Ok I'll admit it. I'm a bit of a planner. And I love making lists. It's kind of my happy place. So when I was pregnant and my hormones were raging, I was pretty obsessed with planning what to bring to the hospital. I researched and asked around and then wrote up one heck of a list.

Because I have food allergies and am also admittedly a health nut, I was anxious about being stuck in a hospital for several days without home cooked meals. So I decided to do something about it.

Below is my gluten-free guide to labor and delivery hospital stays "checklist". I hope you find it helpful in planning your own stay. And if you have anything you'd like to add, please mention it in the comments below!

I also have a few additional pointers to help prepare for your special stay!

-Cait

A few tips...

Pack a few weeks in advance and leave your luggage by the door (or in the car). I left mine in my house because I wasn't sure which car I would be heading to the hospital in. Turned out to be a good plan because I ended up in my father's car....

And speaking of cars...you might want to have a plastic bucket, garbage bag, and towel at the ready for the car ride. My water broke while we were heading to the hospital in my Dad's car and I had to use a reusable shopping bag, the only thing available, as a towel (sorry, Dad!)

Make a homemade soup a few weeks in advance and freeze it in a microwaveable container. I made chicken soup with organic veggies from my garden. It was so delicious and tasted like home!

Bake and freeze some gluten-free muffins for a healthy breakfast option.

Print out copies of your "leaving the house" check list and have them somewhere visible in your home so that someone else can help if necessary. When you're having contractions and in full on labor, you won't want to be barking orders at anyone. This helps prevent that unnecessary stress.

Make sure you have a plan for a pet sitter of you have any pets. I left clear instructions for my parents for looking after our dog.

Hospital Stay Packing List

Purse:

• Driver's license, insurance card, hospital paperwork, wallet

• Copies of birth plan

• Camera & charger

• Cell Phone & charger

Suitcase:

• 1 bathrobe, slippers and 3 pairs of snuggle socks

• 4 pairs of underwear

• 1 nursing bra

• 2 open front sweater/sweatshirts

• Bath towel and flip flops

• Comfortable shoes and clothes for leaving

Shopping bag:

• Organic peanut butter

• Manuka honey

• Snack bars

• Organic, gluten-free oatmeal

• Organic soy or nut milk

• Cutlery, Pyrex bowls, paper plates

• Seventh Generation cleaning wipes

• Teeccino Dandelion tea bags or Mother's Milk tea (both are caffeine free & nursing friendly options)

Cooler:

• 1 bag of ice (they will have more at the hospital)

• Vitamins and probiotics

• Fresh organic fruit (apples and grapes keep well)

• Gluten-free bread

• Homemade soup (I made a chicken soup with organic veggies from my garden)

• Gluten-free muffins

• Hard boiled eggs

Toiletries:

• toothbrush and toothpaste

• floss

• lip balm

• skin cleanser

• deodorant

• hair brush and elastics

• body soap, shampoo & conditioner

• body lotion

• nipple cream

Baby bag:

• Baby clothes (3 newborn outfits)

• Diapers and diaper cream (I love Desert Essence diaper cream)

• 3 swaddle blankets

Car:

• Car seat pre-installed

• Bucket and towels for car ride in

#prenatal #hospitalpackinglist #healthypregnancy