The Only Hospital Bag Video You'll Need to Watch - (Labor & Delivery)

[@bricknercj]

Take all of the time in the hospital that you can! When you get home, parenthood will be absolutely wonderful and completely relentless. Take the time to be where people are waiting on you, caring for you, cooking for you, and where you have built-in 24-hour, medically trained babycare. Wishing the best for you and Andy, and your sweet little girl!

[@tanyadutton4017]

Hi Elin! I am 53. My kids are 23, 32, and 34. I had an emergency c-section, then a vaginal delivery, then a second emergency c-section. I have an 11-month-old granddaughter who I take care of while her parents work. When I went to the hospital, I had my clothes, toiletries, and an outfit to bring my babies home. A fan and sound machine would have been amazing! And snacks...I was STARVING after my vaginal delivery and begged for a cheeseburger. Never once did I think of packing snacks! I have been minimal for years, but I am now struggling with not filling my house with things for my granddaughter! Wishing you all the best for a good birth experience, quick healing from your c-section, a healthy baby, and all of the joys motherhood brings. 💗

[@Karincl7]

Can t you get snacks in the hospital ?

[@MissTeaAddict]

Congratulations on having a girl!! I'm with you on this being one of the few occasions where packing extra things 'just in case' is so worthwhile. I had a c section and spent 5 days in hospital (which is standard for a first birth in the private hospital system in my country & state). It was so beneficial to have the nurses around to help and teach us everything that we needed to know about having a newborn. It was also nice having food delivered to me 3-4 times a day 😅 I also want to say that if you do want to breastfeed, don't feel disheartened if your milk doesn't come in until several days after. In the hospital we used formula and pumped but only a month later we were exclusively breastfeeding. You sound super prepared - you've got this! 😁

[@margarethawk3073]

Congratulations on the sweet little one that will soon arrive. Just a thought…but as a mother of two I found that I just didn’t care about so much as I was so excited about the new baby and caring for the baby plus not feeling well…I just needed minimal things. The hospital I was in had a clean bathroom. I didn’t feel like wearing shorts. Bending and heavy bleeding made the gowns better for me than shorts. Personally, just a suggestion, I would wear the hospital gowns at first as you don’t want to stain your own gowns as you don’t feel like cleaning them. You will want rest! Enjoy the little one! Blessings!

[@ear1421]

Bringing your own pillows is very necessary! I was happy to have mine. The power strip was super handy too. 👌🏽 The disposable camera is a great idea! I wish we’d done that. I’m a first time mom to a 10 week old and I couldn’t believe there would be a baby at the end of my pregnancy until I was holding my baby. I didn’t use half the shit I packed. I wore the hospital gown the whole time and I wished I had worn it for delivery. I got all kinds of gross on it and then had to wash it 😂 Make sure the baby clothes you have are a few different sizes just incase your baby is bigger than you think. You got this!

[@kamloopscruiser874]

Sounds wonderful Elin! All the very best to you Andy and your sweet new arrival!

[@BetsyRightley]

I would also pack a pumping bra! My son had to go to the NICU & couldn’t eat for the first week. So I had to jump right into pumping, and I was very thankful that I had a pumping bra 😊

[@Ripplesinthewaters]

My kids are 16 and 21. I did not need a lot of things. With my first, I was in hospital for two days, mainly because she wouldn’t eat. With my son, we went home the next day. My hospital was terrific and provided everything we needed. All I needed was clothes. They even put all the paperwork in a neat folder for me. Maternity wards are quiet places. You won’t need the noise machine. Honestly, I just don’t think you’ll need much of the things you’ve shown. You’ll be resting and bonding, learning how to nurse, etc. Breast milk doesn’t come in for a few days. It’ll be colostrum at first. The nursing bras will become handy once you’re home. What kind of hospital would allow dirty hospital bathrooms? Yuck! You are in my prayers for a simple, uncomplicated delivery. Hugs!

[@ohsolovelymrs]

All of those things sound well thought out and wonderful! And as a mom about to give birth to her second, you won’t regret overpacking. At least I didn’t. I’ll take less this time but also add a few comforts. We had a vaginal delivery but I wish I’d had my pillow and own blanket.

[@caseyfairless8157]

I had an emergency c section the first time and then a planned but not scheduled c section (we wanted baby to pick their own birthday). I stayed in the hospital gowns the whole time. Seemed like I changed them often between dressing changes and breastfeeding. Used a short robe to keep warm. It seemed like all soft items got blood, poop, or puke on them. 😝I would recommend some Colgate Whisps. I had a mini, a set of toiletry items that I kept close to the bed and freshen up without getting out of bed. A button down or zip up for your partner to do skin to skin. I also brought my breast pump with my second, after having to send my husband home in the middle of the night to get it with our first. The hospital has them but it wasn’t a good fit.

[@ohsolovelymrs]

Yes I’m bringing my portable pump with my second too because it took some learning for us! Great recommendation.

[@ljannell]

Congrats and looking forward to the arrival announcement! 🙏🏼 everything goes well and smooth for you and baby 🩷 It still sometimes hits me that I have two kids and I have an 11 and soon to be eight year old. I had two c-sections, the first was unplanned but needed and the second one planned. A belly wrap is such a help. The support for your tummy is needed especially with having a c-sections and when they want you up and moving around. I do remember night two was the hardest for both kids because it was their first full day out of the womb. Unsolicited advice, turn off the phones and computers if you can. Enjoy those first few days without interruptions. All that will be there when you get home, but this is "in the moment" time. That doesn't mean no cameras, but if you can limit the outside world to just you and your family, it's worth it for that precious time.

[@PiecessTepy]

Huge congratulations! I'm so excited for you! I wish I'd packed more for the hospital. I was induced and ended up being there for 5 days between labor and delivery and postpartum and wish I'd stayed another night but decided not to because we hadn't planned for such a long stay. I regret that. We're all fine now, but it may have helped our breastfeeding attempts or at least helped me feel comfortable with my choice not to. I think this is a great time to indulge in creature comforts and be prepared. There is plenty of time for minimalism. I will say, though, you might not be medically cleared for a bath with a c-section? Might be something to ask about. I wish you the smoothest, safest delivery and entry to motherhood ❤

[@pattysperfectday5397]

As someone with four kids whose youngest is almost 25, I feel like my advice might be old fashion or me not remembering exactly, but I would bring nursing pads. Also with my third I was so so hot. I kept telling everyone how incredibly hot I was. It wasn’t until after she was born that I noticed they had but the baby warmer right up against my bed so that the heat lamp from it was hitting me as well. I pointed it out to everyone in the room and they apologized profusely, but your fan reminded me of that so I thought I would share.

[@happybudaya]

Nice

[@Itsmehi456]

A razor. LMAO. Good luck with that after a c-section. You won’t have the desire to shave … I promise.