Packed and Prepared: What to Pack for Your Hospital Stay

Think packing the bag for the hospital to have your baby is a simple process? Think again. While you toss in some shampoo, a comfy dress and some reading material, you may want to add a few snacks, a pillow and maybe a camera. Those items and a few more specific to the occasion may just come in handy. Experts share their recommendations.

"Find out if there are any restrictions in the hospital regarding whether [expectant moms] can eat or drink," says Eileen Ehudin Beard, senior practice adviser at the American College of Nurse-Midwives in Silver Spring, Md. "Some hospitals will let women eat and drink in labor. If that is correct, bring something that is easy to digest that you enjoy eating. Also bring some snacks for the partner. That’s really important because that person needs to keep up the physical energy as well."

"Babies are born with nails, and they need to be clipped," says Rachel Pitzel, founder of ClubMomMe, an online community of moms and moms-to-be in Chicago and Los Angeles. "But their nails are paper thin, so if you cut them you end up cutting skin." Instead, she says, pack a nail file meant for babies.

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“Music certainly aids in relaxation,” says Beard. “I have been with women in labor for 30 years, and I have heard every kind of music possible. I’ve probably heard ‘Paschal Canon’ more times that you can probably imagine, but I’ve heard people play heavy metal. I’ve had African music. I’ve had religious music. I’ve had chants.” Load your MP3 player with all of your favorites, and make sure it ends up in the bag.

“Sometimes aromatherapy or scents help with relaxation,” said Beard. Stick to sprays, since candles and incense are most likely not allowed in the hospital. Plus, the scent from sprays is easier to get rid of if it has an adverse effect and causes nausea.

“Hospitals pillows suck,” says Pitzel, who suggests bringing your own—but be aware that you’ll have to wash it later. Beard also recommends bringing a pillow from home, though she says to put a bag around it if you don’t want it to get dirty and to also put a bright pillow case on it so it won’t get lost in the hospital pillow shuffle when you leave.

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Both Beard and Pitzel say to bring nursing bras, feeding pillows and other accessories for feeding your new baby after delivery—which is “when you have all the nurses coming into your room constantly to make sure you’re latching on, to make sure you’re positioning [correctly],” says Pitzel, adding, “You want to have your position down, for when you go home and your milk comes in.”

Beard says some of her clients bring important items from home for them to use as a focal points to help them concentrate on something positive during labor. “I’ve had women bring a picture of someone important, like their other children," says Beard. Stuffed animals or a family heirloom like a grandmother's wedding ring can also work.

Of course you’ll bring a camera, but Pitzel suggests some added touches to capture baby’s first photo. “Bring a plain muslin blanket,” says Pitzel, who adds that she prefers those from the brand Aden+Anais. “Most people take a hospital picture. They [the hospital] may have some props for you, but they will rarely give you a nice blanket. These are pictures you’re going to have your whole life.”

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Pitzel advises combating swelling from water weight post-delivery by wrapping an Ace bandage—or something fancier, like Baboosh Baby’s Tauts Post Pregnancy Wrap—around your belly and hips.