The Top 10 Items You Should Bring In Your Hospital Bag! Clarksburg, Maryland Newborn, and Family Photography

Okay, so I’m going off the photography topic in this post and want to share the top items you should bring in your hospital bag.

While this is not an exhaustive list, its a good start. I’ve several moms and dads what they thought were the top items to bring.

Comfortable Clothing!

So, the number one these people mentioned was comfortable clothing. The birth of my first son was a long one. We were in the hospital for 3 days. I’m thankful as is my wife that we both packed lose fitting comfy clothes.

Plan to bring leggings and a loose shirt. Maternity underwear, a nursing bra, and a robe are all great items to have in the bag.

DAD, you’re going o be sleeping on a pullout sofa that was designed for someone about 3 feet tall, so, pack some sweats and a sweatshirt and bring a comfy pillow from home.

Toiletries

Don’t forget to pack your toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, and hair brush. Also, an ample supply of hair ties. Moisturizer is a win as well. Pack all these things in travel size well before you need them, these are easy ones to forget. Any other personal care items that you have that you can’t live without, but a few extras and toss them in the bag.

Essential Documents

Don’t forget to copy your birth plan if you have one! Make sure to bring insurance cards, everyone should have their ID with them. Any other medical documents that you might need should be copied and put in the bag.

Entertainment

Labor can be a lengthy process and you’ll be staying over for a night or two after. So bring a laptop with a few movies or your favorite streaming services downloaded and don’t forget the earbuds! Bring some favorite books and magazines just in case the WIFI isn’t behaving at the hospital.

Snacks And Drinks

Definitely pack your favorite snacks and something to drink. Best to stick to water here. I was lucky that the hospital where my kids were born had a pretty decent cafe, but, either way, you’ll want to play that safe and have some food in your room. DAD, get to know where the ice machine and popsicles are out in the nurse’s area, you’ll be making plenty of stops there.

Nursing Supplies

If you plan on breastfeeding make sure to bring plenty of nursing supplies. Nipple cream and pads, nursing pillow. We used a Boppy pillow and it was great! I’ve heard from many moms that you can’t have enough cream, so grab a few bottles of that and get em in the bag.

Don’t bring wipes or diapers with you, save that space for other things. The hospital will have all the diapers and wipes you need and you’ll want to have that space in your bag to bring home all the freebies you’ll get.

Last but not least, bring a camera! From experience and as a photographer I can tell you that during the labor process, ditch your nice DSLR and go for your iPhone. No way you’re going to want to miss this because you’re changing a lens or can’t get the autofocus to right in the darker room. Grab your iPhone. Ultimately, just put all that away and put your entire focus on being supportive and there for your wife. Take your photos in the recovery room. Then call me to schedule your newborn portraits of course.

Be ready to witness one of the best moments of your life. Don’t forget to tell the doctor from the start that you want to cut the cord. Things move fast in there and they’re all on autopilot.

Just a few tips on what yo bring with you! If you have questions about my sessions click below and reach out!