I am a light packer.   When I travel I like to travel lite and hate having to carry millions of heavy bags.  So, for a hospital bag, I also like to stick to the basics and to products that can serve multi purposes.  Having said that, there are some things that will make your stay at the hospital more pleasant during and post labor.  Also, while most hospitals will provide many of the things on this list, this time I am taking some lower tox alternatives/ organic alternatives because they are available (they weren’t during my last deliveries) but remember- if you forget some of these or opt to use what is used at the hospital don’t stress….  its a short stay! 

Finally, how much of each product you need and what products you really need will also depend on how many nights you will be staying. If you have a c section scheduled plan on taking the upper amount mentioned in the list.

If you are curious what is in my bag read on .

WHEN

Lets start by saying you should probably have a bag packed by 37 weeks.   I am almost 38 weeks and am just now packing my bag.   Its fine. Just do it when you can because its better to be prepared than scrambling last minute.  Obviously you wont be able to pack everything in at once- for items you use every day (your makeup or your cel phone charger) have a post it with a list of last minute items to add before driving to the hospital

3 bags: 

Really, you probably want to pack 3 different bags.  or at least separate the items you need for active labor from what you will need later… mainly just to make sure these items are quickly and easily accessible when you need them

Bag 1:  things you might need for labor

bag 2:  things mom and partner will need to stay overnight (remember if you have a scheduled c section you will stay longer in the hospital) 

Bag 3:  things for baby

BAG 1: FOR LABOR

1. Clearly Filtered water bottle: having water at hand is nice for the whole stay, but if you are not sure what filtration system your hospital has, you might want to consider this water bottle since it filters your water for over 220 contaminants

2. Yoga ball: if you are going for a natural vaginal birth this is quite helpful to have to deal with pain.

3. Music : if thats part of your natural birth plan you might want to bring a small speaker that connects to your mobile phone or ear phones

4. Copy of birth plan: I have mine printed out

5. Warm non slip socks: a couple of cozy warm socks (mine are wool)

FOR MAMA / Stay

1. 1-2 pjs: depends on if you will have a vaginal birth or c section. Front opening to make breast feeding easy. My Organic Clothing Guide includes plenty of nursing and non nursing organic clothing options for mama and babies)

2. Cozy robe

3. Nursing bras (1-2) cache coeur organic nursing bra and Kindred Bravery organic nursing bra. My Organic Clothing Guide has many organic options)

4. Comfy underwear : you could also use hospital provided mesh ones or these Rael organic ones I love these

5. Warm wool socks (1-4). Mine are from Polarn o Pyret and Q For Quinn (use code: AIDASPICKS for discount)

6. Comfy going home outfit (remember you will still look pregnant and be swollen)

7. Flip flops (mostly for showering)

8. Compression socks: almost everyone will swell and these can help significantly

9. Prenatal vitamins: you def want to continue taking these ( I use Needed : discount codes: AIDASPICKS: 20% off the first order or first 3 months of a subscription, or
   AIDA100: $100 off The Complete Plan ($33.33 off in months 1, 2, 3)

10. Nipple butter- especially if you are staying a while (c section)

11. toiletries: I personally like just taking the basics so I try to use multi- use products. I like:

• Ranger Balm or Baeo Baby Bare Butter (use code ‘AIDASPICKS’ for 20% off) : I use these for skin (face and hand) hydration

• toothpaste : I like Risewell (code 10NONTOXICMUNCHKIN for 10% off)

• toothbrush

• hairbrush/comb

• makeup

• Dr Bronners soap: to shower and just to have soap avail to wash hands and avoid using the antimicrobial hospital soaps

• deodorant

• hair ties

12.  organic pads:   you will likely be bleeding post vaginal birth.  RAEL or NATRACARE MATERNITY PADS

13. electronics: phone charger, camera and camera charger

FOR PARTNER

1. pillow (you could also ask the hospital for one, but if you bring your own you could always use it too if the hospital one is not comfy!))

2. sheets and/or warm blanket (again, hospital usually can provide but nice to take your own I like Simply organic bamboo for this- code ‘AIDASPICKS for 25% off)

3. air mattress (otherwise partner might have to sleep on an umcomfy sofa- again depending on how many nights we might take one and leave in car)

4. toiletries

5. slippers and pjs

FOR BABY

1. Organic Swaddles. Hospital will provide but you might want to take your own organic ones- also for the ride home. Consider: 3-6 (again this depends on how many nights you will be staying at hospital but you could use one to line baby crib at hospital, one per hospital night stay and on the way home have an extra to place over the car seat as you walk out of the hospital- especially if its winter months. I love: Lewis is Home, Willaby, and Hart and Land organic swaddles

2. Organic sheet for hospital basinette. I love Lewis is Home and Willaby and also included a bonus section on bed linens in my Organic Clothing Guide! )

3. Diapers: hospital will provide but you can also take your own if you prefer. I will be taking Ecoriginals to the hospital - code AIDA20 for 20% off site wide (also available on Amazon) I also like KUDOS (discount code: 3littleplums20 ) and Healthybaby diapers

4. wipes: I do not recommend wet wipes for babies, especially newborns. Even the most natural ones can be irritating. instead I recommend dry wipes (I like the ones from Healthybaby and Honest Co) and/or organic cotton which you can wet with some water and use to clean!

5. A hat, scratch mittens and socks or booties

6. Diaper bag (mine is an organic cotton one from Smallable )

7. Going home outfit: take 2 just in case one gets dirty

8. Car seat! WE chose the Uppa baby Mesa Car seat Henry (made with wool fabric) - code ‘AIDASPICKS for 10% off

OPTIONAL

1. Nursing pillow: you could take it and it could make nursing easier from the get go - but it is also bulky to carry (I wont take mine) … you could use pillows insead….

I like:   Holy Lamb Organics

2.   Belly band:   can help to have and can help with back pain but you could also start using it at home 

3. Notebook:   you can start writing down times of feedings and questions you might for your doctor or your pediatrician as they come 

4.  Hand sanitizer organic:  for visitors if you plan on having any

5.  perineal spray:   hospital will provide but could be loaded with chemicals.  you might want to take a more natural low tox one like this one :  Earth mama perennial spray

6.  hair dryer if you really need it- personally its the last thing i wanted to do when I was at the hospital

7.  healthy snacks for you and partner: I might take some fresh fruit and some nuts… but not too much 

8. Breast Pump: The hospital will almost always provide a hospital grade pump. Even if you are planning on exclusively breast feeding you might want to use a breast pump to stimulate milk production early on. You could take a glass bottle with any parts needed to make it compatible to a Medela hospital grade pump (the one I find is usually found at most major hospitals. To be sure you could call ahead and ask what will be available for you to use). My Amazon Store has a list with all things breast feeding