I Ordered a Fully-Stocked Hospital Bag at 38 Weeks Pregnant (And It Was Life-Changing)

• Value: 16/20
• Functionality: 19/20
• Quality: 19/20
• Aesthetics: 20/20
• Longevity: 18/20

TOTAL: 92/100

My due date was fast approaching, and I still hadn’t packed my hospital bag. Not because I didn’t know what to pack (this was my second kid, so I had a good idea of which items I would actually need), but because, well, I was lazy, exhausted and overwhelmed.

Between weekly doctor’s appointments, sorting through baby clothes and chasing after a rambunctious toddler, I simply couldn’t muster the energy to get my labor and postpartum  essentials together. Enter: Baby Boldy.

This genius company knows that pregnant ladies already have enough on their to-do lists, so they’ve crossed one item off for you by delivering fully-packed and customizable hospital bags straight to your doorstep—meaning all you have to do is grab and go when the time comes.

Baby Boldly offers three different packed hospital bags to choose from: The Minimalist ($139), Happy Medium ($189) and Fully Prepared ($229). Each option comes in an easy-to-clean and surprisingly chic weekender bag that doubles as a diaper bag or back-to-work pumping bag after delivery. As such, each bag features exactly what you need from such a workhorse—multiple interior pockets, bottle sleeves, a wet-dry zippered pocket and a matching changing pad.

But enough about the bag—let’s talk about what’s inside. I opted for the Fully Prepared option (since I felt anything but!) and it did not disappoint. Inside was a waterproof toiletry bag, complete with travel-sized shower products (my husband was obsessed with the verbena shampoo), aluminum-free deodorant, a bamboo toothbrush and toothpaste, a hairbrush and hair ties, lip balm (why is the air so dry in hospitals?), face wipes and extras like cotton balls, cotton swabs and a shower cap. Oh, and dry shampoo, a bath towel, shower flip flops and a maternity bathrobe. If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is!

OK, but those are all the nice-to-haves. What about the essentials? Baby Boldly has you covered there too with maxi pads, nursing pads, nipple balm and grippy socks. Truly, these guys think of everything (a reusable water bottle and a universal portable phone charger are also included).

I also loved the informational cards (like a checklist for your partner) and words of affirmation that were included. But even if that’s not quite your bag (pun intended), you’ll be grateful for the clear plastic folder these papers come in—it’s the perfect vessel to transport your birth plan (if you have one) and other important documents to the hospital.

Did I use every item in the bag? Honestly, no. The honey sticks are still sitting in my pantry and things progressed so quickly at the hospital that I didn’t have time to use the massage ball (and to be honest, I’m not sure I would have wanted to anyway). Nor did I make use of the thank-you cards, although I did use the pen to fill out paperwork. And I did have to add a few items of my own to the bag, like sweatpants, my moisturizer and a couple of granola bars. But on the whole, I was pleasantly surprised at how useful the items included in the bag ended up being—both during my hospital stay and after.

The Baby Badly bag is convenient, chic and comprehensive, but there are some cons, the most obvious one being the price. The Fully Prepared bag will set you back $229 and even the Minimalist is $139. So yeah, it’s not exactly cheap. We do have some good news on that front, however—you can save 10 percent on your purchase with the code: PUREWOW. Another downside is that—while convenient—the travel-sized toiletries aren’t exactly good for the environment. And while my skincare regime is pretty minimalist, for those who have multiple steps and products in their daily routine, you’ll want to repack the toiletries bag.

For this frazzled mom-to-be, the Baby Boldy hospital bag took a weight off my shoulders. Especially because all orders are shipped and fulfilled within 1 to 3 business days, so I was able to order my bag at 38 weeks pregnant and still get it in time for delivery (but don’t do that—be more organized than me!). It’s incredibly labor- and time-saving, but that convenience does come at a cost.

Do you need the Baby Boldy bag? No. Should you put it on your registry and strongly hint to friends and family that you’d like them to gift it to you? Absolutely.

The PureWow100 is a scale our editors use to vet new products and services, so you know what's worth the spend—and what's total hype. Learn more about our process here.