What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag: Complete Guide of Must-Brings!

We’re welcoming our second in just a month and our hospital bag is ready!

Getting ready for a new baby is always exciting and terrifying at the same time. That’s why it’s important to be as prepared as possible and that includes making sure you have your hospital bag ready a few weeks, or even a month or so, before your expected due date.

Sharing our complete guide of must-brings to help all you mommies about to give birth as well! I’m also including suggestions for products I have personally tried, tested and highly recommend.

(Download the free checklist at the end of this article!)

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But first, the bag (or should I say, bags!)

I’m not packing light for my baby’s big day because I want to make sure I have everything I need. The hospital where I’m giving birth in is far from where I live (around 1 hour on a good day and can take 2 hours during rush hour!) so I don’t wanna have to go back for anything.

All the things I need for easy access are packed in my Bebe Chic Backpack. It has a lot of compartments that are perfect and I’ll most probably be bringing it with me in the labor room. Everything else is in my large suitcase. Yes, a LARGE suitcase! You’ll see why later!

I also made use of labelled and transparent packing cubes (got them from Booths Republic.) I love that our cubes are personalized so that when I need to ask someone to search for something for me (as in, my husband, haha!) he won’t have a hard time finding it. Side story: I love these so much that I actually got one for each of us in the family for our future trips.

And now for the things inside those bags:

For Baby

• Newborn diapers: Most likely, the hospital will only be providing you with a few pieces and will be charging you a lot for the next ones. Bring your own supply. (I’m bringing a pack of 24 pcs.)
• Baby Clothes: Onesies, tie-sides, pajamas, frogsuits, bonnet, mittens and socks. Mix and match depending on your preference. For us, we are packing long-sleeved tie-sides, partnered with pajamas and frogsuits, all from Beginnings Baby, because they use super soft, breathable fabric. TIP: Choose to use white colored garments because it’s easier to spot dirt, poo, pee or if ever, blood.
• Swaddles: Keep your baby warm and SAFE while sleeping! Practicing safe sleep means not using loose blankets that can cover your baby’s face and interfere with breathing. Use swaddles that are securely fastened for your own peace of mind. I personally use Halo’s SleepSack Swaddles. Been using it since my first and it’s always helped make baby sleep better. Highly recommend it.
• Burping Bib: Avoid spill-ups on your clothes and use a burping bib. I’m bringing our favorite for years, the iFlin Burp and Bib, because of the soft material and padding. I also love that you can snap it securely around your neck.
• Bed Protector: To avoid having to change the sheets again and again in case of accidents, I highly recommend bringing your own reusable bed protector. I’m using the one from Mellow Kids, which is also what I will be using for baby’s crib at home.
• Towel and Washcloths: For baby’s first bath! All white again, also from Beginnings Baby.
• Going-Home Outfit: Preparing 2 in case of spill-ups. Or you can just put him in pajamas and swaddles; that works too. Haha.

For You

• Pajamas: Make sure you bring pajamas that have nursing access to make breastfeeding easier. I didn’t like the hospital gown that was provided before, so now I’m choosing to bring my own, comfortable clothes instead like these cute, longsleeved nursing pajamas from Mamaway! Will also bring with me a buttoned-down pajama dress to make post-birth perineum care easier (based on experience: had to put medicine a lot down there since I had a vaginal delivery and a pajama dress would be perfect!)
• Nursing Bra: Bringing with me a sleep bra and my favorite pair of anti-bacterial seamless nursing bra, both from Mamaway.
• Underwear: Lots of it! (I’m def bringing more than just the 4 in the photo haha!)
• Belly Wraps/Shapewear: Something I didn’t bring before but I’m definitely bringing now since I want to get back in shape faster this time! I’m going to use the Belly Bandit Bamboo Belly Wrap and their C-Section and Recovery Undies. (Btw, despite it’s name, The C-Section and Recovery Undies is great for both c-section and vaginal birth! I’m going for vaginal birth like before with Luke but it’s also comforting to know I have something for a c-section, just in case.)
• Socks: It can get chilly!
• Slip-on slippers: I totally forgot about these during my first and it was not comfortable to keep putting on my flats just to go to the bathroom. So I’m bringing a pair this time! You can choose to bring disposable hotel slippers if you wanna leave it after. But I’m personally bringing my non-slip rubber ones.
• Eye mask: Sometimes nurses and doctors come in and out of your room and you’ll need to keep some of the lights on. Get better sleep with an eye mask.
• Going-Home Outfit: I recommend a dress in case you’re still sore down there. Also, don’t forget to make sure it has nursing access!

Toiletries & Sanitation

• Underpads: The hospital I gave birth in during my first time charged like crazy for each change of underpads! So I’m bringing my own pack of bed pad liners this time (also got them from Mamaway)
• Cotton Balls: Bring extra-large cotton balls (got mine from Orange and Peach) to make cleaning easier.
• Tissue/Tissue Rolls: Will probably be provided by the hospital, but bringing extras just in case.
• Baby Wipes: Make sure you use one that’s fragrance-free and extra-sensitive to avoid irritants on your newborn’s skin. I’m using KinderCare’s Ultra-Safe Baby Wipes.
• Menstrual pads: Because you’ll bleed for a few days if you have a natural delivery. Some people recommend adult diapers so you can also choose to bring those. I personally didn’t need them with my first though.
• Portable Bidet: To make washing down there easier.
• Anti-Septic Feminine Wash
• Alcohol Spray: For general sanitation but also for visitors before they come near you or the baby! You don’t wanna catch germs this early on.
• Make-Up & Grooming: Because when I look good, I feel good. Haha! Included in this list: my toothbrush, toothpaste, stretch mark lotion (I use Morrison Stretch Mark Lotion) comb and hair ties. Also, don’t forget your lip balm because hospitals can get super dry.
• Room Sterilizer: I’ll be asking my husband to sanitize our hospital room with our UV Care Portable Germ Zapper before we bring the baby there, just to make sure! I think it’s so important because you don’t really know if the patient who used your room before was contagious. I’m sure the hospital staff has thoroughly cleaned it but we’re always so paranoid about these things. Just to be extra safe!

*Note: I (am required to) practice “ge-lai” which is the Chinese custom of no baths a month after giving birth, which is why I don’t have shampoo, towels, etc. on my list (Ugh, I know right…) But please add all your bath essentials in your list if you won’t be doing this practice.

Breastfeeding Essentials

• Nursing pillow: This is the reason why I’m bringing a large suitcase with me! Having a nursing pillow was super useful when I was breastfeeding a newborn. If it’s your first time, I suggest you get one. Using my hospital grade, hypoallergenic Mamaway Nursing Pillow because it’s safe for sensitive newborn skin and it’s made to distribute pressure evenly.
• Nursing cover: So important as you’ll wanna be able to nurse anytime even if you have doctors, nurses and visitors coming in and out of the room! Using my iFlin Burp and Nurse because it has a great 360 coverage, which means you’re covered all the way to the back!
• Breast pads: Avoid milk leaking on your clothes and also, keep your nursing bras clean. I recommend these disposable breast pads from Mamaway because they absorb well and are very comfortable to use.
• Nipple cream: I remember having super sore nipples when my first started breastfeeding because we were both just learning and I didn’t bring any nipple cream before so it just hurt like crazy. Now, I’m packing with me my Orange and Peach Nipple Balm which is made from virgin coconut oil (NOT lanolin!) and other natural ingredients to make it safe even for newborns
• Breastfeeding supplements:  I want to make sure I have a lot of milk for my baby so I’m bringing my supplements. I personally take Mega Malunggay because it’s also loaded with Vitamin C, which makes absorption easier.
• Breast pump: Was told this was optional, but during my first, I didn’t bring and regretted. I should’ve pumped out all that extra milk! For my second, I’m bringing my Haenim Double Electric Breast Pump (which, fun fact, can be charged with a powerbank!) and my Haakaa Silicone Pump to catch the milk letdown from the other breast while my baby feeds. Each drop is gold, after all!
• Milk Bags and/or bottles for pumping and storage: In case you will be pumping and in case you are blessed with a LOT of milk, you’ll want to store these properly. I’m using the bottles that came with my Haenim pump and milk bags from Orange and Peach.
• Cooler bag: If you’re bringing milk home, best to be prepared with a cooler bag. I’ve always loved PackIt cooler bags because they already have built-in freezable gel packs inside the bag itself! So bringing this little PackIt bag, which can fit up to 4 bottles.
• Bottle cleaner: For washing breast pump parts, in case. I’m just bringing a sample sized one that I got free from an expo (hehe) because I know I won’t be needing a lot.

Others:

• Water & Snacks
• Documents and IDs: Insurance papers, government health forms and others.
• Chargers and Powerbanks: Bring them with you in the labor room in case you’ll have a long one!
• Camera: Make sure you have fully charged batteries on and enough space in your memory card.
• Your partner/companion’s must-haves: This will depend if the companion is staying with you overnight or not.

FREE DOWNLOADABLE CHECKLIST

And if you’d like to print out a checklist, you can download that FOR FREE right here! It’s ready to print, A4 size. Just click on the link below OR right click the link and save it.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE CHECKLIST HERE

God bless to all you moms and don’t forget to put these in the car a few weeks before your due date; just in case!