Chapstick, shower shoes, slippers that you will throw away after the visit, white noise machine cause it’s loud AF, snacks, long charger, your own pillow.

SHOWER SHOES!!!!! Coming home with a foot fungus was...less than ideal.

My essentials for the hospital:
-chapstick, lotion, a giant water bottle (my skin and mouth were so dry when I was in the hospital)
-hair brush and hair ties if you have long hair (my long hair turned into a knotted mess during labor/delivery)
-comfy pants, top, and undergarments (w nursing access if you’re nursing) for you and comfy going home outfit for baby
-your own pillow
-phone and charger

What the hospital provided (also essential items IMO but things you don’t have to bring w you):
-witch hazel, perineal spray, mesh underwear, giant maxi pads
-nipple cream, nursing pads
-diapers and diaper ointment
-baby hairbrush/comb, baby lotion/soap

peppermints

I am bringing my own onesies and blankets for baby (the ones provided were so scratchy). Off the top, also bringing perineal spray, my own post delivery support underwear, and the fridamom peri bottle. GW gives witch Hazel pads, the mesh underwear, huge pads, bed protection pads, and the peri bottle that squirts straight up. I only liked the witch Hazel pads they gave. Their toiletries are terrible, but I suppose they get the job done. Also bring shower shoes if you're going to take a shower. I didn't and used body wipes to freshen up until I was home.

Outside of postpartum care, I bring a rechargeable battery, my water bottle to keep water cold, a folder for the paperwork, Chapstick, and the expected items like something to wear home.

I don't know GW, but in case sheets are scratchy, I'd bring my own. Mine were intensely scratchy and tented in VA. it was awful. I sunk into the deep, deep mattress like a cocoon swaddle of itches hell

Thank you!

things i used: a rechargable 20,000 mAh power battery for USB, long USB changing cable for phone. (the outlets are all behind your hospital bed and mostly in use, much easier to just charge the phone off a battery that can be in/right next to your bed) nursing/delivery gown for after recovery, robe. shower shoes. personal water bottle/ soap/ toothbrush/ toothpaste/ mouthwash/ moisturizer/ coughdrops (hospital air is dry). depends (the mesh things didn't work for me at all 🤷🏻‍♀️) spare bag to take home supplies. (my ob made sure to impress upon me that thanks to covid everything left over in the room will be tossed, not reused for another patient. take the things home, you can always throw out later.) a take home outfit for bebe that worked with the carseat. miralax single dose packets. pens, paperwork packets for work/hospital. my advance directive/living will. if your spouse has a DSLR camera, bring it, you'll get much better pictures even than from the highest-end phone.

things i did not use: my kindle. one extra change of clothes. snacks.🤷🏻‍♀️the postpartum ward had a snack room and i had a lot of graham crackers and cheescake cups, and my spouse got me a lot of takeout since there are a bunch of good restaurants within walking distance. (room service actually got concerned that i hadn't ordered any food.)

GW will provide everything you need to take care of baby: swaddle blankets, caps, diapers, formula, flanges for the hospital pump, baby shampoo, tub, towels, washcloths.

oh, and bring a spare car key if you're driving. the valet misplaced ours when my spouse went home the first night to take care of the dogs. they sorted it out the next morning but fortunately i had another key. (also don't hand over the house keys along with the car key!)

on the list of things i wish i'd known: just how busy congested the parking/dropoff lane was at 0600. i had to traffic direct to even get us in the lane, and then a police officer decided to use it as a cut-through and was laying on his horn and saying "MPD! get out of the way!" as 9-months pregnant me was trying to get me and my bags out of the car. i barely refrained from flipping him off (i just threw up both hands) and hospital staff went over to his car and was like "i don't care who you are, cut it out."

Breastfriend pillow and sparkling water. Everything else is provided and totally fine.

What do you recommend including in your hospital bag? And for those who delivered at GW, what items did they provide you? TIA!