Maternity Hospital Bag Essential- what you need and don't need!

I’m 37 weeks pregnant and expecting baby number 2, which is so very very soon!

I decided it was time to cut to the chase and pack my hospital bag. I mean this baby really could come any given time. (I hope sooner than later!)

With this being my second baby I know kind of what to expect and what I will need to bring for myself and baby. I also have an idea of what the hospital provides for you that you don’t necessarily need!

MOM CLOTHES ITEMS:

1. Going home outfit- COMFY YOGA PANTS.
Yup, yoga pants to go home in. You aren’t instantly going to lose the 30 pounds you gained over the nine months. Fitting into your “normal clothes” isn’t going to work, and if it does work, it won’t be comfy! I wore maternity jeans with my first and I wish I would of just brought yoga pants!

2. Going Home outfit- SUPER COMFY SHIRT.
This shirt isn’t maternity, but I wear it all the time pregnant. It’s like this huge shirt. It’s cute and dressy. I got it at a thrift store, so I can’t really explain where it’s from or if they still sell it.

3. Tank top
This is for underneath my shirt for when I go home.

4. Yoga pants for the next 2 days in the hospital
These are just in case I don’t want to wear the hospital gown and I want to “dress up” for the many guest we’ll receive. I recommend having this pair be a pair of that you don’t mind if you don’t wear them again. Because you bleed like craaaazy after the baby!

5. Slippers (Mocs for me!)
These are my mocs from Old Navy. I love em to death and they’re perfect for getting in and out of bed.

6. Socks
1 pair for the way home, one pair for the days in the hospital. I doubt I will wear any socks though, but just in case!

7. Underwear
I’m just bringing this for going home in. The hospital gives you disposable mesh underwear to hold your gigantic pad they give you.

So you won’t need any in the hospital.

I specifically bought these for my last pregnancy and thought I would throw them away after. But I never did. I would say bring a pair your not in love with because chances are high that you’ll just trash them!

8. Comfy t-shirt
This is a loose t-shirt that I brought just in case I want to get out of the hospital gown.

NOTE: I didn’t pack a nursing bra–the reason is because I will just wear it to the hospital when I have the baby. So I will have it. If you don’t want to wear it to the hospital you should make sure you pack a nursing bra!

I forgot to add into the picture above, but I HAVE to bring my awesome blue chevron Mod Mum Maternity Gown and matching Robe. I want to be stylish when I have the baby! I’m so excited about this item that I am bringing this time around.

Baby Items:

1. Receiving blanket(s)
These aren’t necessary!

The hospital will swaddle your sweet baby in their receiving blankets. (Which aren’t the cutest material, but they get the job done of keeping your baby warm.)

I am bringing swaddle blankets because we are having someone come and take pictures the day we leave the hospital, I wanted to get a couple pics of our boy in cute swaddle blankets instead of the hospital ones. (I brought 2 because I can’t decide which I will want. I love variety!)

2. Baby Blanket
This is for the baby to go home. I am not sure what the temperature will be like so I wanted to make sure we have a warm blanket for him!

3. Baby hats
Because I’m having a boy, I brought 2 little hats for him to wear in the hospital and on the way home if I want to put him in one. I took two again because I just can’t choose!

4. Going home outfit
This is our little guys going home outfit. (Isn’t it the cutest!?) It’s a newborn size, that I washed. I think he will fit into it, or at least I hope, because I would be super sad if he didn’t.

5. Going home outfit (BIGGER size)
This one is still newborn size, but it hasn’t been washed, so it’s a lot bigger than my other newborn sized outfit.

6. Onsie
I am a firm believer in onsies. I think every kid needs to have one on so their tummies don’t show. Although, onsises when they still have their umbilical cord can be a bit risky. So this is just in case I feel comfortable enough to put him in a onsie.

7. Socks
A pair of socks for him to wear when we go home!

NOTICE!!: I didn’t bring any diapers, wipes, brush, lotion for the baby. That’s because you don’t need to! The hospital provides all these for you, and you get to take everything home with you that you don’t use at the hospital. Some hospitals are different, so I suggest you call and see what your hospitals provides.

I also didn’t bring outfits for him at the hospital. The reason I don’t bring outfits is because the hospital will have a little shirt that he will wear, and he will always be covered in blankets that no one will see what he’s wearing anyway! (So forget about bringing him clothes to wear during the hospital stay, it’s not worth it!)

Toiletries bag items:

1. Pads
The hospital will give you pads that you can take home, but these are smaller than the hospital ones, so these are just in case I don’t want to wear the big ones home from the hospital. (They honestly feel like you’re wearing a diaper!)

2. Deodorant
You don’t want to stink for your guest!

3. Perfume
You want to smell lovely, trust me!

4. Coconut hair oil spray
This stuff is AMAZING! It smells so good and gives my hair a little bit of body and helps it feel clean and fresh. I love it.

You can buy it at Walmart! They have different smells too.

5. Lotion
I have super dry hands, this is a must for me!

6. Aquaphor
This can be great for your baby and you. It’s for super dry spots. It will be great to rub on my baby boys ankles and feet. They are always so dry when they’re newborns.

7. Shampoo and Conditioner
You’ll most likely want to take a shower. The hospital has shampoo for you to use, but it’s just not as good as your own stuff!

8. Mouth Wash

9. Toothpaste

Not pictured but will be added:
Brush, comb, make up, hair straightener, hair dryer, floss, contacts, glasses and tooth brush.

Also not pictured, but surely will be added when I get some:
Lansinoh!!!

This stuff is magical! It is meant for dry, cracked, soar nipples. This was a life saver for me. I was so soar because my daughter wouldn’t latch right and she hurt me so bad. I cried from being in so much pain.

The hospital will give you a TEENY TINY tube of this that you pay about $3 for (They won’t tell you that you have to pay for it though, they’ll just give it to you!) So if you see a little purple tube labeled lansinoh, don’t get it. The hospital just wants to take your money.

You can buy this at Walmart or Target for around $8. And it’s about 20 times as much. It’s worth the money, trust me!

Big sister book!

I made my daughter a book that I called “On The Day I Was Born” on Shutterfly. I think she’ll love it! They were 20 pages to the book. I have included a few pages of it. I will give this to her from her “little brother” when she comes to visit him for the first time.

I also packed in my hospital bag an outfit for my husband. I didn’t do that with my daughter and he had to wear his clothes 2 days in a row. (We weren’t thinking we’d have our daughter the day we did, so we weren’t very prepared!) He felt really gross. So this time, we will be prepared!

That’s our hospital bag in a nutshell. I hope this helps you in your packing and lets you think of what you really need and don’t REALLY NEED! Here’s to cute babies!

Be sure to check out my review of my maternity gown so you can see if you want one for your baby! They’re so cute!

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Irina

Irina is the owner and editor at I love my kids Blog. Mom of 2. She enjoys writing about parenting tips, DIY projects and feature lots of toys and products for family and kids of various ages.