What I Packed in My Hospital Bag Vs. What I Actually Used | C-Section Delivery

Happy Monday friends! I hope you all had a great weekend. I have been asked the question a few times as to what I ACTUALLY needed in my hospital bag, so I wanted to put together a post that shares what I packed verses what I actually used, along with the items I should have brought with me.

Since my delivery was a c-section, I was not aware of what I all needed. Everyone I talked to and the articles I read were all about what to pack for a vaginal delivery (none of them actually specified this, but I found out the hard way). A c-section is a MAJOR abdominal surgery and you are in the hospital for much longer than a vaginal delivery. The length of time you are in the hospital also depends on your doctor, hospital, and recovery, so I am sharing what worked for me with my personal experience.

What I Packed in My Hospital Bag

I have always been an over packer. I’d rather have too much than not enough, but then again, sometimes when you overpack you still don’t have what you need! haha I tried to keep my hospital bag as minimal as possible, while including all of the important things.

I chose to use a rolling carry on luggage, mainly because I figured I would most likely be leaving the hospital via wheel chair or if I did walk, I wouldn’t want to carry a large bag over my shoulder. Well, my husband ended up packing the car ahead of time and the hospital had a cart for him to use to take to and from the hospital room and parking garage, so a regular duffle bag would’ve been fine.

HOSPITAL BAG Check List:

For MAMA:

For Nursing:

For BABY:

For DAD:

  • Change of Clothes
  • Pillow
  • Towel
  • Toiletries Bag
  • Cooler with drinks and snacks
  • Girl Dad Shirt

Other:

 

What I Actually USED in My Hospital Bag & Additional Items I Should’ve Packed

We stayed in the hospital for 4 nights and 5 days. I honestly thought I would use most of the items I brought with me, but in reality, I spent most of the days in the same gown, glasses and scrunchie, changed out my socks, and never put makeup on. Below is the same list as above but with changes as to what I used, didn’t use, and needed!

For MAMA:

  • Change of Clothes – COMFY and loose – I brought loose shorts and tees that were not nursing friendly. I would bring a nursing friendly top if you want to change, but I never changed out of the gown I brought.
  • Postpartum Underwear – I only wore these on the day I left. I stayed in the disposable underwear and pads provided by the hospital for the entirety of the stay. These were DEFINITELY needed when I got home though.
  • Delivery Gown and Robe – This is the outfit I LIVED in during the stay! Super easy to nurse in and use the restroom. I put it back on after showering each time too!
  • Grippy socks – The hospital provides you with grippy socks for the delivery, but I brought more so that I could change out of them, plus they were a little cuter. 
  • Going home outfit – I brought a loose fitting dress for going home and it worked perfectly, other than the fact that it was not nursing friendly, so I would suggest bringing one that is easy on and off for nursing.
  • Towel for shower – Everyone said the hospitals towels were small, but ours were just fine so we didn’t use the ones we brought.
  • Shower Slides – Another suggestion was to bring something for the shower. My shower was pretty clean and I felt comfortable wearing no slides and then putting grippy socks on right after I dried off.
  • Disposable underwear – I did not need these – the hospital provided plenty and I even took some home with me.
  • Compression socks – I brought these thinking they would help with the postpartum swelling, but the doctors don’t allow them without grips on the bottom since the hospital room floors are so slippery, so I never used them. I used them plenty when I got home.
  • Frida Postpartum Kit – I had this packed at first and then took it out after doing some research. I didn’t need anything in there for a c-section recovery.
  • Toiletries Bag – toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, vitamins, face wash, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, skincare, shower cap. – ALL OF THIS was used! Showers were the best part of the day too! The #1 product I used for skincare was my TULA undereye balm to wake my tired eyes up! Conor loves this stuff too and I have a coupon code- ITSMEKELSIE gets you 15% off.
  • Hair ties, brush, curling wand – I stayed in the same scrunchie the whole time, but definitely brushed my hair at least once a day. I NEVER used the curling wand! haha
  • Makeup Bag – I only used this on the day we left. I thought I’d use it each day, but ended up realizing that it was too much effort. I will say that finally doing my makeup on the day that we left did make me feel human again, so I would still recommend bringing it. I also had my FALSCARA lashes on – they lasted through delivery and a week after!
  • Lighted Travel Mirror – I used this on the last day to do my makeup because the bathroom lighting was awful! 
  • Stroller Fan – I did not need this – I think this was supposed to be for a vaginal delivery, but I’ve heard from some that when breastfeeding, you can get hot flashes and the fan is necessary, however I did not need it.

For Nursing:

  • 2x Nursing Bras – I didn’t wear ANY nursing bras until the day I left. 
  • NEEDED: PUMPING BRAS – I DID NOT bring these and needed to! The hospital did make me a makeshift pumping bra out of a tube top, but I wish I would’ve known that hands-free pumping bras are a necessity.
  • Nipple Cream – Definitely used this!!
  • Nipple Pads – Didn’t touch these.
  • Silverette cups – I think I used these one of the days, but mainly used them more when I got home. 
  • Breast Pump – Definitely used this! The hospital provided one, but it was important for me to learn how to use the one I would have at home and the lactation consultants showed me how to best use mine.
  • Boppy Pillow – I grabbed this last minute and it ended up being my husbands pillow the first few nights, but towards the end of the stay, I used it constantly for nursing. (When I nursed in the bed, I piled up pillows, but when I got up and nursed in a chair this was perfect)

For BABY:

  • Going home outfit
  • One white onesie – didn’t need this – baby was naked in a diaper with a hospital swaddle the entire time.
  • One sleeper outfit- same as above
  • Velcro swaddles – we used these towards the end, but not a necessity until we got home.
  • Announcement Outfit – we put her in this just for a photo and then she was back in the diaper and swaddle.
  • Name sign
  • Muslin blanket – used this only in the name/announcement photo, but not needed otherwise.
  • Car seat – needed to leave the hospital – I love that they check how you strap her in and have to approve it before you leave.
  • Diaper Bag – We brought everything above in Conor’s diaper bag, plus diapers and wipes, etc. with us. The hospital provided us with diapers and wipes and we even got to take them home. I also brought my diaper bag with my camera supplies in it.
  • Optional ADD ON: PACIFIER – Some people bring pacifiers to the hospital – we had them in the diaper bag, but didn’t use them. We started using pacifiers after about 1-2 weeks of being home. 

For DAD:

  • Change of Clothes – Conor lived in sweatshirt, sweatpants and 2 t-shirts, plus clean boxers.
  • Pillow – The pillows at the hospital were not comfortable and this was highly suggested. I would definitely bring one or two nicer pillows.
  • Towel – same as above- the hospital towels were just fine and these just took up extra room.
  • Toiletries Bag – Conor brought face wash, razor, deodorant and used them all. 
  • Cooler with drinks and snacks – we packed way more than we needed since we ordered food from the hospital for most meals, but protein bars were super helpful. We also had plenty of water that the nurses brought us (you just have to make sure to ask for it).
  • Girl Dad Shirt

Other:

  • ID (both Mom and Dad) – Conor needed this to get in and out of the hospital each day. I had him hang on to my ID while staying there too just in case.
  • Insurance card – we didn’t need this, but always good to have on you.
  • Nurse thank you baskets (AM & PM) – I prepped 2 nurses baskets to give to the AM and PM nurses. They had a bag of Verb energy bars, a bunch of Liquid IV packets (energy, regular and sleep)-use code ITSMEKELSIE for 25% off, scrunchies, pens, granola bars, sweet and salty snacks, a travel water bottle, and some travel tissue pouches. The nurses are so amazing during your stay and they appreciated this SO MUCH! 
  • Phone chargers – definitely needed
  • Apple Watch chargers – I wore my apple watch a ton so that I could set an alarm for the next feeding. The nurses would wake me up anyway if need be, but it helped us get on a better schedule.
  • Laptop & charger – I used my laptop maybe one or two days for just a little bit. It was good to have as an option though.
  • Camera – chargers and batteries – used these for taking announcement/name photos.
  • Tripod – I brought this to maybe do a family photo, but we didn’t use it at all.
  • NEEDED: Sound Machine – I used my phone the first couple of nights, but I would suggest bringing a small sound machine for beside the bassinet.

 

Don’t forget to take all the supplies with you from the hospital room – they will tell you to take them, but you’ll be charged for anything that’s open so definitely take advantage. We took lots of diapers and wipes, disposable underwear and pads home.

I hope this post helps any of you that are wanting to know what to pack in your hospital bag for a c-section. For a vaginal delivery, I’m sure there are similar items you’ll need, but I would definitely bring the Frida Postpartum Kit and Stroller Fan.

Thank you so much for reading!

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