Since (for the most part) we all know what we're having or are team green and have started actively shopping I thought we should have a discussion about the hospital bag! STM's what did you bring/forget/wish you would have had? FTM's have you read any good articles/spoken to anyone with good ideas about what to bring? I didn't see another post on this so forgive me if there is one! I will say DH made fun of me for bringing all of this but we didn't want or need anything. I bolded what i actually used and was thankful I had.
I brought:
4 pairs of PJ's (shorts bc I had hot flashes like crazy after birth and was told that would happen): 4 shorts, 1 pair pj pants, 4 flannel shirts (I BF and these were so comfy and easy), 4 nursing tanks, 2 pairs of socks (I hate wearing socks), flip flops (2 bc I wore some in the shower), and plenty of headbands and hair ties.
Shampoo/conditioner/body wash/loofah (I had an in room shower)
Chap stick
Phone chargers
Lotion
Clothes for DH
1 going home outfit for DD (we did a lot of skin to skin with blankets so we didn't dress her often)
Boppy
Snacks
Money for vending machine/cafe at the hospital
A book for me and one for DH
2-3 towels for my shower
Pillow from home
Blanket from home (I'm sentimental that way) and one for DH too (he never used it)
Tylenol and daily meds (including prenatal)
Nipple cream
Night time nursing bras (4)
Nipple pads (for leaking JIC)
Puzzle books (didn't use any of them)
Toothbrush and tooth paste (some for DH too)
Hair brush
Ziploc bags (for my rings or jewelry JIC I couldn't wear them)
I didn't bring this per se until the last day but I had DH go across the street and buy the nursing staff coffee and donuts.
This time I will bring (in addition):
Tablet/charger
I may make my own presents to give my nurses
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
Re: Hospital Bag
In the hospital I mostly wore nursing tanks and yoga pants. He did grab all of my basic hygiene needs but I think he forgot my brush, so that was fun. I'm going to pack lots of snacks for DH so he doesn't complain about "starving" this time.
I packed clothes for DD to come home in but she was so tiny that she was swimming in her newborn outfits. I had my mom buy her preemie onesies and wash them for us so she had something that fit her.
I'm going to pack my bag extra early this time, just in case. And definitely will pack chapstick. It was so dry!
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
-- travel sizes of toiletries for DH and me
-- cotton robes, nursing tanks, and maxi skirts/maternity leggings. I was warm at night, but the hospital bedding was scratchy so I was ultimately more comfortable in long pants.
-- flip flops
-- change of clothes and comfy pants for DH
-- a pillow for DH and for me from home with a bright pillow case (so they didn't get mixed with hospital bedding).
-- going home outfit for DS. We did lots of skin to skin too, so he was either swaddled or on me under a blanket most of the time.
-- snacks for DH
-- health info/birth preferences
-- hair ties
-- phone chargers, tablet, tablet charger
-- prenatals and DH's meds/vitamins
-- thank you gift for nurses (my mom brought this in for me on day 2)
As a FTM, I wish I would have brought my pump on day 1. DH brought it in later and the lactation consultant showed me the tricks and how to clean the parts best.
This time, I'm also packing some books to read with the baby and DS as well as a support postpartum binder for me. The hospital gave me a cheap one last time and it didn't fit well. If I get to vbac, I'll bring an exercise ball for labor. If I rcs, I'm bringing natural antinausea stuff so I hopefully won't have zofran making me and DS2 sleepy.
Not a hospital bag thing, but starting around 36 weeks, I started sitting on a puppy training pad in my car and on the couch in case my water broke. We got a waterproof pad for the mattress too. This time, I'll keep a diaper with me as well (my experience with water breaking was that a pad doesn't cut it at all...I soaked a small towel in the 10 minutes between home and the hospital). I also stashed a towel in my car.
I'm the less is more type. So I brought: pillows for me and DH, the boppy, going home outfit for DS, yoga pants and a loose top for myself, snacks, phone chargers, a mix cd and some toiletries. I stayed in the hospital gear until it was time to go home. DH went home a couple times anyway since we didn't board the dogs (it happened early at 3 am).
This time we can hopefully board the dogs but we now have DS so I don't know how we'll do that exactly. Hoping for a VBAC so I don't need 4 days in the hospital afterward.
-purell wipes (I like to wipe off bed rails and call bells)
-bar soap. I can't stand the liquid antibacterial stuff.
-Depends for post-delivery containment of body fluids! It's hard to keep a pad in place if you have a catheter from a c-section.
-camera
-contacts, glasses, solution
-bath towel
Mama to Three Girls:
Twins born March 2014 at 26 weeks due to preterm labor
and our 37weeker born May 9th, 2016!
For myself:
Travel size toiletries
My own tp (I can't do that hospital stuff)
3 pairs of sweats
4 t shirts
Nursing bra
Body pillow
Blanket
Camera/charger
Phone/charger
Wallet and all essentials in it (money, insurance cards ect)
Prenatals
For labor I also brought a couple books, but ended up needin a c section so I didn't bring anything like that the second time.
For dh:
He packed his own clothes idk what he brought lol
A magazine to read
Phone/charger
2 blankets
Pillow
For baby:
Outfit for hospital pics
3 size nb sleepers
1 size 0-3 sleeper
1 size 0-3 outfit
Baby blanket
Several baby mittens
Several socks
This time I'm planning to bring more clothes for myself, since *tmi* I'm a bleeder and a half and ended up back in the hospital gown calling my MIL to bring me some clothes so I could come home. I'm also considering bringing more 0-3 sleepers for baby. I used them alot with ds2 but it was December and very cold and naturally the heater in our room wasn't working. He wore the same sleeper for our whole stay. I'm also bringing our own baby book since our hospital no longer provides them. Plus I'm hoping to remember to do nurse gifts this time, because I forgot the other times and felt bad afterwards when I realized.
Edit to add: slippers or flip flops! Oh my lord, I had to put my actual shoes on with ds2 because I forgot them and it was December so I didn't just wear flip flops...was real shoes (and naturally I forgot extra socks as well) or barefoot because "we're remodeling and don't have anything on hand to give you". Ugh. Thanks guys. Post c section and knee high boots was not a good time.
FYI if you don't get a private room the showers are in the hallway (at NYU and most hospitals here) so I would pack with that in mind. Also DH went home the night before we were discharged to get the car seat.
For me:
Nursing pjs and robe
Slippers that you either don't mind throwing out or can wash later
Flip flops
Toiletries, towels and hair dryer
Lounge pants
Nursing tanks
Maternity leggings/this time I'll bring whatever is seasonally appropriate
Black boy shorts (black everything actually, much easier for the first few days when you're bleeding the most)
Phone chargers
Nipple cream (hospital did not supply at all, DH had to go buy some)
A new package of hair ties (they always go missing when you need one)
Treats for nurses
DH:
Lounge pants and tshirts
Socks
Sweatshirt
Camera and laptop
Small speakers to play music during labor (actually ended up being the most important thing he brought, the music was really helpful in keeping me calm)
Baby:
Going home outfit
Newborn onesies and socks
Cozy blanket/nice blanket for photos
Pacifier in case we decide to use (hospital doesn't provide)
Maybe a small gift for DS1 from DS2
Hospital bag:
Colace✔
Mints and sugar free hard candies✔
Baby book for foot prints!✔
Slippers✔
Flip flops for shower✔
Nursing bras✔ nursing pads✔
Chapstick✔
Hairbrush✔
Toothbrush/paste✔
Deodorant✔
Face wash/makeup remover✔
Makeup✔
Shampoo/conditioner✔
Contacts/glasses
Loofa✔
Headband/hair ties✔
Cell and charger✔
Camera/memory card✔
Video camera ✔
Bag for hubby✔
Extra pillows with colored pillow cases✔
Going home outfit-yoga pants, sandals
Leggings, sweater/cardigan✔
Bath towels✔
Body wash✔
Cheap hanes Underwear ✔
iPod
Rice sock✔
Lotion/essential oil
Snacks✔and coconut water (need to put in fridge or make a small cooler)
Boppy✔
Food!✔
Ziplock bag for all important documents
For baby:
Scratch mittens✔
Socks✔
Swaddle blanket✔
Car seat w/ snuggle me✔
Coming home outfit/ hat✔
Warm receiving blanket✔
-Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, loofah, towel
-hairbrush
-toothbrush and toothpaste
-deodorant
-Going home outfit for baby, the rest of the time baby can be in the hospital-provided shirts and diapers and just be cuddled up with mom and dad
-Postpartum binder! I'm not a c section momma, but a binder would have helped my abdominal and pelvic floor muscles so much!
-Pillows and blankets for me and hubby
-Phones and chargers
-iHome for music during labor
-birth ball
-chapstick
-healthy snacks for labor (midwife approved)
-birth and postpartum preferences for all
-swim top for laboring in water
-loose fitting tops and super soft camis for easy access nursing and skin to skin. I never got into nursing tanks and bras, I just push whatever I'm wearing to the side. Less fussy.
-super soft and stretchy sleeping bra only. No under wires or molded cups will grace my bag ever again.
-pj and yoga pants only, ***dark colors to hide any breakthrough bleeding
-lightweight cotton robe
-socks (don't like hospital socks)
-whatever shoes I wear into the hospital
-CPST installed car seat
I love the idea of buying coffee and donuts for nurses. Last time I made cupcakes while I was in labor. Nixing that. Simpler is better.
On standby at home:
-frozen colostrum in syringes in case we'd need to supplement for whatever reason.
-hair dryer
Don't bother worrying about:
-make up
-makeup remover
-hair straightener
-diapers
-clothes for baby beyond a going home outfit
-baby blankets
-baby book (I thought I'd ask the nurses to help me get dd's footprint in her baby book. No dice)
-pads
-panties
-cute clothes
-jewelery
-bras with any shape
-pump (use the hospital grade pump if you need to! Take your pump to a la Leche league before you have your baby to learn about how to use it)
-Boppy. Boppy and I didn't get along, but some women swear by theirs. Mine is staying home this time.
-dedicated camera for the birth (phones are better)
-books to pass the time
-crossword puzzles
-laptop
-anything meant to kill time. There's no time between people in and out of the room, baby care, self care, eating, and sleeping.
While we're at it, here's what is going to be waiting for us at home:
-a hot meal
-ice pads, aka padsicles
-colace
-prep h or comparable hemmy cream
-Epsom salts
-witch hazel
-lavender essential oil (to be combined with Epsom salts and witch hazel for postpartum sitz baths)
What I did pack and use:
Underwear
Nursing bra
Going home maxi dress/cardigan
Flip flops
Bathrobe (for walking around while in labor)
Toiletries (toothpaste, lotion, shampoo etc.)
iPad
phone charger
That was it, the hospital had or gave me everything else I needed!
What I packed and used -
underwear
2 nursing tank tops
a pair of shorts, and a pair of pajama pants
maxi dress to go home in/flip flops
bathrobe
slippers
toiletries
make-up (I was happy to have my concealer and mascara)
phone charger
outfit/blanket to take the baby home in
DH didn't bring anything; we live 20 minutes from the hospital and he went home each day to shower and change. I think he probably brought back a pair of pajama pants and a toothbrush for himself.
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
I would suggest packing before 36 weeks.
Basically, if you have the opportunity to only pack a few things, here is my bare-bones must have list:
-phone/charger
-wallet with insurance card and some cash
-black VERY comfy pants (high waisted, especially if a CS is a possibility)
-Nursing tanks (2-3)
-Light sweatshirt (depending on if you get chilly)
-Flip flops/slippers
-one NB and one 0-3 sleeper for baby
What I am thinking I need as a start...
For DH
For baby girl
About 36hrs later when I was stabilized, DH went home. I spoke with him on the phone and directed him to bring more clothes, toiletries, flip flops, a bath towel, chapstick, glasses, my laptop & book (I didn't use either one), and my calendar.
You really don't need much in the imperfect situation, but that being said, my bag is already packed in case I get admitted for labor or shortened cervix. It is just my basic toiletries, towel, flip flops, and 2 outfits. I am certainly hoping to repack my bag around 34-35weeks to include newborn items!
Mama to Three Girls:
Twins born March 2014 at 26 weeks due to preterm labor
and our 37weeker born May 9th, 2016!
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
Found this cool hack of how to do easy DIY nursing tanks! I will definitely make some! :-)
https://www.babybellykelli.com/diy-nursing-tankcami-in-under-10-mins/
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
ETA: Maybe loose boy short panties. You want something really loose that doesn't hit your incision.
Been married since 2009.
Unicornuate Uterus (yes I menstruate glitter)
Several MCs
DD born 2013 (our miracle "you can't have babies" baby!)
My recollection is that the most difficult thing after the c-s was repositioning in bed or getting up and out of bed. just don't try to do it too fast!
Some people swell around their ankles after a c-s due to more IV fluids, so keep those feet up when you can.
I will edit if I can think of anything else!
Mama to Three Girls:
Twins born March 2014 at 26 weeks due to preterm labor
and our 37weeker born May 9th, 2016!