Hospital Packing Tips & FREE Printable Checklist!

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I don’t think the tiny blue lines had fully appeared on my first pregnancy test before I was packing for the hospital.

Impatience?  My weakness.  Being organized?  My specialty.

I read a few pregnancy books before the real deal and A LOT of them during the months before labor.  The amount of information on this topic seems endless and at first, very overwhelming.  As a new mom-to-be, I feared omitting the slightest piece of advice and found myself taking more notes than I did for college finals.  I was “Girl Scout” prepared in every sense of the phrase.

Two kids later, knowing what I know now…I wouldn’t change a thing.  Sure, I look back and realize how nervous and hypersensitive I was in the beginning, but it’s all part of the journey.

Are you approaching your first labor?  Perhaps your fourth? 

Either way, mommy brain could strike at any moment and a Hospital Packing Checklist is a must have! {Click here for the FREE printable: Hospital Packing Checklist}

From one mom to another, here are some hospital tips I learned through my experiences:

  • Mesh Underwear:  Most hospitals provide new moms with this fabulous invention.  It’s a great substitute for underwear in the first week after labor so don’t be afraid to ask for it.  Either way, have plenty of maternity underwear on hand.
  • Food:  You would think I’d learn the first time but, nope!   When the kitchen takes 30 minutes + to bring you a meal, snacks are a priority.  Pack simple snacks you can grab and eat with one hand to keep you happy between meals.
  • Notepad & Snapped Folder: In the first 24 hours after your baby is born, there are a lot of nurses, specialists, doctors, etc. in and out of your room.  Make sure you have a notepad handy to jot down notes and a snapped folder to keep all various paperwork and forms you receive while at the hospital.
  • Gifts for the Nurses:  Call it what you want but you want them on your side 😉  Not to mention, I was blessed with incredible nurses who took such great care of my babies and me.  A small gesture of appreciation, even a note of thanks, goes a long way!
  • Courage:  Whether you decide to breastfeed or not, you may encounter someone with a different opinion.  Even someone of authority (I learned the hard way).  Stay strong and be the MOM that you are!  Remain confident in your beliefs and trust that you are making the right decision: happy mommy means happy baby!

Hospital Packing Checklist