Hospital Bag Thread

tosh24

I know a couple of us have December EDDs and others have already set c-section dates in December, which means that in 2 days we can officially say that our first January babies will be here next month!!!  I guess it's probably time to start discussing hospital bags!

What are some things you're including for you, baby, and SO in your bag? Any questions? Any advice/tips from the STM+ gang?

ETA: Since prepping for birth might then lead you to think about postpartum care, I thought I'd link our postpartum thread here: https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12734480/the-great-post-partum-care-thread

galactickates

Definitely flip flops!

Baby - I'll bring his coming home outfit and a blanket.

H - clothes,  drinks,  snacks,  phone charger

Me - same as H. Plus my flip flops.  I kind of don't want to bring to much in case it gets ruined.  

AlissaLee17

We are making sure to include preemie and newborn sized clothing in our bag this time. We were so not prepared for an early baby the first time around. I highly recommend having a few different sizes for your take home outfits, just in case. 

pttomato

Let me know if this is the wrong thread, but for anyone who had a preemie or baby in the NICU, is there anything you would recommend having that's different than the typical hospital bag?

jgil85

As someone who didn't have a hospital bag, I'd say definitely start packing some stuff now! Otherwise, you'll send your dh home to get you big underwear and he'll come back with swimsuit bottoms   

Mine is pretty much packed, with the exception of my makeup and a few nursing tanks I just ordered. I have flip flops and also slipper socks for my own comfort while walking around laboring. 

Definitely pack a few different sized outfits for lo, and an extra pair of socks because they're so darn small and can easily get misplaced. 

skilouise

pttomato said:

Let me know if this is the wrong thread, but for anyone who had a preemie or baby in the NICU, is there anything you would recommend having that's different than the typical hospital bag?

No personal experience, but a good friend's LO spent 4-5 months in NICU.  My friend said she went through tons of lotion and chapstick because the air in their NICU was so dry.  All the hand sanitizer really dried out their skin as well. 

Kabazaba

I have heard (midwife, doula, and hospital) that it's best to pack 2 bags - 1 for the delivery room (snacks, toiletries, change of clothes for SO, for you, robe if you're laboring in your own robe) and 1 for the hospital room you're in for a few days (including take home outfit in this bag). Trying to pair down the list for now and plan on packing the bag in the next few weeks (WHAT IS THIS LIFE I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ALMOST HAVE BABIES - or more babies, for you who already have 1+).

tosh24

Me

• Phone/Phone charger (extra-long charger)
• Chapstick
• Food/snacks
• Change for vending machine
• Water bottle
• Disposable max absorbency underwear (like Depends)/pads
• Nursing gown
• Robe
• Warm socks
• Cheap slippers to throw out once we leave the hospital
• Clothes for me to leave hospital in
• Hair elastics

• Toiletries (brush, soap, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, toothbrush/paste, deodorant, moisturizer)
• Cheap flip-flops for shower to throw out once we leave hospital
• nipple cream
• nursing bra
• nursing pads
• Tylenol
• Advil
• Colace (you may or may not need the meds. The first hospital I delivered at provided them but the second one didn’t so I’m packing them JIC)
• Bag for dirty stuff/clothes to be washed
• Camera (haven’t decided if I will use my camera or just my phone….)
• iPod and headphones for labour playlist? (this depends on what kind of labour I have…I laboured at home with music last time and delivered right away at hospital so didn’t need it, but we’ll see what happens this time)

Baby

• Sleepers
• Undershirts/onesies
• Car seat
• Car seat cover
• Blanket
• Going home outfit
• Socks (can also use these as scratch mittens)
• Hat
• Booties
• Diapers and wipes (hospital may or may not provide – ours didn’t)

DH

·         Change of clothes

·         Toothbrush/paste

·         Snacks

·         Phone

Don't know what happened to my bullets. Oh well.

pttomato

AshVA said:

pttomato said:

Let me know if this is the wrong thread, but for anyone who had a preemie or baby in the NICU, is there anything you would recommend having that's different than the typical hospital bag?

No personal experience, but a good friend's LO spent 4-5 months in NICU.  My friend said she went through tons of lotion and chapstick because the air in their NICU was so dry.  All the hand sanitizer really dried out their skin as well. 

That’s a good point. I would actually include these in a general hospital bag too. The air in the hospital is really dry.

mtengl

@tosh24 is it bad that I got excited when I read Advil?

leighbrek

Holy cow @tosh24 I'm totally printing your list!

How stupid am I that I didn't even think about baby's stuff? Oh lord, and I'm supposed to be becoming a mother...

DLpanda08

Thanks for the amazing list, @tosh24!

 I’m thinking of bringing my essential oil diffuser so I can have my eucalyptus mint blend going during labor. I asked at our childbirth class at the hospital last weekend and they are 100% okay with it. Maybe I’m crazy, but I think having a familiar relaxing smell might be helpful.

What kind of clothes do y’all plan to wear after delivery? I don’t want to spend a ton of money on stuff to wear at the hospital but I don’t want my clothes to cause problems feeding/healing/etc. STMs... which is better, yoga pants or a nightgown for recovery?

mrsmang

@DLpanda08 the only thing I would say about the oil, and I have no actual experience, is that I’ve been told be careful because if it’s a scent you use normally you will now forever associate it with labor, which isn’t totally pleasant depending on how it goes. Also, we were told in birth class that sometimes the smell you think you like will start to make you feel nauseous and if you put it on a cloth or some object instead of diffusing, then if that doesn’t happen it’s easier to get out of the room. Once you diffuse it you can’t get rid of it very quickly. 

tosh24

@leighbrekFull disclosure...I've been lurking the Nov/Dec hospital bag threads for a bit and am just keeping a running list of everything in my email lol! 

@mtengl GIVE ME ALL THE ADVIL. I can't wait!

joniandtoe

I had a NICU baby (not preemie but fever/shoulder injury and apnea episodes which all required extra monitoring). Because of this we were unable to room in or get nursing straight away and I had to start pumping in the hospital. They gave me one flange (the standard 24mm which was too small for me) and one bottle at a time- which meant 40 minutes of pumping every two hours (in addition to NICU visit time).
 You don't need to pack it with you, but  I would recommend, if you are planning to nurse, having a hands free pumping bra and your pump and flanges ready in case the need arises. 

bradleysmommy28

@pttomato here's my suggestion for NICU

- Button up preemie sleepers, if you use zipper ones you'll have to cut holes for monitor cords

- receiving type blankets.  We used ones that were donated to the NICU until bringing our own. Just something about having your own stuff on the baby makes it more homey (same as clothes, they have items that are donated but we preferred our own)

- hats (small/preemie) because their heads should stay covered 

- keep a sharpie in your purse to put your or baby's name on all the things in case it gets moved when you aren't there

- bag of snacks

- water bottle to keep you hydrated. They usually have a water cooler or fridge with water dispenser for moms to keep you hydrated 

- ask about hospital grade pump to keep in your NICU room so you aren't dragging one back and forth

- storage freezer bag to transport anything you pump at home to nicu after discharge 

- also ask for extra storage containers. They will likely keep you supplied with them and ID stickers to put on them.

- phone charger

- cash for vending and cafeteria 

- slippers or comfy shoes for you b/c you will be there for hours upon hours and its more comfy than normal shoes, esp if your feet are still swollen

.... that's all i can think of off top of my head but I'm sure there is more that will come to me.

ETA: mobile and half asleep = a bazillion spelling errors and mistakes so I had to fix them!

joniandtoe

Regarding clothes for mom, I would recommend one of those zip-front granny style robes and warm socks with grippy bottoms- not the most attractive getup,but it allows for easy nursing access and kangaroo care while also allowing you to zip up for guests/visitors. It also works comfort wise whether you deliver naturally or end up with surgery. And loose pants for the trip home. 

bradleysmommy28

I actually have my bag packed (former preemie mom anxiety???).  DH is responsible for his own stuff but here is my list and I'm having a c-sec so I'm expecting 3 days there...

- 3 nursing tanks and 3 pr pants (leggings/big sweats)
- robe
- 2 nursing night gowns
- lanolin
- phone charger
- cash
- toiletries (tooth brush, deodorant, hair brush, ponytail holders)
- flips
- nursing pads
- boppy
- 3 sleepers (no special coming home outfit, just a sleeper)
- swaddle/beanie set I plan to use for pics
- carseat with winter cover on it
- 2 receiving blankets incase hes small (old NICU/preemie trick)

bradleysmommy28

Oh, and onsies.  My hospital also provides diapers, wipes, formula if milk doesnt come in, all pumping supplies if needed, shampoo/conditioner/soap/toothpaste, pads, peri bottle, any meds (colace included) and a giant water bottle so I don't take that stuff.

CoastieGirl79

@bradleysmommy28 I was waiting for someone to list the phone charger. 

Toothbrush and toothpaste were big ones for me that I forgot. 

I also went to Walmart ahead of time and bought granny panties. If they got dirty, I trashed them.  I also wore them post-partun at home as the bleeding subsided. 

Glasses (if you take out your contacts) 

@DLpanda08 I stayed in the hospital gown until I could feel both legs and showered. After I showered, I put on yoga pants, a nursing bra and tank top, a long cardigan and flip flops. I had DS in July. This time around I'll modify for winter and make sure to bring Uggs to wear home. 

ersh1010

Thanks for all the great ideas everyone! I've been holding off on buying nursing bras or a hands free pumping bra expecting my boobs will have a growth spurt sometime soon.  Any advice on when that happens or if I should just buy them now and do I go a size up? 

luckymay2x

Double triple agree to Chapstick - the air is so dry.

Also, I had a weird thing in labor where I became super sensitive to smell during the peak of the contractions and I could not stand DH or the Doula's breath. Luckily I had Ricola cough drops and I made them suck on them so it smelled like mint and herbs. 

So pack all the things because you just don't know what you will need or want.

jgil85

@pttomato My ds was in the NICU and I really enjoyed having a journal so that I could write everything down: my thoughts, progress that ds made, bitching about the NICU doctor that I butted heads with... Also a hands-free pumping bra if you plan on breastfeeding. It seemed that everyone from the doctors to housekeeping wanted to come in while I was pumping and it was nice to be able to be hands-free, and also a cover so that people didn't have to see me pump.

beachmama14

Bring a cheapie pillow you can toss later. And even like a $10 target fleece blanket. I thought the hospital was always so cold and all they have for a blanket is basically sheets. Plus the pillows really sucked and I just could not get comfy with them. If you have to spend more than one night there, I needed a better blanket and pillow. Also suggest bringing your nursing pillow in. I know germs, but it’s really hard to get baby propped up just right with regular pillows and not a real nursing pillow (at least for me) it was also helpful to get positioning down with the LC in the hospital, rather than try to relearn at home with your own things. Bring some favorite snacks and your own preferred water bottle. The hunger and thirst was also so bad for me and I found myself wanting my own things instead of what the hospital had. 

All the chapstick and lotion. 

MrsDho11

Just dug up my list from last time, so here's what I have so far:

Stuff for Me/Baby

• Maternity Yoga Pants
• Maternity Tank Tops
• Nursing Bras
• Nursing Shirts
• Pajamas
• Breast Pads
• Nursing Pillow
• Snacks
• Outfits for baby (at least two)
• Shampoo/conditioner/soap
• Hairbrush
• Hair ties
• Deodorant
• Toothbrush/paste
• Phone Charger
• Portable Battery charger + charger for it
• Kindle and charger
• iPad
• Headphones
• Baby wrap
• Shower Sandals
• No skid fuzzy socks

Stuff for H

• Swimsuit
• Snacks
• Extra Clothes
• Cash
• Toothbrush
• Phone Charger

MrsDho11

Oh! And for pillows last time, I made sure to buy the brightest color of pillowcase I could find to put them on our pillows and make sure they didn't get mixed up with hospital linens!

sweetyjenj

there's some GREAT lists above! So I'll just share a few of my tips that I found useful. 

*I used hospital clothes and then my own comfy jersey robe to wear over the hospital gown. I loved how easily accessible it made my vagina (nurses need to check frequently) and SO easy for nursing/skin to skin. Skin to skin improves nursing, so my lactation consultant recommended doing it that way. 

*Brought a Bluetooth speaker for our phones

*bring an EMPTY bag to take home goodies from the hospital (receiving blanket, diapers, wipes, post partum goodies, etc)

*quality snacks for DH (and myself, since our hospital café takes 45min to respond to food orders)

hollye30

I way overpacked last time so I'm going to think very carefully about each item this time.  

For myself
I only used chapstick, water bottle, slippers, camera and phone/phone charger.    I decided to wait until I was home to shower and mostly used the hospital supplies for everything else. 

For baby we did use wipes and onesies and coming home outfit. But not.much else. 

wnn1992

ersh1010 said:

Thanks for all the great ideas everyone! I've been holding off on buying nursing bras or a hands free pumping bra expecting my boobs will have a growth spurt sometime soon.  Any advice on when that happens or if I should just buy them now and do I go a size up? 

Shoot!! I just bought 4 nursing bras and didn't even think to size up!!! 🤦🏼‍♀️

wnn1992

sweetyjenj said:

there's some GREAT lists above! So I'll just share a few of my tips that I found useful. 

*I used hospital clothes and then my own comfy jersey robe to wear over the hospital gown. I loved how easily accessible it made my vagina (nurses need to check frequently) and SO easy for nursing/skin to skin. Skin to skin improves nursing, so my lactation consultant recommended doing it that way. 

*Brought a Bluetooth speaker for our phones

*bring an EMPTY bag to take home goodies from the hospital (receiving blanket, diapers, wipes, post partum goodies, etc)

*quality snacks for DH (and myself, since our hospital café takes 45min to respond to food orders)

An empty bag!! So smart!!! 

galactickates

I'm definitely bringing toiletries and all that jazz, but I wanted to bring a robe and a pillow,  but does that mean I have to toss them after? That's kind of the consensus it seems. If I bring a nursing pillow... does that get tossed too? Do you just immediately wash it when you get home?

CoastieGirl79

@galactickates maybe consider trashing them? Or if not, you could buy an allergen protectant cover for your pillow, which zips up and then use two pillow cases so no ends are left uncovered. Wash everything in hot water when you get home.  

drabong88

@galactickates does your nursing pillow have a cover that you can buy? That way you can just toss that in the laundry at home. I would think the same for pillows just wash the pillow case at home. 

kaf1788

@ersh101 I was at a point where I absolutely needed new bras but was also worried about another growth spurt. I bought the simply sublime nursing bra from kindred bravely and its magical. Its stretchy and has no underwire so it should still fit if I grow a little more but it's also super supportive in my current state!

UnbreakableKimmySchmidt

I had nursing bras but did I wear them much the first few weeks? No. I wore the nursing camisoles from Target under a shirt or robe. Allowed easy access and accommodated milk coming in. Anyone else do this? 

MrsDho11

galactickates said:

I'm definitely bringing toiletries and all that jazz, but I wanted to bring a robe and a pillow,  but does that mean I have to toss them after? That's kind of the consensus it seems. If I bring a nursing pillow... does that get tossed too? Do you just immediately wash it when you get home?

Honestly it never crossed my mind to do so last time, and we didn’t. *shrug* Still have and use the pillows, in fact.

pttomato

UnbreakableKimmySchmidt said:

I had nursing bras but did I wear them much the first few weeks? No. I wore the nursing camisoles from Target under a shirt or robe. Allowed easy access and accommodated milk coming in. Anyone else do this? 

Yes, I really liked nursing camisoles. I also liked to wear them under a shirt later on so I could NIP and still feel covered.

galactickates

I think I will just suffer through without those comforts.   I don't even want to mess with bringing everything back in the house to wash after. I'm too cheap to just buy stuff for one day to toss.  

nononorman

I’ll probably be on the light side - other than my own pillow and blanket. I didn’t wear much clothes (just gimme that fresh gown) because they had to check my ass/vag like six times a day after birth and I wasn’t allowed to eat any of the snacks I brought. So a couple outfits for me and the babe, phone charger, Bluetooth speaker, and we’re good. We don’t live close to the hospital per se but it’s only 20-25 mins and last time DH went back home several times just to sleep or whatever - of the three nights I spent in the hospital he was only there for one of them... so he could bring me stuff including takeout food if I needed it (which I did NEED that Panda Express thankyouverymuch). 

Not nec a hosptial bag thing but dear god women buy some stool softeners to take ASAP after birth. They gave me a few in the hosptial and it was not enough. Fun fact you can’t OD on them. 

ladystout08

CoastieGirl79 said:

@DLpanda08 I stayed in the hospital gown until I could feel both legs and showered. After I showered, I put on yoga pants, a nursing bra and tank top, a long cardigan and flip flops. I had DS in July. This time around I'll modify for winter and make sure to bring Uggs to wear home. 

Same ^^^ except I skipped the nursing bra and just wore a nursing tank. 

kmvisioli

MrsDho11 said:

galactickates said:

I'm definitely bringing toiletries and all that jazz, but I wanted to bring a robe and a pillow,  but does that mean I have to toss them after? That's kind of the consensus it seems. If I bring a nursing pillow... does that get tossed too? Do you just immediately wash it when you get home?

Honestly it never crossed my mind to do so last time, and we didn’t. *shrug* Still have and use the pillows, in fact.

Same. I mean, with the “toss everything” idea wouldn’t you also be tossing all the clothes you brought or baby’s take-home outfit, etc? Wash them, yes, but throwing it out seems extreme to me unless they got super nasty.