by Jodie the Mom | Jun 26, 2023 | Pregnancy and Babies

Mommy To Be Hospital Bag Checklist: What You Actually Need

You don’t need to pack everything you see on Pinterest in your mommy to be hospital bag checklist.

August is the most popular month for births. We can blame it on the long winter months. Since hospital stays are right around the corner, let’s talk about what you actually need on your mommy to be hospital bag checklist.

One of my biggest peeves, is the long lists for labor and delivery must-haves, or your mommy and me hospital bags, because it is so unnecessary to pack your house for a two night stay.

As a mom of 6 working from home, I understand the need for efficiency. I’ve had a lot of practice packing my labor and delivery bag. So let’s call this the practical or sane mommy to be hospital bag list.

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Mommy to be Hospital Bag the First Time

For the first baby, we were literally hauling bags through the hospital hallways. They had to get us a cart to move everything from labor and delivery to the recovery room. It was hilarious. Looking back, I can’t believe we brought so much stuff.

As first time parents, there are so many unknowns. So we read all the books and followed all the expert advice. We were going to do this right. All with some interesting consequences—like hauling bags of stuff around the hospital. It makes for a good story at least.

The Problem with the Mommy to be Hospital Bag Checklist

With every baby I always searched Pinterest looking for something new. You know that something that I didn’t know already.

I am always shocked at the ginormous lists that are on Pinterest. It is like you are packing for an international vacation instead of two nights in the hospital, wearing the same thing for you entire stay.

A lot of this lists are trying to prepare for every contingency and that is just not possible. I’ve given birth 6 times in 5 different facilities in two different states, read more of my birthing stories. I delivered in hospitals and birthing centers. So I have a pretty good idea of what most places provide. What you need to bring, and what you can leave at home, and still have a comfortable hospital stay.

Practical Mommy to be Hospital Bag Checklist

You don’t need all the things. Here is my practical, sanity saving list. I am going to work from the bottom of the bag to what you need on top.

1. Going home

You need a carseat. Yes, this is pretty much a given. There isn’t any facility that will let you leave without a car seat. If you have the infant carseat with a base, then install the base weeks before your due date, so it is ready to go. You don’t want to deal with this when you are trying to leave the hospital.

There are many cute accessories for the carseat but leave them off. Most hospitals will have you remove anything that is not original to the carseat.

2. Clothes for mom

Forget the cute jeans. Your going home outfit needs to be loose fitting and super comfortable. You just delivered a baby, and your body went through some dramatic changes. It is going to take a while to get comfortable in your pre-pregnancy clothes…if ever.

Skip the yoga pants, those are too constricting. Get some comfortable sweat pants and a lose fitting shirt to wear home. Don’t forget socks, shoes, and your base wear items too. Or if the weather is good flip-flops. You can’t depend on the socks and shoes you walked in with. If your water broke on the way, they might not be wearable home.

3. Clothes for baby

Baby will need a going home outfit. Since this was always a special occasion, I always bought a cute outfit just for it. You only need a going home outfit for baby, no other clothes are required.

If it is winter time, you probably want to bring a blanket to cover baby for the outside. That is all you need for baby.

You don’t need extra diapers, unless you just want to pack a few in the car. At every hospital, I was always sent home with extra diapers.

4. For your stay

Your stay will be 24-48 hours. Or if you are at a birthing center, it will only be 4 hours after delivery.

I hate staying in hospitals. How is a mom supposed to recover with constant interruptions? That was part of the reason I chose to deliver at a birthing center for the last one.

If you are in a hospital, you will just be staying in your room laying in bed the entire time. Get a comfy pair of pjs. Some hospitals will want you to stay in the gown. If not, then be prepared with your own pjs. These were my favorite. It is not an affiliate link, I just like them that much.

Bring flip-flops or slippers to walk around the hospital room. They will have the hospital sock, but I always preferred my own.

Bring your granny panties. Yes, mesh-underwear is not all that it is cracked up to be. You will want to be comfortable. Pack a nursing bra. Not that you will necessarily wear it for your stay, but you will need it to leave. If you want to bring nursing pad liners, skip the plastic ones and go with washable cotton ones. So much more comfortable. Your milk won’t come in for a few days, so you probably don’t need them at the hospital.

Don’t waste your money on all the nursing creams until you know if you will actually use them. Nursing creams are completely preference. I never liked them, so never used them. Also, the lactation consultant may have samples. So test drive these things before spending your money.

Blankets, hat, and shirt for the baby are always provided by the hospital. So you don’t need these items for your stay. Just for leaving. I always brought a pacifier for the baby. Yes, the debate exists about it interfering with nursing. This was never the case with any of my kids. If you want to use a pacifier, then bring it with you.

5. Entertainment

Hospital rooms are really boring. The cable selection is usually lame and there is nothing to do. Yes, you are bonding and feeding your baby, but baby sleeps after the trauma of the birth canal. Also, I never sleep in hospitals, so I usually just watch stuff all night.

Bring your own entertainment. Whether that is an iPad or Kindle. Download stuff you will want to watch and pack it in your bag. Skip the books or download them on your Kindle. More than likely, you won’t want to read. You are exhausted after all.

Bring all your charges. Yes, you will need to charge your phone and devices. Pack them in your bag.

6. For him

Do you need a bag for your husband? For the most part he was always able to stay with me. Except when I gave birth in New York City. The hospital rooms are semi-private, so he could never stay over.

He always opted not to bring anything for himself. We lived close enough to the hospital that he would go home and check on the dog. Then he would change and brush his teeth.

You aren’t really sleeping in the hospital. Or it is so fitful to make it non-existent. And did I mention people coming in and out of your room at all hours of the night.

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7. Snacks

Bring granola bars or something small like that. If your labor and delivery is long, your husband is going to get hungry. Also, the kitchens close after a certain time, so you will want something on hand.

You won’t be able to eat during your labor. If you deliver at 2am after 12 hours of labor. You will be hungry and the hospital cafeteria will be closed. Bring something to eat.

8. Labor and delivery

I know, I know. All the books will tell you to set the tone for your environment. And the list for this is like a 100 items long. What you bring really depends on whether you want an epidural or not. How long you want to labor before getting it.

If you are getting an epidural, then bring something to pass the time. Like your own entertainment.

If you are planning on a natural birth. Look at all the suggestions and decide what makes sense for you. Soft music and candlelight would drive me crazy. I am not a big music person now, so why would I suddenly change during labor. You know you the best. As you go through the class or books, when you come across something that just makes sense to you. Then go with it.

9. Hospital gowns

For labor and delivery you are wearing a hospital gown. Unless, you are at a birthing center. The center that I used provided a robe. I did a water birth, so I did find a cheap bikini top to wear. This is all about preference and what makes you comfortable.

For both stays, bring something that you can put on after delivery. I always get the shakes and chills. It feels like I am freezing. Bring a sweater or even flannel pajama top to warm you up.

10. Take the tour

Every facility will have a tour. Always take it. First, so you know where to go when you are in labor. Second, so you know what will be provided by the hospital. This will help you decide what you need to bring with you.

Conclusion: Mommy to be Hospital Bag

Mom don’t over complicate what you need to bring. Trust me you don’t want to look like you are packing for a two week vacation for a family of 6, when you are just becoming a family of 3.

Keep it simple. If you forget something, you can always have someone drop it off or pick it up for you. That’s what husbands are for. Don’t forget the camera!