When I was pregnant, I put off packing my hospital bag until the bitter end. KC kept bugging me to put it together (I think he was assuming that labor would be like the movies, where the woman goes into labor and her husband has to rush her to the hospital immediately because that baby is coming RIGHT NOW!) I like to think I was much more realistic about labor, assuming I would have time to pack my bag even after contractions started; but in reality, I think I put it off for awhile because it made the whole “I’m having a baby soon” thing even more real than my expanded midsection already was.

In the end, I did pack my hospital bag (I think it was less than a week before my surprise induction), which was lucky because KC ended up needing to go home and throw together what we needed at the hospital on his own, given that I wasn’t aware that I would end up at labor and delivery after my regularly scheduled doctor’s appointment, without time to go back to the house and finish packing the bag myself. I packed everything the numerous baby-related websites told me to pack, pretty much, and ended up not using a lot of what was in my bag. So here’s a rundown of what I actually used, what I should have packed, and what I’d leave off the list the next time around:

What I packed and actually did use:

• Portable bluetooth speaker
  • KC set up our portable speaker (which we use alllll the time, BTW — totally recommend!) while I was in labor and played the Hozier Pandora station from my iPhone. I had heard that some people only wanted silence during labor, but for me, dimming the lights and having a low-key, familiar playlist really helped me chill out during contractions. It was also extra special that this song happened to be playing when P made her official entrance into the world!
• iPhone + charger
• Going-home outfit for Prim
• Going-home outfit for me
• Toothbrush + floss
• Face wash + moisturizer + eye cream + chapstick
  • So much chapstick!
• Glasses
  • Once I managed to get my contacts out (which was a feat, given that my stupid IV was right in the crook of my left arm), I used my glasses exclusively, since I wanted to be able to grab some shut-eye whenever possible, without having to mess with taking my contacts out beforehand.
• Contact case + solution
  • Take ’em out, leave ’em out.
• Brush + hairbands
• DSLR camera
  • This is totally personal preference, obviously, and I didn’t use this at all — but KC did. I love the fact that we have some very sweet, high-quality pictures from the first few days of P’s life.

What I should have packed:

• SNACKS
  • This is what I would totally focus on the next time around, because I was STARVING at the hospital. Giving birth is so draining, and breastfeeding makes you feel like you’ve never eaten in your life, so I was constantly ravenous — especially at very inopportune times (like all through the night). The next time around I will pack lots and lots of easy-to-eat snacks like granola bars, nuts, dried fruit, etc. (And you better believe I’m going to be sneaking that sh** during labor. I had to BEG the nurse for food at 2am when I was in labor (because I hadn’t eaten since BREAKFAST!) and, I’m telling you — Jell-O has never tasted so good.)
• My pillow
  • Hospital bedding is totally no bueno. I realize it’s bulky, but just bring it. You won’t regret it.
• Lotion
  • Again, the hospital air is so dry — I was constantly dying for chapstick and lotion for my hands.
• Nursing pillow
  • A lot of sites told me not to bother with this because it’s bulky and hospitals get annoyed, etc., but I had a lot of issues nursing, initially, and my nursing pillow made a real difference, so I would totally recommend bringing it to the hospital.
• Shower stuff (body wash + shower pouf, shampoo + conditioner)
  • A lot of hospitals provide this stuff to you, but I think it’s nice to smell like yourself while in a weird, foreign environment.

What I totally didn’t need:

• Kindle
  • Hahahaha as though I was just going to read through labor.
• Tennis ball/mini massager
  • We attempted to use this when my back labor started, but I quickly determined that it wasn’t helping and I didn’t want to be touched at all. (Though I’d probably still throw a tennis ball into the bag the next time around, because you never know!)
• Makeup
  • Some people apparently get all done-up even while at the hospital, but I really had zero desire to.
• Robe/slippers
  • A lot of people apparently bring these to make themselves more comfortable, but I was really fine with the hospital gowns and socks provided.
• Other clothes/pajamas
  • Again, I lived in a hospital gown. No need for anything else!
• Laptop + charger
  • We’d probably bring this again just for KC to use, but I definitely didn’t even glance at my laptop while in the hospital.
• Movies
  • Again, as though I was going to watch movies while in labor — haha!

What did you pack in your hospital bag that you couldn’t live without? Leave a comment — I’m sure all the mamas-to-be would love to hear your tips!