5 Hospital Bag Items You Didn't Know You Needed

If your due date is anywhere in the near future, you've probably already read hundreds of "what to pack for hospital" lists. But this one's a bit different. We're not talking about the basics of what to bring for the big day because we're guessing you probably have those covered already — if not, check out our Complete Printable Hospital Bag Checklist!

Today we've got 5 items you might not think to bring but will be so glad you did. You might call them "Lux Haves" because you really don't need them to give birth, but they'll might make the experience a bit more comfortable.

5 Hospital Bag Items You Didn't Know You Needed

1. A moisturizer or body oil

Hospital air can be very drying, and hormonal changes during and after birth can leave your skin extra dry and flaky, so having your go-to body moisturizer or oil packed in your hospital bag can provide some needed relief.

One we often recommend is coconut oil — it’s super-nourishing and can be used on its own to help soothe dry and itchy skin. You can also mix up a soothing and all-natural massage oil by adding some essential oils into the coconut oil, which can help with relaxation and body pains from labor. Labor is no joke, and if there's any time in your life when you really deserve a massage - giving birth is the time. Have your birth partner mix a drop of your chosen essential oil with the coconut oil and massage it into your lower back, hips, or arms, and hands to help with pain management and relaxation. As far as choosing which essential oil to use, lavender is great for promoting relaxation, and peppermint is often used for pain management.

Just remember, that coconut oil can be comedogenic, so it might not suit you if you have oily or acne-prone skin. But for those with chronically dry skin, it might be a great solution for you!

2. Lip balm

This one is a common item on hospital checklists, but it’s really worth mentioning again as so many of our mamas note it as one of the most important things in their hospital bags!

Just like the dry and often warm hospital air will have an effect on your skin, it will be drying out your lips as well — particularly if you are having gas and air. Having a lip balm to hand can help ease this and ensure your lips aren’t totally chapped by the time you head home.

3. Relaxing podcasts

Have a visualization, mindfulness meditation, or guided breathing podcast on hand and ready to go. OK, so this one isn't something you really have to pack, as you can easily pull one up on your phone, but it's a good idea to plan ahead and choose a few podcasts that are empowering, relaxing, and work for you.

There will be a lot of people talking to you and trying to help you through labor, and in most cases, labor can be a pretty long process. While there will be times you need to tune into what your doctors, nurses, or midwives are telling you, sometimes you just need to be in your own headspace. A labor visualization, relaxing meditation, or breathing exercise can be really helpful in those early stages of labor to help you feel calm and in charge (if only for a little while!).

The Baby2Body app offers specific podcasts around labor visualization and preparing for birth. To easily find them go to the Zen Den browse section!

4. Heating pad & handheld fan

Basically, prepare for all temperature extremes when you’re packing your hospital bag.

Hospitals generally run on the cold side, so while things are kicking off you may feel a bit chilled, which is where the heating pad comes in handy. The heat can also help with pain relief when you're working through those early contractions. Of course, things will definitely warm up as labor progresses, and you can only eat so many ice chips! Having a hand-held fan that you can use on your face can really help keep you cool.

5. Electrolytes - aka "Labor-Aid"

It's really important to stay hydrated through labor, but keeping your salt levels on an even keel is just as important! Your salt balance is crucial for muscle contraction and energy levels - and as you may have guessed, both are pretty important when giving birth.

An electrolytic drink will help keep those hydration levels up while replenishing your salt balance. Plus, it's a fun alternative to all those glasses of water you've been drinking as you can have fun with the flavors. You can pick up some powders or liquid electrolyte products to add to your water while at the hospital, or you can make your own to bring in with you. Simply combine:

• A 16-oz glass of 2 parts coconut water to 1 part regular water

• 1 tablespoon of raw honey

• A good pinch of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

• The juice of either a lemon or orange

Do you have any Hospital Bag 'Lux Haves' that you're planning on bringing to the hospital, or have brought to the hospital before? Share them in the comments below!

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