What did/will you put in your bag..

cneiding

for the hospital that you were really glad to have?

I try to be pretty minimalist when I pack...after all its going to be only a couple days.

I always pack a few pairs of baby socks.  A newborn's feet always look so blue and it makes me think cold.  So I like to keep them covered.

I make sure I take some food too.  Hospital food is not super good and the portions are pretty small for a post birth mom!  I know some people have people bringing them in their fave restaurant foods etc...but I am stuck with hospital things.  Having some peanut M&M's  when you are up with a baby that won't stop breastfeeding at 2 a.m. is pretty awesome!!  Another thing I take is the little shelf stable containers of flavored coffee creamer.  The cafeteria coffee is nasty anyways..this helps disquise the taste a bit and I always like my coffee with flavored creamer...so I take some. 

jerseygirl227

What a great thread!

I have nothing to add, lol, but am interested in other people's responses.  Glad you mentioned the baby socks. I don't think I would have thought about that!

mattandlora

A few others, plus some personal recommendations to those already mentioned:

1. Food - Bring something to snack on immediately after delivery. You probably won't be able to eat or drink until delivery, and no one knows what time that will be or if the hospital cafeteria will even be open. Pack a variety, because you don't know what you'll want. Salty? Sweet? Fruit? No idea.
2. Baby - personal swaddle blanket, any outfits / hats / accessories you want in pictures. Don't forget clothes in 2 different sizes. Newborn size is usually around the 6-8lb mark. If you have big or small babies, they won't fit. Bring a going-home outfit.
3. Personal toiletries. The hospital will provide them, but you might not like the brand. If you're picky, bring your own. If they're not standard (contact lenses), bring your own.
4. Flip-flops or socks with tread. Hospital floors are creepy.
5. Layered clothing. I went from shivering to sweating through my sheets in minutes, and that was without a fever. It was just hormones and generalized crappiness.
6. loose-fitting shoes or slippers. My feet puffed up like the michelin man after delivery from all the fluids they gave me.
7. Reading material.
8. Personal medication. Does the hospital have it? Yes. But take me for example - I use a daily inhaler. I'd rather pack my own than pay for an entire new one to use for 2-3 days in the hospital. Once the hospital breaks it open, it's yours.
9. Electronics AND their chargers or spare batteries - camera, cell phone, computer, Kindle, etc.

NeonNoon

FTM here.  So, I probably have way too much stuff (feel free to laugh).  I'll be packing my bags this week or the next.

Labor bag:

Phone chargers, headband/hair ties, ID + insurance, birth plan plus reminders for DH, headphones, cell phone, journal (as baby book), plastic bags for throwing up en-route, nursing cover, spare battery for charging phones, snacks for DH and clear liquids for me if OB OKs skipping IV (thinking of coconut water and possibly bone broth).

Hospital bag:

Sleeping mask, toiletries, flip flops, bath robe, hairbrush/dryer/iron, change of clothes, clothes for LO (NB and 3 month size), warm and light blankets (hard to predict Spring weather), make-up (I don't think I can do without), nursing bras/pads/cream, Boba wrap, clothes & toiletries for DH (he's not planning on staying, but you never know with labor)

Leave in the car:

Nursing pillow, car seat, stocked diaper wallet

DH has promised to get me restaurant food if the hospital food doesn't cut it.  The hospital also has a couple of Starbucks.  Our hospital has these exclusive suites for $400 a night with a private chef who will cook up anything you like for 2 people, plus snacks for your guests.  I can't say we weren't tempted!

mattandlora

@neonnoon - The hospital will have nursing and diapering supplies, so you can skip those and swipe the leftovers on your way out (they don't reuse them once the package is opened). We never actually bought newborn diapers. By the time our hospital and baby shower supply ran out, DS was in size 1. The hospital will also have plenty of blankets for you. They even have little blanket-warming ovens.

A word of advice on clear liquids, based on mistakes I made the first time - stay AWAY from anything red. Like red Gatorade or Powerade or Jello. Because when you hit transition and suddenly puke a bunch of red liquid, everyone starts freaking out and scratching their heads because there might be blood in it, but no one knows. (Personally, I did that on purpose, because I puked a bunch of red Gatorade during a triathlon and decided that I will reserve that flavor for whenever I might puke. It is my go-to stomach flu drink too)

sidey1

This is SO far away for me but a good question. I'll def pack ALOT of underwear, a good comfy robe, some casual dresses to wear during the day, I bought some cute cheap ones from Target last time that were great for the frequent checks you get after delivery, I was happy I didn't have to pull pants down. Earplugs, Small sizes of my toiletries, flip flops for the bathroom and slippers, I ended up spending 10 days in the hospital with DS which was NOT planned, so I was really happy to have some of my own stuff with me. 

Doridoodles

Food!I have had 3 c-sections. And every time the screw up my diet and Keep me on liquid longer than I need and I am always starving.

KateLouise

I tend to pack very light. I plan to birth in the hospital and then transfer to the nearby birth centre where you and your husband can stay for two nights and get looked after (this is all free so a lovely luxury, although they only cater for the Mums and DH has to fend for himself for lunch and dinner)

So for the delivery I basically aim to arrive as late as possible and take in a set of clothes for baby, and for myself.

For birth centre, I agree with pp about lots of underwear, also a couple of different pairs of track pants that are soft and comfortable but you might leak all over.

Also snacks: muesli bars, fruit etc. for when it's the middle of the night and you're starving.

Obvious things: toiletries, medications, phone, camera, chargers.

I'll have to provide my own sanitary pads and clothing for baby, so I'll have to factor in that, but I know lots of places provide these things.

But I don't really need anything special, I just plan to chill out with baby and watch TV.

supersarah77

I'm a minimalist, too. I'm delivering at the same hospital as I did with DD so I know what they have and what to expect.

They have good food - a room service menu both during labor and postpartum. So, I'll probably only pack Gaterade this time instead of a full snack bag.

My own toiletries

Nursing nightgowns and robe

Phone and camera chargers

Going home outfit for baby (NB & 0-3 month)

Going home outfit for me (casual and loose-fitting)

Couple changes of clothes for DH (he plans to stay)

Present from baby to DD

That's it! We won't be there more than a couple days (hopefully) and really, we could walk in empty handed and be just fine.

GASuzuki

Oh man, six years ago with my DD I packed a bunch of stuff I never needed, like my own gown... I was so tired from labor, I never used it! This time I will pack my phone charger, phone, underwear, a nursing cover, my Nook, a couple of Kind bars, and toiletries. For baby, I'd probably just pack socks, mittens and a onesie. Maybe a little blanket?

BabyBliss76

Nursing gown and robe, slipper socks, going home clothes for me, pony tail holders, toiletries, chap stick, gum, hard candy, ( my mouth gets really dry in labor! Lol ) camera, snacks, change or small bills for vending machines.

Going home outfit for baby, blanket for when we leave.

mdogan29

Yes! I'm glad you started this post, I was thinking about posting as FTM, thanks everyone for sharing.  I'm going to start working on my list now.

topaz7777

This time...  Definitely a lot less stuff.  I will say that the bump has a pretty good hospital list.

I'm bringing:

My own pillow, robe, socks, earplugs.  (I didn't bring a robe the last time, and it's hard to excuse yourself to the bathroom in a hospital gown that is open in the back when you have visitors...)  Also keeps you warm.

Phone charger, phone, camera

Going home clothes for me and baby

Nursing stuff all in one bag so DH doesn't have to hunt for it all.  Nursing bra, Nursing shirt, nipple shield, soothies, nursing cover, nursing pads

Toiletries in one bag so they are all together

A few snacks and cash for the vending machine since no cafeteria seems to be open at 2am when one of us might be hungry

And I'm leaving the carseat in the car with a blanket for baby.

Sharon&Paul

topaz7777 said:

My own pillow, robe, socks, earplugs.  (I didn't bring a robe the last time, and it's hard to excuse yourself to the bathroom in a hospital gown that is open in the back when you have visitors...)  Also keeps you warm.

Our hospital always gave you two hospital gowns - one to wear in the front and one to wear in the back. This way you could walk the hallway in labor fully covered.

cneiding

I do bring a swaddle blanket to the hospital because i have long babies (sometimes over 22 inches) and those blankets in the hospital are just too short to swaddle an 11 lb baby that is 22 1/4 inches long!  plus my babies are active and wiggly...they would just break loose. 

The hospital will have liquids for you.  If you are allowed to have liquids during labor (i have been to different hospitals...one was any liquids you wanted and they kept you drinking like crazy...one was only water....one was only ice chips) they will supply you with whatever you want that they have. 

The hospital does give you diapers.  Everyone i have been to gives you a pack of newborn diapers.  You use what you need and take home the rest.  Its plenty for the hospital..plenty.  My babies were actually too large to fit in newborn diapers so they always have to call to the pediatric floor and get me a pack of diapers from there.  They have always ended up being size 2 which are large on my baby and have to be folded down at the top.  But the newborn size would not make it around and fasten so that always was better!