What Goes In Your Hospital Bag in 2023
To kick off Maternal Mental Health Month we’re sharing a short list of hospital bag must haves for birthing people planning to give birth outside of their home.
Just feeling prepared can help reduce anxiety and other negative feelings about the amazing task you are about to do. All week long, we’ll share resources to help you get prepared.
You can expect to be away from home for 2-3 days depending on whether you have a v-birth or a c-birth; and depending on how complex your birth story ends up being.
Your bag should be well stocked, but be easy with yourself if you forget anything. Most hospitals have the things you don’t know you need yet; though the stuff the hospital provides isn’t always the best.
To make your stay more comfortable and ensure you have clean and natural self-care products immediately postpartum, order a labor & delivery box. It comes with the essentials and a few luxuries for your bag.
With the labor & delivery box, just add two forms of ID, a phone charger, going home outfits and and your most comfy sleep shirt. We recommend one that buttons down the front for an easier time breastfeeding. Put it all in your favorite bag and presto, you’re packed.
If you can’t order a labor & delivery box right now we made a checklist for you to ensure you don’t forget any important items. Get a printable version here.
Must Haves
Two forms of ID
Birth plan
Feminine wash —you won’t feel like wiping down there—opt for one without fragrance.
Face wash, moisturizer, lip balm
Phone charger
Pajamas
Going home outfit for you
Going home outfit for baby
Car seat
Nice to Haves
Peri bottle with an angled nozzle
Hydrating beverage
Grip socks
Protein bar
Hair tie
Bluetooth speaker, if you plan to play music during labor
One special celebration item just for you. Mine was a k-beauty sheet mask. I sat in the red sleep-inducing light of the recovery room, in awe of what I just did. And for 10 minutes while the mask did its hydrating magic, I reveled in calm, after 24 hours of exhausting labor. This simple sheet mask created space for me to have a mini moment to myself.
This may seem trivial but you will have less and less time for yourself as your little one grows. So, take the moments when you can. Starting now. Your item could be a good book, fresh flowers anything you want, no matter how frivolous it may seem. But bring a celebration item, just for you and not alcohol because baby needs clean colostrum.
A few things the hospital has that work extremely well.
The mesh underwear and accompanying thick AF pad. Take as many of these as the hospital will give you. Turns out you bleed a lot in childbirth. These things work the best. No commercial product even comes close to working as well. I don’t care what their marketing teams say. Plus the hospital ones are free. Take all the hospital pads and mesh underwear you can fit.
Donut pillow. Sitting poses a real challenge postpartum. Yep, it’s that real. Luckily the hospitals have some version of a waffled or donut-looking inflatable pillow that goes under you when sitting upright. And it’s a real life saver.
Stool softener. We don’t like taking pills, but sometimes you got to. This is one of those times. Do yourself a favor and don’t do any cleanses or take laxatives for at least three weeks. We’re not doctors, but we can tell you that doing anything that creates pressure in that area feels the opposite of good. If you find yourself feeling stopped up just eat your fiber and let nature do it’s thing at your body’s own pace.
And finally, remember to bring the car seat. The hospital won’t let you leave without one.