Milwaukee Maternity Photography | Hospital Bag Checklist

This Milwaukee beach maternity photography session with Ashley and John was a dream! Such a beautiful couple who are so excited to be welcoming their sweet little baby girl in a few short weeks to make them a family of three! During this session we talked about the many things to come that we FTM’s excitedly and anxiously plan for endlessly. As a somewhat newly experienced First Time Mama myself, I reminisced about all of those things I had on my list to prepare myself for the big day at the hospital. What things I actually needed, and what items I forgot to bring or wished I brought with us. So I thought I would share that list here with all of you. In hopes to save a FTM from forgetting her toothbrush or some other important item that she needs to make her hospital stay more comfortable. 

First off let me HIGHLY recommend that you bring a rolling suitcase instead of a cute trendy hospital bag that holds 5 things. There are going to be so many things that you (or rather your hubby) will need to carry home with you after your hospital stay. Including a new little one! So save yourself from having to stress about not having enough arms to carry everything. 

My next suggestion is that you bring your baby stroller. When it’s time to head home, have your husband/S.O. bring your baby stroller into the hospital so that you can load your baby and any other items you need to carry out to your car. Because you really cannot and should not be carrying much of anything after you deliver your baby. Despite popular belief; us Mamas don’t have eight arms! 

 Do you plan on having Newborn / fresh 48 hour photos taken while you’re at the hospital? Fresh 48 hour newborn hospital photography sessions can be so sweet! They really help to capture those initial first sweet moments of your new family! If you do plan to have photos taken while you’re at the hospital I recommend that you prepare a semi-casual outfit for dad in advance to coordinate with your robe and a matching swaddle for your baby. Keep your outfits simple, and keeping Mama and baby comfortable. Save your dressy photos for a studio or in home lifestyle newborn session – later! If you would like more information about my newborn sessions – contact me!

Milwaukee Maternity Photography | Hospital bag checklist

1. A portable cellphone charger! After having a baby myself, I don’t leave the house anymore without this!
2. A Mommy and me matching robe set! I used this set while in the hospital. It was cozy but also accessible enough to make me comfortable to be able to do what I needed to do to take care of myself, maintain my modesty (which there was little left of after delivery a baby) and to look a little more composed than wearing a hospital gown. Mine also came with a matching swaddle and hat for our little guy. There are some sweet options for Mamas with girls as well! This is also a wonderful and easy outfit option to take newborn fresh 48 hour photos in! 
3.  An extra long phone charging cord. As a backup for myself, or hubby – because he always forgets something!
4.  Chapstick – you’re lips are super dry after delivering a baby, and you’re also incredibly thirsty. (Probably from all of the Lamaze breathing they teach you to do during labor). It sounds crazy, but trust me you’re going to need this one!
5.  Breastfeeding friendly pajamas // clothing. I found these shirts amazing! I lived in mine for the first 6 months after our little guy was born. If they had a summer/short sleeves version I’d probably buy all of those too! 
6. Nursing bras & nipple balm – get ready to spend the next year+ of your life in these nursing bras; especially if you’re planning on having multiple children! I loved these because they were super comfortable and easily accessible. Your hospital may or may not have nipple balm in stock. Trust me, you don’t want to be without this when you’re starting off.
7. Bring a cute swaddle and/or blanket for baby! These are great for taking newborn hospital photos. Also the hospital swaddles/blankets are very rigid and difficult to keep baby swaddled in. I HIGHLY recommend bringing your own if you want to get any sleep while in the hospital. Velcro swaddles are THE BEST, but jersey cotton elastic swaddles are great too!
8. A bringing baby home outfit! These are so cute! Long sleeves pants/shirts are great for any season to help keep baby warm and cozy. It was nice and warm in that womb they were in before!
9. A comfortable and loosely fitting going home outfit for mom! No, you can’t wear the hospital gown home! Ha ha! I recommend a sweat suit; something easy and loose to throw on! No matter your delivery method, you’re not going to want anything too restrictive, tight, or difficult to put on. ((Think: nothing where you need to do any excessive bending or pulling)).  
10. A shower kit. Birthing is messy, you’re going to want and need a shower after you’ve been cleared to do so by your nurse/doctor with some DECENT soap, shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste. ((I didn’t even realize I needed to be cleared to shower after giving birth to our son – so just an FYI to all my FTM’s out there!)) Bring your essentials along. Don’t forget a hair brush – most hospitals only carry combs.. yuck! Better pack a tooth brush too while you’re at it! 

I hope you found this list helpful! If you did and you would like a printable checklist of this list plus ALL of the other things that were on my hospital bag checklist, you can download my list here – completely free!

Did I forget a must have item? Leave me a comment below so we can build a running list to help out all the FTM’s out there! It’s true what they say – it takes a village! So let’s build a village. 

Looking for a Milwaukee Maternity and Newborn Photographer?

I’d love to work together and capture your motherhood journey – from pregnancy to newborn, and on! Let’s get in touch! 

Rachel Harmeling Photography is a maternity, newborn, baby & family photographer serving the greater Milwaukee area, including Kenosha, Madison, Oak Creek, Wauwatosa, Franklin, Sturtevant West Allis, Brookfield, New Berlin, White fish bay, and Milwaukee County.

Looking for an Edmonton Cake Smash Photographer? Check out my friend Nicole’s work!