Hospital Advice

SWA80

I'm 32 weeks with twins, one is IUGR with intermittent cord flow. Dr just said they're going to go ahead and admit me until I deliver, hopefully around 34 weeks.

I went to pack a bag and realized I have no idea what to pack as I've never stayed overnight in the hospital before. Do I get to wear my own clothes, underwear, etc. or do I just wear a hospital gown the whole time? I had packed for delivery but a 2 week stay changes things.

Any other suggestions for things to bring? This caught me very off guard and I'm fteaking out a little.

Throw3ks

You can wear your own clothes if you want. Post delivery you will probably wear their gown and undies. Bring a pillow, comfy blanket, lotion, Chapstick, phone charger, laptop, books-or any sort of time waster, your fave snacks, comfy socks, flip flops, hair brush and other bathroom essentials (toothbrush/paste). Those are a few things I really liked having during my HBR. Goodluck! Keep us posted.

SWA80

Throw3ks said:

You can wear your own clothes if you want. Post delivery you will probably wear their gown and undies. Bring a pillow, comfy blanket, lotion, Chapstick, phone charger, laptop, books-or any sort of time waster, your fave snacks, comfy socks, flip flops, hair brush and other bathroom essentials (toothbrush/paste). Those are a few things I really liked having during my HBR. Goodluck! Keep us posted.

Thanks. It is so strange to think I won't be home until the babies are born.

bitsytripmom

Agree with throw on wearing your own clothes. Also, if you know it's going to be two weeks for sure, I really like having my own sheets, blanket, towels and pillows (grabbed decent quality twin sheets and blanket from target). Any less time than that may not be worth it, but I've already been in a week and a half and its been a lifesaver.

10-4LilBuddy

I actually like wearing the hospital gowns. I know that isn't popular, but when they monitor you, they put a lot of lotion and gel on your tummy. I'd rather get it on their gowns. Plus, I feel like my hubby has plenty to do without adding more laundry. I do wear my own undies though.

Other stuff - toiletries, slippers, earplugs (it is loud in the hospital), electronics and chargers. I also brought my favorite stuffed animal for company and snoogle pillow to help me sleep.

SWA80

Thanks for the advice, definitely sending my husband a list of things to bring tomorrow including earplugs! I don't see how I'll get any sleep here. My stupid bed makes noise all of the time like it is possessed.

hoping&praying2013

Ditto everything they said. My dh brought my babies scrapbook so I can work on it and pass the time too. A body pillow is a def must. And I wear the gowns mostly but some days I just need to be in my own clothes so I keep a few outfits here.

Throw3ks

@swa80
They may have given you an air loss prevention bed. I actually preferred their regular bed over it. The air loss one made wayyyyy to much noise for me.

SWA80

Throw- the thing moves every time I do. which in theory sounds okay but it is way overly sensitive and does it if I take a deep breath or for seemingly no reason. I'm going to beg them to let me turn it off tonight. I'd really prefer not to take the ambien they said I can have if I need. This HBR is going to be hard!

bitsytripmom

I wasn't sure about taking the ambien as my mom gets all the funky side effects from it - and I'm still working from the hospital and didn't want to be drugged out of my mind in the mornings... Surprisingly, I take the 5mg during my last monitoring ending at 1030, am out like a light except bathroom runs and then am up for 530 monitoring and hitting the day no problem. It works well for me to let me get good quality sleep during the nighttime and not get days and nights screwed up too badly. Just my experience - hope your bed stops being possessed!

Throw3ks

@swa80
I had a bed just like that. Hated it! I went to the regular bed!

10-4LilBuddy

Agreed! I had the air pressure bed and it drove me crazy.

GoodMouseBadMouse

Bring a portable fan! and here's a thing on sleeping in the hospital: https://atinyhappyfamily.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-ive-learned-so-far-sleeping.html

I agree about just wearing the hospital gowns. 

You're probably allowed LED tealights and aromatherapy stuff, if you'd rather not smell the hospital smell and be in the fluorescent lights all the time!

I agree about wearing the hospital gowns (gooey goop), but I liked having my own undies and, if necessary, my own pads (hospital pads don't have adhesive and are a big old awkward mess).

Good luck! xo

SarahCalvert

Definitely bring your own pillows!! I'm hopefully leaving the hospital today after a 5 day admission for pre-term labor and the plastic pillows suck! I have loved having my IPad, DVDs, slippers, my own clothes-sweat pants, t-shirts, tank tops, underwear etc., toiletry stuff. Good luck!!

SWA80

Thanks all, the plastic pillows DO suck and a fan is also a great suggestion. I have a feeling I am going to have a TON of stuff here by the end:)

Wally3

10-4LilBuddy said:

I actually like wearing the hospital gowns. I know that isn't popular, but when they monitor you, they put a lot of lotion and gel on your tummy. I'd rather get it on their gowns. Plus, I feel like my hubby has plenty to do without adding more laundry. I do wear my own undies though. Other stuff - toiletries, slippers, earplugs (it is loud in the hospital), electronics and chargers. I also brought my favorite stuffed animal for company and snoogle pillow to help me sleep.

I also like wearing hospital gowns and blankets.  The less I had to take home and wash the better.  I also got sticky and gross and liked just tossing the gown into the laundry bag and grabbing a new one whenever I felt like it.

GoodMouseBadMouse

I was only in the hospital for four days, and you should see how much stuff my husby ended up bringing! The nurses teased us, but who cares--better to be comfortable!