Prepare by 36 weeks to ease your mind about running out the door when ready. If you have other children at home, prep their bags for overnight stays, too! Along with any of their plans printed out.

And the most important thing to remember, is all you really need is you and your baby.

You can also take with you: A loving partner who you TOTALLY TRUST with ready hands for massage and telling you 1,000 times how much they love you.

Everlane, $88

Herschel, $90

Clothes Organizer, $25 for set

The Basics

Duffel type bags (1-3, waterproof bags)
- One for mom, one small for baby (and maybe one for partner). Easily wiped and sanitized, thrown on hospital floor, etc (nylon material)
  - Everlane waterproof Weekender, $88
  - Herschel, $90
- Plus, some organizer cubes (clothes, etc not needed until after labor is done). keep things easy to grab!

For Labor
- Umbilical cord String (from Hospital Grade site, Precious Arrows)
  - instead of massive clamp in hospital. nurses are always amazed by this and love they dont have to cut it later!
- Honey Sticks $10
- 2x+ Protein/Granola Bars (extras for your husband)
  - YOU ARE RUNNING THE EQUIVALENT OF A MARATHON. yes you should eat. Any fears of this are from the early 1900’s when they would put women fully under anesthesia.
- Sleep Mask, Silk $10
  - Fancy Kind, Lunya $48
- Massage Ball, Self Roller, $10
  - For under feet, $10 (better for at home laboring so not on hospital floor. i loved these while breastfeeding and sitting on the rocking chair!
- Tens machine/pads (hospital/doula may have for rent/borrow, $10 for your own disposable stickies to go with the machine, if using)
- Water Bottle with straw (so you can use one handed! will be great when breastfeeding or driving later) $24
- Squishy water straws (in case you lose your water bottle)
Bathroom Stuff, super light
- cleansing wipes, easier than washing face etc
- lip balm
  - (just vaseline would be fine too, less easy to lose, just no scents! you will be super sensitive and fragrance is toxic)
- slip sleep mist or essential oils of lavender and chamomile
- Witch Hazel pads (to heal perineum after birth, the hospital should give you these!)
- deodorant
- toothbrush/paste
- Perineal spray for down there
- organic nipple butter
Momma Hospital Clothes
- labor gown, nice to have for the days after giving birth in the hospital. i showed up in it and didn’t have to change into the paper thing they give you mid-labor
- slip on shoes
- Nursing Bras: Ray Bra, organic, minimalist, soft, super loose/oversized
Baby Bag
- 1 outfit for baby to come home in (maybe 2)
- Organic formula (just in case breast feeding really is not going well, and you can choose your brand as backup). Holle
  - Just know, if your goal is to breastfeed, it is NOT always simple, and it took us 6 weeks to get it to work! Major tips discussed here. Just know, do not give formula yet if you can avoid it the first 5 days!!!
Electronics
- Book or kindle
- Chargers (kindle, phone)
- Mini portable stereo (and soothing playlist! marcus’ linked)
- Mini tripod, especially if want video of visitors/siblings meeting baby
  - great for phone or camera $55
  - phone attachment, $12
Hair Stuff - Scrunchies, brush
Paperwork PRINTED, place extra copies in glove compartment of car
- Notes on hospital parking for your partner!
- insurance cards/ID’s
- key contacts, doctor, pediatrician, emergency contact
- birth affirmations (family pictures and hand drawn images of what you want from birth and after)
- EBB pocket Guides to comfort measures in birth
- birth preferences (and hospital’s own checklist filled out)
  - indicate at which point you would prefer various interventions (in a perfect world)
  - think about these things ahead of time so you dont have to make a decision on the spot you are not ready for. (doula’s are great at helping put these together!)
- Notebook for taking notes after the birth (debrief to remember and talk about later!)
Car seat installed!
- We chose the uppababy made of wool, so it did not need any toxic Fire Retardant Chemicals

Things to ask for in the hospital

maternity belt (medical grade) for recovery and back (lumbar) support
lots of extra big padded undies
witch hazel pads
newborn diapers (have some at home, but many babies start out past the newborn phase, so can be ordered once home)

Optional Stuff

Bathroom stuff
- lotion (no smells! your senses will be super strong) pack if you won’t like what hospital gives you
- travel size shampoos/conditioners for you and baby (the stuff they have is the antibacterial basics, and crazy enough, not the gentle stuff you would buy (organic, etc)
- dry shampoo (this stuff is proving to be extra toxic)
- belly balm (the hospital will have so much stuff, save for when home)
Going home outfits (hospital has all you need, but just for fun!)
- newborn hat (hospital will have)
- swaddle (hospital will have, and these will get super dirty. And we actually really liked the ones from the hospital and asked for more. just old small towels with great grip for swaddling)
- going home outfits (organic brands: angeldearinc, kickeepants, kissy kissy)
Order while in hospital/after
- Baby diapers to size (if not enough at home)
- Mom’s throw-away undies for recovery (if don’t get enough from hospital)
- Ice packs for undies (better yet, make own for recovery!!)
  - I bought these, but all over the box are warnings the ingredients are TOXIC if punctured, and you are literally sitting on them. the cold sensation was nice, but stress of it was not.
- Waterproof blankets for bed
  - waterproof matress covers (over your bed and babies)
  - Blankets (nice for long term, put over couches and side of bed for sweating, bleeding, baby peeing, etc)
  - Throw away pads (pet pads)
Other Hospital outfit ideas for Mama
- oversized t-shirt
- boy shorts undies
- cozy sweats and sweater, black and baggy (bc very thick underwear from hospital)
- slippers
Placenta stuff
- Cord blood kit (need the cord blood box with you, call for them to pick up). I personally like the idea of letting the cord blood to flow naturally until totally white, so I do not plan to do this. But I know many mommas who do!
- Cooler with ice pack, if want placenta pills made by doula

Things to get in last weeks of Pregnancy

Birth Ball
- Just a large excercise ball, but literally used all throughout PG and after. I used as a desk chair, dining room chair, even sitting watching a movie. gets you out of one position only (sitting on the couch, laying back, is the worst for getting baby in the right position!)
  - Can get for $20, $40, or $65 with a nice cover (and not touching plastic constantly)
Small ball for hip squeezes
Pregnancy Bands
- Maternity Belt, $26
  - literally felt like it lifted a bunch of weight up, like holding belly with hands!
- Pelvis Belt, $22
  - I had a lot of pelvic bone pain, and the small band I wore so much just to hold the hips together.
  - The waist part to be worn once you have given birth

Teas

If you are prepping this before birth, this is a great time to get yourself some!

For Pregnancy
- Red raspberry leaf tea
  - (can add oat straw, nettles, dandelion, alfalfa, but the rasp leaf helps tone the uterus). Great blend here.
    - 1st Trimester – Drink one large mug daily
    - 2nd Trimester – Drink two large mugs daily
    - 3rd trimester – Drink 4 cups a day
- Don Quai and Red Date Tea (suggested by acupunturist)
- Herbal Capsules (start 35 weeks+)
After birth
- Sitz Bath (for healing vaginal/bum area)
- Nursing tea