The 12 Most-Used Items I Took to the Hospital as a First-Time Mother
It was October of 2023 and I was finally packing my hospital bag in anticipation of the arrival of my first baby. I remember reading lists of recommendations online while keeping my own running list to pack from, and thinking ‘just how many bags will I be carrying into this place?!’ When it came down to it, though, I only ended up with a duffel full of my things, the diaper bag full of baby’s, and a small backpack of my husband’s change of clothes (and anything I didn’t fit in my own duffel). In all honesty, I didn’t use half of what I had packed, especially considering the fact that I had fully planned on a natural labor and ended up with an emergency c-section at 41 weeks because my little dude had flipped and was presenting breech!
When I sat down to write this post, I could really only think of 12 things (other than the given of my husband, a change of clothes to head home in, and the baby’s belongings) that I would 100% take with me if I were to do it all over again.
1. Stroller Fan
I tell every single expecting mother I know to be sure they pack a stroller fan for the hospital! Regardless of delivery method, this is a necessity!! I had initially packed one with the thought that I would be sweating while laboring, but little did I know, I didn’t even need to physically be pushing a baby out to sweat! I don’t know if it’s just that they keep the rooms warmer for the newborns or if it’s the major hormone change or what, but that fan was my saving grace. That thing ran the entire time I was in the hospital, pointed directly at my face.
Linked below is the one that I bought. I loved how long it stayed charged (I may have charged it once in my 3 days in the hospital), how the flexible posts on it made it easy to position on the side of the bedrail, and how it had different speeds and a timer. This fan has gotten so much use since then on the actual stroller, but I definitely got my money’s worth from it solely from those first 3 days!
2. Brumate Era
People told me I’d be thirsty once I gave birth, but man did I underestimate the extent to which this would be true. I was soooo glad I had packed my 40oz Brumate Era, even though it wasn’t originally something I had thought to add to my list. There was a water fountain just down the hall from our room, and I couldn’t even try to count the number of times my husband was sent down there with my Brumate in tow!
The Brumate is my favorite tumbler, especially for this instance! For starters, my water stayed perfectly cold and refreshing (which also helped with my hot flashes). It also doesn’t leak!! When put in the locked position, this cup WILL NOT spill a drop! I can’t even remember how many nurses I showed this to during my stay to sell them on getting Brumates for themselves (just because I love the cups so much)! This no-leak mechanism was especially amazing for when we threw everything in bags to leave, as we didn’t have to worry about it leaking everywhere and soaking everything. There are so many colors to choose from, too! I can say with confidence that this was my emotional support water bottle as a new mom going through postpartum. Brumate has other types of cups (all leak-proof) if you aren’t one for a straw or this size cup!
3. Silverettes
I had a friend tell me to buy some Silverette nipple shields if I was planning on breast-feeding and, after seeing the price (and having only recently started working after living the poor-college-student life), I had held off for some time. Eventually, with the help of a giftcard I received, I bit the bullet and ordered a set. Let me tell you, these things were magical. I can’t imagine having not had them on my nursing journey! I used these in conjunction with nipple cream and they were lifesavers!
Silverettes are made from pure silver, which has antimicrobial properties, and also soothes while protecting a nursing mother’s nipples. These things were super easy to clean, comfortable and (under a good nursing bra) not super noticeable, and helped me all throughout my breastfeeding journey whenever I felt sore or cracking. The silicone rings were worth adding in my opinion – I thought they made them much more comfortable for longer-term wear!
4. Personal Hospital Gown
Between working in healthcare (and seeing what can get on those linens) and just wanting the comfort it provided, I had purchased a personal labor & delivery gown that I changed into after my c-section. The gown I bought was from a seller on Etsy and is no longer listed, but I have linked one from Amazon that is essentially the same.
Having a gown to wear that smelled like my own laundry and was soft and comfy (much moreso than those provided by the hospital) was such a comfort during the stay – I can imagine it was for my newborn, as well! The gown provided easy access for all the checks the nurses and physicians had to perform every few hours. My favorite part of this gown was the buttoned flap at the top which made things easier as I learned to breastfeed. The flap opening was also perfect for skin-to-skin; I would tuck my newborn right in there and he felt secure against me while we rested together!
5. Earth Mama Nipple Butter
To go with the Silverettes, nipple butter was also a lifesaver when it came to the process of learning to breastfeed. The hospital provided a lanolin cream which, honestly, seemed to do nothing. The Earth Mama butter was much more effective for relieving chapping and soreness.
With organic ingredients that are safe for both mamas and babies, I felt comfortable using this as often as I felt I needed it. It also helped with my newborn’s chapped lips while he nursed! Calendula, one of the ingredients in this cream, is amazing for skin and soothing on irritated areas. A bonus was that it smells like chocolate!
6. Hatch Rest Go
I’m not used to sleeping in places with random noises, so this mini sound machine came in handy. I had gotten the bundle with the Hatch Rest (which I also highly recommend) and I can link that one, as well. This little thing kept us from hearing the noises from the hallway and other rooms, even if I only used it when the baby was in the nursery (because, as a first-time mom, I was afraid of not hearing him – IYKYK). After we left the hospital, it got lots of use in the car, while travelling, during his naps in new places, etc. so it was a super useful buy!
The charge lasted forever and there were plenty of sounds to choose from. My son’s favorite was the dryer, but others included white noise, ocean, rain, running water, wind, fan, rock-a-bye lullaby, shushing, and a heartbeat. I have gotten these for multiple expecting moms since!
7. Boppy Pillow
I think I realized before delivery that I would be holding my baby almost constantly in the hospital. What I didn’t realize was how afraid I would be of him rolling off of me or me dropping him (yes, I know newborns don’t just roll away, but that’s a valid new-mom fear). Having a supportive pillow such as the Boppy was settling for the mind. I used this pillow anytime I breastfed in the hospital, whenever he was in my lap while we rested in bed, and my husband got lots of use while holding our baby rocking in the chair. I would recommend purchasing a cover for the Boppy, as well, to make washing spit-up and whatever else out easily!
The linked Boppy has a stretch panel in the middle, which I don’t think mine had. This option is great, as it allows the Boppy to fit more people. Mine fit…eventually…it just had to be broken in first! Regardless of which option you get, the Boppy is a must-have item and will get lots of use from the time you deliver to the point where your toddler is using it as a pillow to relax on!
8. Chapstick
When making my list of things to pack for the hospital, chapstick wasn’t even on it. I had no idea how dry my lips and mouth would feel postpartum, but I was luckily able to dig a tube from the bottom of my purse. When that wasn’t nearby, I used the Earth Mama nipple butter, as well! Between all the fluids that go towards producing for breastfeeding, the dry hospital air, and the stroller fan blowing on my face to cool me off, my lips felt like the Sahara. Be sure to pack something to help with this!
I have linked both a tube and a stick form of lip balms. I love the Aquaphor tube for a thicker coverage, but the Burt’s Bees sticks are amazing for quick application and smell amazing, too!
9. Reusable Grocery Bags
While reusable grocery bags may not be something you think to pack for your delivery, they are a necessity! You acquire so much during your stay that you will want to take home. The hospitals normally provide diapers, wipes, hats, blankets, adult diapers, etc. and you will need a bag to throw these things in when you leave – because if you’re anything like me, you tend to stuff the bags you do bring as full as possible and there is no room left for anything else.
The linked bags are a great option if you don’t already have some laying around. These are great because they fold up so tiny you can always carry one in your purse, leave a few in your car, or add some to your go-bag for your delivery without taking up much room!
10. Crocs
I know, I know, you either love them or you hate them, but Crocs were the best shoe for my time in the hospital with a newborn. I had packed some flip-flops and HeyDudes with intent to use those during my stay, but when we ran out of the house, I was wearing my house-Crocs. Needless to say, my flip-flops and HeyDudes did not leave my bag.
The Crocs were so easy to slide on with those hospital socks to shuffle to the bathroom or take my walking laps around the unit. They also served as good shower shoes once I was able to shower. They may not have been cute, but they were extremely comfy and so easy to put on without having to bend down while already in pain to slip them on.
11. Kindle
This won’t be for everyone, as not everyone enjoys reading to pass time, but I do! I took my kindle along with me and I’m grateful, as it was what I used to pass time during the days. My husband enjoys watching movies, so he used the TV in the room. If I wasn’t sleeping or staring at my perfect new baby, I was reading. If you aren’t into reading, you may want to take something else along! In reality, you’re sitting in a bed for a few days, so having something to do in the downtime between feeding a baby, changing diapers, and sleeping is important!
If you are a reader and don’t already have one, I highly recommend a Kindle Paperwhite! I was hesitant when getting mine, as I love physical books so much and already had an iPad that I occasionally read on, but the Paperwhite was a game-changer. With being super lightweight, I can throw it in my purse to have with me at all times. The screen makes it feel like you are reading from a paper book, rather than a phone like the iPad does. This makes it so much easier on the eyes. I love being able to have multiple books with me at a time because, with being a mood reader, I am often changing what I am reading or wanting to read in a moment’s time. A kindle is a great investment!
12. Disposable Camera
Back when I was writing my packing list, I had seen a video online suggesting to take a disposable camera along for hospital pictures. I heeded the advice and purchased this one off of Amazon. It was so much fun being able to snap photos of the little moments with no interruptions like Facebook notifications popping up, or all the texts you receive after giving birth! What was even more fun was having the photos developed a few weeks later and being able to look back and relive the moments once you’re home. It’s not a huge price to pay to capture those memories!
These 12 items are obviously not all that I packed and used, but they are things that I didn’t see on every other list I had read at the time that I was researching. Nearly everything I packed fit into this cute duffel I got off Amazon, which I will link below. Any item from this list would make a great and useful baby shower gift that can be used from birth on!
Using these links to purchase helps out another mom, as I get a small commission for being an Amazon Associate. Please comment with other items you found useful during labor & delivery and your following hospital stay to help other moms out!
With Love, Cortney
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