, but a week before I gave birth, I got my eyelash extensions refilled and I was so thankful for this! Even with no other make-up on, I looked more normal just because my lashes were done!
Chapstick/lip balm- my lips got so dry during labor/delivery, so make sure to pack some! My sweet Doula noticed my lips looking rough right after Noah was born, so before we snapped a few pictures, she helped me out with applying chapstick!
Shop the pics above in my LTK here!
Speaking of a doula- this isn’t something you can pack (ha!), but if I could recommend anything at all for your birth experience, I would highly encourage a doula! My birth experience from my first to my second was night and day different! I had the birth of my dreams, with much thanks to my doula, Callie. If you are local to KC, she’s your girl!
Fridamom disposable underwear- The hospital does provide disposable mesh underwear, but I prefer mine. They were more comfortable and gave more support while wearing the huge pads and ice packs. I even labored in these instead of wearing the hospital gown and diaper.
Robe- I packed this one for both Noah and Emmie's birth. It's so soft and cute ,which makes it a great option for those fresh newborn pictures when you don't feel like wearing anything else.
Sleep eyemask- I wasn't expecting to sleep much, but when I did, I loved wearing an eyemask to help block out some of the light in the room. I'm also used to wearing it everynight, so it brought familiarity and comfort to an otherwise uncomfortable situation.
Nursing Bras (x2)
Nipple cream- My nipples were in bad shape by day two, so the nurses gave me prescription strength nipple cream, but I was glad to have my own, just in case!
Nipple gel patches- These were amazing to use between feedings when my nipples were sore and needed some cooling relief.
Black Comfy nursing friendly outfits (x3) - I chose tops/sets that were nursing-friendly and comfortable.
Going-home outfit. Both of my babies were born in the summer so I chose a nursing-friendly dress.
Portable speaker- I used this during labor to listen to my labor playlist and birthing affirmations and then in our recovery room my husband and I would listen to music or comedy shows while laying around.
Portable sound machine: trust me- You'll want to block out all the extra hospital noises when you are trying to sleep. Plus, the baby is used to the loud "shssssshing" sound in the womb, so it brings familiarity to the crazy new world they are in.
Portable fan- I packed this for labor & delivery because I knew I would get hot and sweaty, but things moved so quickly for me that we didn't have time to use. I was glad to have it though and would recommend packing!
Slippers/ Rubber sandals ( I didn't want to walk barefoot on the hospital floors, so anytime I got up I put on these sandals.
Wallet- drivers license, insurance card, cash (we had to pay $4 cash for birth certificate)
Snacks- trust me, you'll want snacks for you and your partner!
For Baby:
Swaddle blankets - I packed a few cute swaddles for pictures and snuggling
“Hello World”- birth announcement sign. If you have a name picked out ahead of time, this is a cute option!
Ollie swaddle- my babies are little Houdini's, so bringing this swaddle helps keep their arms snug when they are sleeping
Baby outfits- I packed a few different sizes and was glad I did. Noah swam in a NB outfit, so I was glad to have a premie size packed!
Nail file- they come out with claws so you might want to gently file their nails
Socks
Diaper bag- the hospital will provide all of the diapers and wipes for you, but it was nice having our own too. You'll quickly learn to never leave the house without the diaper bag, because you never know what might happen!
It may seem like you are packing up your whole house just to have a tiny baby, so just know that the hospital has everything you NEED. I’ve had friends go into labor unexpectedly and show up at the hospital with only the clothes on their backs and they were just fine! I am an over-packer by nature so we walked into the hospital with a duffle bag for me, Kyle, and the baby. I hope this list is helpful to you as you prepare for your new arrival! If you ever have questions, my email and dms are always open!