What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for a C-Section

Are you expecting a victual soon? Your list of tasks to trammels off surpassing your little stow of joy’s inrush is likely long as it is, but you don’t want to forget well-nigh the one to-do that often falls to the when burner: packing your hospital bag. Knowing what to pack in your hospital bag can be daunting if you’re having a C-section.

Before having my firstborn, I naively hadn’t considered the possibility of her wordage culminating in an emergency C-section. I packed everything I thought I’d need and then some, but ultimately used very little of it. I came home with my new victual and a pile of stuff to put away. Fast-forward to my second baby, who came without warning, surprising us seven weeks early. As I labored through contractions in the wee hours of that early Sunday morning while trying to repletion my tumbled toddler, I had no nomination but to quickly throw a few things in a bag as my husband serried childcare for our daughter. We arrived at labor and wordage with little increasingly than our wallets, a lamina phone charger, my toothbrush, and bottled water. Once again, my precipitous labor led to an emergency C-section.

What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for a C-Section

If I’ve learned anything from my wordage experiences, flexibility is key, but preparation is golden. Here’s what I’d recommend any C-section mama have in her hospital bag:

1. Comfy Clothing

I recommend a cardigan, robe, a nursing tank, and a pair of slippers or grippy socks. While there’s a good endangerment you’ll be in your hospital gown for a good permafrost of your stay; you’ll want these essentials on hand for getting up and about, snuggling with your little one, and nursing if you segregate to.

You can save on space by forgoing your favorite underwear. Your nurses will provide plenty of the good ol’ mesh ones. They’ll probably plane have grippy socks misogynist if you forget yours.

2. A Few Toiletries

You’ll likely have some time to pass surpassing you can get up and walk to the restroom, but that doesn’t midpoint you have to finger like you’ve been in bed your unshortened stay. Makeup wipes, deodorant, moisturizer, and lip balm can make you finger much increasingly human without welcoming your tiny person.

Packing only the essentials will save room for hospital supplies trays and giant water jugs. Decide on what you need and what can wait for when you return home. Don’t finger guilty if some mascara and blush will make you finger increasingly camera-ready for those lineage utterance mom and victual shots. Otherwise, less is increasingly here.

3. A Vitals Binder

Many hospitals offer vital vitals binders for C-section mamas, but lots of mamas prefer sporting their own higher-quality binders. These are crucial for post-surgery support, comfort, and healing and can be worn well into the weeks pursuit your delivery.

Whether you pack your own or use the hospital’s, ask a nurse if you’re unsure whether you’re wearing your vitals folder properly. A snug fit is a key to reaping the benefits.

4. A Good Pillow

Hospital beds aren’t the most comfortable, expressly without a C-section. Hospital pillows are no exception. They are very thin and are in upper demand. You can expect to get two or maybe three pillows (that you will need to share with your partner) in your room. Bringing your own pillow will help you finger increasingly well-appointed as you rest and recover in bed post-surgery.

Many new mothers moreover recommend bringing a Boppy pillow, their maternity pillow, or another pillow from home that can be used to prop up their victual closer to their breast and alimony the victual off of their incision. Babies can kick and wiggle, and your incision site is the last place you want to be jabbed without birth. This uneaten pillow can moreover be helpful for applying pressure on your stomach when you need to cough, sneeze or laugh.

5. Fan and Wrap for Your Comfort

There are some side effects that mothers wits without a C-section, like itching and feeling overheated or freezing unprepossessed due to big hormonal changes. You can ask for some medication to help with the itching, but I recommend bringing a cozy blanket of yours if you are particular well-nigh your repletion if you wits the chills. They do have blankets that they can put in the warmer, but some women prefer their own wrap from home. And if you finger overheated, a portable fan is extremely helpful.

6. Your Favorite Snacks

Regardless of the mode of delivery, giving lineage is exhausting. With a whole new human to superintendency for, you’ll need to be sure you’re eating unbearable to quickly get your increasingly precious-than-ever energy back. And let’s squatter it, hospital supplies isn’t unchangingly the most appealing. Bring a few favorite snacks if you want something vastitude the cafeteria’s food.

If you plan to breastfeed, requite yourself a throne start with lactation snacks. You can’t go wrong with tasty options like cookies, bars, and plane granola on the market for milk-making moms. Staying hydrated is moreover important. If you get tired of plain water, consider other options that can moreover help with lactation.

7. Rinse-Free Soul Wipes

Following your C-section, you’ll want to freshen up from all your soul has been through. You might not want to or be worldly-wise to go through the hassle of getting in and out of the shower. Rinse-free soul wipes are like a ready-to-go sponge bath, and they’re a must for your hospital bag.

Keep a pack of these at home for your early postpartum days. The thought of getting when to your shower might seem appealing, but you’ll fathom having a increasingly user-friendly option between caring for a newborn and yourself.

8. A Comfortable, Breathable Outfit to Go Home In

Your incision zone will be sore for a bit, so you’ll want to ensure nothing is pressing directly on it that could increase that friction. Loose, high-waisted drawstring pants, a flowy dress with high-waisted velocipede shorts underneath, or maternity leggings are all unscratched bets.

Don’t forget your feet! They might be a bit swollen (and difficult to reach) in the days pursuit your C-section, so you’ll want something roomy and easy to slip on, like a simple pair of flip-flops.

9. Something Special for Victual to Wear Home

A cute coming-home outfit for baby is really all you need, and maybe a couple of bodysuits. Seriously, that’s it. Newborn diapers, wipes, and swaddle blankets will rely in zillions in your post-delivery room. You’ll have plenty of time to play dress-up with your newest wing at home so save yourself the trouble of toting 10 outfits to the hospital and back.

Those newborn essentials that rely you in your hospital room? Toss them all in your bag surpassing you get discharged. They’re yours to alimony for your baby.

10. Uneaten Kindness and Grace for Yourself

Welcoming a victual into the world via C-section is no small feat. It’s major surgery, without all, and recovery without a C-section calls for you to go easy on yourself. So be kind to yourself and take it one day at a time. Self-love has never been increasingly important!

Packing your hospital bag for your C-section doesn’t have to be guesswork. While everything turned out just fine with each of my pre-delivery hospital bag preparations (or lack thereof!), it took both for me to learn a lesson: plan therefrom and be prepared. In other words, don’t be like me the first two times around. Whether you’re scheduled for a C-section or simply preparing for the possibility of needing one, we hope this list will help you finger at peace with what’s in your bag for the big day.

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