Perfectionist DIY

As a second time mom, my hospital bag is looking a LOT different this time around. I barely opened my bag last birth as I was so out of it during recovery but I feel much more sure about what I will actually want this time.

FYI this post may contain affiliate links. All that means is that if you purchase something through one of the links, you won’t pay a cent more but I might make a small commission.

Must Haves

• Phone charger
• Extra battery pack (charged)
• IPad – With my first labor I found it helpful to distract myself by watching TV on this while I was waiting for labor to progress.

Clothes

• Kindred Bravely labor and delivery gown & robe (I’ll admit, I’m not sure if I will wear this during labor or save it for afterwards but I thought it would be a nice treat to have to change into rather than the scratchy hospital gown at some point)
• Grippy socks
• Kindred Bravely nursing pajama set
• Kindred Bravely crossover nursing bra (seriously my favorite nursing bra, and I tried A LOT after my first pregnancy)
• Soma lounge set & Kindred Bravely nursing top (this is what I’ll wear to leave the hospital)

Cosmetics

• All my standard cosmetics (lotions, shampoo, toothbrush, etc.)
• Mini make up mirror & extremely basic make up- think tinted moisturizer & mascara

For the Baby

• Pacifier
• Going home outfit – this little cream set was actually mine when I was a baby and is the same thing we put on my daughter for her coming home outfit 🥹
• Burts Bees baby mittens
• Burts Bees baby slippers
• Pretty swaddle for pictures – we were so unprepared for photos the first time around, thinking we would never buy hospital photographs, but then they turned out so sweet and special we absolutely couldn’t resist! While I don’t mind that our first born is just in the hospital blanket for the photos, I thought since we knew we would be doing photos this time around I could step up my game and bring this pretty swaddle that we were gifted for my first born.

Extra Cozy Items (not necessary but are nice to have around)

• Super soft blanket – this brand is my absolutely favorite. I have a different version of this blanket that lives in the rocker in my daughter’s nursery so I wanted a second one for this new baby and figured it would get plenty of use during hospital snuggles.
• Pillow – while I categorize this as not necessary, I highly recommend it. Sleeping in a hospital bed is never easy but having your own pillow from home makes it 100 times better.
• Eye mask – there’s lots of lights from the machines and various things around the hospital room so I find this helps me sleep a little better at night.
• Lavender essential oil roll on – I also use this at night to help relax for sleep.

Most of this is going to stay in the car until after baby is born. The only thing I’m packing in a small duffle to come in to labor & delivery is the gown & robe, grippy socks, phone charger & battery pack, and my IPad. Once we move to mommy & baby then I’ll send my husband to the car to grab the roller bag with all the other things.

Hope this helps any first time mamas who aren’t sure what all they should bring to the hospital!