This post is for you if you’re pregnant and ready to pop any day now. While you’re sitting around playing Candy Crush waiting for labor to start (no? just me?), I thought you might want to double check your hospital bag to make sure you’ve got everything you need for labor and postpartum.
I’ve had 4 babies now (read one of my natural birth stories here), so I’ve learned a thing or to about packing a hospital bag that I wanted to pass on to first time moms! If that’s you, then congratulations! I want you to be prepared to handle any surprises that might come your way after birth for both you and baby!
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Last Minute Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom and Baby
First off, this is not a comprehensive checklist for everything you need to throw into your hospital bag (I’m sure you already have this, this, and this packed). These are items that are OFTEN forgotten or not considered or no one tells you about.
Related Post: Newborn Care Survival Guide: Week 1
Okay, enough about that… let’s get to that last-minute hospital bag checklist for postpartum comfort and labor!
For Labor – The Birthing Ball
Okay, I’m not going to talk about bringing Alexa with you to the hospital room to play worship music during labor or the perfect essential oil, but I will talk about “the birthing ball.”
I thought the birthing ball was silly during my first labor because, I mean, isn’t it just an exercise ball that you sit-on? What use is it?
But you guys, if you want to have a natural labor for as long as possible, this is a MUST. HAVE. TOOL.
When you sit on it, it relieves some of the pressure DOWN THERE during the contractions. I used it to sit on and lean over the edge of the bed for both Little Two and Little Three! (note the featured image!)
Unfortunately, this picture below is the only picture my husband got and it’s super blurry…and this is a sort of funny, not funny face I’m making… I think Little Three was born about 30 minutes after this pic was taken. Haha. I’m just trying to be vulnerable people…
Also, do you see the red ball in the back? That’s the one the hospital ended up giving us because they just got a new order in. It was wayyyy too small so I definitely didn’t use it.
Anywayyyyyyy……………….I’m so glad my first hospital had one for Little Two, but I was devasted to find out the last hospital I was delivering at didn’t keep them in stock (for sanitary reasons or some silly thing like that).
I asked my doctor about it non-chalantly at the last minute, and was so glad she told me the hospital didn’t have them! Thankfully, we had one at home that we just cleaned up and brought with us.
So, the exercise ball doesn’t technically fit in your hospital bag, and yes, it’s one more kind of bulky thing to bring it but it is totally worth it and you won’t regret bringing it when you’re breathing your way through those contractions (I’m just saying).
This sanity saving book all new parents need
I don’t know about you but I did NOT expect my nurses to ask me questions in my sleep deprived state in the hospital about WHEN I fed the baby and all their bowel movements etc.
Oh, and for how long on each side.
Oh, and how much they were sleeping. While yes they DO give you one sheet of paper at the hospital (sometimes), I LOVED having this beautiful baby tracking book with me at the hospital.
I then was able to bring this book home and continue to track everything at home! I have a friend who’s baby was in the NICU, and this book was even more crucial. Anyway, I think you should totally throw it in on top of your hospital bag!
When you are home, I love that things are electronic now and this looks like a MUST HAVE because it will be super easy to track everything.
Postpartum stuff you need to bring in your hospital bag
There might be a few things that I’m sure other moms have told you about postpartum recovery, but in case you forgot due to a) pregnancy brain or b) way too much information, here are a last few minute things you should order now so that you have it for the hospital bag (or for when you go home!)
Warning: gross talk down below… if you’re squeamish…skim quickly!
Big, massive, underwear
Okay, I never heard about this massive underwear until I went to the hospital for the first time, and seriously they were a life saver.
Between all the blood (sorry not sorry) dripping out and the massive pads they give you, even a pair of granny-panties isn’t going to cut it.
Plus, if you had a C-section, you’ll probably want to wear these hotties for a while so you don’t aggravate your stitch.
(So yes, the hospital WILL provide them to you immediately after birth! But having a few of these undies in your hospital bag for on your way home and for WHILE you’re at home will be much appreciated.) They aren’t sexy but they are better than the alternative and not too expensive!
Overnight Pads
Sorry if you’re a dude and you’re reading this for some reason (maybe for your wife?), but don’t forget to just buy the regular overnight pads and have them in stock at home.
I leaked for SEVERAL weeks after each baby, which meant I had to have the pads CONSTANTLY. And I don’t know about you, but I try not to make my husband purchase stuff like this (even though he will if he has to).
Why should you pack this in your hospital bag? I did wish I had something slightly smaller by the last day than the MASSIVE ones the hospital provided. I didn’t bring any for my third baby because I assumed they would have some.
Ugh. You know what happens when you assume!
So anyway, these ones, in particular, are extra soft and won’t irritate you.
Down there spray
I personally loved the peri bottle that they gave us at the hospital, but I have friends that have LOVED this spray for down there for after you go to the bathroom.
The cooling feeling was such a relief to the postpartum pain “down there” in the perineum area. All you have to do is spray and you’re good.
Hemorrhoid Cream
You guys, again, this is getting a little bit personal, but want to know something? I’m sharing my postpartum tricks with you and THAT is just gonna get personal.
I won’t go into too much detail but so many people I know swear about a hemorrhoid cream like this one (that’s super hard to find in the grocery store). I seriously wish someone had told me about this one for my first two pregnancies because that first BM is TOUGH and well, hemorrhoids are super common.
Get this secret-sauce cream. Use it. You’ll be so glad you have it on hand. (Here’s an article on uses of colloidal silver for hemorrhoids in case you want to learn more about why you might want this cream.)
For engorgement
I remember with my first baby, we were about to leave the hospital after about 24 hours there. The nurse came in and said, “Wow! I guess your milk came in!”
I was kind of shocked because I didn’t know what to expect. I knew my breasts were “fuller” but I didn’t realize how BIG they would actually get (that they would be noticeably bigger, which the hubs likes haha).
Little did I know that during the first few days they would also get “hard” and “hot” as they got engorged. Thankfully, I avoided mastitis by putting something cold on them after every feeding.
So because of all of my pain of engorgement, I recommend every new mom have this handy in the freezer to help naturally keep down the engorgement.
For baby
I’m going to assume you already have that adorable outfit picked out for your little love bug. So, one thing I recommend bringing is a small stuffed animal that you plan to use while taking pictures of your baby as they grow.
It will give some perspective in all those monthly pictures you want to take! Might as well start at the hospital š
Okay, to sum it up. Here’s what you need to throw into your hospital bag last minute.
ā Exercise ball for labor (double check with your doctor to see if they have them at the hospital already)
ā Big, massive underwear
ā Overnight pads
ā Down-there spray
ā Silver Gel for hemorrhoids
ā Breast Therapy Pack – Hot and Cold
ā Adorable stuffed animal for Fresh 48 Pics
Related articles you may like:
The E. A. S. Y Newborn Daytime Schedule
Beginner’s Guide to Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms
5 Things New Moms Need for Themselves
Keep your newborn warm in winter and cool in summer
Postpartum Series: Tips for physical recovery
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