Baby is coming!? Essentials for your hospital bag.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! This is the most exciting, hardest, and rewarding thing you will ever experience.

As if being pregnant and preparing for this baby isn't stressful enough, you will also need to be prepared for the hospital stay. Let's talk about packing for you. From my own personal experience, it is best if you are prepared at least five weeks prior to your due date. The real truth is, the baby can come whenever he or she feels ready to. In my case, that was four weeks early and we were not prepared to say the least! Luckily the hospital will provide you with some essentials (I would call ahead to find out what they can provide you), but they are not always a guarantee so it is best to have your own packed and ready to go!

Mommy's bag- The Essential List:

1. Health Card & Identification.

2. Toothbrush & toothpaste.

3. Bodywash, Shampoo, & Deodorant.

4. High-waisted Underwear (3-5 pairs to be safe- if you are having a C-section, your stay will be a couple days longer than a vaginal birth). The hospital may provide you with giant disposable underwear as well.

5. A pack of Heavy Flow overnight pads.

6. Breast-feeding friendly Bras.

7. Disposable or reusable breast pads. You may experience leaking early on and this can help with catching the fallout. You may also not need these at all at the hospital because milk production doesn't always happen right away.

8. Your own pillow- because let's face it- the hospital isn't exactly the Shangri-Lah Hotel, & your pillow will go a long way in the comfy dept. When you get home just throw the entire pillow in your washing machine and it will be good as new.

9. A robe- I suggest this more than pajamas because most likely you will keep your hospital gown on the entire time you are there. If you choose to breastfeed, this will give you easy access to that area as well.

10. High waisted track pants to leave the hospital in, & a comfy top to go with them (Zip up sweaters work well for breastfeeding mammas) or nursing tanks if you are in warmer weather!

11. Flip Flops or Slide on slippers/shoes. Just an FYI- your feet will likely swell after birth as well. Even if it is winter, bring the slides and get picked up with the car at the front doors of the hospital to save yourself from being uncomfortable.

12. Snacks for you and your support person. Who likes hospital food? & it is pricey!

13. Load your music playlist in case you can't sleep (before & after the baby is born) & need some entertainment.

14. Makeup & Hair products. Personally, I embraced my "au naturale" state because I didn't have the energy to get dolled up, BUT, this little bit of normalcy can make you feel better as well, so it is more of an option rather than an essential in my books! You do you mamma!

Another tip from experience is that you can ask for warm blankets as needed, and if you ask the nurse for tea (your stomach will need this after taking many medications), they will be more than happy to bring it to you.

Wishing you the best, speediest delivery & recovery!