What to pack in your hospital bag
One of the most common questions we get happens to be one that we actually feel doesn't matter as much as it seems like it would. Not only does the hospital tend to have everything you actually need (like peri bottles, adult and infant diapers, ice packs and postpartum products) but we so often hear that our clients never opened their suitcases except to get their toiletries out. Like every other answer, our answer to "what should I pack in my hospital bag?" really depends on the individual needs of our clients. Some of our clients are foodies and some of our clients are "eat to live" types. Some of our clients are minimalists. Some want to be wrapped in velour robes throughout their hospital stay. It would be doing everyone a disservice to pretend both types of people should pack the same way. We do have a handful of universal advice that applies to everyone, however.
First, imagine being in labor and walking from the parking garage through the halls of the hospital to L&D with your birth partner. Imagine stopping to lean on your partner during contractions every three to four minutes. Imagine having to put down four or five bags and a purse vs. your partner simply letting go of the handle of a single large rolling suitcase. In my opinion, regardless of WHAT you pack, it's almost more important to consider what you pack it into!
Second, It's actually partners who will be retrieving items from the bags throughout the stay. Having your partner know where your lip balm is so that you don't constantly have to tell them can be so much less annoying for both of you. Consider laying out the things you want to bring with you and having your partner be the one to pack them in the bag.
The Obvious:
Toiletries
Closed toe shoes for partners
IDs/insurance cards/wallets
Phone chargers (some people prefer longer charging cables)
Shower shoes
Button up/nursing friendly pajamas
Snacks
it should go without saying that, just like a marathon, snacks of all kinds are a must. Make sure to have a variety of:
Sweet things like bars, muffins, overnight oats
Savory snacks! (Salt and Potassium together are nourishing for exhausted adrenals!)
Protein and carb heavy options (PB&J on soft white bread? Make an extra for me!)
Fruit- just a nibble of a banana may be the most someone may want in active labor
Drinks with electrolytes
These things are vital to labor progress. Any experienced doula or midwife's first question when labor stalls is likely to be, "when did she last eat?" The uterus is a muscle and it requires energy to do the difficult work of pushing out a baby. Please plan to eat accordingly, and if you're nervous about hospital policy, arm yourself with what EBB has to say on the matter:
Sleep Aids
The main thing I recommend is anything that will help you sleep. It isn't unusual to be in the hospital for 3-4 days BEFORE the baby is born and 2-3 days afterward is a great length of time to be prepared for just in case. Imagine 5 days straight of trying to sleep through constant interruptions. What would help you do that?
Comfortable pillows- 2 for each of you is a good place to start
Ear plugs
Eye masks- these can make all the difference when the line between day and night begins to blur and you have one hour before your newborn wakes again to eat!
Decent blankets
A sound machine
Essential Oils (we like Lavander, Peppermint and Citrus)
A comb
LED candles
Heating pad
Meaningful object or photographs
A TENS unit
A water bottle with a flexible straw
Lip balm
Hair ties
A bluetooth speaker
Less Minimalist Comforts:
Comfortable robe and slippers
Hospital gown
Rose water or other facial spray
Small fan that attaches to the hospital bed
Some people like having a one-touch night light for postpartum
Postpartum Needs:
Several comfortable nursing bras
SILVERETTES (Better than any nipple cream for healing sore nipples!)
Curved-tip syringe for feeding sleepy babies extra colostrum
Colostrum (if you've been colostrum harvesting starting at 37 weeks) on ice
Infant clothing in various sizes
Compression socks
An extra cooler if you're planning on encapsulating your placenta