lifestyle, pregnancyLauren FootFebruary 01, 2022lifestyle, pregnancy, first trimester, hospital bag, packing hospital bag, Canadian hospital labour and deliveryComment

WHAT'S IN MY HOSPITAL BAG

lifestyle, pregnancyLauren FootFebruary 01, 2022lifestyle, pregnancy, first trimester, hospital bag, packing hospital bag, Canadian hospital labour and deliveryComment

LIFESTYLE

WHAT'S IN MY HOSPITAL BAG

Packing a hospital bag can seem a little intimidating and can take a lot of research. I hope this checklist can help give you ideas on what you’d like and maybe don’t want to have with you. I think at the end of the day, we are all going to pack slightly differently as we are all different and live each day a little differently from one another.

Over the last few months, I have watched so many ‘what’s in my hospital bag’ YouTube videos and read so many blogs that my head was practically spinning. So, I sat down a few weeks ago, re-watched and read them all and tailored the recommendations for what I felt suited me and what I would like to have available to me in order to feel comfortable. I also asked my friends and my instagram community for their recommendations on what they brought and were glad they had, you can read their answers here.

Items that have been starred (*) may be provided in Canadian Hospitals (I asked all Canadian moms what they were provided with and have flagged the items they were given. It seems very inconsistent and varies from hospital to hospital). You can read their answers here. I would recommend double checking with your care provider or local hospital ahead of time if possible to ensure you don’t need to bring the item with you.

I’ve broken this blog out into a couple of sections. Below is a checklist with my items hyperlinked, if you continue to scroll I’ve also included a more visual version with images of most items (any items not included have been noted in the category header).

I’ll also just note that I’ve written this out at 24, nearly 25 weeks pregnant so I may be adjusting this over the next few months. I have already purchased or own all but one or two items on this checklist. It’s surprising how some items can take a while to arrive (especially during covid) so I’ve ordered it all ahead of time to ensure we have it when we need it.

Another quick note, I also saw a great tip about how you pack, make sure the items you’re going to want available to you (like during labour for example) are easily accessible. It might be a good idea to use labelled packing cubes for different groupings of products so that you can have everything you need at a particular point in time, accessible to you and you or your partner don’t end up digging through a huge bag trying to find something you really wanted to use but can’t find.

Keep in mind what feels right for you. For example, I’m packing some make up, skincare and hair supplies because I hope to take some pics in the hospital and if I’m feeling like my usual self, I’ll want to be cleaned up for that. However, I haven’t done this before and I may have no interest in that when the time comes, who knows right?

MY HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST:

Checklist for Paperwork

Duo-tang with the following:
- midwife/doula contact info
- birth plan (pre-natal records if you have a midwife)
pen, highlighter and blank paper in case we want to take notes.

Checklist for Personal Care

make up bag
- essentials
  - lip balm
  - dry shampoo
  - hair ties
  - tooth brush
  - tooth paste
  - make up remover wipes (I’m not usually a wipes girl, but if I don’t want to get out of bed, these could be quite handy).
  - face mist spray
  - deodorant
- hair essentials (if I shower)
  - shampoo and conditioner
  - curling iron
  - hair blower
  - brush + curling brush
  - styling hair clip
- make up
- skincare
  - face cleanser
  - moisturizer (face)
  - eye serum (works wonders for your eyes, especially if you’re tired)
  - night serum (if we stay overnight, this always makes my skin glow the next day)
bath towel *(Provided but I’ll be bringing my own)
shower shoes (flip flops)

Checklist for labour and delivery

portable fan
re-usable water bottle (straw is recommended)
hospital gown *(Provided but I’ll be bringing my own)
extra long phone charging cord
back up portable phone charging battery (I might not bring this)
From home:
- pillows *(Provided but I’ll be bringing my own, I brought my own when I had my kidney stone surgery as well and was so glad I did. It literally rested my head on it through the procedure.)
- snacks
  - cliff bars (mostly for nick lol)
  - granola bars
  - boom chika pop
  - smart sweets
- laptop/charger/headphones/book/iPad/
- blanket/lightweight sleeping bag
- camera, memory card and battery charger
- pregnancy pillow (I’ll leave this in the car and get Nick to grab it if we need it).
- portable speaker + Spotify playlist
Rented Items:
- Tens pain relief machine from our Doula

Checklist for postpartum care

Frida mom peri bottle *(Provided but I’ll be bringing my own as the frida is said to be better)
Frida mom hospital kit (items included listed below)
- disposable underwear *(Provided but I’ll be bringing my own)
- instant ice maxi pads *(Maybe provided but I’ll be bringing some in case)
- perineal healing foam
- perineal cooling pad liners
washable breast pads
nipple butter
tucks (these are the same as the liners and foam provided in the frida hospital kit, I won’t be packing these but have heard they’re great if you don’t get the frida kit).
belly band (haven’t picked one out yet)

Checklist for clothing

PJs (top, bottom)
Comfortable outfit to leave in
nursing bra
nursing cover
grippy socks (so you don’t slip on the hospital floor)
nighty and robe set
nighty (for photos in the hospital, this might be a little extra)

Checklist for baby

car seat (installed in car, and set to the smallest setting).
going home outfit; option 1 (onesie, hat), option 2 (onesie, hat) in different sizes
swaddle
bottles
noise machine
swaddle blanket
booties
extra bag for free things from the hospital
diapers*(Provided, might still bring some of my own in case)
baby wipes *(Provided, some people recommend bringing your own)
pacifier *(Provided, some people recommend bringing your own)
Breast Pump *(Provided, I might bring mine, as I may be exclusively pumping)

Checklist for Nick

Comfortable Shoes
Robe
Change of clothes
Contraction Timing App
iphone checklist of people we want to contact
Snacks
Re-usable water bottle
Pillow
Blanket/Sleeping Bag
Toiletries in case he wants to shower, wash his face…etc.

Checklist for Personal Care

Not pictured; curling hair brush, bath towel, make up bag and deodorant.

checklist for labour and delivery

Not pictured: back up portable phone charging battery. From Home; pillows, snacks, book/iPad/laptop/headphones, blanket, camera, memory card, battery charger, Spotify playlist. Rented Items: Tens pain relief machine from our Doula.

Amazon -
Extra long phone charging cable

Checklist for postpartum care

Frida Mom - Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit

Tucks-
Witch Hazel Pads
(Don’t need to bring if you have the frida mom kit

OPTIONAL ITEMS

These items may be provided in Canadian hospitals. Double check with your care providers or your local hospital or bring your own if you’d prefer. I’ve read the Frida mom peri bottle is easier to use with the way the nozzle is designed, so I’ll be bringing my own.

Not pictured below but likely provided: pads(large and small), underwear and ice pads.

Checklist for CLOTHING

Nothing Fits But -
Momoka Dress (going home outfit)

CHECKLIST FOR BABY

Not pictured: extra bag for free things from the hospital.

Uppa Baby -
Mesa Infant Car Seat in Jake

OPTIONAL ITEMS

These items may be provided in Canadian hospitals. Double check with your care providers or your local hospital or bring your own if you’d prefer. Pro of bringing your own soother is that it is what your baby will be used to and may take to it better if you don’t swap to it after leaving the hospital.

Not pictured below but likely provided; formula and vaseline.

Pampers -
Newborn pampers
(1-2 days supply)

Lauren Foot