10 Things You Don’t Want to Forget in Your Hospital Bag

April 2, 2019 2 Comments

Category: Motherhood, Personal
Tags: C-section, Giving Birth, Hospital Bag, Hospital Delivery, Pregnancy

Baby Randall is coming soon and I spent this past weekend packing my hospital bag with all the essentials. This isn’t my first rodeo so I wanted to share some of my must-have items for when you deliver your baby. This doesn’t include the necessities (yes, you’ll want your cosmetics, some make-up, nursing bras etc) or the frilly, nice-to-have music play lists that no one actually has time for – but instead focuses on the pragmatic things that you’ll be thankful you have pre and post delivery.

10 Things You Don’t Want to Forget in Your Hospital Bag

1. Post-Delivery Binder/Girdle  – Since I’m having a c-section I know I’ll need some sort of girdle, but I’ve heard that this Hip Mall Postpartum Girdle is also favored amongst moms for vaginal births too for compression purposes. I know the hospital gives you one but this one was recommended to me by my momma friends who I trust. This also has 3 pieces – verses 1 – which I think will be more effective / tightening than just the standard one-piece that you get.

Hip Mall 3 in 1 Postpartum Girdle Support Recovery Belly Wrap

Plus, I think it never hurts to have an extra one so you can not only compare and contrast two versions but because they get dirty and you don’t want to be constantly doing laundry, amiright???

2. Toilet paper – Yes, you read that right. Bring a roll (or two) of soft, comfy toilet paper from home. You’ll thank me later.

3. Towel – Bring a lush, comfy towel. The ones they give you in the hospital barely wrap around your body and are paper thin.

4. Stool softener – Take Colace when you go into labor / enter the hospital or two days before you know you’ll have a planned c-section. Nothing is worse than trying to go to the bathroom after you birth a child. This will at least minimize the discomfort. You’re welcome.

Colace Clear Stool Softener
note: your doc will recommend this to you but it’s always too late (you’ll want to start taking it two days before so it’s in your system and working before you need it!)

5. Snacks – Stock up on healthy, nutritious snacks. You could be in the hospital for days, so make sure you have snacks to keep you fueled. Here are some of my favorites that I never feel guilty about eating and stock up our house with. Bring enough for your husband too.

• • RX Bars – Obsessed with these bars – contain all-natural ingredients and fill you up
• • Baked Apple Chips – These are literally just apples that are baked so no added sugar but soooo good
• • Chomp Sticks – Meat sticks that I literally eat daily – I love them for a hearty snack without the guilt
• • 100 calorie Raw Almond packs – These are my husband’s favorites – easy packaging is key for hospital!
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• 6. Phone chargers – This is a given but don’t just bring one – bring a few! With an IPad, iPhone between you and your spouse, and even visitors, I’d bring two..
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• 7. Super comfy pjs, robe and slippers – The first time I went in to deliver, I brought a few cute post-baby outfits, but this time… no way. I am bringing two pairs of long sleeved, super big pjs, that are first and foremost, soft and comfortable but yes, of course, will also be suitable for pictures.
• I’m obsessed with these ANCHOVY knock off Eberjay / Cosa Bella Pjs from Amazon. They are literally less than 1/3 of the price of the fancy pjs and beyond soft and comfortable (I have them in two colors).
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• Also bring a robe to quickly wrap over yourself when visitors come and slippers when you walk around the halls. I just got this one (shown above)  – super inexpensive, very soft and adorable.
• 8. Fridababy Mom Washer Peri Bottle – Perhaps TMI but after talking to friends who’ve delivered with their second, they all recommend this Mom Washer Peri Bottle by Fridababy as their favorite “second delivery” must-have. It’s essentially a glorified “cleanser” for your lady parts post-delivery. Yes, the hospital gives you one but this has all the bells and whistles that’ll make you feel more comfortable post-birth – enough said. You can’t put a price on that!

• MomWasher Peri Bottle for PostPartum Care by Fridababy

• 9. Flip flops for shower – Again, you’ll thank me. You don’t know who’s used those showers or how well they are cleaned. Better safe than sorry!
• I didn’t have any plastic ones so bought these super cheap ones below.

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  Old Navy Flip Flop Sandals

• 10. Pillow – Hospitals bed can be uncomfortable so bringing your pillow from home is a nice touch. Make sure to put on a colored pillow case on yours so you don’t confuse it with the hospital pillows

• One bonus item…

• 11. Chap stick and a good facial moisturizer for the dry hospital air – I remember having abnormally dry lips in the hospital with Chloe so I’m stocking up on these lip balms.

• Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Balm

• Also packing my favorite Clarins moisturizer that keeps my skin hydrated (btw – this has been my go-to for 10+ years now because it’s that good)!

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  Clarins Multi Active Jour Day Cream

• What did I miss?? Please let me know if you have any “must have” items that I missed.

• Happy Delivering!!

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