Labor & Delivery Hospital Bag Checklist

Wow, the response to my request for thoughts on items to bring with me to the hospital when I go into labor was awesome!  As I mentioned in my post, I am a checklist person and I can definitely say that I am now fully equipped to make that list and start packing!  I took what everyone shared with me and compiled the list below, hoping that it might help someone else, too.

Items for Mama:

• clothes to wear while at the hospital
  • a hoodie
  • 2-piece pajamas
  • flips flops/adjustable pair of shoes or sandals
  • granny undies
  • non-slip socks or slippers
  • sleep mask
• clothes to wear home (loose!)
• toiletries – lip balm, lots of hair ties, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, hair brush, comfortable maxi pads (assuming your hospital doesn’t provide any of these, which mine doesn’t)
  
• your own pillow for sleeping
  
• any vitamins/supplements that you take
  

Items for Baby:

• clothes to wear home
• toiletries - chemical free baby wash/shampoo (if you don’t want to use what the hospital provides)
• infant swaddle blanket

 Electronics/Entertainment:

• headphones and/or ear plugs to drown out hospital noise while sleeping
• a camera (extra batteries and memory cards, too)
• ipod or some other form of musical entertainment
• magazines/books/reading material
• laptop to keep people updated (or to watch DVDs)
• cell phone and charger

If you’re planning on nursing:

• comfortable nursing night gown and clothes; open front tops
• nursing bra/sleep bra
• cream for sore nipples
• breast pads
• nursing pillow
• breast pump 

And finally, I thought one of the best pieces of advice was to bring a positive attitude!