Disclaimer: This list would have been incredibly different my first time around!  The first time, there would have been real clothing for me, and lots of clothing for baby (because don’t you change them 25 times a day, and wear jeans out of the hospital?!).  There would have been a lack of beauty products for me (and by beauty products, I mean lotion, chapstick, etc) because I really didn’t get how needed it would be for me to feel like a normal human being again after all that (and since the jeans weren’t happening, a little makeup and lotion will have to do!).  We brought so so much stuff when our first baby was born (and left with even more after visitors and getting permission to take all the things from the hospital).

Time two, we peared down quite a bit- probably pretty similarly to what this list will look like!  Of course, any new mama can bring whatever and as much as she wants to the hospital.  After all, you are going to birth a human being…it is totally your choice.  But I wanted to share a list for all those first-timers who just aren’t quite sure what they might need, broken down by “who”, and also admitting that some things just depend on your particular sensitivities– so hopefully this will be helpful!

For Baby:

• It is so tempting to bring all those cute little newborn outfits you have been gifted or are stocking up on! But the truth is, the hospital provides little easy shirts and bottoms for baby (which is a bit easier than sleepers at that point with the amount of times baby has to get undressed a day between medical checks and diapers!), and baby will be swaddled closely most of the time so you won’t see all that cuteness! You really might want 1 outfit for pictures if your hospital will offer them and you want them, and 1 good outfit to go home in– and you truly don’t need much more!  I have only had warm weather babies before so maybe once I am really packing I will worry more about footie sleepers and things, but 2 should do it truly!
• 1 good baby blankie if you really want something from home! But again, the hospital provides and honestly, I would rather use their swaddling blankets because once I got home I always wanted to wash things a million times and that way, it isn’t one that you want to use right when you get home!
• You might consider baby nail clippers.  Sometimes baby’s nails are long right away, and in our experience the hospital didn’t provide that for us– but you can also wait until you get home!
• A hat/headband if you want. The hospital will have those too- but if you want something specific, feel free!
• The hospital will provide wipes, diapers, and cream. If you are cloth diapering and want to start right away, that is the only reason you really need anything!
• You might be catching the gist…the hospital provides really everything you need for baby.  So anything you bring as fun extras are just that– so don’t stress about this! The only thing you must have in order to leave is…
• Baby’s carseat! You bring it in on discharge day and they double check your straps and that baby is secured correctly– and you (obviously) cannot leave the hospital without it.  Just set it up and leave it in now!
• Nursing pillow. You might not need it, but if you struggle to get that all started, you will be glad to have it!
• Pacifiers if you have some. The hospital will have plenty of options if not, and you may choose not to give those for a few days to help get nursing going. But we gave ours right away!

For Dad:

• This might be different per family depending on dad’s hospital stay plans. For us, we wanted Michael there as often as possible (both times he left very briefly only when someone else was there to run home and either take care of our pup or shower quick). So assuming your husband is hoping for the same…
• 2-3 changes of clothes and sleep clothes if different.  If you have a typical vaginal delivery, you likely will only be at the hospital for 2 nights.  If you have a c-section, likely 3-4.  So you want clothing for all of that. Michael only packed 2, knowing he could get more if needed.
• Toiletries (including soap if he will shower there). Michael swears he didn’t in the past, but we live a bit further from the hospital now so I’m not sure how all that will go.  Bring the overnight essentials! Glasses, soap, toothbrush/toothpaste, contact solution, deodorant, etc.
• Some sort of easy flip flops or slippers depending on season (especially if you wear socks and “real” shoes in- you want something quick and easy to put on!)
• Phone (duh ;-)) and charger (we packed old chargers so they are already in the bag, and we packed extra long chargers- you can get those on amazon. You never know where the plug will be!)
• Camera (if you are a photographer yourself and know you will be using it ;-))
• Sweatshirt and maybe a blanket. The hospital gives you something to cover up with while sleeping but it isn’t very substantial!

For Mom:

• Some of this ends up being similar to the other 2 lists, and depending on your comforts!
• A couple changes of clothing…but know depending on how it all goes, you might spend a lot of time in the initial labor and delivery hospital gown, or in clean ones.  My first birth was tough, and I wore the robes for the first 24 hours even after birth. Second time, I changed just an hour or so later. The robes are available to you the whole time you are there, and sometimes are just easier if you nurse/etc or are really sore. Lots of women get cute robes that they bring themselves- more power to them! But whatever you actually have the baby in will likely not be super wearable after, so I personally just use hospital robes.
• Those changes of clothing should be (sadly) maternity clothing for the most part, and super comfy. I had high hopes as mentioned above of wearing jeans out of the hospital (though I think they were maternity jeans) and it just didn’t happen- they weren’t comfortable yet.  I would bring loose PJ pants that worked well into your pregnancy, and if you want to be cute on top, that is fine.
• If you have nursing tank tops or tops, they are super helpful. Babies eat all the time those first couple weeks, and you don’t want to have to be changing constantly in order to easily nurse. You might bring some nursing pads too!
• I do like the idea of a light robe for after baby is born, or a zip up sweatshirt/etc so you can temperature control!
• Flip flops or slippers, like mentioned for dad!
• Toiletries. I mentioned in the beginning I went light on beauty products the first time, assuming I wouldn’t care. But the truth is, I just wanted to feel as “normal” as possible after all that, so the second time I brought what I would typically bring on any overnight trip and was much happier with that! Don’t forget glasses, rubber bands, bobby pins,deodorant, etc! **Side note: I am not a HUGE amount of makeup sort of girl– if you are, you might not need the whole of everything! Just don’t forget the basics that make you feel good on a lounge around sort of day 🙂
• These are toiletries, but important enough for their own bullet point: Even if you don’t typically use them, you will want lotion and chapstick. Hospitals are dry, and you these are must haves!
• Phone and charger
• If you do have some sort of birth plan for your doctors, you definitely want to have that.  I did for my first, and not for my second.
• If you are picky about pillows, you might have your husband throw one in the car just in case the hospital ones aren’t working for you.
• Your pump. You might need to pump a bit to get the whole nursing thing going, and sometimes the hospitals don’t have one available (or you would just rather have your own!).
• Also optional, but snacks!  They try to get you food as soon as possible after you have the baby, but in my experience, it is not soon enough! 🙂 If you can pack a few things just to get a little refresh shortly after (and for dad the whole time!), you will be grateful!

There are so many other things but honestly, this list is plenty! The only other thing I would say is to get your bag packed and in your car by 36 weeks just in case, and to bring everything you can home with you, especially extra of mesh undies, ice packs, and extra diapers!!! It is just nice to have a stash for when you get home, and those things are harder to buy than just to already have.  We brought all the baby blankets/hats/outfits too that they provided, but haven’t ever used them again– we really just have them for memories sake.  If you are better about pack rat sentimental tendencies than me, then just bring all the medical items you can. 🙂

Hope this is helpful for those mamas-to-be…feel free to leave any questions OR suggestions you might have!