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The thought of your baby’s upcoming arrival is both exciting and wonderful, but it’s also very nerve-wracking and stressful, especially if you are a new parent-to-be without a past personal experience of going through labor and delivery. It’s hard to imagine what it’s going to be like! Regardless, though, whether you are a new parent or you know more of what to expect, it never hurts to be extra prepared. Each experience has the potential to be very different, so preparing as well as you can and educating yourself on all the possibilities that may happen can both ease your mind and provide a better experience when the time comes. And with all that is going through your mind, combined with the lovely “pregnancy brain” (“Where are my keys??” I say as they sit right in front of me…), a little checklist of things to pack and prepare can help! Feel free to scroll through the items below to help build your own checklist! Congratulations!
Clothing for Mom:
A soft robe, button-down nightgown, or another comfy post-delivery outfit (keep in mind if you are breastfeeding, you will want something that is easy to nurse your baby in. I recommend a soft robe since it’s easy to open, but a soft nightgown-type outfit that opens on top with enough room to nurse is a great choice, too! They will be checking your lady parts often, as well, so something that is open at the bottom is important!)
Nursing bras (if nursing from the beginning) or soft non-underwire bras
Non-slip socks or slippers
A bikini (if laboring and/or delivering in water)
A few pairs of full-coverage underwear (they may get ruined, so I recommend disposable postpartum undies)
A comfortable change of clothes to go home in (yes, you won’t be pregnant anymore, but you will be sore and still have a belly! Pack some maternity clothes or soft and stretchy clothes that won’t be uncomfortable on your postpartum belly, and won’t rub a sore and healing area from a C-section)
Clothing for Dad:
A comfy outfit to sleep in
Extra pairs of underwear or boxers
Non-slip socks or slippers
Swim trunks (if helping mom labor in water)
A comfortable change of clothes to go home in
Postpartum Essentials for Mom:
Disposable postpartum underwear (if you aren’t bringing regular full-coverage undies)
Cooling maxi pads (if you give birth vaginally, there will be fun postpartum bleeding, lovely!)
Perineal cooling/healing spray or foam (this helps when using the bathroom and just for comfort in general. If you give birth vaginally, you’ll be swollen and sore, and you may have some tearing.)
…And/or a super convenient Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit!
Other Toiletries:
Disposable toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc.
Hairbrush, hair ties, bobby pins, headband, etc.
Shampoo and conditioner
Face wash
Makeup bag
Deodorant
Lotion
Chapstick
…Any other things needed for an overnight stay and just for comfort!
Tip… I wanted our hospital bag to be packed as much as possible beforehand, and when I pack a travel bag I often forget little things like toothpaste. Most of the time the hospital or birth center will probably provide adequate disposable toiletry essentials, but just to be prepared, I went to the travel/dollar section at the store and bought little travel-sized toiletry items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, makeup remover wipes, etc. I try to limit buying one-time-use or disposable plastic items, I don’t want to contribute to more unnecessary waste… but for the sake of a having a baby, it’s nice to just have less to worry about when it comes to packing and less stuff to put away when you get home!
Essentials for Baby:
Baby wipes
Diapers
A few baby onesies (I recommend a couple of sizes… newborn sized onesies, but also maybe some 0-3 month sized onesies. You may have a bigger bundle of joy than expected!)
A soft baby swaddle or two
Maybe a couple of comfy zip-ups (for sleeping or bringing baby home in)
Newborn socks
Soft burp cloths
A comfy and safe going home outfit (again, maybe just an easy zip-up outfit!)
…Anything needed for those cute newborn pictures of your new arrival! (We love the brand Copper Pearl, which you can find here on Amazon! They have a huge selection of five-star rated hats, swaddles, going-home outfits, bibs, and more!)
Tip… You don’t have to pack too much when it comes to baby clothes… definitely some soft onesies in case you need them and just whatever is necessary for the current weather to bring baby home in. When I had my daughter, she was just in a diaper and swaddle blanket while we recovered in the maternity suite. We had to have something warm to bring her home in because it was the middle of January in the midwest, but overall, she didn’t need much in terms of “clothes” while we hung around the hospital until we were discharged. The nurses preferred that she wasn’t dressed because of the little checkups, and we did lots of skin-to-skin contact during any feedings. It was easier to keep her in just a diaper and a nice warm swaddle blanket. The hospital provided a soft swaddle blanket to keep her wrapped in, along with a newborn hat. We had our own swaddles and hat, too. So again, you don’t really need too much in terms of baby clothes during your hospital stay. Swaddles, soft blankets, and a going home outfit…focus more on those things. (:
Other Things to Remember for Labor, Delivery, and Your Overall Stay:
A typed or written birth plan (with the understanding and flexibility to know it may not go that way… however, it helps to keep everyone on the same page with a birth plan!)
Music/downloaded music/a saved playlist on your phone
An exercise ball for labor (check with your hospital or birth center as they may provide one already)
Any comfort items (e.g. a soft blanket, pillow, squeezy toys, etc.)
A tablet (if you want one while you labor or recover)
A phone/tablet charger
A reusable water bottle or some disposable water bottles
Some allergy-free snacks
Dollar bills or change for vending machines (for snacks beside any ordered hospital food)
Other Important Essentials:
Wallet
Purse
Insurance cards
IDs/driver’s licenses
Phones
…Any other important papers and documents needed!
Things to Remember for the Ride Home:
Infant car seat
Car seat base (properly installed in the car)
Car seat cover (something light and airy if it’s hot, something warm and cozy if it’s cold)
Car window shades (installed in the car)
Extra blanket for the ride home (weather permitting)
Extra note to remember… make sure to pre-register at your hospital well beforehand (sometimes providers have a deadline, most will probably tell you to just do it as soon as possible. Less to worry about when the big day actually comes!). Check with hospital billing, make sure you understand your provider payment contract, and/or finalize all plans and payment with your midwife, doula, and/or birthing center. You want to make sure you are prepared and understand all of the costs involved!
Labor can happen on its own, with induction, or with a planned C-section… whatever you have planned, or not planned. Sometimes labor may take a long time, but sometimes it may come much quicker than you think! So again, finalize those plans, have those bags packed well ahead of time, and spend those last few weeks resting and feeling prepared for the day you get to meet your new bundle of joy!
Also… Most, if not all, hospitals and birth centers supply many of the things included in this list, mostly the disposable things and some of the postpartum essentials. When I had my daughter, they provided bathroom essentials, towels (if your postpartum room has a bathroom with a shower), lots of newborn diapers and packs of wipes, non-slip hospital socks, postpartum maxi pads, ice packs (for your lady parts), and of course, a hospital swaddle blanket and hat for the new baby. However, it doesn’t hurt to bring your own things, just in case! I’ve had some moms tell me their hospitals provided the bare minimum, while other moms have shared stories about their hospitals and birth centers generously providing more than enough for the baby, mom, and even dad.
Thanks for reading! I hope this list has you feeling more confident, ready, and prepared! It may seem like you need a ton of things… like you’ll be walking into the hospital or birth center looking like you’re going to stay for a month! Once you get everything organized and consolidated, it definitely doesn’t seem like as much as you may think. With our first baby, my husband had a small backpack, I had my duffel, which included all my clothes and toiletry/postpartum things, and then we had the baby bag with just a few extra diapers, a swaddle, and such. My husband wore his backpack, carried the infant car seat and baby bag, and I carried my own duffel (he offered to carry everything, I was fine carrying it on my own!) It definitely wasn’t that much, don’t worry. (:
Best wishes for a safe, healthy, and happy delivery! However labor and delivery goes, remember… deep breaths! You got it!
Lots of love,
Anna
