Birth Center Bag – What I Packed, What I Actually Used

I started this post prior to going into labor and just never posted it so I figured I would edit to what I actually needed vs what I brought.

Last time, I gave birth in the hospital and brought so much stuff! To be fair, we were having an induction and ended up being in the hospital from Tuesday at 8 am to Friday at around 5 pm.  This time, we were at birth center and spent about 4 hours there after this little one was born.  There are a million and one hospital bag posts with a bunch of stuff you just don’t really need for a birth center, so I thought I would put together a little post about what I brought and then what I used.

What I brought

Nightgown and robe.

Shorts and extra t-shirt

2 nursing bras

Comfy clothes to go home in – these joggers, nursing tank

Swimsuit – for the tub

My old slippers – for walking outside.  it will be cold but I want something I can slip on and off without worrying about ruining them.

Socks

Depends – I have heard that these are so much better than pads and underwear, and it makes sense so we will see ( they were not – the smallest size I could find was s/m and they were just too big, awkward and uncomfortable. Also a pad offers padding to swollen and sore places). Skip these!

Snacks/food – I’ve got crackers, dried apples, apple sauce packs, almond butter packs, protein bites, and coconut water.  These will all go in a cooler bag, not the black bag pictured.

Onesie for baby – Or 2 or 3 because I overpack. I will never understand the whole cute outfit for coming home thing.  Your baby just went from being naked and warm in your belly to this crazy outside world, he needs to be comfy – not dressed to impress.

Diapers – 4 of them

Swaddle Blanket

Baby Book and a letterboard – we are not sharing baby’s name until he is born and we are using this letterboard to share!

Essential Oils – diffusers aren’t allowed, but I am bringing with me Lavender, Gentle Baby, Frankincense, Myrrh, Clary Sage, and peppermint. I will also bring with me cotton balls and some wash cloths to put them on.

Breast Pump (forgot this)

Nipple cream (also forgot this but make sure you don’t!! Even with a perfect latch you need nipple cream after every feeding starting with the first one! Trust my mistake!)

Dad’s stuff – change of clothes, swim suit in case I want him in the tub

Also- in preparation for baby’s arrival we have made sure to have a couple towels in each car.  You just never know, especially with a second baby!

What Actually Got Used

I needed a new nursing bra after giving birth because I wore mine in the tub.

I wore my joggers and t shirt home

I did use my essential oils to help relax when we first arrived at the birth center

Snacks – these were so important. We were both so hungry being up all night I only wished I brought something a little more substantial to eat as well. There was also a package of Oreos that I bought on a break at work that night that came in super handy for a little energy!

Onesie for baby – maybe still bring options here

Letterboard

Swaddle blanket

Water bottle

And that’s it. That’s all I needed to bring. Birth centers don’t hold you hostage so you don’t need your whole house. They provided the basics – diaper, pads, body wash for a shower and we were home so soon that we could worry about the rest from the comfort of our own home.