Hospital Bag Checklist: What to Pack in Hospital Bag
hospital bag
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HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST FOR MOM
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Photo ID, insurance info, hospital forms and birth plan (if you have one)
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Eyeglasses (if you wear them)
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Cell phone and charger
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Two or three pairs of warm, nonskid socks (for walking the halls before and after labor)
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A warm robe or sweater you don’t mind sacrificing to the cause
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Lip balm (hospitals are very dry)
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Headband or ponytail holder (avoid clips—they’ll probably poke you)
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Sugar-free hard candy or lozenges to keep your mouth moist during labor (candy with sugar will make you thirsty)
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Non-perishable snacks and change for the vending machines
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2 maternity bras (no underwire) and nursing pads (whether or not you plan to nurse, you’ll appreciate the support and leak protection)
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Toiletries and personal items: hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, contact lens case and solution (remember, travel-sized products are your friends)
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Loose, lightweight clothing (maternity wards can often be hot)
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Comfortable going-home clothes in six-month maternity sizes, and flat shoes (or just wear the clothes you came in—sorry, but they’ll probably still fit)
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Optional hospital bag checklist items for mom
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Very light reading (think magazines and newspapers, not War and Peace)
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Earbuds to listen to music on your phone
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Bath towel (the hospital will probably supply a very thin, small one)
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Hairdryer
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A comfy pillow from home (with a case that can get ruined, in a pattern distinguishable from hospital white)
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A few pairs of maternity underwear that can get ruined (the hospital will have disposable pairs, which some women find handy and others find gross)
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A ruin-able nightgown (you can use those lovely hospital gowns, but your own might help you feel more human)
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Breastfeeding pillow
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HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST FOR BABY
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Approved infant car seat
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A coming-home outfit (bring clothes in different sizes to make sure they fit!)
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Warm blankets (for the ride home)
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Outdoor gear like a snowsuit and hat, as seasonally appropriate (newborns are extra sensitive to cold)
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HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST FOR PARTNER
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Cell phone and charger
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A change of clothes
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Toiletries: toothbrush, deodorant, face wash, shampoo, conditioner, contact lens case and solution
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Snacks (you don’t want your partner eating all of yours!)
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Entertainment, whether it’s something to read, listen to or watch
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Camera or video camera with batteries, charger and an extra memory card
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Any daily prescription medication
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