Hospital bag essentials recommended by a labor and delivery nurse

Preparing for your baby’s arrival is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming time. One key task that can help you feel more in control as your due date approaches is packing your hospital bag. 

To help expecting parents feel prepared and confident, we spoke with Jessica Burke, a labor and delivery nurse at Ascension St. Joseph Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, about the essentials to bring for mom, baby and mom’s support person. Here are her tips for how to prepare for the hospital on delivery day:

What personal items you should pack

When thinking about what to bring for your baby’s delivery, everyone remembers the baby’s items, but don’t forget to pack the items you’ll need for yourself. Expectant mothers shouldn’t leave home without a phone charger, chapstick, water bottle, snacks and your personal care items.

Labor can take time, and you'll want your phone charged to stay in touch with family or snap those first baby pictures. You also don’t want chapped lips for your baby’s first family photo. Hospital air can be dry, and lips often get chapped during labor. 

Be sure to bring some cash or a card for vending machines or cafeteria snacks for you and your support partner and visitors.

Bring your toiletry bag and pack the basics like a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant and any personal care items you normally use. Your labor and delivery room will have a shower for you to use before or after your birth.

If you plan to have support during your birthing experience, make sure that they pack the same personal items that you do. They’ll be your biggest support, so making sure they're taken care of matters, too.

What to pack for your newborn

You can rest easy knowing that the hospital will provide many newborn essentials, including diapers, a baby blanket, a hat, pacifiers, wipes and Vaseline.

These items will help cover the baby's immediate needs, though you’ll still want to bring an outfit for your announcement photo and the trip home.

Pack comfort items for mom to feel at home

Hospital stays aren’t known for being glamorous, but bringing your own comfort items can make a big difference before delivery and after. Nurse Jessica recommends you make the room feel like home by bringing, but always bring an extra set just in case your favorite cozy items get soiled:

• Breathable, comfy, stretchy and loose-fitting clothes 
• Your own pillow and blanket
• Warm socks or slippers
• Cozy robe
• Nursing bras if you're breastfeeding
• Undergarments you don’t mind tossing if needed

Bring snacks and drinks

Staying hydrated and nourished is important during and after labor. When packing snacks, think granola bars, trail mix or crackers. Light snacks or hard candies can be great during labor (with your care team’s approval), and post-labor snacks are often welcome after all your hard work. In some cases, your care team might ask you to hold off on eating or drinking depending on how labor is progressing or if a C-section is being considered. 

After the baby arrives and you are transferred to the mom/baby recovery unit, you are welcome to eat whatever you’d like! In fact, many moms have their support person bring in a favorite meal to enjoy after birth like sushi, a cold sub or even pizza. This is totally fine!

Bring entertainment to pass the time

Labor and recovery both involve a lot of waiting. Pass the time by bringing your favorite book to read, or hand held electronics like a tablet or game console.

Many moms these days choose to create a labor playlist, so if music is a priority in your birth plan, make sure you bring your headphones or a portable speaker.

Pack for the day you get to go home

Pack clothing for you and the baby for the day you get to go home. However, the most important item to bring to ensure you can get safely discharged from the hospital with your newborn is an infant car seat. Our maternity care teams will not allow you to bring your baby home without a properly installed infant car seat in your vehicle. If you need help choosing a car seat or would like instructions on installing one, many Ascension Wisconsin hospitals offer prenatal classes that include car seat education.

Breast pumps and lactation support

If you’re planning to breastfeed, there’s no need to bring your own pump to the hospital. Ascension hospitals will provide pumps for in-hospital use, and lactation consultants are available to help with rentals or purchasing a pump if needed.

Considering giving birth at one of Ascension Wisconsin’s award-winning maternity hospitals? Learn more at Ascension.org.