Your lips can dry out quickly with all the deep breathing you will do in labor. Ask during your maternity hospital tour if they are available at your hospital.

NOTE: Some hospitals have birth balls and peanut balls for you to use. Just bring an air pump so your birth partner can inflate it if you didn’t come with it already inflated. A peanut ball is particularly great for women preparing to have an epidural. I think having a birth ball or peanut ball is a must in our hospital bag checklist. (If you hired a doula, she will probably bring this with her in her doula bag.) If you want to be massaged during your labor, I recommend bringing massage oil or lotion so your partner or doula can massage you. If you aren’t sure of your options, here’s more information about what to wear at a hospital birth. It will probably get a bit messy, so don’t bring anything too nice to wear in the hospital. If you end up needing a c-section, some doctors/anesthesiologists ask you to take your contacts out before surgery. If you wear contacts, you should bring your glasses along with you. Your birth plan (if you have one) and your insurance information. One bag is for labor, and another is for their recovery/postpartum room. Below I have different lists for the mom, dad/partner, and baby! Here is our hospital bag checklist-everything you’ll need at the hospital during labor, birth, and immediately postpartum.

Pregnancy hospital bag checklist