hospital bag ( yes I know we've talked about it)

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rockyrollgirl

You all are making me feel lazy. I do not plan on getting my bag together until 35-36 weeks.

BeachM

Haha yeah, you're going to have to give me at least another month before I even think about it.

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lookame3639

I started mine when I started having contractions around 26 weeks. I have all of LO situated so I have a muslin swaddle blanket, an organic thick blanket, a 0-3 month going home outfit, a newborn picture outfit, a newborn going home outfit and a few spare onsies (I've heard of babies pooping all over their onsies/outfits so I thought I'd bring a few just in case) I'm debating putting a swaddle pod in the suitcase. I'll also have my nursing pillow and DS gift from LO (DS will bring his gift to the hospital when he visits)

me i have 2 pairs of underware, some soothing gel pads for my nips, and a nursing tank, I also have my toiletries such as facewash, deorderant, body wash ect (I'm still working on me)

i was also told at my hospital tour to have a labor bag that has my ipad and charger, camera charger, and a few snacks such as peanut butter snickers and go picnic lunches and a ball for back massage. This is also still a work in progress.

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rockyrollgirl

@weeklyplanner The hospital should give you everything you need. Anything else is just for your own comfort.
Example: I will be bringing my own nursing pillow this time.

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lookame3639

@weeklyplanner‌ the hospital does provide almost everything for the newborn (at least my hospital said they do) they'll provide the diapers and wipes, a blanket and a hat. The blanket stays with the hospital the hat can go home so the blankets I'm bringing are mainly because idk if it'll be hot or a little chilly and i sort of like her to get used to our stuff. The outfits are because right now I'm not sure if she'll fit into 0-3 months or newborn (this will likely change as I get more growth ultrasounds). I know i over pack but the hospital did say bring 2 bags...and you can never be to prepared.

lookame3639

Oh zoeygirl reminded me. I also have a slip of paper with my meds, doctors (specialist, OB, pediatrician and primary) and their phone numbers, my disease and paper clipped to it is my insurance card and ID. I'm also pre registered at my hospital so check in should be a breeze...nothing is worse thanbeing in labor breathing through a contraction and can't find your damn insurance card.

sarahg8r

weeklyplanner said:

lookame3639 said:

I started mine when I started having contractions around 26 weeks. I have all of LO situated so I have a muslin swaddle blanket, an organic thick blanket, a 0-3 month going home outfit, a newborn picture outfit, a newborn going home outfit and a few spare onsies (I've heard of babies pooping all over their onsies/outfits so I thought I'd bring a few just in case) I'm debating putting a swaddle pod in the suitcase. I'll also have my nursing pillow and DS gift from LO (DS will bring his gift to the hospital when he visits) me i have 2 pairs of underware, some soothing gel pads for my nips, and a nursing tank, I also have my toiletries such as facewash, deorderant, body wash ect (I'm still working on me) i was also told at my hospital tour to have a labor bag that has my ipad and charger, camera charger, and a few snacks such as peanut butter snickers and go picnic lunches and a ball for back massage. This is also still a work in progress.

Wow, you are bringing a lot of stuff for the baby.  Doesn't the hospital provide what the baby needs while you are there?  I'm trying to remember, but I think every time I've visited a new baby in the hospital they are in a blanket, white t shirt (I assume from the hospital) and a hat.  Maybe this a dumb FTM assumption?

During my childbirth class this weekend, we had a session on what to pack in your hospital bag. It was overwhelming all the items they suggested bringing. DH and I joked that we'd need to rent a U-Haul to get it all to the hospital! I definitely don't plan to pack as many items as we talked about.

Although they do provide a t-shirt, diapers, hat and blanket for LO, I will be brining my own as well. They said that it isn't necessary, but most moms do bring clothes for their babies while they're in the hospital. I went back and looked at some FB photos of friends who delivered there and sure enough, they all had their own clothes on. So now I'll be bringing a few sleepers in addition to the going home outfit. And I'll probably bring my own blanket as well, while I'm at it!

Rannndi

It's not too early for me to think about this!  Actually DH and I are packing the girls' diaper bag and our bag tonight.  After being in the hospital over the weekend, we didn't want to be unprepared again.

I, too, will pack personal things for the girls.  I totally get that the hospital provides things, but like @scarfbandit said, this is a special time.  Using the hospital things for the babies feels impersonal to me.  

Plus, I worked in a Children's Hospital and lost many patients in the same clothes that my girls would be wearing.  I know that seems extreme, but memories/flashbacks could damper the entire experience.

Plus our clothes are much cuter

MNdesigner

Something we did with our first and will probably do again is bring a couple (not white! we chose a brown one, haha) receiving blankets to use when the baby is born. Our hospital allowed us to have the baby first wrapped in our own, soft, washed receiving blanket instead of a hospital-issue one. I think we ended up going home with both, but it's a special memory every time I see that particular receiving blanket.

rstarrlemaitre

I have a running list that I add to whenever I think of an item, but I won't pack anything for at least 5 or 6 more weeks.

One word of warning: if you kept your maiden name, you might need to bring your marriage certificate! Just found out that our hospital will require this, since Baby and I will have different last names.

liz4paws

scarfbandit I'm like you, I want to make it extra special and I think I'll have fun planning what luxuries go in there!

 

calibroncosfan5968

rockyrollgirl said:

@weeklyplanner The hospital should give you everything you need. Anything else is just for your own comfort. Example: I will be bringing my own nursing pillow this time.

good call on the nursing pillow!  I will definitiely be brining mine this time...

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shaylagirl

rstarrlemaitre said:

I have a running list that I add to whenever I think of an item, but I won't pack anything for at least 5 or 6 more weeks.

One word of warning: if you kept your maiden name, you might need to bring your marriage certificate! Just found out that our hospital will require this, since Baby and I will have different last names.

Oh sonofa....hell.

I didn't think it would be THAT big of a deal since LO and I will have different last names.  I figure, look, that child came outta my cooch/belly, so it's OBVIOUSLY mine, and it'll have the same last name as the father, so OBVS we all belong together.

Ugh.  What a PITA.

I'll check when we do the tour of L&D later this month if I'll need to bring it (or a copy).

shevaCC

I like having a cute outfit, or maybe a few options for baby for pictures. The rest I'll probably worry about sometime in July...I tend to be a minimalist and DH packs like a boy scout (brings the kitchen sink...). So together we balance each other pretty well and usually have most of what we need.

liz4paws

Oh forgot to add, I'm bringing photos of my mom (she died of cancer in 2011) and of DH's dad (died of cancer in 2005.) I want to have them near the new baby because it's a reminder that they will be there in spirit, even if not in person.

mhbraymer

Only thing I need to remember is my steralaztion papers. My Dr said they sometimes loose them so I need to bring my copy as well.

Allison7

I haven't made my official list yet, but on the hospital tour last Saturday they suggested that you bring sheets and a pillow for DH to use when you get to the mom and baby wing. They have those chairs that turn into beds, but they don't provide linens for it and I am sure DH would appreciate having comfy ones from home anyway.

shutaff

I have started thinking about packing. I want to have it done by 30 weeks, especially since I am high risk and could go early. Here is my list: 

Me –

Cute gown 

Nursing pjs

Nursing tank & yoga pants

Going home maxi dress (x2 options)

Panties

Nursing bras

Socks

Slippers

Toiletry bag

Makeup bag

Hair dryer

Straightner

Brush

Hair ties

Camera

Cell phone charger

Laptop

Laptop Charger

Boppy

Snacks

Call list

Book or magazine

Pillow

 

Charlotte  -

Matching gown

Going home outfit (x2 options)

2 Sleepers

Hat/headband

Blanket

BeachM

Talk to me about flip flops because I'm having trouble remembering what I did last time.  I think I wore my Reefs but brought cheap rubber flips flops and then threw them away before we went home.  Is this what you're doing if you have flip flops on your list?  Throwing them away when you leave? 

DH stole the baby blanket DS was first swaddled in.  You're not supposed to, but now we have it and I seriously do not know what to do with it other than shove it in the closet and notice it every now and then. 

We brought 2 sleepers with us since we were there over Halloween and the going home outfit.  We'll bring outfits and the same going home outfit with us again.

Bonus, here's Finn on Halloween at 1 day old.  It was absolutely worth it to have outfits with us even though you can just use what the hospital provides:



ETA:  That is an Old Navy 0-3 month outfit on an 8lb baby.  This is why I had to buy NB clothes.  It works, but he was swimming in it.

BeachM

stoofewok said:

You ladies have come up with some great suggestions on what to pack. I'm going to get on it, since who knows when this baby will be here. I've already been in L&D once and I'm HR, so it's anyone's guess...

I have to say, though, the hospital suggested bringing an LED candle from home. H and I had a good laugh out of that. WTF is that supposed to do? It certainly won't calm me down or add any ambiance. How weird..

Hahaha, this was suggested in our childbirth class as well.  Let me say, at no point in time did I EVER wish we had a candle.  You're supposed to focus on the fake flame.  Good luck with that.....it helps about as much as holding that goddam ice cube in your hand to practice focusing on the pain of labor. 

opiedoll23

The one thing I definitely remember wishing I had last time was mints and/or gum. 

Also, FWIW, I also know that shaving was 100% out of the question (I had a csection and contorting my body in that way was in no way going to happen) so I got a maxi dress for going home this time.

Rosebean

rockyrollgirl said:

You all are making me feel lazy. I do not plan on getting my bag together until 35-36 weeks.

*** STUCK IN A BOX!!!***

I packed my bag less than 12 hours before my water broke. I was 37 weeks and I believed as a FTM that I would be 1-2 weeks overdue so I would have LOTS of time to pack it. In the end, I scrambled to pack DHs bag because he was working when I went into labor. I am glad mine was packed, but I will definitely pack it within the next few weeks. 

The best thing I did was pay $5 at Walmart for a bathroom travel pack with mini shampoos, soaps, deodorant, toothbrush/paste, shaver, etc. But I will definitely be adding New born clothes and blankets of my own. Their clothes are so bleach laden at the hospital that DS got a rash from them. I would rather avoid that this time around. 

shaylagirl

laurelcharles said:

receiving blanket (everyone signed it at baby shower with welcome messages!)

I LOVE this idea!!!!  That's a keepsake item too.  Super cute.