Erin Davison Photography is a Cleveland newborn photographer for busy moms who want an effortless, full-service portrait experience. Also offering maternity, family and baby photography, our studio is located in the heart of Cuyahoga Falls, just north of Akron. Service areas include but are not limited to Cleveland, Pepper Pike, Fairlawn, Canton, Chagrin Falls, Medina, and Akron. Erin offers a unique, serene experience including a pre-session consultation, exclusive access to the carefully curated Studio Wardrobe and cozy bright and airy studio space, an online viewing gallery to share with loved ones and download your included high-resolution digital files, in-person viewing and ordering sessions, and an array of family heirlooms such as beautiful albums, prints, custom framing and more to pass down to your children. If you are searching for the perfect maternity, newborn or family portrait photographer near Cleveland and are wanting MORE from your portrait experience, we can’t wait to hear from you and help create your own beautiful heirloom memories! 

I’m a mom of two, and I have given birth twice. I remember how overwhelming the process of trying to pack my hospital bag was while trying and think of everything I might need while at the same time trying to pack lightly…all while having little to zero idea of how my labor or birth might go. For my first birth, I had a 44 hour labor including 4 hours of pushing and an emergency c-section. My second birth was a VBAC that never came to fruition followed by a scheduled c-section. Needless to say, I’ve had first hand experience with many different aspects of labor and birth! Today I am happy to share my experience and tips with you, to hopefully alleviate some of that stress.

I actually suggest packing two bags; one smaller labor bag and a second larger recovery bag that you can leave in the car until after you’ve had your baby and been moved to your recovery room. While everyone will have their own different preferences and favorite items, I hope that you will find my list helpful while packing your own bag!

Want more information like this? We have an entire guide dedicated to new and expecting mamas, complete with the hospital bag packing list, baby registry must-have items, and so much more! View our New Mama Guide here.

Labor Bag

Chapstick

Birth ball

Comfy robe

Comfy socks

A tennis ball (to apply counter pressure on your back)

A picture of something or someone special (to use as a focus point)

Ample hair ties and bobby pins

Beverages to sip on (Gatorade or Powerade)

*Light snacks (protein bar, muffin, etc)

Snacks for your partner

Headphones

Phone charger

Recovery Bag

1-2 pairs maternity leggings (3-4 pairs for c-section stays)

2-3 comfy button front tops

2-3 sleep nursing bras or nursing tanks (no wires or cups!)

2-3 pairs comfy socks

3-4 pairs of granny panties UNLESS you go with the Depends!

Slippers

Newborn swaddle sack

Baby going home outfit

Car seat

1-2 rolls of toilet paper from home (sooo much more comfy than hospital TP)

Depends Silhouette diapers (laugh now, thank me later)

Yummy snacks!

Your own pillow

A pack of your favorite long or nighttime pads with wings

Camera and extra battery/memory card

Toothbrush and toothpaste (hers and his)

Basic travel size toiletries (like deodorant!)

Dry shampoo

**Abdominal binder

Gel soothies

Lansinoh Lanolin (this brand is the best!)

Breast pads (I preferred disposables)

Clothing: plan to still wear your maternity sizes. It’s totally normal to still have a 5-6ish month bump for awhile after giving birth.

The hospital will provide you with everything you NEED for your baby (diapers, wipes, formula and pacifier if you choose), but a swaddle pod can help your baby feel more secure on the outside after being tucked inside for the past 9 months. And a more secure feeling baby sleeps more 😉 You’ll also want to pack your baby’s going home outfit (choose something comfortable for the car ride, it’s their first ride after all) and you’ll need to show the hospital that you have an appropriate car seat before they’ll let you leave the hospital.

*I’m not a doctor or medical professional. Most will tell you clear liquids only during labor, due to the risk of aspiration should an emergency come up and you need placed under anesthesia. I was personally willing to take this small risk because I can’t run a marathon on an empty stomach, but this is something you should 100% discuss with your own medical team and make an informed decision.

** Most hospitals will provide you with an abdominal binder should you end up with an unexpected c-section. With my first birth, an emergency c-section after a looooooong active labor, the hospital never even mentioned these to me and I suffered in pain for weeks unnecessarily. I wasn’t willing to take any chances the second time around, so I made sure to buy one on amazon just in case. This hospital did provide me with one and it was amazing, so I did not use the amazon one until weeks later (because it was too small until then anyway, haha! Make sure you size up several sizes).

cleveland newborn photographer

We’re moms too, so we know your time is valuable and the idea of planning a portrait session for your family can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created a unique experience tailored towards busy mamas just like you! Between our curated, designer Studio Wardrobe, hair and makeup services in the comfort of your own home before your session, and heirloom artwork to pass down for generations, we’ve taken care of every last detail so that you can focus on what’s most important: making memories with your family.

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