what I packed in my Hospital Bag for baby #2

At 8am on Saturday, April 22, my husband and I rolled our hospital bags (aka: 2 rolling suitcases) into the hospital while sipping on Starbucks drinks. We were on our way to have our second baby. For this baby, I had to be induced because of my blood pressure, so my entrance to the hospital was much less hurried than it was with my first child (check out my podcast episode to hear all about my labor story, it was wild!). 

Before having my second baby, I looked up other blog posts on what people brought to the hospital. I had felt like I didn’t have what I needed the first time around, but I couldn’t necessarily pinpoint everything I was missing. The overarching theme in these blog posts seemed to be that most people thought they needed less the second time around. 

As a first time mom, I hadn’t wanted to be “that girl”, walking in with a suitcase full of stuff for a couple nights in the hospital, so I tried to bring the bare minimum. My stay at the hospital though ended up being one of the most stressful, sleepless, and uncomfortable times in my life. So for my second, I wanted to be comfortable and actually enjoy my experience in the hospital. I was also planning on laboring and delivering without pain medicine, which was different than with my first child, so I needed specific stuff for that as well. 

I ended up feeling so much better about what I brought this time! I had *almost* everything that I needed and my stay was quite enjoyable (well as comfortable as you can be in a hospital). 

So here is a list of what I brought and the one thing I wish I had brought:

For laboring without pain medicine:

• Birth Plan (I had already given a copy to my midwives, but it was helpful to have one to give to the nurses too)

• Liquid IV and Quinton Minerals (to add to my water so that I had extra hydration)

• Ginger chews (just in case for nausea)

• Water bottle with a straw (I used the hospital one for water and mine for the Liquid IV)

• Snacks: trail mix and granola bars

• Heating Pad (check to see what is allowed at your hospital)

• Stroller fan (I attached it to my bed)

• Frida Mom disposable postpartum underwear - boyshort briefs (to wear during labor with my bra, instead of the uncomfortable hospital gown)

• Comfortable sports bra

• Essential oil diffuser (I diffused peppermint basically my whole hospital stay)

• Ipad

• Fire TV Stick (plugs into the hospital TV so we had all our apps to watch stuff on during labor and the rest of the stay)

For the hospital stay:

• Toiletries

• Makeup (something I didn’t bring the first time, but it really helped me feel normal)

• Straightener (another thing I didn’t bring the first time, but it really helped me feel normal)

• Retainer

• Chapstick

• Pillow

• Going home outfit - leggings and oversized shirt

• Powerstrip

• Comfy blanket

• 2 nursing bras

• 2 night gowns (always expect for spit up or breast milk to be all over one and needing a backup)

• Outfit for when people come to visit

• Sleep eye mask

• Hatch Night Light/Sound Machine

• Mag07 (for postpartum constipation)

• My usual supplements (probiotics, magnesium and prenatal - see what your hospital allows you to bring)

• Shower shoes

• Slippers

• Boob ice packs (for when your milk comes in)

• Compression socks

• My brest friend nursing pillow

• Hakka/Elvie Catch

• Breast pump

For The Baby:

• Baby announcement letter board

• Swaddle blanket and outfit for pictures

• A few plain onesies

• Hats/bows

• A few going home outfits of different sizes

What I wish I would have brought, but didn’t:

• Velcro swaddles for the baby. 

• Neither Nathan nor I can figure out the swaddling with the hospital blankets. With both baby’s the technique confounded us, especially in the middle of the night, when you're exhausted, and the baby just keeps breaking out. One time I literally called the nurse in solely to help me swaddle her. So for any other baby that we have I will be bringing these easy to use velcro swaddles!

*Most hospitals will provide you with peri bottle, pads, witch hazel wipes, Dermaplast, diapers for the baby, wipes for the baby and baby blankets.

So that’s it! The complete list of everything that I needed, and loved having, at the hospital for the birth of my second child.