You’ve picked out the colors for the nursery. You’ve selected a name.
You’ve got all the essentials for your new baby—clothes, diapers, changing table, and maybe a stuffed animal or two that you hope will become childhood favorites.
While you may have almost everything prepared for your newborn’s arrival home, do you have a checklist for your arrival at the hospital? As your due date approaches, it’s important to have a detailed hospital bag checklist to ensure you won’t forget anything.
We’ll go over 10 items that we definitely feel are “must haves” to pack in addition to other things you should consider.
10 Useful Items for Your Hospital Bag Checklist
1. Important Paperwork and IDs
Don’t forget any medical cards or insurance documents. Be sure you have the most recent copy of your insurance card on hand.
By now, we have discussed a birth plan if you have one with you, and while your doctors should have reviewed it already, it’s always a good idea to have printed copies available for nurses or other health care workers. This will ensure it’s readily available if any questions arise.
If you are curious about what is included in a birth plan or how to start one, just talk to us and we’ll be glad to review your options. We’re dedicated to your health, and we will aim to follow your plan as long as it is safely possible to do so.
2. Some Comfortable Clothing
We always recommend having a bathrobe and even a good pair of socks to keep your feet warm. Flip-flops are useful in the shower, and easy, non-skid slippers are a must for walking around the hospital ward (if appropriate).
We also recommend comfortable pajamas to sleep in. Just remember to be sure they open in the front if you choose to breastfeed.
3. Maternity Pads and Underwear
While the hospital will provide some maternity pads, we suggest that you pack some additional ones. Bring several pairs of comfortable underwear, but be mindful that you may need a larger size so they can fit over the maternity pads.
Bring a nursing bra if you are planning to start breastfeeding—and some nipple cream. If you do not plan to breastfeed, be sure to bring some of your most comfortable bras or sports bras.
4. Personal Toiletries
Of course, the hospital will provide some of your basic items, but don’t forget:
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Hairbrush or comb
- Shampoo/conditioner
You may also need to bring hair clips and hair ties. It’s also a good idea to bring a plastic bag for your dirty laundry.
5. Eye Care Products
In the excitement and anticipation of labor and delivery, it’s often easy to overlook some of the more obvious items. Be sure to pack your glasses and/or contact lenses. If you wear contacts, be sure to bring the solution and lens case.
6. Your Phone and Tablet Chargers
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll forget your phone, but your charger is more easily overlooked. You’ll also find it useful to have chargers with longer cords, as the available outlets may be farther away from the hospital bed. If you plan on snapping photos of the birth, be sure you follow the hospital’s policy on photography.
7. Skin Care Products
Sometimes, you may have skin that feels drier than usual after labor and delivery, so we advise bringing moisturizer and anything else you use as part of your regular skincare routine.
8. Educational Notes and Handouts
If you’re one of those who prefer to record things on paper—or if your childbirth class distributed a particularly informative brochure —it helps to have these notes on hand. They can serve as a reminder of the most important highlights or things that resonated the most with you.
9. Snacks and Drinks
Sometimes, labor can last a long time. For this reason, we suggest bringing a few healthy snacks and drinks. However, it’s important that this is cleared with your healthcare team first. Sometimes you may not be allowed to eat or drink during active labor, particularly if you’ve faced challenges such as gestational diabetes. Reusable water bottles, energy drinks, hard candies, and gum are a few of the things to consider bringing along.
10. Items for the Baby
By now, you should have already had a child safety seat installed in your car. Now, you need to be sure the baby has a “going home outfit” ready, along with bottles if you have decided to bottle-feed your baby. The hospital will provide plenty of diapers, but you should also consider bringing a receiving blanket, and a few burp cloths.
Remember to be prepared for the weather. Your baby may need a knit cap or a bunting if it’s cool outside.
At Associates in Women’s Health, We’ll Help Make Sure You’re Prepared for Your New Arrival!
Quality care begins long before conception. In fact, if you’re considering having a family, we highly encourage you to contact us for pregnancy planningso we can help ensure you have the healthiest start possible. By participating in preconception health care, you can optimize the chances of having a healthy baby.
We customize your needs based on your personal and family health history and address any concerns you have.
Are you ready to expand your family? Contact us to schedule an appointment.
