***EDIT — I ended up delivering three weeks before my due date but I wrote this ahead of time. I’ve added notes for what I actually used!***
Assuming everything goes smoothly I want to go home as soon as possible, so I’m trying to stick to the bare essentials. But I do plan on bringing some niceties like dry shampoo and makeup! I know there will be lots of photos taken and I don’t want to look like a complete wreck the entire time. Some “fresh” hair and makeup makes a huge difference.
For Me
I plan on packing everything in my LL Bean tote (easy to move around!). Plus it’s not new and has been on a plane many time, so I’m not concerned if it gets dirty. And it’s pretty small!
- Some comfy PJs and a robe for after delivery. I might bring both this set and this nightshirt to see what I’m feeling. Oh and my trusty compression socks.
- Changing out of the hospital robe on day 2 was GOLDEN. They actually had compression socks so I didn’t use mine.
- My favorite dry shampoo
- Basic makeup & toiletries – see my everyday routine here! Plus deodorant, my contacts and glasses, toothbrush/toothpaste, and some face wipes. I’m also bringing my own towel and pillow – and I put the pillow in a brown pillowcase so it doesn’t get confused with a hospital one (don’t worry it’s a spare pillow, not my actual one).
- I put on makeup day 2 for some pictures and I felt like a new person.
- Slippers that I plan on throwing away 🙂
- Protein drinks so I can get some energy during labor. It’s awesome that they let us have more than ice chips, so I’m bringing these because they’re my favorite.
- They let us have clear liquid foods – so I had chicken broth, frozen lemonade, and some jello for lunch and dinner. That really kept my energy level up!!!
- An outfit for leaving – most likely my Align leggings, a loose t-shirt, nursing bra or tank, oversized sweatshirt and slides (I’ve heard your feet can swell even more!).
- iPhone charger & iPad
I was originally going to bring more toiletries for myself, but the hospital provides everything you need – and you can take as much as you want home. Plus after talking to some friends who recently had babies they said just bring clothes to wear home, and other PJs for the hospital if you want! Everything else isn’t needed and it’s easier to keep it simple.
For Baby
I’m planning on bringing everything we need for baby in our diaper bag – and it’s not a long list!
- Going-home outfit – basic white onesie and a cute bow
- Swaddle blankets
- Carseat – already installed in our car!
- Blanket for the car
I did try to keep things super simple, so this post is probably more bare bones than others. The hospital isn’t really a place I want to stay, so I’d prefer to have what I need to stay comfortable and then I want to go home! Plus the less I bring, the fewer things we need to lug around and clean or throw away after.
So I think we brought the right amount of stuff to the hospital. If anything I could have ignored the towel and pillow because they had so many towels for me to use, and got me more pillows whenever I wanted them. One thing I would note – bring an empty bag to bring all the toiletries home with you! I had so much gear for myself that we filled an entire grocery bag.
At the end of the day, less is more and I was happy we didn’t bring a ton to carry around. We also only stayed for 36 hours after delivery so I didn’t need more to keep my comfortable.
