What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for Labor and Delivery

Hey y'all!  It's getting closer and closer to baby time around here!  Eeek!!!  So exciting!  Well, here is yet another "maternity related" blog post, but this just happens to be about what I'm doing today.  My husband tells me I'm "nesting" and I reckon he's probably right. ;-)

One thing that was so super helpful around the time I went into labor with Gavin, was already having a bag packed for the hospital, and it sitting in the car ready.  Only problem was that last time I was a first-time mom and didn't know exactly what I would be needing.  So... needless to say, I had a LOT of unnecessary stuff and was missing tons of things that I actually needed and had to send amazingly helpful family members to get them for us. :-/

Well, now I've got a pretty good idea of what I will really use and need for the big day.  But this time I've got to a two-year-old Gavin to pack for as well, in a separate bag, since most likely he will be hanging out with his aunts, uncles, and grandparents a lot of the time that we're there.  And I'm just saying, that means a toddler boy cooped up in a hospital for 3 days, not going to be his most favorite environment unless I help by planning ahead and making him a "big brother activity bag" full of  fun Gavin-style things to do.

I'm going to split this up into two posts.  The first one on what is in our parents/new-baby bag and the second on Gavin's big brother bag.

What to pack:

Dad:
- Shirts
- Pants
- Shorts
- Underwear
- Socks
- Snacks and/or money for food (change for vending machines)
- Pillow
- Blanket
- Phone Charger
- Small bag of toiletry type items such as deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.

Mom:
- Comfy shirts (you will still have a bit of a belly right after the baby's born so bring loose clothes.  Basically what you wore when you were between 4 to 6 months pregnant)
- Comfy pants
- Panties
- Socks
- Slippers to wear if you would like (I personally didn't pack any this time because I never actually used them)
- Nursing bras
- Nursing pads (I didn't really need them last time until after my milk fully came in, but just to be safe in case of early leaking)
- Nursing gowns (I really appreciated having them for relaxing in, they were super easy to get the hang of breastfeeding with, and instead of the ugly hospital gowns)
- Nursing cover
- Boppy Pillow (AMAZING!!!)
- Lanolin (your hospital may provide this, but just in case.  This is what made breastfeeding comfortable for me.  Being chapped and broken is not going to help you and baby love the experience.  Lanolin is awesome!)
- Comb/brush, shampoo, conditioner, etc.
- Hair clips, elastic bands, chapstick, makeup, etc.
- Deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
- Ibuprofen & Tylenol (our hospital charged per pill on both of these.  So bringing your own can save money)
- Phone charger
- Camera bag with camera, extra SD cards, battery, etc. is also a great idea

Baby:
- Clothes (not too many just a few)
- A couple receiving blankets
- Burp cloths
- Newborn diapers
- Wipes
- Pacifier
(Again the hospital provides most all of this, but it doesn't hurt to have your own)
- Infant carrier/car seat in the car ready to go

Dear Moms,

looking back now, what we're some of the best things y'all packed

(or wished you'd packed) in your maternity hospital bag?

Do y'all have any ideas on a hospital bag

for a 2-year-old big brother?

I would LOVE to hear them!

See also:

10 Tips For Feeling Great While Pregnant

35 Weeks Pregnant

"Dear Moms of Little Ones"