It’s a moment I’ll never forget. Driving to the hospital at 4:30am, “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe playing on the radio, and about to jump out of my skin from either excitement, nerves, or maybe a little bit of both. I don’t think I slept a wink the night before just thinking about the little boy I was about to welcome into this world! In so many ways I felt so unprepared, despite the million trips to Buy Buy Baby and books I had read. I mean, it had been ten years since I last did this, ya know!
All of my friends were asking if I had packed my bag for the hospital yet, and in true “Emily fashion” it was one of the last things I did since I had no idea where to even begin. I want to start this by saying I’m an extreme over packer. I like to be prepared for anything and everything, so before you read this list please know that even if you go in with absolutely nothing, YOU WILL BE FINE! The hospital provides you with everything you need, so don’t stress if you forget something. With all that said, here’s my list for things you need to backpack the Alps for a year.. I mean, stay in the hospital for about 3 days while you deliver your baby.
- A comfy robe- My ALL TIME favorite is the Little Giraffe Satin Robe. I have the Flax color and am strongly considering being buried in it one day. I know it’s expensive, but can you really put a price tag on the most comfortable item you’ll own? I think not.
- Slippers- These leopard Uggs are my favorite because they’re comfortable, easy to slide on, and have treads on the bottom so they’re not slippery. My feet were pretty swollen so I was happy to have something I could just slide on easily without having to bend over.
- Nightgowns- They give you hospital gowns to wear at the hospital which are completely fine to wear the whole time you’re there. I brought some extras just so I’d be comfortable and to be honest, my pictures would be prettier. Personally I only wore gowns while I was in the hospital because you have so many people coming in to check you, so it was just easier. Also, I had a c-section and didn’t want anything on my incision. I love the kaftans on Etsy and they’re also great for nursing since many of them have buttons at the top. I still wear mine around the house!
- Nursing Bras- The Jessica Simpson nursing bras were my favorite for the first couple of weeks while my main focus was just being comfortable. Plus, they aren’t super expensive like a lot of the others I saw.
- Nursing Pillow- My favorite is the Bebe au Lait nursing pillow
- C-Panty– If you’re having a c-section I really recommend this underwear because it has built-in silicone to help your incision heal.
- An extra long phone charger– Just trust me.
- Makeup/Toiletries- Of course you don’t have to go crazy, but it’s nice to have some tinted moisturizer and some mascara for when all the visitors start rolling in.
- Hand Cream/Body Lotion- In exchange for giving birth to his first son, Tyler had to give me foot massages on demand. I don’t ask for much, I swear.
- Dry Shampoo- I wasn’t about to attempt to wash my hair at the hospital, so I just brought some dry shampoo and prayed for the best. My favorite is BlowPro Dry Shampoo.
- Your own pillow, blanket, and towel. Unless you like scratchy linens.
- Snacks- I love Grab the Gold protein bars and I don’t even like protein bars. I buy these by the case and everyone in the house loves them because they’re so good, but healthy and filling too.
- Hair clips- even if you’re like me and get your hair blown out before you go in, by day 2 it’s looking pretty “bed headish”. Some cute headbands would be perfect too!
- Bose Bluetooth Speaker
- Sound Machine– Hospitals are loud and no matter how exhausted you are, it’s next to impossible not get woken up by some beeping machine 5 doors down the hallway.
- Going Home Outfit- With Ricki I made the mistake of thinking I would be back to my regular size when I left the hospital and was rudely given a very stern reality check when I went to put on my jeans. This time I brought a cute maxi dress and a light kimono-cardigan.
- I didn’t need much for Jennings, but don’t forget a cute coming home outfit and a carseat. I brought an extra soft blanket for him too. My favorite is by Little Giraffe.
- If your husband is going to be staying with you overnight, don’t forget to pack him a pillow and blanket too!
Here are some pictures from when we were in the hospital having Jennings!
Did I leave anything out? If so, leave it in the comments and I’ll add it to my list!