Ready for Baby - Hospital Bag Edition

Time for something a bit fun, but also important for those of us moms getting ready to welcome a new baby into the family - What to include in your hospital bag!  Whether you're giving birth in a hospital or a birth center, you'll want to pack a bag in advance so that you have everything you need during labor and delivery.  Here's what I'm bringing for my hospital birth:

With my first delivery, I had no clue what to pack and ended up bringing a lot of what I didn't need, plus none of what I actually needed.  This time, I've taken a rather logical approach - everything has a purpose.  If it doesn't serve a purpose, it's not coming.

Beauty Bag

My plan for my "beauty bag" is basic and simple.  I want to be able to wash my makeup off, brush my hair and tie it back, throw on some lotion, some lip gloss, and be able to brush my teeth.  My boss was joking with me the other day that she went with a full makeup bag for her second delivery because she was mortified at how awful she looked in the photos when her first child was born... I honestly could care less and don't plan on having makeup with me.  However, I can definitely see where having some foundation and mascara could help with those photos!

Technology

My choices for my technology serve a few purposes.  My husband will be staying with me during and after delivery, and a lot of this is for him more than me - We'll be bringing our iPad, laptop, and cellphones - don't forget to bring chargers for any devices you have with you - especially your cellphone!  It's hard to announce to family that your baby has arrived without one (and who doesn't want to post a birth announcement on Facebook?).  We aren't big on fancy cameras, so we'll be using our iPhone's for photos - If you are into photography, then remember to bring your battery charger and extra memory cards for photo storage.  My husband and I also do NOT agree on music or television, so headphones are going to go a long way in keeping our sanity intact.

Comfort

This is a BIG one - Us moms need to focus on our comfort during labor - If we just pack for our baby, we run the risk of being miserable ourselves... and that's not fair.  So to prepare for ME, I have a birthing ball ready, nice fluffy pillows to cover up those limp excuses for pillows at the hospital, baggy button-up pajamas, fluffy socks and comfortable house slippers, and a nursing sports bra.

For Baby

Last time around, I had EVERYTHING my son could possibly need... and used none of it.  My hospital will be providing us with bottles if needed, diapers, wipes, etc.  They even will provide a diaper bag, a blanket, and an outfit for our little one.  There's no need to bring any of that and it's impossible to cloth diaper while in the recovery room anyway, so I never considered actually bringing my cloth diapers with me - That will start once we're at home.  All I'm bringing is a cute "coming home" outfit (both a newborn & 0-3 month outfit just in case she's big baby), a nice fluffy blanket to drape over the car seat while we're transporting her to the car and home, and her car seat with base.  That's it.  Nothing else.

What About Everyone Else?

My husband is bringing his own bag as well with a change of clothes, toiletries, snacks, and a pillow.  We have another child who will be staying with family while I'm in labor, so we've also prepared a similar bag for him to take to their house.  If you have older children who are in school, be sure that whoever is taking care of them while you are in labor have been added to their "Approved" list for pick up and drop off.  I've also given my son and my son's teacher a head's up, so it's not a shock to either of them when my family picks him up from school.