It’s the FINAL COUNTDOWN!! With one month to go, baby is almoooost ready join us which means this mama’s been in FULL nesting mode and getting all the last-minute details handled and prepared. After going through it once with Leni, plus asking all my mama friends and scouring the internet, I’ve narrowed down my list of the ABSOLUTE must-haves when it comes to packing a solid delivery day hospital bag, so if you’re having a baby or you know someone who is, this blog is a good one! Here we go…

1. Allllll the Comfy Clothes

Loose and comfortable is where it’s at because your bod basically looks 7 months pregnant even after giving birth (I was not prepared for this shocking fact…). Also, I highly recommend dark colors. Dark colors show less stains than light colors and you better believe there are a lottttt of bodily fluids flying before, during and after delivery. So glamorous, I know. These are my absolute FAVORITE pajamas and I already ordered two new pairs in black and navy.

If you’re planning to nurse your baby, nothing is better than a dark robe combined with a nursing bra or nursing tank for easy access to the milk supply. No one has time to deal with real clothing when your new baby is hungry every time you blink. Skip the shirt. Bring on the robe. I looooove the ones linked here!

And finally, don’t forget a clean outfit for going home in! I opted for a loose flannel and some yoga pants, but you do you, Mama.

2. Extension Cord and Charger

You never know how far your hospital bed will be from the closest wall outlet so pack an extension cord along with your phone/tablet chargers so you can keep your devices on hand for the long hours you’ll be waiting around. I even brought a portable charger because some rooms might not even have wall outlets. The horror!

3. Snacks

Bring plenty of snacks for you and your husband/support person (AND for the nurses, for all their hard work)! During labor the preggo mama isn’t really allowed to eat anything (boooo) but you can be in the hospital for a longggg time so having snacks for your partner is a huge help so he doesn’t get hangry. I’m talking about YOU, Tim. Trail mix and protein bars are perfect along with some favorite sweet treats (I packed Sour Patch Kids… guilty pleasure) to keep sugar levels up during those midnight hours. If you’re extra fancy, you can prep some protein pancakes and you’ll get allllll the hospital cred! Mamas are usually allowed to suck on hard candy during labor, which was a nice break from all the ice and water, so bring some Jolly Ranchers if you’re as excited about this as I was.

4. Toiletries

I don’t bring my full toiletry haul, but it’s vital to have some key items. The most basic things are my favorite face wipes, a good moisturizer (hospital air is sooooo dry!), lip balm, and the usual deodorant/toothbrush/toothpaste/hairbrush/scrunchie etc.  If you’re a little more extra (like me), pack your favorite travel-sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner and also a mini hair-dryer and dry shampoo. As far as makeup items, I bring some basics like tinted CC cream, bronzer/blush palette, tinted lip balm and some mascara.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll take 203920320 photos of your new bundle and although you can’t expect to look like a super model in the background after delivering a baby, keep in mind that you’ll be looking at those photos forever and sharing them with a lot of people. If you don’t care about your hair or makeup, you go mama, all the power to you! But I am not that mama… So I make sure I’m prepared.

5. Shower Sandals, Slippers and Socks

Annnddd on the shower note: do. not. forget. shower. shoes. That first post-baby shower is GLORIOUS, and will feel way better if you aren’t freaking out about walking on the floor… Also, pack some slippers, a pair of warm socks and a pillow from home for extra comfort.

6. Things for Your Husband/Support Person

Although his job is MUCH easier in this situation, I threw Tim a bone and I brought him blanket and a pillow from home, in addition to the snacks listed above. Usually the hospitals only provide a blanket for the mama, but if you’re spending the night, your hubs will definitely appreciate being able to catch some zzz’s before it’s GO TIME.

7. Portable Bluetooth Speaker

I listened to music the entire time I was in the hospital and it made me forget about the sterile setting I was in. Download songs for a “hospital playlist” (in case their wifi isn’t working to stream music) before you arrive with your favorite jams or you can listen to an audiobook or podcast to get you distracted from the contractions!

8. A Fully Charged IPad/Kindle/Tablet/Good Book

Bring on the ENTERTAINMENT! A good book (check out this list of my Favorite Books!) tablet, magazine, or other means of distraction might be the perfect thing to help you relax a bit. Sometimes labor speeds up, slows, down, and does all kinds of funky stuff. Do you really want to rely on basic hospital cable to get you through the pain?!

9. An Insulated Drink Cup

During labor I drank a lot of water and the hospital cups are tiny, so I brought my 30 oz Yeti tumbler with a straw and it made my life so much easier, and Tim didn’t have to walk down the hall to full up my cup every 20 minutes.

10. All the TMI (too much information) Mama Items

There are many things about having a baby that are incredible (your brand new baby, the miracle of birth, the strength you never knew you had etc) but there are a LOT of less-glamorous things that come along with it and I want to make sure you don’t go in unprepared. Bring the following and google them if you need more info: adult diapers (unfortunately this is not a typo), nursing pads for leaking milk, extra heavy pads, Lanolin cream, Tucks Medicated Pads, recovery squirt bottle, and pain relieving spray. I’m glad that list is over. It’s giving me anxiety just thinking about these items again – oof.

That’s a wrap! The only things I left off this list are the things you’ll need to pack for the new baby, but I will write an entire blog about just this soon! Otherwise, these are ALL the items that I’ll be packing in my hospital bag so I hope it helped if you’re looking for some insight! Did I miss any good ones?? Drop your items in the comments below in case I am forgetting some!

Just remember to give yourself tons of grace upon grace, mamas: every little detail isn’t going to go as planned and you aren’t supposed to lose your pregnancy belly as soon as you have the baby so do your best to stay comfortable, appreciate the little victories and just love, love, LOVE on that sweet baby. I am so insanely ready to meet Baby Boy Brent–and no, he still doesn’t have a name yet, ha! Maybe that blog will come once he’s arrived?! Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss all the upcoming announcements!!

-Eva

Pictured below: Baby Leni at 1 day old!

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