So I am in the home stretch and have begun trying to pack a hospital bag! I have been super calm throughout my whole pregnancy about everything but for some reason packing the hospital bag has got me STRESSED out! I'm a FTM and just want to know what all is actually needed. I have read a lot of articles and blogs about what to pack but thought I would ask everyone on here what they would say?! Help please
Re: Hospital Bag Must Haves?
Comfortable clothes, if you do gowns, make them long enough that you aren't flashing people when getting in and out of bed.
All necessary electronic chargers (don't forget the camera!).
Toiletries, and your own pads cause the ones at the hospital feel like diapers!
Lotion and Chapstick cause the air is very dry.
That's really all you will use. If you are in dire need of anything else, you could ask a relative to bring it!
And don't forget an outfit for baby's hospital pictures!
DS, May 2011
Honestly, I didn't need much more than what I'd normally pack for a night away.
Clean lounge clothes. My own toiletries. Chargers. I always bring book/kindle. Sitting there gets old fast.
A throw blanket because it was so cold.
Other than that the hospital had it. I sent H out for snacks/food. We weren't that far from a store and he needed air anyways.
Thank you all so much for the input!
I am just going to pack the necessities and if need be my husband or family can run out and get other things as needed since we live so close! Again I appreciate all the help!
Chapstick Chapstick Chapstick :-)
C 7.16.2008 | L 11.12.2010 | A 3.18.2013
I was really glad I had a robe - I could unsnap the hospital gown at the shoulder and pull it down to nurse but then cover up with my robe to stay warm and to be covered while people were in the room.
I would also recommend, unless you KNOW you are having a super tiny or super giant baby, one newborn outfit and one 0-3 months outfit for going home. DD was smaller than they'd predicted and all the outfits we brought just swallowed her.
I second the snacks for the room as well as vending machine money, depending on what the meal service is like at your hospital.
I remember the towels were incredibly tiny and scratchy (for showering), especially for my DH, so if you care about that you might want to bring your own, or just tough it out with their towels. I'm definitely a fan of letting the hospital be responsible for all laundry!
While I only took a small carry-on sized bag the first time, I felt like I way overpacked. I didn't even use the half the items in my bag last time. With this pergnancy I am planning on packing light. I am taking my toiletries and everything I need to feel human, an outfit to take the baby home in (I packed multiple outfits last time and ended up just using the adorable onesies the hospital provided), a pair of pj pants to lounge in since I hate hospital robes, and my camera. That it is. I found that I packed a lot of stuff the first time that the hospital supplies. I would highly reccommend talking to the doctor before hand to see what they provide. They gave us a pack of diapers and told us that they billed for the entire package so we should take the rest home. They also provided 4-5 onesies, baby wraps, a boppy pillow, and all the misc items needed for baby and myself.
Then we had you.
Now we are complete.
I've never heard of anyone saying to bring breast pump? I would say ask your doctor!
she'll need pads, she'll be bleeding as if she has her period.
Pipsqueak born 6/9/14
One piece of advice.. keep it to a minimum! I way over packed because I always do and it was more of a pain than if I slightly underpacked!
Like other posters have said, I didn't use any form of entertainment I brought except my phone. Labor and baby kept me pretty busy!
For me: my own shampoo, hair brush, hair ties, my bath robe, tank tops, socks, my own pillow, outfit for going home in, phone charger, camera, baby journal.
For DH: change of clothes, change for vending machine, snacks.
For baby: two outfits, baby wipes since they only provide cheesecloth to do diaper changes with and the Boopy pillow. They provide everything else for baby.
I bled heavily after having DS so I hung out in the hospital gown and used the mesh underwear. I used all of their post partum supplies they provided: dermo plast, peri bottle, tucks, pads, etc.
I will probably have two bags packed - one for the three of us in the hospital and another for DS when he stays with my parents.
DS #1 born January 2010. DS #2 due June 2014.