Prep for the big day!!

leelee1112

So, I know we have a while before it's July, but this is a 2 part question:

1. What are you packing in your bag to take to the hospital?
2. Anyone making a playlist for your L&D? So far I have Katy Perry's "Baby You're a Firework" for July baby & "Push It" by Salt 'n Pepper.

Mamamads

Haha push it by salt and pepper, that's hilarious. Ummm I can't remember all of what I packed last time but I remember, toiletries for hubs and I, suckers, gum, snacks, towels, iPod, essential oils that are calming like lavender, Massage oils, extra clothes and a comfy pj dress for labor and Delivery (the hospital gowns are the worst), headbands, magazines and movies of the hospital has DVD players

For baby: a few onesies, swaddle blankets, my favorite brand of diapers, wipes and baby soap (hospital usues low basic brand of both) burp cloths

That's all I can remember right now but I used every one of those things! I will totally make a play list again last time I made two: a hype pump up one and a calming meditative one (both came in handy but I enjoyed the calming one most)

valigrl21

You have a long while to prep these things, but to answer your question...

1.) I will pack as minimal as possible. My hospital is great about providing basics like diapers, wipes and blankets for baby. Also, this will be my third time going through labor. My first two were quick, so I am hoping this time around it will be quick too. Also when I get home, with a brand new baby, I will want to unpack as little as possible.

So off the top of my head:
contact stuff and glasses
toothbrush and paste
hair brush and pony tail
makeup
clothes for going home for myself
cell phone charger
going home outfit for baby
car seat for baby (will be installed in car)
snacks and change for snack machine

That's about it. But again, mine is a pretty minimalist list.

2.) I have a playlist still set up from my last labor, so I will just reuse it. But I prefer calming, soothing music. I have music by Sarah Evans, Lady Antabellum, Kutless, Darius Rutker, Nora Jones to list some of it.

TeresaWE

Definitely a while to go but here's what I packed:
Travel sized hair and body care for me and hubby
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Comfy yoga pants and a top to come home in
This time I might go for a nightgown, the nurses have to check your stitches and see if you're healing properly and the tugging down of my pants bothered me
With previous kids I wore yoga pants and nursing tanks
Camera
Outift for baby to come home in
Baby's brag book to document the experience and their stats
Snacks and hard candy
Hair band and elastics

2. Music was never my focus but I did play a lot of Florence + the Machine in labor with DD

foreverMorgan

1. Chapstick! I can't live without it. Nursing tanks and yoga pants, toothpaste, toothbrush & showering stuff, brush & hair ties, phone charger, camera, change for vending machines, magazines to read, outfit for baby. And I also have always gone home in what I came in, but I've had 3 inductions so I only wore the clothes long enough to show up.

2. I'm not into music. We watch TV & movies and play on our phones.

TeresaWE

Wear old socks or hospital socks. When my water broke with DS I sloshed from bed to bathroom and back. Same with DD.

foreverMorgan

Check with your hospital when you take your tour - ours supplies all diapers, wipes, pacis, creams & blankets. We get to take home everything but the blankets.

For me, they supplied all pads, sprays, creams, ointments & wipes. All the fun post-partum necessities.

MisSmartyPants

Gosh...Im a FTM and feel so lost!!

Mamamads

Yes I second the Chapstick and money for vending machines!! We also brought some energy drinks for dh because if he fell asleep I would have hurt him. Also some slippers, those floors are cold!

foreverMorgan

@Mamamads‌ - I use the slipper socks they give me. For some reason, hospitals skeeve me out and I want to throw away anything that touches most of the surfaces there.

CharlotteVol

I really didn't use much either time.  I packed a really small bag for the baby that was just a going home outfit (one NB and one 0-3 months) and a blanket.  The hospital will give you everything else for baby- and you'll want to bring all those extras home with you too

I brought stretchy pants to wear home, flip flops for the ick floors, and a robe to wear in the hospital for visitors.  I brought my Boppy the 2nd time and was really glad I did.  I brought my toiletry bag; it felt nice to take a shower with my familiar stuff.   Bring undies you're OK messing up.  The hospital will give you everything else you need for postpartum.  

I stayed only 24 hours both times so honestly- I didn't need much!  

Oh- and bring your pump if you're a FTM and you're breastfeeding.  The Lactation Consultant will teach you how to use it! 

Emeraldeyed315

I only stayed 24 hours last time and really only used hospital stuff. Def bring flip flops for the shower!

This seems super early and makes me want to hyperventilate thinking about it already haha. Eventually we should probably pin a post like this to the top. 

catahoulatte

Geeeez I can't even start thinking about this yet!

Last time, we brought-

PJs for me and MH, yoga pants and a loose tank for me to go home in, slippers, several pairs of socks (for me, because I can't stand bare feet) flip flops for the shower, basic toiletries and makeup, a comb and brush, hair ties, and I think that's it.

For DS we brought his diaper bag, mostly to stock up on stuff they give you at the hospital, and two outfits, in case he got one all gross I guess.

We also took playing cards and an ipod and various things to entertain us, but my labor progressed very quickly so we didn't get to do any of that, and DH had to go home to take care of the dogs periodically so he'd bring back whatever we wanted.

mrspark812

I think I over packed last time when my DD was born but we had to stay at the hospital an extra day because my water had been broken for 24 so it wasn't horrible. I don't remember everything but these I know for sure:
Me- robe, slippers, flip flops, toiletries, loose comfy clothes for during recovery (best thing ever was showering and putting on your own clothes fyi!) my nursing pillow, my normal pillow from home because I'm picky, oh and my snuggie :-)
DH- sleeping bag and pillow, several changes of clothes, snacks.
Baby- I put several cute outfits in her diaper bag for during our time at the hospital as well as for the trip home.

As for music we didn't make a playlist. Instead I planned on watching movies but was way too tired so once I got my epidural we all just went to sleep till it was show time.

Mamamads

foreverMorgan said:

@Mamamads‌ - I use the slipper socks they give me. For some reason, hospitals skeeve me out and I want to throw away anything that touches most of the surfaces there.

Haha I know I wash any and everything that's been to the hospital in bleach and hot water. They gave you slipper socks?! No fair

KatD2011

So much to take in right now!! My hospital gave me a list and they supply NOTHING. Bring you own diapers, blankets, hat, baby mittens, maxi pads, pillow etc.

I'll panic about this later lol.

I'll put music on my iPod but I probably won't use it