What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag | St Louis Fresh 48 Hospital Photographer | Missouri Baptist Medical Center

What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag | St Louis Fresh 48 Photographer

The big question as you are nearing your due date is ‘what should I bring with me to the hospital?’ How stressful! I remember that feeling of running out of time and afraid I’ll never find time to pack. With my fourth baby, I remember packing as I was getting ready to walk out the door to the hospital. This is not an ideal situation, especially for your first baby!

Don’t be like me, pack early. The earlier the better, so you will not feel rushed and forgetful. However, if you are a procrastinator and baby decides to arrive early before you ever get around to packing, you will survive! The hospital will have everything that you will need for both of you. Technically, the only must have item is a car seat to go home in. All other items that you bring along will be for personal preference or for your own comfort.

To get you started, I have created a list of must-haves for baby and a list of additional items to consider bringing along for you and your partner during your hospital stay.

To help you get started, here is a list of what most hospitals provide for you: 

1. Binki
2. Diapers
3. Wipes
4. Burp cloths
5. Breast Pump
6. Receiving blankets (the traditional hospital branded ones)
7. Formula in disposable bottles (if you’re not breastfeeding)
8. Baby hats
9. Diaper cream
10. Nose sucker
11. Comb
12. Lotion and Soap for bathing (typically Johnson and Johnson brand)
13. Extra sheets for the hospital bassinet

What to Pack in your Hospital Bag

Now let’s look at what you might want to bring along with you in your hospital bag. Keep in mind that you will want to pack light because you will be bringing all of this home with you.

FOR BABY

1. Diaper bag
2. Coming home outfit
3. Fresh 48 session outfit/ headbands/Hats
4. Two additional outfits
5. Mittens 
6. Boppy 
7. Car seat
8. Personalized items or name announcement props
9. Swaddles (I prefer my own rather than the hospital swaddle)

For Mom

1. Slippers/socks
2. Robe or House dress (THESE are amazing!)
3. Nursing bras
4. Nursing Pads
5. Fresh 48 session outfit (CLICK HERE to read more about what to wear and how to prepare for your fresh 48)
6. Phone/iPad and charger
7. Camera (even if you hired a professional photographer)
8. Your coming home outfit (think comfy maternity clothes)
9. 2-3 Pajamas (you won’t wear a hospital gown after the first day)
10. Extra undies (HUGE STRETCHY ONES to fit the giant pad you will be wearing!)
11. Snacks for after the baby is born, you will be hungry! 
12. Toiletries — shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, face wash & moisturizer, etc.
13. Makeup
14. Hair Care — Brush, hot tools, styling products (maybe only consider this if you hired a professional photographer for a fresh 48 session, otherwise skip it!)

FOR DAD

1. I-pad/computer and charger
2. Headphones
3. Two regular outfits/ two comfy outfits for sleeping
4. One photo worthy outfit for your fresh 48 session
5. toiletries (shampoo, body wash, deodorant, razor, comb, gel, toothbrush/paste/floss)
6. Pillow
7. Snacks

Bottom line.

Technically you will only need a carseat. Which is something you can always have someone bring to you later. If you do forget something, you can always call a friend or family member to bring it to you. Momma’s, I know that feeling of being SO eager, excited, stressed– don’t let packing your hospital bag be another thing to stress about like it was for me!! Start early and pack what you can think of as you go along. But, remember to pack light because you will bringing all of it back home with you…along with a sweet little baby.