What to Pack for the Hospital
When you least expect it, your trip to the hospital because you are in labor can come sooner than you thought. So let's be prepared! To be totally honest, if you just show up with a blanket and the car seat, you are in the clear and you will survive just fine. The hospital has everything you need for you and your baby, so just relax. But if you want to be super organized and prepared, I have made up a list of things you will really want to have around, because you know, the hospital is not that comfy.
First of all, don't take a huge luggage, truth be told, it doesn't even fit in the hospital room, and you really don't want to take a nice luggage into the hospital, cause you know, ewww, its a hospital. I think a duffle bag will do just the job. So here's a a short, but handy list.
Nipple Cream and Nipple Shield- You might not need it, but on the other hand, it might just save your life, so just in case, pack it in. Every baby is different, so maybe with your other kiddo you breastfed just fine, but second time around, or maybe fourth, in my case, might not come as easily, so you want to be prepared.
Toiletry Bag- Don't forget all of your goodies, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, all of your facial products, and throw in some of your basic makeup, just in case you want to take a picture or two with your baby. I like to take my face cream and my eye cream (Decorte 24/7, the best!) and some Rose Water spray. These items are not a total necessity but they make me feel so refreshed and helps me look alive and not so much zombie like.
Something to change into after you shower. I would recommend some comfy pijamas and maybe two sets of clothes. Make sure they are comfy and loose, you are going to be laying around in them for a few hours. I would throw in easy tops or tank tops to breastfeed. You are going to be whipping out those babies a lot during your hospital stay, because with new borns, you feed ON DEMAND! Oh, another thing, socks! Hospitals tend to be cold so you will be really happy you brought those along.
Camera, action! Don't forget your camera. I know our phones hace a super nifty camera, but you might want to have more quality pics. You might not use it with so much happening around, but you won't regret packing it just in case.
Healthy Snacks. Truth be told, hospital food is not top of the line and giving birth is a very very tiring job so you might be more hungry than usual. These snacks can save your life when you are starving at midnight while breastfeeding, so have them just in case. Chances are, your partner will eat most of them so he will be very grateful you packed those.
Tech. You will need your phone and I know you won't forget to bring it along. But you might forget the charger. Pack one or two! Some people like diffusers to relax with some lavender oil, or a small speaker to hear music, or an iPad to watch a movie. You really don't know how the whole labor thing is going to go down, because sometimes our birth plans don't go exactly how we expect it to. Tap on the images.
For the little One
Swaddle blanket. The hospital receiving blanket is not cute at all. You can survive with it, but you will probably want to change a more cute and comfortable one. I love the Aden and Anias ones. They have super cute designs and they are super soft. You probably don't want the babies first pictures with the swaddle blanket the hospital gives you.
Going home outfit. He or she must leave the hospital in style. Make sure you have that cute outfit selected and packed, so the baby looks cute on his first day out in the real world.
Carseat. The only way you are leaving that hospital with the baby is if you have a car seat strapped in your car, so you really don't want to forget this. Make sure to do all the adjustments with the straps beforehand. This way you are not fight with the carseat at the hospital entrance with the baby in your hands.m
Diaper bag. You probably won't use anything you put in the diaper bag because the hospital gives you wipes, diapers, etc. But you can leave the diaper bag in the car just in case you have a messy accident in the car and you need to make a quick stop. So this is a, just in case item.
