What's in your hospital bag?

I'm a less than a week away from my due date and I finally have my bag completely packed! Everyday for the past few weeks I have added to it. When I first found out I was pregnant I treated myself to a new travel bag for a hospital bag. I found this bag at Ocean State Job Lot for $38 and it came with all sorts of inserts. It also has a pull out handle and rolls on wheels. If this was a backpack I would say its a little nerdy but for travel purposes the wheels are awesome. I couldn't resist buying this suitcase! I felt a little overwhelmed about packing the bag because what do you really need when your going to the hospital to deliver a baby and what will be provided? And how much baby clothes, diapers or swaddle blankets do you have to bring? I was pleased that during our birthing classes they went over the essentials that you will need to pack for the hospital bag. We made a list and went from there. I also want to tell you that a great baby shower gift is gift cards to Target, Walgreens or any grocery store so that you can pick up some of these essential items. The following items are things that I packed for my hospital bag.

Hospital Bag Essentials

This is my beauty bag. This insert rolls open and has all sorts of compartments for your beauty supplies. See how nicely it rolls out?

In my beauty bag I included:

• Toothbrushes (one for hubby and one for myself)
• Travel Toothpaste
• Floss
• HPA Lanolin Lansinoh Nipple Cream (I heard it's really expensive when the hospital tries to sell it to you.)
• Make Up Remover
• Travel Q-Tips
• A Razor
• Travel Contact Solution
• Extra Contact Case and Contact Lenses
• Glasses Case
• Hair Ties
• Head Bands
• Bobby Pins
• Travel Hair Spray
• Waterproof Mascara (You must think I'm a little vain! I never go anywhere without mascara on and I definitly don't want it to smudge during delivery!)
• Eye Liner
• Body Butter
• Deotorant (One for hubby and one for myself).
• Travel Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash

I couldn't fit these in my little beauty bag but I also brought my Hair Brush, Blow Dryer and Flat Iron.I probably won't use them much. I plan on just putting my hair in a pony tail and wearing a headband but hey - just in case! My blow dryer broke about 2 months ago and I figured it was probably healthier for my hair to not use one at all. I finally splurged and bought myself a new blowdryer.



I got this Revlon blow dryer at Target. I like that it is collapsable and good for traveling. I was also drawn to it because of the retractable plug and wire. My other one broke from wrapping it everyday.

The next bag that I packed was the Goody Bag. Don't want to waste money on the over priced vending machines!

In the Goody Bag I brought:

• Lolly Pops (These were suggested from the birth class that I went to in case you have a long labor lolly pops will prevent dry mouth. My hospital also provides popsicles.)
• Gum
• Doritos (for hubby)
• Energy Drink (for hubby)
• Chewy Bars
• Fruit Snacks

Aren't these bags sooooo cute!

The next thing I decided to pack was the charger bag.

This is where we are going to keep the:

• Camera charger
• Cell Phone Chargers
• Ipad Charger (The hospital has Wifi so we plan on doing Facetime with my grandparents in Florida so that they can see their new Great Grand Daughter!) 

Moving on to the Diaper Bag

We got this diaper bag as a baby shower gift, it is from Babies R Us! I love it, and its perfect because its not something that Johnny will be embarassed to carry around.

In the Diaper Bag I packed:

• A few New Born Diapers
• Two burp Cloths
• Swaddle Blankets
• Travel Baby Wipes
• Lansinoh Diaper Rash Ointment
• Sleep Sheep
• Options for Coming home outfit

The sleep sheep is my favorite! During our birth class they did a sound demonstration of what a baby hears from inside your womb and then the second it enters the world. Its a dramatic change from constant swishing noises to what seems to be silence in the real world. I want to help our baby's transition by having the sleep sheep which imitates the sounds in the womb to soothe the baby. The hospitals now recommends that instead of putting the baby in the nursery keeping them in the room with you and that's what I want to do. I also want the room to be as comfortable for the baby as possible.

I packed a few outfits similar to this one. At the birthing classes they said that they baby has to be completely covered when we go home from the hospital. It's going to be hot! So that is why I chose this dress-like onsie. It also has the little mittens that curl over the babies hands so that they do not scratch themselves.

This is what I mean by the mittens.

I probably packed too much for the diaper bag. I know that the hospital will supply me with some of these things like the swaddle blankets, diapers, rash ointment and wipes but it was nice to get my bag all set up anyways.

The last thing we had/have to pack is clothes. Some things that I packed are:

•  Socks (The hospital suggests that you bring grippy socks so that you do not fall. You could bring slippers too. I brought enough socks for my husband and myself)
•  Nursing Bra
•  Underwear (I may not use these because I was told that the hospital supplies mesh underwear for your hospital stay.)
• Bathing Suit (In case you decide to use the tub to relax and relieve contractions. You can also bring a bathing suit for your husband)
• A nightgown or something loose that you would like to deliver in (At the birth classes they suggest that you bring something from home, something that you feel comfortable in.)

The rest of the clothing we have to pack the day off. After delivery you are usually in the hospital for about 48 hours. I would say bring a change of clothes for 2 to 3 days. It could be even longer if the delivery doesn't go as smoothly as hoped for. Make sure to remember:

• T-Shirts for your spouse
• Shorts / Pants for your spouse
• Undershirts for your spouse
• Boxers for your spouse
• Pajamas for your spouse
• Yoga Pants or Sweat Pants for yourself
• And comfort clothes!

The last thing that I would like to suggest that the hospital also suggested to me is that you bring pillows (the hospital ones are uncomfortable) and extra long sanitary pads!

I hope this post was helpful! I think I may have gone a little overboard but I would rather be prepared than not be prepared. Plus I don't think I will be packing for any other trips this summer!

All packed and ready to go!