This is it! You are in the home stretch!  Now that you are close to your due date it is important that you begin to prepare for your hospital stay. In most cases, new mommy’s will stay in the hospital for up to three days. Three days may not seem like a long time, but it could feel like a long time if you don’t have everything that you may need while staying at the hospital. So, it is important to pack your bag at least six weeks before your due date to ensure that you are ready on the big day.

I’ve put together a list of the things that we could not have survived our hospital stay without!

Mommy Must Haves:

1. Long Robe
2. Slippers
3. Socks
4. Nursing Bras
5. Nursing Pads
6. Large Underwear (For when you are discharged)
7. Comfortable Sweat Pants or Leggings (For when you are discharged)
8. Tank Tops, T-Shirts
9. Pajama Pants, Pajama Shorts
10. Sweater(For when you are discharged)
11. Shoes, Shower Shoes
12. Tooth Brush, Toothpaste, Floss
13. Towels
14. Scent Free Body Wash
15. Chap Stick
16. Quarters For The Vending Machine, Snacks (bagged in sandwich bags)
17. Pillows, Nursing Pillows
18. Chargers

That’s not bad right? It is important that you don’t over pack because it will take you longer to get out of there on day three. The hospital rooms are usually a decent size, but they are not huge. I recommend that you take a hospital tour because hospitals usually vary in size and sometimes they have different protocols. My hospital room had everything that I needed to feel comfortable. The room had a TV, sofa, recliner chair , rollaway bed and a full bathroom with a walk in shower.

I used almost everything that I brought with me. The robe and slippers were used quit often. We needed to take frequent walks around the hospital because my body felt stiff. Most hospitals will even allow you to walk your baby around in the bassinet. I walked my second baby around quite often because I couldn’t get her to stop crying. Trust me the robes and slippers will come in very handy!

Baby Bag Must Haves:

1. Hospital Photo Outfit, Props (get creative!!)
2. Going Home Outfit
3. Baby Onesies (pack enough for the entire hospital stay)
4. Socks, Booties
5. Burp Rags
6. Receiving Blankets
7. Newborn Hats
8. Bottles
9. Diapers (newborn size)
10. Wipes
11. Pacifiers
12. Car Seat
13. Base (buckle it in the car)

Babies are so precious in their cute little clothes and booties. You may have the urge to pack a bunch of things you think you may need. Don’t waste your time! Plan to keep baby in tiny soft hats, onesies and booties/socks for a few days. The only real outfits you should bring is the outfit for when baby takes the hospital photo and the full outfit that baby will wear when he/she goes home.

Baby hospital photos can be really fun to plan. Think of some cute ideas to add on a onesie with matching booties and a cute hat! There are so many options, a quick Etsy search will give you plenty cute ideas.

Daddy Must Have

1. T-Shirts
2. Sweat Pants, Shorts
3. Underwear (Boxers, Socks)
4. Pajama  Pants, Pajama Shorts
5. Tooth Brush, ToothPaste, Floss
6. Body Wash
7.  Chargers
8. Pillow, Blanket

If you have anything to add, please leave it in the comment section. I want to read your hospital/labor and delivery stories! Please send me an email about your labor story and/or write about it in the comment section below.