FTM question about Hospital Bag Packing.

TrueBeliever925 · June 2013

Lurker here... due in August, sorry if this is soooo overdone or annoying to any of you at this point.

Wondering if any of you ladies have advice on things you wish you DID or DIDN'T pack in your hospital bag.

Trying to prepare and figured you ladies were the most knowledgeable having just gone through it all.

Congratulations, by the way! :]

jedimindtrick · June 2013

I honestly didn't use anything in my bag except my toiletries, brush, toothbrush, chap stick. Stuff like that. And a nursing bra/tank. Everything else I took from slippers to robe to music to snacks stayed in the bag and was a waste of space. I was in labor 32 hours and didn't use any of that stuff, and stayed in the hospital 3 days and didn't use anything then either.

jayro10 · June 2013

I brought my own underwear and quickly realized it was pointless. The hospital will give you mesh panties that work so much better. I also brought my own pajamas but never changed out of the hospital gown. With people coming in to check you and all the mess down there, you won't want to ruin your own stuff.
Good luck!

TrueBeliever925 · June 2013

Thank you, ladies! :]

helenkayj · June 2013

NJAZgirl:
I honestly didn't use anything in my bag except my toiletries, brush, toothbrush, chap stick. Stuff like that. And a nursing bra/tank. Everything else I took from slippers to robe to music to snacks stayed in the bag and was a waste of space. I was in labor 32 hours and didn't use any of that stuff, and stayed in the hospital 3 days and didn't use anything then either.

This. I also used my own fuzzy socks. The hospital provided us with everything else I needed... oh except conditioner for my hair. They provided us with shampoo and soap but I could've used that (and I forgot to pack it myself)

jenb1205 · June 2013

I was induced so checked in Sunday and left Thursday. My biggest recommendation is to bring some good snacks and have people lined up to bring you food (I'd recommend veggies and other high fiber options) unless your hospital actually has good food.

I also loved that I brought my Boppy, a bathrobe that I could throw on over a nursing tank and comfy shorts for when people came to visit, flip flops for the shower, toiletries, chapstick!, ponytail holders, etc. I was in my L&D room for 19 hours and we had our iPod dock and music going pretty much the entire time. One of the best pieces of advice was to pack one bag for labor and another for your time in the post-partum rooms. I had all sorts of gadgets (massagers, rice sock, etc) for labor comfort measures that I never had any desire to use. I brought my own exercise ball and only used it for 20 minutes or so, unmedicated Pitocin labor was stupid painful no matter what I did and after I got the epi, none of that was necessary. I swear by having music though, although it took me a few weeks to be able to listen to my labor playlist without completely losing it. But it really helped me to feel calm, relaxed and ultimately progress.

I was in the hospital for what felt like ages so my MIL brought the baby book for us to work on and we actually did quite a bit of it while the baby was in the nursery for all of his newborn tests and screens.

And ditto PPs, just use the hospital underwear. It's awesome.

Kzhowell · June 2013

Toiletries, snacks, chapslick, nightgown and sleep nursing bras. I had DH also grab the boppy, it came in handy.

Edit for auto correct.

BabyChickpea · June 2013

Just had my 3rd about 3 weeks ago. I've had 3 uncomplicated vag deliveries and never had crazy amounts of bleeding so this is what worked for me. I never ruined any of my own things
3 tanks
3 pair yoga pants
2 hoodies
3 bras
going home outfit for me and baby
3 baby night gowns
2 cute blankets
Toiletries, hairdryer, makeup
Snacks Luna bars, powerade, homemade oatmeal choc chip cookies, Greek yogurt
Hand soap maybe strange but I can't handle the medical smelling hospital soap, packed this all 3 times
Pillow and boppy
Flip flops
Bluetooth speaker to stream pandora

Hope this helps!

wku2011 · June 2013

Bobby pins/headbands. I remembered the ponytail holders, but if you've got shorter hair like mine, those would've come in super handy. It did nothing but drive me nuts and while trying to recover after the c/s I just wanted it out of my face.

MOMama987 · June 2013

Sugar free hard candy. I couldn't eat/drink but they said hard candy was fine. Sugar free shouldn't make you thirsty like sugary candy could or so I read....

KLJ3 · June 2013

Something to consider: Depends Silhouttes. I hated the mesh underwear and mega pad and chill pad combination...it was too much and always felt on the verge of leaking. I was able to put the chill pad in the Depends and felt sooooo much more comfortable and secure, especially at night.

bowman958 · June 2013

I would recommend taking some snacks and your own pillows. I was in labor at the hospital starting at 5:30pm and delivered at 8:19pm and didn't get into our pp room until about 11pm so we completely missed dinner and the cafeteria was closed. We were SO glad for the snacks we had, even if it was just granola bars and suckers. H was glad he had his pillow on the pullout sleeper.

LaxMOM44 · June 2013

Granted I had a super fast labour but I didn't use anything I packed. Except the oatmeal and Gatorade. Everything else stayed in the bag. Oh and I had two sizes of outfits for LO ause she ended up barely fitting in the newborn stuff. GL

stephzrn · June 2013

I didn't use half of what I packed. Only change of clothes and toiletries, I did bring our baby book and had them put baby footprints in it for me.

April! · June 2013

My labor got really intense really fast so I didn't use most of what I brought for when I was in labor! The snacks, hard candies, hair ties, slippers, etc, etc, all stayed in my bag. All I used was my going home outfit, a robe to put on over my hospital gown when I walked to the patient kitchen for snacks or drinks, toiletries, and flip flops. And the baby's going home outfit. The pillows and Boppy stayed in the car. I was in the hospital for 48 hours after the birth, and I really liked having my iPad then. Our hospital has WiFi though.

Beachy730 · June 2013

We checked in Wednesday night and didn't leave until Monday. I thought I packed light and still didn't use half of what I packed. All I used were my own toiletries, towel and washcloth, a bath robe, the boppy, and a pillow from home. Then my clothes for going home. I also packed a lot for the baby and didn't use anything but his coming home outfit. I stayed in the gowns and hospital underwear the whole time because it was just easy and comfortable.

I underestimated the value of a bathrobe. I bought a thin one at Target for $15 and it was priceless to have there. My baby ended up in the special care nursery so it was a lot of back and forth from my room to the nursery, and the robe was perfect for the halls.

mlandwehr · June 2013

something most dont thing about that i used is a towel from home. the hospital ones are small and they clean poop up with them on other floors yucky

doctabroccoli · June 2013

I think my iPad and toiletries were the only things I used..... DD used a couple sleepers cause she kept busting out of the swaddle. I didn't even get to use any of my labor stuff cause I was transitioning by the time I was admitted, so I got the epi immediately.

kmcd23 · June 2013

I was grateful for my snacks (protein bars, lollipops, etc.), my chapstick, my own water bottle, and my EmergenC packs.

I ended up with a c-section, and once I could shower, I was so glad to have my own nursing nightgown.

I used my iPod, but never the speaker dock. I didn't touch the underwear or bras I brought with me. I did read on my kindle app on the iPhone so I was glad I had pre-loaded some books. I'm glad we had our good camera, but I wish I had been more specific about who should be taking pics, so there would have been more.

I didn't do my makeup, and haven't since. :-P

I was so glad for a brush, sweatyband style headband, ponytail holders, and chapstick.

I'm glad I brought my own pillows, but I did ruin one. I wouldn't take any that you are attached to. lol

mommatotwo2 · June 2013

mlandwehr:
something most dont thing about that i used is a towel from home. the hospital ones are small and they clean poop up with them on other floors yucky

I totally get what you are saying, but all of the linen in the hospital has been exposed to all kinds of nastiness including the sheets and blankets on the beds and it's all washed extremely well using industrial strength detergents and scalding hot water, so IMO it is not worth stressing over and I am a mega germaphobe,

OP I second what most everyone else said, pack light. I brought a change of clothes for going home for me and baby. A blanket for the carseat. I bought travel size toiletries because I don't care for the hospital stuff. I also bought some cheap flip flops that I used to walk around in which I didnt care about trashing after they got blood and amniotic fluid on them. Maybe a book to pass the time and definitely some snacks, I was really hungry!

ALP514 · June 2013

My mistake was not bringing enough pads for the post bleeding. My hospital only offered 4 and i needed alot more then that!

HZ2012 · June 2013

I didn't read through all the responses so I apologize if this was mentioned...
Phone charger is a must! That's really all I needed.

Schell2013 · June 2013

I didn't use much at all. I was glad I had, slippers, flip flops, sweat pants, a couple tank tops, granny panties, socks, a hoodie, hair brush, toiletries, water bottles, fruit snacks, granola bars, juice, and any other good snacks. I had a c sec so I was in a gown for 2 nights cause I had a cathader, so might not be your case. But pack enough bras and underwear for 3 days you never know if you get a c section you will be in the hospital longer than a vaginal birth.

Things I packed and never used, makeup, nursing pillow and laptop.

rpalen29 · June 2013

Definitely bring your boppy, it was a lifesaver when I started to BF. I also brought my preggle, because those hospital beds are so uncomfortable.

other things you should bring:

hair bands, toiletries, a pair of clothes, robe, snacks.

abstar24 · June 2013

Toiletries, going home outfit for you and LO, boppy (helps SO much with BFing) and snacks.

Good luck!

Lolalipsy · June 2013

NJAZgirl:
I honestly didn't use anything in my bag except my toiletries, brush, toothbrush, chap stick. Stuff like that. And a nursing bra/tank. Everything else I took from slippers to robe to music to snacks stayed in the bag and was a waste of space. I was in labor 32 hours and didn't use any of that stuff, and stayed in the hospital 3 days and didn't use anything then either.

Same. I did use the slippers though.

TundraGirl · June 2013

I used the list from TB and didn't use most of the things on it. Magazines, cards, little snacks, stuff to watch on my tablet, nightgown to labor in ... I didn't use any of that. I did love having my travel size shampoo, conditioner, etc. for the next days and my hair ties came in very handy. I also had my breast pump with me, which was very helpful because my little man started out in the NICU.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

ILoveSnacks · June 2013

Camera, toiletries, phone charger, snacks, flip flops, 2 of my own pillows in colorful pillowcases so I didn't confuse them with the hospital ones.

I was really glad to have my own clothes, because the hospital gowns kept falling off my shoulders and annoying me. I mostly wore DH's gigantic sweatpants so I could be in sweats for visitors but still accommodate the gigantic pads and mesh underwear.

I was too hot for socks or a robe.

single_mama1991 · June 2013

I used everything I packed. I only pack clothes, toiletries, and chargers for cameras/phones. For LO I just pack clothes and she used them as well. I always find that snacks and music and all that other stuff is pointless.

What was in my bag:

3 Yoga pants

3 T-shirts(regular didn't BF)

3 sports bras and socks

2 6pk of hanes dark underwear(I don't like the mesh ones)

1 pack of Always overnight pads(although I use theirs for the first day or so)

1 towel, toiletries, slippers.

Baby:

Car seat

2 Receiving blankets

3 outfits(diff sizes)

wjv · June 2013

Toiletries for sure (Soap, toothpaste, brush, face cream, chap stick). I also brought comfy yoga pants, a nursing bra, and some t-shirts. I spent the first day in my gown and then changed the next day. For me it felt so good to put clothes on and to not struggle with that gown! One thing that I wished for the last time, yet didn't get this time either, was a comfy night shirt that opened in the front (to nurse) that way I wouldn't be so uncomfortable in trying to keep the gown on, but nurses could still check me.

TrueBeliever925 · June 2013

You ladies are amazing! Thank you so much for your responses. I'll definitely take a lot of these posts into consideration. You guys are so helpful!

Congratulations to everyone :]

zola2010 · June 2013

I packed a huge bag, with everything from the "take with you to the hospital list". Had a scheduled c section... I stayed in hospital gowns and mesh underwear for two days... no bra ( so much easier for me learning to nurse). I was thankful for my chapstick, i pad, toothbrush and paste, hair brush and hair ties, slippers, robe, and nursing night gown and my go home outfit ( and babies of course)!

FTM question about Hospital Bag Packing.

Re: FTM question about Hospital Bag Packing.

Choose Another Board

Search Boards