What to Pack in Your Delivery Bag

I remember scrolling Pinterest for hours with my first baby trying to figure out what I needed to pack in our hospital bags. Did I really need a robe? What about those little baby mittens? How many outfits are we going to need? Do we need a whole pack of diapers or just a few? My head was spinning. Keep scrolling to see what I decided to pack in my delivery bag.

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What to Pack in Baby’s Bag

Let’s start with your little love. If you’re delivering in a hospital, they will provide nearly everything you need for your baby. Hospitals are charging you for the supplies in your room whether you use them or not, so I used what they offered, and I took home what we didn’t use there. My hospital supplied onesies, diapers, A&D ointment, bulb sucker, socks, blankets, binkies, and a hat. They nurses and doctors are doing checks on your baby so often that they really prefer having the snap button onesie they provide to do vitals. I did take our own baby blanket and onesie because who doesn’t love having cute stuff to take your baby home in 🙂

I chose to breastfeed, so I did not take any bottles or formula with me. If you don’t want to breastfeed, consider taking bottles with you. The hospital does have ready-to-drink formula.

That’s really all you need to pack in baby’s delivery bag. Don’t overthink it!

What to Pack in Mom’s Bag

I felt like this was the hard part. With your first baby, you have no idea how you’re going to feel after your delivery. Would I want to have makeup on? Will I even care what I look like? My answer before having my baby: Yes. My answer after having my baby: Absolutely not.

My idea of necessities for postpartum moms: nursing pillow, very comfortable underwear to hold those GIANT pads, socks, a robe, nursing bra, 2 comfy shirts, hairbrush, toothbrush and paste, phone charger, SNACKS. All the snacks. Hospital food is terrible. You will also want a loose, comfortable pair of sweatpants to go home in. The hospital will provide you some lovely (please hear my sarcasm) pads. I FORGOT my own with my first baby and felt like I was sitting on a pillow the whole way home. So you may want to take your own heavy flow pads for your ride home.

You could consider taking your own pillow and blanket, but remember there are lot of bodily liquids floating around that room. The hospital has unlimited blankets and pillows that you don’t have to wash.

If you’re worried about pumping in the hospital, most will provide a pump. I did not think to take my own and wouldn’t have used it anyway.

I packed all of my delivery items in a weekender duffle bag. I promise you don’t need a luggage bag!

What to Pack in Dad’s Bag

A change of clothes and a phone charger. That’s it. Must be nice, right? (just kidding!) Dad’s job is to go on a food run for you because after that baby is here, you will want a meal that doesn’t taste like it sat in a microwave for 2 days.