By the 32-week mark, pack your hospital bag with essentials for the mother, partner, and baby. For the mother, include an insurance card, driver’s license, comfortable clothes, and postpartum care items. For the partner, include snacks, money, a notepad and pen, and entertainment materials.
For the baby, pack nightgowns, tissues, a hairbrush, comb, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, hairdryer, hair clips, and hair ties. For labor and birth, pack clothes for the mother and baby, towels, and sanitary pads. Baby essentials include two sets of clothes (size 50 or smaller), two caps, a blanket for the trip back home, and an infant car seat if going home directly.
For the mother, pack ear plugs, fuzzy socks, breast pump, nursing pillow, loose fit underwear, and your own items. For the mother, pack a hospital bag checklist with her driver’s license, insurance card, and any hospital paperwork. For the birth plan, pack a toiletries bag with toothpaste, toothbrush, flannels, shower gel, shampoo, and other items for an overnight stay.
In summary, pack your hospital bag with essentials for the mother, partner, and baby to make yourself feel at home during the hospital experience.
📹 EVERYTHING You Will Need In Your HOSPITAL BAG
Packing your hospital bag is SO much fun but can also feel a little overwhelming. “What should I bring?” “What should I leave …
Is 32 weeks too early to pack a hospital bag?
A hospital bag should include a hospital bag for baby, a hospital bag for mother, and what your partner will need for labor. Start packing around 32 weeks, aiming to have everything sorted by 36 weeks. Keep the bag in your bedroom for easy access. Some helpful items for a midwife include a hospital bag for mother, a lip balm to avoid chapped lips, and a water bottle with a straw or sappy nozzle. Straws help relax the jaw during labor, encourage drinking, and help with labor progress.
A non-spill straw type nozzle is also helpful after a cesarean, as it allows you to be lying flat and help with the process. Keeping these items in your bedroom allows you to easily add items without forgetting them.
Which week is best to pack hospital bag?
By 36 or 37 weeks pregnant, it is essential to have your hospital bag ready for use in case of labor before your due date. While some items can be thrown in at the last minute, the majority should be packed and easily accessible. Essential items like a car seat and comfort items like a home-like feel are essential. Babylist parents and their childbirth experiences provide a list of must-have items for the hospital.
Is 24 weeks too early to pack hospital bag?
When packing for a baby’s birth, it’s essential to consider the timing of your delivery. If you’re planning a home birth, it’s advisable to pack a hospital bag to ensure you don’t need to go to the hospital and to have all necessary items in one place. Keep in mind that your labor room is likely smaller than a small living room, so don’t overpack. Packing more than two cabin cases may be overpacking.
Additionally, ask your midwife if there are any equipment that you don’t need to bring, such as a birthing ball, defusers, or electric candles, as they are provided by the hospital. Remember to prioritize your needs and consider the space available in your labor room.
When should you start packing your hospital bag when pregnant?
Packing your hospital bag between weeks 32 and 35 of pregnancy is crucial in case your baby arrives earlier than expected. Start the packing process around the 28 week mark or at the start of your 3rd trimester. Packing your bag at least a month in advance ensures you have everything you need for the big day. A checklist can help ensure you don’t forget any essentials for your baby’s arrival.
What to pack in a maternity bag?
To prepare for labor, you should have a birth plan, hospital notes, comfortable clothes, supportive bras, breast pads, knickers, a washbag with toiletries, towels, and relaxation items like books, music, and podcasts. A fan or water spray can cool you down, and you may need front-opening or loose-fitting nighties or tops for breastfeeding. A dressing gown and slippers are also essential. Healthy snacks and drinks, extra pillows, and a TENS machine are recommended. If you plan to give birth at home, discuss your plans with your midwife and consider where you want to give birth. Bodysuits, vests, sleepsuits, and an outfit for going home are also essential.
When should I pack my overnight bag for the hospital?
Before entering the hospital, ensure you have packed all necessary items, including personal hygiene items, clothing, comfort items, and entertainment. If you’re pregnant, consider the necessary items for labor and delivery, hospital stay, and taking your baby home. Jennifer Whitlock, a board-certified family nurse practitioner with experience in primary care and hospital medicine, advises packing accordingly.
How many pairs of pyjamas for a hospital bag?
For a Caesarean Section birth, pack soft cotton clothing for the baby and 8 vests and baby grows for the mother. Pack an overnight hospital bag at 28 weeks with nightwear, underwear, and toiletries for unexpected stays. Ideally, have your big hospital and labor bag packed in full by 36 weeks. Some hospitals have limited space for personal items, so pack lightly. Leave valuables at home and bring in any forgotten items. Pack your maternity chart, birth plan, and list of medications with your partner or support person.
A large bag for the mother and baby essentials and a smaller bag for the labor, as many birthing suites have limited space. Remember to pack your maternity chart, birth plan, and medications with your partner or support person.
What do babies wear right after birth?
The Rosie hospital provides posters to help guide parents on how many layers their baby needs to avoid extreme temperatures. Babylets should be dressed in a dry vest and babygro with one or two light blankets, with a folded blanket being considered two layers. The midwife can advise on whether to wear a hat in the first six hours of life. Parents are welcome to bring enough vests, babygrows, and hats to dress their baby, and their baby should be placed in a cot with their feet at the bottom.
After birth, the midwife will weigh the baby and perform an initial top-to-toe check, including taking their temperature at one hour of age. If vitamin K is given, it will be done soon after birth. At four hours, the midwife will check the baby’s oxygen saturation level. If an early discharge is desired, the midwife will complete the NIPE examination before home discharge. If postnatal care is needed, the baby and parent will be transferred to the postnatal ward (Lady Mary Ward). If the baby requires specialist neonatal support, the midwife and neonatal unit staff will explain this to the parents.
How many outfits does a newborn need at the hospital?
To bring a baby to the hospital, you typically only need one outfit, such as a coming-home outfit. Hospitals typically provide a newborn hat, long-sleeved shirts, and swaddling blankets for your baby to wear during your stay. To ensure a comfortable labor, delivery, and recovery, pack your hospital bag with essential items in advance. Layan Alrahmani, a board-certified ob-gyn and maternal-fetal medicine specialist, recommends having your bag ready by the time you’re about 36 weeks pregnant. Packing tips from moms and advice on what to avoid are also included.
Is 32 weeks too early to pack hospital bag?
A hospital bag should include a hospital bag for baby, a hospital bag for mother, and what your partner will need for labor. Start packing around 32 weeks, aiming to have everything sorted by 36 weeks. Keep the bag in your bedroom for easy access. Some helpful items for a midwife include a hospital bag for mother, a lip balm to avoid chapped lips, and a water bottle with a straw or sappy nozzle. Straws help relax the jaw during labor, encourage drinking, and help with labor progress.
A non-spill straw type nozzle is also helpful after a cesarean, as it allows you to be lying flat and help with the process. Keeping these items in your bedroom allows you to easily add items without forgetting them.
When to start buying baby stuff during pregnancy?
There are no rules when it comes to buying baby items, and it’s up to the individual to decide when to start shopping. As the first trimester approaches, an ultrasound may be performed to assess the baby’s development, which can be a relief for women who have experienced miscarriage or are worried about miscarriage. This good news often marks the start of the pregnancy with a trip to the baby aisle. However, the first trimester is also a time of increased stress and fatigue due to the surge of hormones preparing the body for the next nine months.
If you’re not yet stocking up on baby supplies, there’s plenty of time to do so. Creating a timeline for buying baby essentials can help set goals and stick to your budget. Breaking down your to-do list into smaller chunks during each trimester can help you feel less overwhelmed by the baby stuff.
📹 What’s In My Hospital Bag for Baby #2 (and what I won’t be packing…)
Thank you again to HAPP Brand for sponsoring this video. Here are the links to check out the brand’s amazing products I …
I love your articles because they’re fun and chatty, but you also think through all the content in advance so it’s well presented and I can learn a lot. I’m 33 weeks pregnant right now with our first, and I’ve just starting to think about packing my/baby’s hospital bags so this is coming at the perfect time for me. Wishing you a smooth and safe arrival of little acorn #2!
When I had my son I had to be induced because he was measuring small. I knew there would be a possibility of him going into NICU and in that case I would be there for several days. Turned out we were in the hospital for a week and I was glad to have packed a duffel bag with a weeks worth of clothes (my hospital was 3 hours away from where I live) I’m glad I packed the way I did!!
Diapers for myself were literally my best purchase. I wore them for I think nearly 2 weeks because I tore and was sooo swollen and sore that even underwear felt too tight. Hope your labor and delivery goes smoothly! It might be worth having the absolute bare essential labor items separate just in case you have a really fast labor. My sil’s second labor was 45mins (and her first was super slow) 😱😅
The hospital disposable underwear is really great and you can even ask for extras and take them home. My hospital had mesh ones that were super thin so they were great and not too high cut either so they didn’t squeeze on anything that was painful. Hospital grade witch hazel wet pads are also great and I thought they were much better than the homemade ones I made.
I didn’t shower in the hospital after my previous 2 births and dont plan to for this one(due in early March). My mom has been a nurse for nearly 30 years now…there’s nowhere more dirty/germy than a hospital. Our philosophy is get in and get out as quick as we can. Gave birth in the afternoon and then were checking out at 8pm the next day. Let me outta there! Lol.
Hope I’m not too late to add a suggestion (I know you could go into labor anytime now 👀😄🥰) Anyway, I highly recommend adding AfterEase to your bag! It’s an herbal tincture (I got mine on Amazon) and it’s supposed to help with cramps afterwards, which for most people they get worse with each subsequent birth. I used and it worked wonders! As soon as I felt some coming on I just squirted a dose into my mouth (you can mix it too but I find doing it straight is so easy) and the cramps got SO much lighter! And breastfeeding can make the cramps even stronger so I just can’t recommend that stuff enough! Anyway thanks again for sharing your journey, it just made me feel so much less alone with mine (even though I was about 7 months behind you😅) – I even rewatched them all for my second! And your birth vlog was so inspiring! Wishing you a very smooth and happy labor & delivery!🤗💖
Great prep! I would even say no need for robes because with bleeding and baby nursing they get dirty every four hours or so. Not worth even bringing them, I stayed in a hospital issued gown the whole time but I was also in the hospital for five days after a c-section. That would be the equivalent of 20 plus gowns. I would recommend bringing a really long phone charger, a portable battery and a clip-on phone holder that can be attached to ur bed without having to use a wall plug, so that u can use it hands free if calling family after or playing music during or after labor and for perusal articles etc in the quiet hours. I brought a holder and my nurses thought it was so clever! Good luck with baby number two, so happy for you and Matt and for Sagie ❤
So true about packing the sandwich 😂so delivered at 10:30 pm and by the time I was moved to the postpartum recovery unit I was STARVING! The snacks were NOT enough. Definitely going to have my husband at least order me takeout to the hospital when I get close to pushing so he can grab it for me to eat immediately 😭😝
I love your minimalist approach!! Definitely doing the same thing and limiting myself to a duffle bag this time around! Just a note about the shower…in the case of a c-section, they may have you shower after to loosen and remove the bandage. You obviously don’t have to take a full blown shower, and can literally just soak off your bandage and call it a day, but thought I’d mention because I was a little shocked after my son was born 😅 Can’t wait to hear about baby acorn’s arrival!! ❤
Where I live the hospital stay is 3-5 days (after my first I stayed 5 days total including the 28 hour birth – protocol for jaundice) so I packed a small suitcase and needed a lot of stuff. The only thing I received from the hospital was some diapers and some pads for me. I needed a lot of clothes for baby and me for those first days with spit up etc.
I didn’t like the pump there had at my hospital so I would bring my own the next time, comfy underwear and clothes, a lot of snacks, maybe a journal, also didn’t shower for 3 days, I wanted to shower at home, hot steamy shower, I did bring everything in case. Breastfeeding pillow 🤔 and certainly a nipple shield because my daughter was having trouble latching and didn’t drink enough until I got one once I was discharged from hospital. Wish you a beautiful delivery and meeting with little baby ♥️
Can someone clarify for the lounge wear/track suit pants, is it best to bring maternity or normal? At 34 weeks I’ve currently outgrown many of the maternity clothes I’ve bought (I thought it would last but no). Obviously not wanting to spend more with not long to go, I’m now in my husband’s track pants… so looking to buy some cheap loungewear. Do I buy maternity or normal?
For my 1st I brought with so many PJ’s and such and I ended up just wanting to wear my hospital gown, and it was nice to not need to bring all those clothes back and wash them. So next time I’m just bringing my robe, I wore that over my gown. I brought so much stuff with my 1st when I have the next it’s going to be so much less 😂
My son was born with jaundice and my blood type makes all my children more likely to be jaundice so for my next I’m bringing syringes of colostrum, so as soon as they are born I can start feeding them, and pumping to help my milk come in. My son was in the NICU and I would pump and put in a little syringe and walk down to him and feed him, and we had to give him formula. So I’m hoping if I come more prepared it will be better. I only brought nursing bras and this time I’m bringing pumping bras so I don’t have to sit there and hold the dang things on. 😂