What’s in my hospital bag
Today I am 36 weeks pregnant. My feet may be swollen & eyes tired from third trimester insomnia, but I am so thankful to have made it this far. Our sweet Hudson joined us early at 34 weeks, so this is officially the farthest I’ve ever been in my pregnancy journey(s). As I write this, baby boy is shifting in my belly - pushing out against the walls from every angle, and I look back at my first pictures of Hudson, in awe that the little one in my belly is even bigger than he was then.
I’m feeling all the emotions as I begin to prepare a hospital bag in anticipation of welcoming our newest, littlest family member into our lives so soon. Hudson kisses my belly throughout the day and his current favorite book is “What Does a Big Brother Do?” - a sweet gift from his grandma. I think it’s safe to say that we are all excited to welcome baby brother into our home. I can only imagine the overflow of love we will feel to all be together as a family of 4 for the first time.
I’ve had so much fun putting together all of the necessities and goodies we’ll be bringing with us to the hospital this time around. I’m thankful for the extra time we’ve had to prepare, and I’m so excited to experience the labor & delivery process again with Tyler by my side. I hope this list is helpful for any first time moms, or second time moms looking for a refresher. Happy nesting!
For mama
Nursing-friendly pajamas
This pregnancy I treated myself to Eberjey’s timeless, luxurious jammies (seriously so dreamy). The Gisele Tencel Modal Long PJ Set make the perfect pair of postpartum pajamas. Cool, breathable Tencel helps regulate body temperature (hi postpartum night sweats), and the button front top is super convenient for middle of the night feeds. I ordered a size up from my pre-pregnancy size for an extra comfy fit. Nordstrom carries a nearly identical set (Tencel, spandex blend) for about half the price. Run, don’t walk.
Cozy loungewear
I’m so excited to hold baby boy in my arms - to soak in all the cuddles, feedings, & gentle back pats. The day we bring him home is going to be so filled with joy (and many tears, I’m sure). I wanted my “going home” outfit to be simple: loose sweats, nursing-friendly top, oversized sweater, & slip on shoes.
Cozy Earth’s bamboo blend Rib-Knit Lounge Pants were an easy yes for me - I have them in both gray and black to always have a pair handy. A couple of my favorite nursing-friendly tops are Storq’s Body Bra & Indigo Luna’s Moon Top. I may have ordered a couple pairs of Indigo Luna’s Agni Flare pants as well (hello, postpartum uniform). Aritzia, Jenni Kayne, and Indigo Luna offer the coziest of oversized sweaters, and Uggs make the perfect slip on shoe for the hospital stay. A cozy girl’s dream!
Pumping bras & postpartum undies
Last time around, I rented a hospital grade pump for the first couple of weeks post-delivery to help boost my milk production. I remember calling my mom the first day in the hospital and begging her to bring me any hands free pumping tops she could find - because who has the time to hold their breast pumps for hours each day (especially when there’s a cute baby we’d much rather be holding instead)?
Bravado’s Original Pumping & Nursing bra is a new mama’s dream come true. Made of an organic cotton, Tencel, & spandex blend, I’ve yet to find a comfier (or cleaner) pumping bra. This is a must-have in my hospital bag. I also packed some postpartum undies that will be both comfortable and convenient when it comes to managing all of those postpartum care products (iykyk).
Makeup, skincare & toiletries
This pregnancy, it’s a priority for me to pack all of my own toiletries. Because I’m so particular about the products I use, I will be including just about everything from my daily routine - from shampoo & conditioner to my skincare serums and makeup. Organization is key, and the pouches pictured below have helped to make packing all of my products so much easier.
I use Anchal’s organic cotton toiletry bag to store my makeup brushes and tools along with any dry makeup. Line + Arc’s silicone Dopp kit is perfect for liquid makeup and skincare creams, and Humangear’s silicone GoToob+ holds travel sized amounts of my favorite shampoo and conditioner. I also use a Stasher stand up mega bag for any other large liquid items such as face wash & body soap.
A few important items to not forget:
lip balm
makeup remover wipes
hair ties
hair brush
dry shampoo
Postpartum care
Most hospitals will provide postpartum essentials such as pain relief spray, maxi pads, and nipple cream following delivery - however, I’m opting to bring in my own natural care products. Earth Mama’s postpartum line uses the healing power of traditional plant medicine - their products are packed with organic herbs and oils that both nourish and restore the body naturally. Their nipple butter is my absolute favorite! I also chose to pack Natracare’s organic cotton lined pads. They’re fragrance-free, plastic-free, and completely biodegradable and compostable.
For baby
Cozy swaddles & newborn hats
A few of my favorite places to buy cotton swaddles are Pehr (plenty of beautiful, organic options) Aden & Anais (reasonably priced), & Mebie Baby. I love that they are all machine washable and hold up well after plenty of use. Colored Organics carries my favorite knotted newborn hats. They’re made up of 100% organic cotton, and the muted color tones are so sweet & timeless.
Newborn onesies
Honest, Colored Organics, and Little Planet are all great options for classic, 100% organic bodysuits. I’m packing these for baby boy to layer under his swaddle to help keep him warm & cozy.
Newborn “going home” outfits
I’m so excited to be packing some “going home” outfits for baby boy this time around. I packed a few different sets - a couple of top & pant sets and one sleep gown (because, you can never have too many - right?).
Quincy Mae has the sweetest selection of neutral wrap tops and footed pant sets made of 100% organic cotton. Burt’s Bees also carries an organic cotton blend 3-piece set that is reasonably priced and comes in both ivory and soft pink. Lastly, I love the soft, quality organic sleep gown sets by Makemake Organics. Their tasteful, nature-inspired prints are so cute - I packed the tropical palm tree gown for baby boy.
Pacifiers & feeding essentials
In baby boy’s bag, I’ll be packing some glass bottles (we bought a few types to see which he likes best), natural rubber pacifiers & nipple shields, and plenty of plush, cotton burp cloths. This time we are trying glass bottles by Philips Avent, Lifefactory, and Hevea. I was so excited to find that Hevea carries natural rubber nipple shields as well - I remember those were great to have handy early in my breastfeeding journey with Hudson.
Nontoxic diapers & wipes
We’ve been using Honest diapers and wipes almost exclusively since Hudson was born, and we love them. We also use the Coterie wipes as face and hand wipes when we’re out and about. I’ve been more curious to try out Coterie’s diapers because of all the wonderful things I’ve heard - stay tuned!
Extras
I’m so thankful for the support that Tyler has been to me in this pregnancy, and remembering the rock he was for me during Hudson’s birth. He will be packing both a duffel and backpack to help hold anything that doesn’t fit in my bag (because, serial overpacker here). Below are some additional items that he will be bringing to make our stay even more comfortable.
healthy snacks
reusable water bottle
electronics (charging cords, speaker, hairdryer)
cozy blanket
I’m so excited that we will be welcoming another precious baby boy into our family so soon. It has been such a blessing to hold him in my belly a little longer this pregnancy, and to have the time to prepare a bag and anticipate the sweetness that is to come. I am forever grateful for this beautiful family God has blessed me with.
Happy nesting, mamas!
til next time,
Becks