Minimal Hospital Bag for a C-Section
When I was a first time mama I found these types of lists incredibly helpful. I could read different people’s lists and their reasons for what they included to help myself feel prepared. Heck, even this being my third time, I looked up other people’s c-section hospital bag lists because I couldn’t remember what all I used last time! The memories of the first few days become blurry real quick.
My hospital bag has been ready to go for a few weeks. There are a few things I’ll need to throw in when it’s go time, like my toiletries (already in a clear zipper bag ready to go), charger, and blanket but things that I don’t use on a daily basis have already found their home in the go-bag.
As the title suggests, I’ll be having a c-section so if you’re planning on laboring, my list is most relevant to what’s needed after birth for you. I’ll include my reasons for what I packed because hearing other people’s reasons for lists like this help me decide which items are actually relevant to me.
When should you pack your hospital bag?
That’s hard to say. Mine has been partially packed since 32 weeks this time, last time it probably wasn’t ready until 37 weeks (my first two babes were born at 39 weeks). I would encourage you to go with your gut instinct. If you’re feeling those nesting hormones urging you to have everything fully prepared weeks in advance, just go ahead and follow those instincts. If not, then when you’re close to full term (37 weeks) I’d go ahead and do it anyway.
I’ve had an insane amount of Braxton Hicks contractions this entire pregnancy, and at 32 weeks we were in the hospital with a pre-term labor scare. Thankfully, things fizzled out and baby girl is still snug in my belly at 36 weeks. However, the contractions can still easily pick up based on my level of activity. So, I’ve felt the need to have a bag ready to go so we’re prepared if things suddenly pick up again and we find ourselves on the way to the hospital.
In my duffel bag:
1. Jammies with easy breastfeeding access
Button up top to easily open for nursing and skin to skin with baby. Super stretchy shorts won’t be tight on incision, easy to slide up and down for bathroom breaks when I’m not bending comfortably. Easy to access abdomen to adjust binder, and have nurses check scar and massage uterus. Also, even though it’s fall, I recall our hospital room being really warm at times and fluctuating a lot so I’m going with shorts so I won’t overheat.
2. Stretchy, nursing friendly bralette
Although I recall going braless most of the time last time, I packed these to wear as they move out of the way as easily as nursing bras. I will probably still end up braless as it was easiest to have skin to skin and establish breastfeeding with no material in the way.
3. Robe
Being braless, having a robe to throw on when visitors came (not gonna be a thing in 2022), when I wanted to walk around the hall, or if I was chilly the robe was nice but easily out of the way for, of course, skin on skin.
4. Toiletries
I’ll bring the basics (toothbrush and paste, hair brush, hair ties, dry shampoo, mini tube of body wash and shampoo). To be frank, I don’t think I showered before leaving the hospital last time because I dreaded it so much. So I used baby wipes and dry shampoo the couple days I was there and showered once I could do it in the comfort of my own home.
Also in my toiletry bag this time is mascara in case I feel like putting a little on, although I imagine it’s unlikely. I’ve lately been wearing false lashes that last a week and am just hoping to wear those to feel put together without the need of putting on any makeup.
5. Diffuser + couple oils
I’ll be bringing my favorite oils I’ve been wearing and diffusing lately to bring some comfort from home. Frankincense, Lavender, Idaho Blue Spruce, and Northern Lights Black Spruce are in the line up.
6. Charger
7. Going home clothes
Super stretchy pants that won’t put pressure on my incision, simple t-shirt to feel human in real clothes.
8. Peppermint to drop in toilet to help pee
Story time! After my first c-section I forgot how to pee. I don’t know if this is a labor thing (I labored a long time), surgery thing, or because of having a catheter, but it was a thing. I have no other way of describing it. I would sit on the toilet and have no clue how to initiate the flow of pee. It was the weirdest sensation.
The second time around, I must’ve had my bladder get irritated by the catheter during surgery, because I had zero bladder sensation for at the least the first six weeks post surgery. So post surgery the second time, I knew my bladder was full when I felt uncomfortable pressure (sometimes stinging pain) behind my scar. When preparing for my second postpartum, I read somewhere that peppermint oil could help you pee after birth. So, I brought peppermint oil.
When I sat down to pee and couldn’t make the stream start, I dropped one drop of peppermint oil in the toilet and viola, it worked its magic and I was able to pee. I don’t know how it works besides providing a cooling sensation, and it felt wrong to literally flush an essential oil. But not being able to pee quickly becomes terribly painful when your bladder pushes on your newly stitched together organs. So, you bet ya bottom dollar I’ll be bringing the Peppermint again!
9. Nipple Butter
Every list you’ll see on the internet says to bring lip balm, I just use this nipple butter for everything, this stuff is the bomb. I tried numerous nipple creams with my first and this was the clear winner for me. It’s also amazing on lips and dry winter skin.
10. Colostrum Collectors
My second son had a lip and tongue tie. We couldn’t really nurse at all while in the hospital. I would hand express into a plastic spoon and then dip my finger in the colostrum to put it drop by drop into his mouth. Hand expressing (I tried a hospital pump and managed zero drops of anything with a pump) colostrum and then trying to not spill it out of a plastic spoon was quite stressful. These solve that problem. If we have any nursing troubles this time, I can catch it in these and drip it into babies mouth right from the container.
11. Outfit for Baby
I’m bringing 3 so I have options. Especially size options since my first baby was so large he hardly fit NB. So I have newborn and 0-3 month available. Two are gowns for easy changes and one is footie pajamas for going home. We’ll see if I even use them at all besides going home.
12. Swaddle Blanket
Because baby will be swaddled all the time and I’d rather have a cute one to bring for some fresh baby photos.
Extras that I know aren’t necessary, but I’m bringing for added comfort:
1. My own blanket
2. Grippy socks
While the hospital provides thin, crappy socks, I thought I’d bring my own this time in the vein of feeling a little more comfortable and put together.
3. Compression socks
I had to purchase compression socks in the early second trimester to help with my low blood pressure. So I have some nicer ones that I may switch to if I’m feeling fancier than the hospital’s thin compression socks. Again, something that folds up real tiny in the bag.
4. Breast pads
I’ve never had my milk come in while at the hospital, both times it came in once I was home. So even though I don’t think I’ll need these, they take up practically no space so I threw them in the bag just in case. Once home I plan on catching leaked milk most of the time with these beauties but I wouldn’t bother doing that in the hospital and don’t expect it to happen either.
5. Silver Nipple Covers
I’m not sure I’ll need these but they may be helpful to keep material off my nipples if I end up wearing a bralette to prevent soreness before it starts. Also, they seem to be making a stir and I want to see if they’re worth all the buzz.
Items the Hospital Provides:
Basic belly binder (my beloved, beloved, friend the first few weeks)
Peri spray bottle
Pads (for down there and to cover incision before putting on binder)
Mesh undies (I’ll probably switch to disposable Depends once home)
Grippy socks
Compression socks
all baby’s diapers and wipes
Pacifiers (my second baby didn’t even take a pacifier well without nipple confusion so I’m not buying any pacifiers until I know if this baby will even want one)
Baby’s outfit for the first day or two. They had the kimono shape tops that are easier on their umbilical stump, I often unwrapped babe for skin to skin while nursing. Then put the cute outfit I brought on babe for a photo and for going home.
Swaddle
Extra pillows for nursing support
Stool softener
For My Husband:
He has his own bag packed and to be honest I don’t even know what all is in there. A few changes of clothes, toiletries, and he’ll bring a blanket and pillow for his oh so comfy hospital couch that he sleeps on. But I’d say the general list for a partner staying with you in the hospital would be:
Snacks
Change of clothes
Toiletries
Charger
Shoutout to all the dedicated dads out there! JD has stayed with me the entire time I’m in the hospital, both times. Because I have c-sections, I haven’t been able to lift the baby out of the bassinet by myself very well. And I definitely can’t climb back in the bed or sit down in a chair to nurse while already holding the baby. So while in the hospital, he’s typically the go-between picking up and handing me our baby. Then diaper changing, re-swaddling and laying babe back down for me in the middle of the night.
