As a first time mom I am not pretending i’m an expert in all things pregnancy but I have been doing a ton of research and taking your guys’ opinions so I can hopefully be prepared for what is to come next! After lots of reading and taking your guys’ suggestions I was able to compile my hospital bag musts! After I give birth I will make sure to come back and update this blog post on what was the most important items I packed and what things I could have lived without.

IN MY BAG:

• hair ties
• headband (for if labor gets extra sweaty)
• chapstick (this is a great organic brand!)
• depends (I know the hospital provides these but I wanted some of my own organic brand ones)
• pads (same thing as above)
• bathrobe
• comfortable pajamas (top / bottom)
• nightgown (in case of a c-section)
• slippers
• non-slip fuzzy socks
• postpartum comfy underwear
• extra long phone charging cord
• sitz spray / sitz soaked frozen pads
• peri bottle
• nursing bra
• medela soft shells (in case my nipples are extra sore)
• rhoid balm
• towel (the ones the hospital gives you are very small)
• shower shoes
• liquid iv (for extra hydration)
• iPad (in case labor is LONG)
• my own pillow
• my own blanket
• face wipes
• toiletry bag
• cooler for my placenta
• baby book
• hospital snacks: watermelon, bone broth, coconut water, granola bars, beef jerky sticks, dried mango, etc
• printed birthing plan, one for staff and one to put above the baby’s bed (see birthing plan below)

IN MY BABY’S BAG:

• baby hat
• premie socks (most people wrote me that newborn socks are too big)
• mittens
• newborn and 3-month onesies (in case he comes out extra big)
• diaper balm
• my own wipes (the hospital will provide these but I am bringing some because I want to use a specific organic brand)
• my own diapers (same reason as above)
• burp cloths
• my own baby wash (because I want to use a non-toxic brand)

FOR MY HUBBY:

• toiletry bag
• pillow
• blanket
• towel
• shower shoes

I also decided to make a nurse’s basket to gift my immediate nurses and the nurses on my floor with something sweet for all the care they will be giving me! Here are some of the things I put into my basket:

• canned oat milk lattes
• poppi prebiotic sodas
• made good granola bars
• made good rice krispy treats
• justin’s peanut butter bars
• liquid iv energy multiplier’s
• verb energy bars
• nature’s path oatmeal packets
• wildmade fruit roll ups

for my main nurses I got them something a little extra:

• target mugs
• $10 starbucks gift cards
• scrunchies
• cocokind matcha hydration stick
• kosas lip gloss
• sheet masks

Lastly… again I have never given birth so I am not 100% sure of what my hospital plan will actually be able to be executed but this is what I am hopeful for!

What I have currently written into my hospital plan:

• delayed cord clamping: I want to wait until the cord is completely white until they cut the cord – here’s the research WHY
• delayed bath for the first 24 hours (the baby’s vernix is so great for his skin so I want to delay removing it as he gets acclimated to being earth side) – here’s an article on the benefits of delaying your baby’s first bath
• skin to skin contact immediately to help with bonding and milk production (benefits can be found HERE)
• I’ll be asking the hospital if they have an aluminum free / preservative free vitamin k option
• I am asking for the hospital staff to allow me to have a physiological birth unless medical intervention is 100% needed meaning instead of telling me to push I want to wait until my body instinctively is ready to push (that’s if I can make it natural)
• placenta is to be released for encapsulation – I have read conflicting research on whether or not this is actually beneficial but I am willing to try anything 🙂