There are countless lists offering the ultimate guide to packing your hospital birth bag. We’ve even got one to share with you! There are many similarities across these lists, but we’re including five less common items that will make your labor and initial postpartum at the hospital more comfortable and ultimately more complete.

• Honey Sticks

Easy to consume and digest, honey is a natural form of high-potency energy. We don’t buy into the “no eating or drinking” thing during labor. We don’t recommend chowing down, either, making honey sticks the ideal energy boost when your body is working its hardest. One of the many benefits of providing your body with energy is its ability to reduce pain. So why not pack some honey sticks? Even your nurse can’t argue with that.

• Massage Ball

Epidural or not, your birth partner/assistant/doula/midwife can help reduce some of your discomfort during labor by gently rolling a massage ball on your back. It could be a tennis ball or racquetball. They’re inexpensive and it gives your birth partner/assistant a more tangible way to help you work through contractions. Many times they don’t know how to help you – this can relieve some of your discomfort and make them feel helpful.

• Thank You Cards

There will surely be someone during your labor and birth who you are grateful for. Practicing gratitude can improve our mood, ease pain and feel uplifting during times of uncertainty. Packing a handful of cards gives you the opportunity to write a short note of thanks to someone who helped you bring your baby into the world while you’re waiting to be discharged.

• Towel

If you didn’t know, hospital towels are hardly that. They’re unusually small (somewhere between a hand towel and a bath mat), white (easily bleached) and not at all soft. Packing a dark, soft, bath towel of your own will make your first shower more comfortable than relying on the hospital’s.

• Grippy Socks

Easier to pack than slippers, they’ll keep you steady if you’re pacing the floor through contractions, or walking to the bathroom after birth. Socks are also the best way to warm your body if you’re feeling chilled, which is likely to happen at some point during labor and certainly in an overly air conditioned hospital.

Packing the hospital bag can be a daunting task. We’ve resolved that by {recently} introducing our very first product line: “Belly & Bag” – the ultimate comprehensive pre-packed hospital birth bag. We’ve put the time into researching the best quality items for mommas-to-be so they don’t have to. We’ve taken the stress out of packing the bag for moms-to-be because we’ve packed it for her. In fact, we’ve packed three different tiers of bags for each type of momma…

• The Minimalist
• The Happy Medium
• The Fully Prepared

Each bag has a few more contents for added comfort, but all have the essentials with space for mom to simply add:

• her own going home outfit
• baby’s going home outfit,
• insurance card,
• photo ID, 
• current medications, 
• prenatal vitamins,
• copies of birth plan.

How’s your bag packing going so far? Would you add these five unconventional items to your bag?

Speaking of! Do you or a momma you know need a pre-packed hospital birth bag (AKA: “Belly & Bag”)? We thought so. Sign up to stay in the know! Our pre-sale is coming soon — ready for mommas birthing in September/October 2019. #babyboldly #bellyandbag

Today’s Bold Momma

Natalie is co-founder of Baby Boldly, wife to James and mom to Abigail (4 years) and Mabel (1 year). Her passion (alongside pizza and chocolate) is with new moms and dads, striving to empower them for improved birth and postpartum experiences and changing the way society relates to new moms’ and dads’ unique needs.