Minimal Hospital Bag Essentials: The Bare Basics You need For Delivery

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As someone who had to deliver her baby many months early due to medical complications, I never had the opportunity to scrub through the dozens of articles on the subject and pick out the perfect everything for my whimsical delivery day. In fact, I had no bag packed at all! Granted, many of the essentials were provided through my hospital, there were a few items that I wish I had to make my families stay a little more comfortable.

List Overview Simple

(tl:dr, I got you busy mama <3)

  • Hospital bag
  • Water bottle
  • Document organizers
  • Toiletry bag
  • Common toiletries mom/partner/baby
  • Nursing bra
  • Nursing pillow
  • Longer phone charger
  • House slippers or grip socks

List Overview Detailed w/ Recommendations

Documents

Who knew giving birth was a ton of paperwork! Not only will you be reading, consenting and signing many documents you will also be receiving a ton! From:

  • Welcome packets
  • Flyers for various motherhood related resource groups
  • Insurance/payment information
  • Copies of every document you sign

It can get very overwhelming very fast! I’d recommend having a binder or organizer handy to not only store your documents, but keep them organized for easy retrieval in the future. Below is a recommendation from Amazon!

Also, don’t forget your pens! I was able to borrow a few random ones during my stay, but I really wished I brought my own from home so I wasn’t always scrambling to find a random one. 

On top of receiving and consenting to documents. Make sure to have your own personal identification documentation handy, such as your insurance card, state issued identification card or driver’s license. Many of which, some of you may already be carrying around with you in your day-to-day lives.

Toiletries 

After you give birth, whether vaginally or by c-section there will come a time where you will need a refresh. Fortunately, many hospitals provide shower essentials and personal toiletries. If you have your own personal preferences on products, I’d recommend identifying those items and preparing them in your hospital bag in advance. For me, a mom who unexpectedly had to give birth many months in advance, I was at the mercy of what the hospitals provided, which were fine options but my stay would have been a little more comfy if I had brought products with me that I know and love. Don’t forget to store them in a toiletry bag, that’s compact and hospital friendly. Here are a few of my recommendations for moms in the market for one:

On top of mommy’s much needed refresh, don’t forget to consider the needs of your partner and new baby! At most hospitals, wipes and diapers are in no short supply, so it’s not entirely necessary for you to take up space in your diaper bag for such items unless you have a specific preference you’d like for your baby. 

Breastfeeding

For all you breastfeeding mama’s (or aspirational ones) I’d recommend you bring a nursing bra or two and a breastfeeding pillow. During my experience, my hospital provided me with a cotton tube top with 2 holes cut in the nipple area with a pair of scissors. Even though, it got the job done, I really wished I had pre-packed a nursing bra that was a little more structurally sturdy and comfortable. The lactation specialist at my hospital let new moms borrow the My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow – Deluxe (https://amzn.to/4hm10tl) during their stay but she was particularly insistent on purchasing your own and swore by it. Taking her advice, I purchased my own in a pretty pink color for my baby girl and have used it religiously. Other alternatives with a slightly cheaper price point are the Boppy nursing pillows which you can buy on amazon or pick up at your local target.

Below are a few of my recommendations that’s I’ve personally enjoyed during my breastfeeding journey:

Snacks and Drinks

When I gave birth, new moms had access to a sort of room service situation for food during certain time windows throughout the day but in between those windows you had to fend for yourself. Pre-planning the snacks, treats, and drinks you want to munch on during your stay is a great idea not only for you but for your partner. 

During my experience, the hospital provided a free plastic water bottle which was very nice and is still in my cupboard to this day. If you have a particular water bottle preference however or a particular style you prefer I’d recommend bringing your own bottle. If I could go back I would have brought one of these options:

Tech + Accessories

Depending on how your birth goes, the down time you my experience may vary. For me, since my baby was in the nicu for the first few weeks of life, I had about a day or two of mandatory bed rest where I wasn’t allowed to even stand until the medication I was on made its way through my system. During that time I found myself tinkering on my phone and passively watching a bit of cable. One thing that would have really come in handy during my stay was an extra-long phone charger! Not having to worry about the length of my charger would have been a nice luxury when I was stuck in my room during a really difficult recovery process. If I find myself in the experience again, I’d definitely have one in my hospital bag this time around!

Apparel

During your stay:

While you’re in the hospital, the floors can be quite cold and sterile. During my experience, I was provided with a neon yellow pair of one size fits all grip socks. They were comfy, but they didn’t quite fit. If I could go back, I’d bring along some house slippers or my own grip socks that are my size to lounge around in.

Going home:

Last but not least, when it’s time for you and baby to go home don’t forget to pack a comfy outfit for you both. During my stay, I sadly had to leave the hospital baby-less with my partner as my child was admitted into the nicu. But if I would have had a full-term birth, having a onesie and a pair of mitts (or a onesie w/ built in mitts!) would have been a must! I’ll link below my favorite brands for my baby:

Congratulations to all moms about to embark on this exciting journey, I hope that you have a phenomenal experience and I hope this blog post was able to help you make some informed decisions on the items you’d like to take you on the special day.

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Kyte Baby Sleep Sack: https://amzn.to/40NCkmK
Rice Cooker: https://amzn.to/42nokm7
Air Fryer: https://amzn.to/4g2W2AR
Pans I use: https://amzn.to/4g6hMLX
Similar pans at a lower price point: https://amzn.to/40um9uB
Strainer: https://amzn.to/40Hk6ES
Oil Dispenser Bottle: https://amzn.to/4huBKBs
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Paudin Knife Set: https://amzn.to/3CmYsMG
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