Note: This has been updated to reflect what I actually used in the hospital out of my hospital bag! All updates can be found throughout this post in italics.
WAF family, I cannot believe I’m already writing my third trimester update!! It seems like just yesterday I was starting to share this incredible news, and now here we are patiently waiting to meet our little guy/girl. There are a lot of things I learned throughout this pregnancy, but my biggest take away has been that everyone has an opinion.
Initially, I would let other people make me feel BAD about certain decisions we had made (e.g., where we wanted to deliver, choosing to not find out gender, genetic testing, etc.), at this point I’ve learned that just because another mom somewhere else did it differently doesn’t make her way right, your way wrong, or vice versa. At the end of the day, do your own research, ask your providers questions, be your own advocate and make informed decisions with your spouse. Don’t let other people make you feel guilty for what you feel is right with regards to your pregnancy and raising your child.
If you missed my first two updates, check those out here and here. These updates include everything you want to know about insurance, baby classes, showers and freebies! Also, we have a separate post here for books to read and another post here all about what to register for (with discount codes!!)
Now, onto our update.
POST-PARTUM MUST HAVES
This is a combined list of things several of my trusted mommy resources have recommended. Obviously, I have not birthed this child yet, so I don’t have first hand experience of what I’ll need, but I will be coming back and updating this afterwards with honest truths about what I used and what wasn’t very helpful.
First thing I would recommend is getting a labor and delivery floor tour at the hospital you plan to deliver at (if you’re delivering at a hospital), this answered a LOT of questions I had about what they provide and will save me a lot of heartache when it comes to packing my bag and baby’s bag.
DO THIS. It was so nice to know where I was going, what to expect and not waste my time packing more things I didn’t need.
Most hospitals will provide you with mesh diapers for post-partum bleeding, however, I’ve heard they’re big, bulky and not the most comfortable when you’re trying to wear them under pants when you’re back at home. A WAF friend recommended these as a lighter, but still leak-proof option. In addition to these, I had several moms recommend “padcicles”…yes, you read that correctly. Again, most hospitals will have these for you and even send you home with a few, but from what I’ve heard, having your own freezer stash is a game changer for those first few weeks. I used this DIY post to make my own!
The recommended diapers above were a LIFESAVER and made me feel much more “human” when we came home with Carmen. I would recommend tossing a few in your hospital bag to wear home (they’re super absorbent, I didn’t have any issues with leaks wearing them)…however, stick to the hospital mesh undies and pads for the first 24ish hours. I liked the padcicles, but they only lasted what felt like a few minutes each time, so I was constantly wanting to replace it, which ended up deterring me from using those and sticking to the Dermoplast. More on the Dermoplast below.
This perineal spray was also recommended to ease the discomfort down there during post-delivery bathroom trips. Additionally, if the hospital doesn’t provide you with a little squirt bottle for that area, you can get one online to help rinse. I’ve also heard great things about this perineal balm for post-partum discomfort.
The Earth Mama spray was nice, but it was not heavy duty enough for my liking. Our hospital provided this spray and I loved it so much I had my husband order two more cans for home! PLEASE be sure to get the blue lid kind if you buy it, WAFs have said the red lid will cause you grief…not relief.
If your plan is to breastfeed, there were a number of things recommended to help. First thing most consistently recommended was lanolin nipple cream to help prevent or heal breastfeeding pain. There are a variety of brands, I have small little samples of the Medela version and plan to try a different nipple cream made by Motherlove. Stay tuned for what I like best!
Not a fan of lanolin, it was sticky and stained clothes, bras, etc. I LOVE the Motherlove balm, it’s more of a coconut oil texture and hasn’t stained anything. DEFINITELY use this more than you think you need to. It’s safe for baby so don’t be afraid to apply often.
Other things: these disposable nursing pads, nursing tanks (I purchased this one when it was on major sale and it’s SO soft/cozy, but I’ve also heard this one is another great option). You’ll also want a few nursing bras, I opted for more of the bralette and sports bra styles, because that’s what I prefer to wear generally speaking.
I would hold off buying a bunch of bras until AFTER your supply comes in. I went from a standard B cup, to a D cup and there are a handful of bras I bought that are NOT comfortable because of that. I ended up liking these bras best, not the most beautiful but trust me when I say, you will not care…comfort is key.
My recommendation is get one or two you can wear out and about and a couple that are comfortable enough to sleep in, because I’ve heard you’ll be SO grateful for both. For those planning to pump: go ahead and get yourself a handsfree pumping bra, they’re super affordable and I’ve heard they are a lifesaver when you’re tired of feeling attached to a pump nonstop.
I cannot imagine trying to pump without the handsfree option. the bras I linked above can also be used in a handsfree way for pumping. Another must have for breastfeeding is this bad boy, put it on whatever side you aren’t feeding (strap it into your nursing bra as if you were pumping because it’s not super stable without being held) and it will gather SO much more milk than you could predict…a great way to build a stash without much effort!
WHAT I’M PACKING FOR THE HOSPITAL
This gown. Recommended to me by another WAF and purchased for me by my parents (with a matching gown for baby), it will definitely be making the cut for the hospital because it’s comfortable, baggy and nursing friendly.
YES. Bringing this was great, not only did I appreciate having something other than the assless hospital gown to wear in the hospital, I still love wearing this thing at home, it makes those middle of the night feeds a little more bearable!
Comfy button-up PJ set. After delivery I’m not going to want to sit around in a hospital gown, so I’m bringing these to lounge in.
Didn’t wear these in the hospital at all, but have used them A LOT at home because of the functional buttons (again…you want something easy for those middle of the night feeds).
My going home outfit. The furthest thing from stylish you’ll ever see, but I don’t care because after labor I know the only thing on my mind will be comfort when it comes to dressing myself.
Don’t try to be a hero, wear something comfortable and be mindful you’ll likely still be in a diaper or you’ll have a sensitive cut from a C-section so pants might not be the best option.
Nursing bras. Going braless hasn’t really been a thing in this third trimester, so I’m anticipating that will remain the same post-delivery.
I didn’t wear a bra at all in the hospital until we went home. Our hospital had breastfeeding friendly gowns, with cool little fold over guys in the front, so wearing a bra seemed silly…just more things to unclip when baby is hungry.
Robe. I get cold easily, so I wanted to toss something that I could throw on easily, would provide some warmth but could leave behind if it gets really gross. The one I’m bringing I picked up at TJ Maxx a few years ago.
Definitely used this because it got chilly and when I wanted to go walk the hallways a little bit it was quick and easy to throw over my robe.
High waisted undies. I’ve heard a lot of moms say that going from what was a very stiff belly, to what is now a very loose area of skin is shocking and wearing belly bands or high waisted undies/leggings to help hold things in is a giant relief.
Didn’t use these, rocked my diapers instead.
Slippers with a hard/rubber bottom. I don’t even walk around my own house without my slippers on, but I’m not willing to risk ruining my nice UGG slippers at the hospital with all of the juices that will be flying around (dramatic…maybe a little, but I’ve heard some stories!) so I just grabbed an affordable pair off of Amazon that I won’t mind getting ruined or stained.
LOVED these, much more functional than socks…in my opinion.
Our hospital will provide almost everything baby will need in those first few days (i.e., diapers, formula if we need it, a little onesie/shirt for baby to hang in, swaddle/blanket, etc.). All I’m bringing is one cutie muslin blanket, a pacifier, a going home outfit for baby (in two different sizes…newborn + 0-3 month), little mittens, a baby nail file (from what I’ve heard hospitals won’t touch baby’s nails and sometimes they are surprisingly sharp), and a baby brush (we’re predicting this child will have a head full of hair because…genetics).
I’m definitely packing a bluetooth speaker. I’ve been working on a couple of playlists for labor/delivery, music has always been something that’s helped me relax or focus, so I know I’ll want the option to have it playing.
LOL didn’t use this at all…instead we watched March Madness until I no longer could focus on that.
My own pillow. I rarely travel without my own pillow anywhere, so this was a no-brainer for me…a small comfort from home. I am putting a pillowcase on it that I won’t care about getting ruined…again the flying juices.
GAME CHANGER. The hospital pillows were terrible, so I was very grateful to have this, especially with the pillow case I didn’t care about because who knows what got on that thing.
Snacks. Not eating or drinking during labor is going to be very hard for me, I swear I just get more hungry knowing I can’t have food. So, I’m definitely going to want some of my favorite snacks on deck for afterwards when we get the green light.
YUP. Thankfully my parents came to town the night of having Carm, so they could go get us food…but hospital food is just that, hospital food. You’ll want some snacks you love on hand to treat yo’ self after you worked your butt off. Trust me, those Goldfish I had packed NEVER tasted better than hours after delivery.
Handheld massager. Back pain is the enemy and the handheld massager my parents got me for Christmas is going to save my poor husband a lot of hand cramping during labor.
Didn’t use it.
Toiletries. This is along the same lines as the pillow, if I can have something that reminds me of the comforts of home, I’m going to bring it. Something about using the hospital shampoo after the most exhausting experience of my lifetime just doesn’t sound soothing. I’ve even heard moms recommend bringing your own soft towel from home because the scratchy hospital ones aren’t the best quality.
Would definitely recommend. You feel so gross afterwards, you’re going to want your own goodies when it comes time to shower and clean up!
GoPro and our nice Sony camera. Our goal is to try to get some footage to make a cute little video after the fact with hospital snippets. Annnnd if we can snag a few higher quality pictures of those first few days in the hospital. We’ll see if that actually happens!
Didn’t use either, we were really focused on being in the moment and snapped enough great pictures with our phones. If you’re the type that wants it all documented, hire someone, otherwise it’ll get lost in the midst of the chaos.
Cell phone chargers. We have these awesome portable chargers that we’ll be bringing, in addition to our standard wall plug-in iPhone chargers with extra long 6ft cords!
Lifesavers. Invest in these if you haven’t, so much easier than trying to find a plug-in and stretching the cord to your bed (even if it is a longer cord).
Oil diffuser. I’m a smell person, and if the hospital will allow me to, my plan is to diffuse some oils to help keep me relaxed and make the environment feel a little less “hospital-y”.
Didn’t use it.
We also have the car seat (left in the car until we’re ready to bring baby home), and a bag, pillow and blanket for my husband with all of his necessities. Some women recommend bringing makeup and hair care supplies. I’ll be tossing my hair brush, some dry shampoo and maybe mascara into my bag. I know myself well enough to know the last thing I’m going to want to do is take the time to do my hair and makeup post-delivery, BUT to each their own, if that’s your jam…bring the goodies sis!
I did use my hairbrush and dry shampoo, but I had broke out so bad after labor the last thing I wanted to do was cake on makeup and make it worse.
APPS TO DOWNLOAD
Tinybeans. After a WAF friend recommend this, I immediately sent it to family and got it started. Trust me when I say it’s a perfect app for military families because it let’s excited grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. feel included on baby’s day to day updates that we don’t want to blast all over social media. This also prevents you from having to text each, individual family member or friend with pictures of your pregnancy or the new baby! Plus, you can document milestones, upload videos, and share sweet little notes. So much easier than shared iPhone albums and group texts.
THIS APP IS EVERYTHING. Our families love getting daily updates and it’s kept me from annoying people on social media!
The Wonder Weeks. I’ve heard this app will answer the hundreds of questions you have in those early weeks of baby’s life, but aren’t necessarily worth a phone call to your doc. I will be trying it out and reporting back on how much I use it/like it!
So far, I haven’t really used this, mostly because we’re still a few weeks away from our first developmental milestone.
Ovia. I’ve been using this app my entire pregnancy to get updates on what is happening developmentally, countdown to our due date, look-up safe foods/medications and track all things appointment related. It’s so nice to have everything in one place!
Loved this for pregnancy!!
BabyConnect. This app will cost you $5 but it’s incredible. You can document dirty diapers, nursing time, pumping time and amount, sleep time, etc. all in one place. I never realized how much I would utilize something like this, but it’s nice to not have to remember times, I can just hop onto the app and see the last time I nursed so I know when to expect her to be hungry again. Also, you’ll need to know how many wet/poopy diapers your baby is having for the doctor…I definitely wasn’t able to remember that without help from this app.
MATERNITY PICTURES
I’m a picture person. I love having documented memories of special seasons of life, so of course this was a must-document time for me. Fortunately, I was able to use a local WAF who is incredible (thanks, Summer!) and snagged a great deal getting a maternity session AND newborn session for one bundled price. We made sure to schedule our maternity shoot around 30 weeks, so I would be bumpin’ but still mobile enough to get some great shots. The newborn session will be done in home, because I wanted something real, cozy (and EASY) within baby’s first 2-3 weeks of life outside the womb. One big tip I have is: get some shots that don’t include the bump, it’s a good chance to get updated professional pictures of you and your spouse sans bump, to cherish and share with baby when they’re all grown up!
CAR SEAT INSTALLATION
You’re going to want to get your car seat into your car around the same time you’re packing your hospital bags, because you’ll obviously need that bad boy ready to go when you get to bring your little cherub home!
Most hospitals will not let you leave with baby until they’ve seen the car seat you’re planning to take baby home in, for obvious safety reasons.
My husband and I did what we thought was a great job of installing our base and getting the car seat situated into my car, seriously you guys we were so proud of ourselves 😂 Thankfully, we had planned to take it by an inspection station to get looked at before game time, because neither of us have a clue what a correct car seat should look and feel like. The angel of a woman working at our local station taught me more in 10 minutes than I could’ve learned watching 80 YouTube videos and now I will rest MUCH easier knowing our little nugget is safely secured for car rides. I cannot stress this enough, after you install your baby’s car seat take it to a local inspection station and get it checked out! If you aren’t sure where to go, use this site to search for local stations near you.
That’s all I’ve got for you today. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE NEXT TIME I’M UPDATING YOU ALL I WILL HAVE A SWEET, SNUGGLY BABY IN MY ARMS! Thank you all so much for your constant outpouring of love and support during this pregnancy journey, it’s truly been a blast having this community to lean on.
That being said, I posted on our Instagram a few weeks ago about recognizing that we have some WAFs out there that may be struggling to start a family and it is not beyond me that posts like these might not be the best for them to see. Please please please take a minute out of your day to pray for and support these women. Fertility struggles can be so taboo and I want everyone in this community to know we operate in a safe zone where you can be honest with us on the good days, the bad days and every single day in between.
