What’s In My Hospital Bag: For Mom

I’m a total crazy person and made up this packed graphic for what’s in my hospital bag. I LOVE packing and I’m a creature of comfort… so I definitely won’t be claiming to pack light 😉 I hope you find my suggestions useful and insightful – I have done this twice before and am pretty set on what I need and want to have around me for labor and delivery. Every Mama (and Daddy!) is different, and I totally get if some of what I’ve packed doesn’t work for you! Let me know in the comments if I’m leaving out anything you couldn’t live without. Love hearing what works for other Mom’s.

So for this post I am going to share what I’ve packed JUST FOR ME! Woo hoo! So much focus on the baby but it really is the Mama doing all that work. I love having nice things to enjoy before, during, and after the hard work of birthing a child.

1.  Lifefactory 16oz Glass Beverage Bottle Turquoise The pitcher of water you can keep next to your bed just never is enough for me. I’m parched ALL the time and constantly chugging water. It’s nice to have my own glass drinking vessel that I can keep right next to me in bed. I’ll also put my glass Mason Bar Company straw in there so it’s easier to drink when I’m either in pain or recovering from pain.
2. Covered Goods Nursing Cover in Black and Ivory Stripe This is such an awesome cover. It’s super soft and lightweight, can be worn as an infinity scarf, and can also triple as a carseat cover as you leave the hospital. I love the stripes and think they look great in hospital photos, and the cover itself offers such comfortable privacy when you have friends and family in the room visiting while you are trying to nurse.
3. She Does Justice Headbands I personally think headbands rescue all sorts of crazy hair and when I’m in the hospital my hair is definitely all sorts of crazy. A soft and comfy headband helps me feel a little bit more put together and hides unwashed or over-slept-on hair beautifully.
4. Skip Hop Duo Special Edition Diaper Bag, French Stripe Sigh. This is the best bag ever. I originally purchased it over a year ago to modify and use as a camera bag. It’s held up incredibly well through rain and muddy photo shoots as well as being toted on a cruise and to the beach for family vacation. It still looks brand new! I’ve cleaned it out and reverted it back to a diaper bag. But it is actually housing everything I’ve packed for myself AND baby beautifully! It really is that spacious. The pockets are so perfectly placed and you really can’t beat the style. Like I said; sigh.
5. Electronics:  Canon DSLR (70D) A great digital camera is a must for me. I adore what I own but obviously there are TONS of great cameras on the market to suit your needs. I recommend researching and purchasing the best option for your family and figuring out how to use it well BEFORE baby comes. Barnes & Noble NOOK HD Tablet I freaking LOVE this thing. I got it for Mother’s Day last year after not one, but TWO of my ipads made a transfer of ownership to the two lovely little people in my life. The price was perfect, and it came ready for everything I love – reading books, browsing magazines, doing crossword puzzles, browsing facebook and pinterest. It can also download pattern files and save notes which I love too. Last but not least is, duh, your phone! I’m an obvious iPhone lover. Hello instagram baby spam 😉
6. A PinkBlush Maternity Sleep Shirt Hands down, my favorite purchased item from this pregnancy. Most comfortable garment I’ve ever owned. I love how cute it is and it is super super super soft! The neckline pulls down really easily to nurse, too, which is great for this anti-real-nursing-gear Mom. I’m not one for snaps and openings and layers. Boo to that. But hooray for having cute jammies! If you’re anything like me, you are about to spend an almost unacceptable amount of time in pajamas…might as well love ’em!
7. Comfy clothes for going home. My choice is for my favorite soft leggings...
8. and oversized long sleeve T-shirt. Easy, size accommodating, and most of all comfortable. Remember, you’ll still look about 5 months pregnant give or take- even after delivery.
9. Soft and loose lounge shorts for wearing in the hospital. Emphasis on LOOSE here. You’ll be bleeding and hurting and getting up and down to pee or wipe or wash or whatever (eek, scary, I know) but it’s nice to NOT have your behind on display 24/7 😉 unless you are totally into that…then by all means… My favorites, pictured, aren’t available anymore but I love these too.
10. CHEAP comfortable moccs. My favorites are definitely from Old Navy. They are so soft and comfy, have a real sole, and best of all ARE SO INEXPENSIVE. Use a coupon to buy them for even less. If they get gross at the hospital or bodily fluids really ruin them- you won’t feel bad tossing them when you get home. The same couldn’t really be said of nice UGGS for example or any other kind of beloved cozy slipper. (Are you seeing an Old Navy trend here?! Love them.)
11. Toiletries. I’m kind of obsessed with Zoe Organics lately- you can try so many of their products in sample sizes which is awesome! And of course bring your favorite makeup! I hated not feeling pretty in the hospital photos of my first daughter’s birth (zero makeup on) and am hoping one of my dear friends, Kacia, will be able to capture this one – I want to love myself in every photo. For me that means having my “normal” makeup routine at hand.
12. Lilypadz Reuseable Nursing Pads These will change your life. Little stick on, silicon, pads that STOP the milk from leaking out of your nipple. They don’t collect the milk or turn into soaked sponges… they just STOP the milk from leaking all together. It’s the.best.thing.
13. COMFY SLEEP NURSING BRAS. If you are a, ahem, larger chested woman like myself (screw it, these babies are ENOURMOUS now, amiright?!) they will only get BIGGER and more sore after labor. No wires or snaps or buckles or straps will be touching my girls until wayyyyy after my milk comes in and my breasts have returned to their normal large selves. I really like these Lamaze Maternity Women’s 2 Pack Soft Sleep Bras.
14. Your Boppy Pillow. You know you have one! It’s not that essential for nursing (at least not for me) but it was super handy to have for MYSELF to use during labor in different ways that helped me get comfortable. Plus, it has the added bonus of being a really, really, great older sibling holding the baby tool.  Double duty sounds great to me!

Phew! Aren’t you glad I’m breaking this post up into sections?! I think that’s enough links for one day. I’ll share the baby stuff next, then what I’ve packed for Dad and what I’ll have on hand for my big sister girls as well.

xo

J