The Hospital Bag

estellegetty

My favorite things in the hospital were: sleep mask (the lights are always on and someone is always trying to get in your room to check on you. 

Ear plugs (see above) 

robe and slippers 
soft comfy blanket and pillow (hospital stuff is HORRIBLE) 
a few nursing friendly outfits 
and a cute COMFY maternty dress to wear home. We have a million pictures from that day and I’m so glad I brought a pretty dress that was also super relaxing to be in. I love those pictures! 

mytrueloves

With ODD I packed everything in separate bags. I put all my "must have for labor" items ( which admittedly was not much ) in my purse, packed a small duffel bag for myself, and a small diaper bag for her. The duffel bag and diaper bag stayed in the car until I transferred from labor to postpartum. 

In my purse I had:

Aloe infused socks

Chapstick

Phone charger and phone

ID and insurance card

Book of word searches and pens

Sample size bottle of Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo and soap which I tossed in just because and was thankful I had on hand because they got me in the shower literally right after ODD was born before I was even transferred to postpartum

In the duffel bag:

2 nightgowns 

1 outfit to go home in

Toothbrush / toothpaste / deodorant / hair brush / hair ties

A whole pack of granny panties which I didn't end up wearing cause I loved the mesh undies

Shoes

Camera and charger 

In the diaper bag:

2 newborn nightgowns

Take home outfit

Blanket

This time around I'm bringing pretty much the same things plus:

Nursing bras

Swim trunks for DF since our hospital has tubs for laboring

My own shampoo / conditioner / body wash

Diapers and wipes because the hospital may provide them but DF and I specifically wanted Eco friendly diapers and wipes for baby to use until she goes into cloth diapers after meconium is done passing

mytrueloves

For some reason I can't edit right now but I wanted to add:
the outfit I wore home was just a pair of stretchy sweatpants I wore as maternity pants for most of my pregnancy and an oversized t-shirt.
Also our friend who used to work in L&D said it's not necessary for partner to pack a bag for themselves since they'll be able to leave the hospital to get anything they might need. And that they'd have a chuckle over partners who brought their own bags of stuff to the delivery. 

cjx95

@mytrueloves that makes sense about partners bags, I'm still having him pack one and need be leave it in the car. His is more for the electronics and extras. I also dont plan on having him leave me, at all, ever.. lol these are our first, if I'm staying he's staying 

SweetSweetTooth

Agreed @mamabearcj my DH is not going anywhere either! Any food will be brought by others or delivered lol he is my husband and my coach so he doesn't get to leave at all. I will be worried about our dogs though  Family will take care of them or they will be boarded, not sure which yet. 

mytrueloves

I think he meant more along the lines of partners who packed like they were going on vacation lol. Like whole suitcases. But I don't think anyone is going to mind your DHs packing themselves pajamas, toiletries, and a change of clothes! That said, I think I could easily fit anything DF would need in the duffel bag with my stuff and that's what I'll do if I need to just to make everything easier.

knottieamusements

I’m planning to suggest to Guncle that he bring a change of clothes and maybe some toiletries  in case he gets gunked up.  But, obviously, our situation is different and I’m not expecting him to stay at the hospital after the birth.  

britvahok

I had to check into the hospital at 8am for my induction with DS2. As soon as we were checked in and talked to the nurses DH went to pick up Chick Fil A. I try and eat as soon as possible before the nurses cut me off. 

HoosOnFirst

Meanwhile my Dh didn’t think to pack anything at all. It was raining and his jeans got soaked and he begged the hospital for scrub pants. Lesson learned. We live an hour from the hospital so kinda annoying to go home for stuff. 

cjx95

My "after delivery for pictures" robe came in!! Picture to come

rabtaido1214

I wanna pack NOW! For some reason packing the hospital bag is very exciting. I do think I need to pack 2 though. My OB’s office and the hospital I’ll deliver at is right across the street from my work. In the off chance they would send me to L&D from a routine appointment I’ll wouldnt be able to go home for the bag. Work is 45 min - 1.5 hours from home. My DH also works in the city so if it all went down that way he’d probably come straight from work. The plan A will be to come from home, and I’ll keep a bag here ready to go. But how to choose what to pack in each bag! I need 2 of everything lol.

cjx95

@rabtaido1214 pack your bag and leave it in your car so you'll have it with you no matter what situation you may be in!

mommy2ane

@rabtaido1214 I just made sure to bring my bag with me for appointments since I was over an hour away. Now since you work near your hospital as well, I’d just keep the bag in the car. 

doula-mama

I also work near my midwives and hospital, and I never even thought about not being at home when labour started! At least home is only a half hour away (and DH works from home, so would be coming in from there, unless he was at the appointment with me)... So much to think about!

rabtaido1214

I take public transportation to work because parking at work costs an arm and a leg and you have to be on a wait list

cjx95

@rabtaido1214 do you have a desk you could leave a bag under??

rabtaido1214

@mamabearcj I do, so I think that’s my plan. And I’ll keep one ready to go at home. Now I just need to decide which to put my cute new robe in and hope that’s the one I grab on the way to the hospital! I have a feeling with being at a hospital in the city, traffic, tolls and what not my husband won’t be going back and forth to Home at all once we arrive at L&D.

hellopartyof5

@rabtaido1214 will your husband be driving to the hospital? I think I'd just pack my actual labor bag at work (which honestly shouldn't be much) and if your husband will be driving I'd put the cute robe and things in his car. Unless neither one of you will be driving, and then forget all of this Lol

sammierose464

I was thinking the same as @hellopartyof5. Put the MUST haves in both bags, but have the rest in a bag at home or in DH's car.

If I go into labor at work I'm screwed. lol I work an hour from my hospital.

pajamstagrams

Ok, am I being super naive? I have literally no concern about going in to labor at work. Figure I'll just drive home when contractions are starting to get more consistent and then leave from home once appropriate and contractions are closer and DH is home. I work about 20-45 min from my house, and live 25-60 min from the hospital (depending on traffic). I'd estimate work to hospital drive is about 45-60 min in traffic as well. Really need to figure out that last commute since I'm leaving work early to start birth classes next week!

sammierose464

I was wondering that too @jemmerjams. My coworker who's 38 says shes having contractions, right now about once every hour. She clearly is able to still work based on the fact that she's here. And they don't expect her to go until next week However, I'm worried about if I can drive once real labor starts.

britvahok

@jemmerjams I've never been concerned about going into labor at work. My job is about a 40 minute drive to my house. I would go home take a shower. Call DH because he works about 60-90 minutes away depending on traffic. I would then wait for contractions to become more intense before heading to the hospital. 

KFrob

As someone who was an idiot and didn't know I was in labor for real until I was suuuuuper uncomfortable and in tons of pain I panic about going into labor at work.  I waited too long last time to tell DH to leave work to come get me.  Waiting for him to drive home 30 mins and then the 20-30 min drive to the hospital felt like the longest hour of my life.  For some reason because of this I worry that it will happen at work this time (I was working at home the two weeks leading up to my due date at my old job)  I honestly can't imagine having to drive while feeling like that.  But, I know my experience was different from others.  I was uncomfortable, with back pain and contractions for close to two weeks before I delivered so I had a hard time knowing it was active labor until the pain was pretty bad.  

Edit grammar

pumpkinpancake

@jemmerjams I would be worried about going into labor at work, but I literally work at the hospital where I’m going to give birth so it would actually end up being pretty convenient for me haha. With DS, I went into labor unexpectedly at 36+6, after having no signs of it coming. My water broke at like 3am, and pretty much right from the start, my contractions were intense and only like 2-3 minutes apart. I definitely would not have wanted to drive myself anywhere at that point, but i think for most people it comes on a bit more gradually than my experience was. 

mommy2ane

@jemmerjams it stressed me out thinking about going into labor while at work when we were almost two hours away, then when we were an hour away from our hospital. But since we’re about 20-30 minutes from the hospital this time around, I’m not too concerned. I know if I end up in labor while at school, someone will be able to drive me there or I can wait for my dad or my husband to come get me if needed. I haven’t gone into labor naturally though so I’m nervous that I may miss the signs. 

pajamstagrams

Well maybe I'm in a delusional state then.  We are about to go through (ANOTHER) reorg at work in the next month or so, so either I get laid off, moved back to my old team, or I stay on my current team. Either way, my job description completely changes right before my maternity leave. Sooo...I'm completely out of f*cks to give right now, and I'm just winging everything. It's quite a change from my normal Type A personality where I make all the lists and plan the shit outta everything!!

cdepperschmidt

@jemmerjams I am on the same page as you. I wasn’t worried last time. This time, I’m not worried about going into labor and not having enough time, but we did have a teachers water break at work a few years ago. So there is always that.

nikimelon

I'm also concerned about going into labor at work. My commute should be around 30-35 minutes but can sometimes be over an hour with traffic. Luckily the hospital is only about 10 minutes from home. If I start getting any type of contractions at work my plan is to switch over to work from home immediately until baby comes. Still have nervous thoughts about water breaking while in a meeting or something though, hopefully that won't be the case!!!

sammierose464

I do not want my water to break at work...f that.

chopchop25

Hospital bag will be living in my car once the heat of summer is over. Just have to figure out how to pack the cooler quickly and last minute. Friend is on call for dog sitting.
Have a 25 min drive to hospital without traffic, so hopefully baby won't come before she's supposed to be induced!

zwink1

My hospital bag will end up in my car once we get closer. My OB is like a mile and a half up the road from work and my delivery hospital is only 4 miles away so if she sends me directly in from an appointment or I go into labor at work, I'm very close. If we leave from home, odds are good we'll take my car anyway. I haven't been worried about it because it's actually been my running joke that going into labor at work is way more convenient than going into labor at home. We live approx 45 minutes from the hospital.

nasalot188

I am also very afraid of going into labour at work. Last birth was a precipitous labour and if that happens again, there's no way I could operate a vehicle! Had my 28wk appt today and doc said baby's head is already SUPER low lol bring on the nerves! She thinks babe is coming early for sure.

rabtaido1214

I’m not freaking out about the possibility of going into labor at work yet, more just thinking that if I do that it won’t make sense for me to go home first (public transit) for an hour and a half and then back to the hospital where I’ll deliver, which is right across the street from my work.

nasalot188

@rabtaido1214 I kept my hospital bag in my car! the last couple weeks (except for snacks and drinks) just in case!

spartan4life

I'm in the same boat as @pumpkinpancake...I work at the hospital where I deliver. I will keep my bag in my car just in case because I do travel between hospitals sometimes and if I go in to labor at one of the other hospitals I will probably deliver there. DH works about a mile from our house which is only about 6 miles (20 minutes with lights/traffic) from my work/the hospital so if I forget something I think he could run home.

tlmill

I’m not working so I don’t have to worry about that, but I am scared that I’ll go into labor while DH is at work and my ILs are out of town (which is like all the time) and I’ll have to take DD and DS to the hospital with me and try to deal with them while laboring  

kiwi2628

@jemmerjams I am with you, I am not worried about going into labor at work. In fact, part of me thinks it would be kind of fun, but my work is like a second family. Someone (probably the HM) would drive me and my car home for me to get my stuff and they would call my husband and they would take me to the hospital if I felt the need to go right now. I would get a kick out of it...but I am clearly the odd one out, lol

rc-cola

Im more afraid of going into labor in court (I have a trial in late Sept) than at the office. Although court would be closer to the hospital. Work is about an hour away.

HoosOnFirst

rabtaido1214 said:

I’m not freaking out about the possibility of going into labor at work yet, more just thinking that if I do that it won’t make sense for me to go home first (public transit) for an hour and a half and then back to the hospital where I’ll deliver, which is right across the street from my work.

Same boat here. I live 45/50 minutes from my hospital but work like 10 minutes from it. If I go into labor at work, I won’t be going home first. Last time, my water broke 30 minutes before I would have been on my normal commuter train. My fellow riders lucked out that day.

ashin121

The only thing I would add is to either have alot of space in your bag or to just bring another empty duffle bag. Just pack light. There's alot of good lists above for light packing. The hospital provides alot for you and they let you take home alot of stuff like diapers , clothes, aquaphor, nose bulbs, diapers for you, hospital underwear for you, witch hazel pads, water squeeze bottles to squirt down there when you pee to help with the stinging when you pee etc. We took home alot of stuff. The nurse just said... Take anything lol.