Now that you’ve packed your labor and delivery items from the Hospital Bag Checklist: Part 1 post, you need to think about what I packed for after labor. Below are items I packed for post-delivery for myself. Hopefully it’s not too excessive, as many of these items are more nice to haves. Personally I prefer to overpack than to regret not having something.
Note I packed for baby separately, detailed in the Hospital Bag Checklist: Part 3: Postpartum Baby post.
Peri Bottle
Out of all the items on this list, this is perhaps my favorite and a must have. You’ll be bleeding a lot postpartum and will want to keep it clean down there. If you get stitches it will be even harder to clean. A functioning peri bottle is crucial for your hospital stay (also for your home care, unless you have a bidet). The hospital gives you a peri bottle but it’s terrible and very difficult to use. Frida makes one that I really like that’s also easy to pack. If you prefer a bigger clear bottle, there is one linked below from another brand that holds up to 500 ml.
Heat Pad
I went from having heat flashes during birth, to body chills after birth. If you get a thoughtful nurse, she may give you some fresh from the dryer warm blankets. If not, a small electronic heat pad does the job. This is also a must-have for those painful postpartum uterine cramps. These start to kick in after the epidural wears off (if you get an epidural). My uterine cramps were so painful, were worse when breastfeeding, and worse with each subsequent birth. They felt like mini contractions and could last from days to weeks post birth. The only thing that helped was heat compress. The hospital might give you disposable
Snacks
If your partner is staying with you at the hospital during labor, make sure they pack plenty of snacks. You most likely won’t be able to eat during labor but you’ll be famished after labor. The hospital might provide snacks or a meal after, depending on when you deliver. With my third baby, by the time I finished delivering it was too late and the cafeteria was closed, but fortunately we packed some snacks. If you’re breastfeeding, try to also pack some items that can help with lactation. I linked some below, as well as the baked chips box I inhaled (I know not the healthiest but that was what I was craving after birth).
Clothes
Hospital Gown/Pajama
If you hate hospital gowns, you can bring your own gown or pajama for the recovery portion of your hospital stay. Just make sure it’s breastfeeding friendly (if you plan to breastfeed). I find hospital gowns quite comfortable, so didn’t need to bring an extra pair. Also, if you do bring pajamas, opt for a gown instead of pants/short set. The nurses will constantly come and check your healing and bleeding down there and a gown makes it easier for everyone.
With my second baby, we had to be transferred to the pediatric unit at a different hospital for almost a week. They let me stay in the room with him, but as I wasn’t a patient there, they didn’t have any hospital gowns for me. I had to have my husband bring clothes/pajamas for me. If you want to be extra prepared, then you might want to consider a spare pair of pajamas just in case.
Going Home Outfit
I opted for a dress for my going home outfit. After labor I found it difficult to maneuver my legs into trousers (especially if you have stitches). Plus I wanted to be more free down there for all the extra padding I was wearing. A skirt and shirt duo would work too. I really like the dresses linked as they can be worn as pajamas or going home outfits.
Robe
You may find yourself spending most of your time at the hospital either breastfeeding or trying to breastfeeding. I had delivered at a different hospital for each of my babies. With my first two births, I found the hospital gowns super easy to open in the front for breastfeeding. For those births, I just wore the hospital gowns during my postpartum stay. However, the hospital gowns completely open in the back leaving your bum exposed. Having a robe is nice for keeping you warm if you get cold, but also covers your back if you need to leave your room, or walk around your room when hospital staff are in there.
With my third birth, the gown at that hospital was a bit difficult to open and close in the front for breastfeeding. For that stay, I ended up foregoing the hospital gown, going topless and just wearing my robe.
Nonslip Socks
In many Asian cultures, you are supposed to keep your feet warm (among other things, like belly binding and eating warm foods) for a month postpartum. It’s believe to aid with healing. If not for cultural reasons, a pair of nonslip socks can also keep your feet cozy as sometimes the hospitals can get chilly.
Shower Sandals
If you didn’t already go to the hospital in comfortable sandals, make sure to pack a pair. My criteria for hospital sandals are: easy to wash and quick to dry in case you want to take a shower or in case you get bodily fluids on them, have good heel support in case you have bad plantar fasciitis like I did during pregnancy, and has good traction so you don’t slip. Finally, make sure they are wide sandals. My feet expanded a lot during my third trimester so I already had to buy a pair of wide sandals. But also after labor, if you had epidural or any other meds, your feet will most likely be swollen as well. Below are some of my favorite sandals I bought during my third trimester but as they’re so comfortable, I still wear them all the time.
Bedside Caddy
Once you move to the maternity ward, you get a small bedside table. It can fill up quickly with drinks and food (the food tray takes up most the table). Sometimes the hospital staff will keep bringing more large cups of water before you’ve even touched the last one. At one point I had four large cups of ice water. And when I have so many small items like my phone, lip balm, etc. that I want close by, it’s hard to find a place for them. This is where the bedside hospital caddy comes in handy. It can be attached to the hospital bed rail to keep all your little bare necessities. After the hospital, you could repurpose this for your stroller.
Breastfeeding
Nursing Pillow
A nursing pillow is more of a nice to have, but could also be cumbersome to bring. The first month breastfeeding is so hard. But the first few times/days are especially difficult. With two of my births, the hospital lactation consultant who came by to help me with breastfeeding just used pillows to support my arms and baby. That works fine. However, for one of my births, the hospital was full and they ran out of extra pillows. I didn’t have anything for support during breastfeeding and had wished I brought my own nursing pillow then.
Nursing Bra / Pumping Bra
A pumping/nursing bra is also a nice to have. With all three babies, I had difficulty breastfeeding and had to pump at the hospital. It’s difficult trying to hold the both flanges while pumping. Wearing a pumping bra helps you be hands free. And if it’s a pumping bra that doubles at a nursing bra, you could just wear that under a robe during your stay.
Electronics
Sound Machine
There will be a lot of noise at the hospital, or lots of staff constantly coming in and out. A sound machine is a nice to have to drown out the hospital noise and get some shut-eye (if possible). Even better if it doubles as a night light. We love both the sound machines linked below. The husband uses the Dreamegg with the toddler. We also use the hatch when our kids are babies as you can set schedules on it from your phone.
Night Light
If you don’t bring one of the above sound machines with night light, or any some machine at all, you could bring a stand alone night light. Depending on your hospital and where the lights are positioned, they might only have ultra bright surgery lights or dim light that is far away. We love this as you can change the brightness with a tap of your fingers.
Toiletries
Dental
I’ve always been a huge fan of Sonicare toothbrushes and never leave home for any overnight trips without mine. After hours (or days) of labor, you’ll feel gross after. You’ll want to do something for yourself to feel good after, whether it be washing your face or showering. For me, it’s brushing and flossing my teeth. Also, our teeth and gums take a hit during pregnancy, so I take extra care of my oral hygiene. Make sure to bring floss and toothpaste too. I think some hospitals might have a toothbrush and toothpaste if you ask, but the last time I asked they ran out at my hospital.
PHILIPS Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6500 Rechargeable Electric Power Toothbrush
Shower
- You may or may not want to shower at the hospital after birth, depending on how your delivery goes and your cultural background. Within many Asian cultures, we are advised not to shower for the first month postpartum.
- This may be TMI, but with my first baby, more than the baby came out while I was pushing during labor. My doula tried to make me feel better by reassuring me it was the baby who had pooped, but my husband made sure I knew that it was in fact I who pooped during labor. So I wanted to shower right after labor while in the hospital.
- Another TMI, but with my second baby, I had too much epidural and couldn’t get myself to the bathroom after they removed my catheter. The nurse ended up advising me to pee on the bed before realizing how much pee I had. I ended up being covered in urine and laying in a puddle of it. So again I had to shower right after.
- With my third, it was a clean and quick delivery, so I waited to go home to shower.
If you want to shower at the hospital, you could let the staff know and they should have toiletries and towels for you to use. However, if you already know you plan to shower at the hospital, try to bring your own shower items, just in case they run out. With my second birth, they ran out of some items. Also, hospital towels may not be the most comfortable and their toiletries might leave you smelling like hospital. Bringing some nice shampoo, face wash or soap may help you feel a bit more pampered and refresh after. Items to consider packing:
- Towel
- Face Wash
- Moisturizer
- Makeup
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body Wash
- Lotion
What not to pack
Pads
The hospital provides you plenty of pads during your stay, so you won’t need to pack any. Some nurses will let you pack extra for home as well. If you find yourself still bleeding quite a bit once home, you could always order more online. I linked the exact ones the hospital gave me as I found them to be quite effective.
Underwear
No matter how your delivery goes, you will most likely be bleeding quite a bit down there right after birth, if not for weeks, then at least for days. You might bleed more if it’s your first baby and/or if you had stitches. You won’t need to pack any panties, as you will be wearing these disposable bad boys for some time. The hospital most likely will pack you some to-go. If you find yourself bleeding longer after you return home, you can easily buy more of these mesh underwear online. The first two links are the same as the ones they give at the hospital. Frida Mom also makes a version but I find I prefer the hospital ones better as they run much larger.
