Bonus Newsletter: What's In My Hospital Bag

What I have packed in my hospital bag for my fourth child

I am currently 37 weeks pregnant with baby #4 and finally have my bag packed!

As I prepare for the birth of my fourth child, I feel like I finally have a good sense of what to pack in my hospital bag. Although there are endless hospital bag lists online, most of these lists seem to be lacking what I consider to be essential items or important details about the items you need, so I wanted to put my own list out there for any parents who might need it.

Because Parenting Translator is a non-profit organization, you can rest assured that none of these items are sponsored but solely based on my own personal experience. Please let me know in the comments if you would add, remove, or change anything!

Hospital Bag Checklist

1. Nursing pillow: I rarely see this listed on hospital bag packing lists but I think it is essential for any mother who wants to attempt breastfeeding. It is so hard to feed a newborn without one especially when you are still recovering from labor and exhausted. The best breastfeeding pillow (by far, in my opinion) is My Breast Friend (and it also wins for most hilarious name).

2. Comfortable walking shoes that easy to get on and off (ideally slippers or flip flops): While trying to induce labor with my third child, I walked over 6 miles up and down the hospital hallways. I was very grateful to have some comfortable walking shoes to make this possible. However, you also want to make sure they are easy to slide on and off since no one who is 40 weeks pregnant or holding a newborn is going to want to mess with shoelaces or straps. Also keep in mind that after delivery your feet may be even more swollen than during pregnancy so make they are wide enough to fit this foot expansion. You may also want to bring shoes you can wear in the shower if hospital showers give you the ick!

3. Delivery gown: Of course you are provided with a hospital gown during labor but did you know that can bring your own delivery gown? Your own gown will likely be more comfortable and more functional than the hospital gown. It can also make you feel more in control of the birthing process and less like a “sick patient” which may help you feel more empowered during birth. This is the one that I bought. Whichever one you choose, I would look for one that folds down so you can easily engage in skin-to-skin care without the gown getting in the way.

4. Glasses: If you wear contacts, remember to bring your glasses. I literally never wear my glasses but when you are up all night and trying to direct a tiny mouth toward your nipple or change a newborn diaper, you will not want to have to pop your contacts in and out repeatedly.

5. Nursing bras or tanks: It is easy to forget that even your underwear will need to change after having the baby but it is important to have several nursing bras or tanks to make nursing as easy as possible in these early days. Remember that your nursing bras should not include underwire initially because experts believe that this may increase the risk for mastitis or clogged ducts (although there is no research showing this).

6. Toiletries and makeup: There is nothing like the first shower after labor. You literally covered in blood, sweat, and tears and have never felt more dirty. Having my favorite shampoo and conditioner, a nice soap, and my makeup helps me feel human again. Some mothers may be too tired and overwhelmed to even shower but for me this is essential.

7. Going home outfit for the baby: Don’t forget that you will take a lot of pictures of your baby in their “going home” outfit so you might want to choose something special or sentimental for this big moment. Although newborn gowns are very useful for diaper changes, you want it to be something with legs because it will be challenging enough to get that newborn baby into their car seat for the first time. I also pack a blanket to put over them and a hat since I am always worried about them being cold during their first outing into the world.

8. Going home outfit for yourself: Remember that you will likely also end up in a few pictures of leaving the hospital so you might want to bring a presentable outfit for yourself. Keep in mind you will still look about 4 to 5 months pregnant so maternity clothes might be your best bet. I usually choose something dark-colored and very flowy. Dark-colored because the chance of blood leaking on to the outfit in these early days is actually pretty high and flowy because you will still be wearing some kind of adult diaper/giant pad that will show through tight clothing or leggings.

9. Phone charger with extra long cord: Remember that outlets may not be close to your bed so a phone charger with an extra long cord is essential. You may even want to bring a mobile charger and a charger for your partner in case they forget.

10. Snacks that are easy to eat: You want to bring a lot of snacks to the hospital that can be easily eaten with one hand (such as granola bars). During labor (which can last days— particularly if you are a first time mother), many hospitals do not allow you to eat or drink (although see here that research suggests it is fine if you are low-risk). You may also want to bring snacks for after birth since the hunger after birth is intense and you may not always have two hands to eat a full meal.

11. Multiple pairs of comfortable, dark-colored pajamas and/or sweats: You might want to bring more clothing than you think you need. Labor, especially a first labor may last longer than you think, and you will likely want to change more than once a day due to bleeding, milk leakage, and spit up. Also, given the blood, spit up and milk that will inevitably end up on you, I would advise dark-colored clothing so it doesn’t stain as easily.

12. Pads: The hospital will probably supply you with pads but you might want to bring your own. The hospital pads are typically very uncomfortable and do not have wings. These are pads that I typically use.

13. Eye mask: There are a lot of flashing lights in a hospital and it never gets completely dark. When your baby is sleeping, you will want to be doing your best to sleep too. I usually bring a very comfortable eye mask (like this one) so I can try to sleep when the room is still lit and during the day.

14. White noise machine: Hospitals are also very loud places and you want to avoid any unnecessary sounds waking you up. In addition, there is some research that white noise may be soothing to newborns and help them to sleep (read more here).

---

Wondering how you can support Parenting Translator’s mission and/or express your gratitude for this service? It’s easy! All you have to do is share my newsletter with your friends and/or on your social media!

Thanks for reading the Parenting Translator newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive future newsletters and support my work.

Also please let me know any feedback you have or ideas for future newsletters!

---

Welcome to the Parenting Translator newsletter! I am Dr. Cara Goodwin, a licensed psychologist with a PhD in child psychology and mother to three children (currently a 3-year-old, 5-year-old, and 7-year-old). I specialize in taking all of the research that is out there related to parenting and child development and turning it into information that is accurate, relevant, and useful for parents! I recently turned these efforts into a non-profit organization since I believe that all parents deserve access to unbiased and free information. This means that I am only here to help YOU as a parent so please send along any feedback, topic suggestions, or questions that you have! You can also find me on Instagram @parentingtranslator, on TikTok @parentingtranslator, and my website (www.parentingtranslator.com).

DISCLAIMER: The information posted by Dr. Cara D. Goodwin, PhD, Parenting Translator, and its representatives on the Instagram account @parentingtranslator, TikTok account @parentingtranslator, website (ParentingTranslator.com), and newsletter (parentingtranslator.substack.com), or any other medium or social media platform (the “Information”) is for educational purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical, mental health, legal, or other advice.  Parenting Translator is not engaged in rendering diagnosis, treatment, counseling, or therapy services by providing the Information, and your use of the Information does not create any practitioner-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Dr. Cara D. Goodwin, PhD, Parenting Translator, or any of its representatives.  Dr. Cara D. Goodwin, PhD, Parenting Translator, and its representatives assume no responsibility and expressly disclaim liability for any consequence relating directly or indirectly to any action or inaction you take based on the Information.  Reliance on any Information provided by Parenting Translator, its representatives, and contributors, is solely at your own risk.  Always seek the advice of your own licensed and qualified medical, mental health, legal, or other professional, and do not disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it based on the Information. Call your medical or mental health professional, or 911, for all emergencies.