What do you actually need for your hospital bag when delivering a baby?

You can scour the internet for hours going through master lists of what you need to take in your hospital bag when you deliver. I feel like this can lead to a lot of anxiety and obsessing over not missing a single thing. The reality of it all? There’s really not many things that you need directly after delivery. A few basics will do and anything else won’t be the end of the world if you need to send hubby home to grab a few things. That’s why instead of offering you an overwhelming list of things, that aren’t completely necessary within the first 12 hours, I’m going to give you the things you’ll want immediately after having baby or that often get overlooked. The things that maybe your friends don’t want to burst your bubble with!

• Your BEST chapstick-
  • You’re about to feel dehydrated like you’ve never felt before, and the place you feel this most is your lips. This is the one item you’ll be completely annoyed by if you forget. I wouldn’t worry about how your gloss looks, instead, opt for a truly healing lip balm. Think of the type you use in the dead of winter when your lips are chapped and cracking, not just the “pretty” stuff.
• Your favorite, most GIGANTIC water cup/bottle-
  • Again, the dehydration thing. Of course the nursing staff will bring you a pitcher and a styrofoam cup but unless you want to be filling up that tiny cup 24/7 just go ahead and bring your biggest hydro jug.
• House slippers-
  • You aren’t going to want to put on shoes everytime you get up but you also don’t want to sport those super sexy non-slip socks they’ll give you, and hospital floors are just plain gross. Bring house slippers for ease bc you won’t want to bend over but also I wouldn’t bring your favorite, unreplaceable, pair either bc leaks are common after birth.
• Your favorite MATERNITY stretch pants-
  • Something not all your friends might warn you about but after you have the baby, you’re still going to look pregnant for awhile, sorry to burst your bubble. I didn’t really realize this with my first born and I was so excited to get back into those “skinny jeans”. How naive. I was still rocking maternity leggings for MONTHS after delivery. Your uterus will still be shifting and shrinking too which is quite painful so opt for something with a stretchy, comfy, waistband. Don’t bother splurging on something cute, I can’t stress enough how common leaks are those first days, despite the diaper size pad you’ll be wearing.
• Baby clothes in DIFFERING sizes-
  • I really suggest not getting your heart too set on that coming home outfit. Instead buy a couple of cute outfits in different sizes. Your baby may be measuring large via ultrasound only to be born under 5 lbs, insert my first born. The opposite is also very common. I’ve seen babies come home from the hospital wearing preemie clothes that swallowed them or 3 month outfits that weren’t going to fit much longer. Just buy a few sizes at a time and be flexible.
• Car seat-
  • Although this one can wait until discharge just know that the nursing staff won’t let you leave the hospital until they’ve verified you have a proper carseat and that you’ve been instructed on how to use it. While it’s a good idea to go ahead and have your base installed and a general knowledge of how to use it in general just know that you’ll have to bring it inside before leaving.

At the end of the day, nothing is irreplaceable so please don’t stress over packing a bag. Of course there are lots of other things I can add to the list but these are my top tips! Stay tuned for a blog post coming on how to create a “daddy diaper bag” with all kinds of fun things for the dad to be to keep him entertained at the hospital and to double as his diaper bag.