Hospital Bag

smallbutmighty77

Starting the discussion as we said we wanted too, and @Kathryn0903 is responsible for a lot around here, I figured it would be cool if I got it going.

FTM- feel free to post what you are planning, questions, etc
STM and beyond- What you plan to pack, what you consider an absolute from prior times, what you didn't use at all. Also anything the hospital provided that you took home.

If you know you are having a c-section, maybe note that as well-since that tends to be a slightly longer stay.


Happy Packing!

Kathryn0903

Thanks for starting this. Here's my ideas so far:
- Any toiletries. I'll bring brush, hairdryer, soap/shampoo, disposable razor, toothbrush/toothpaste, lotions
- Lounge outfit and pajamas. Not going overboard with this since I spent my entire stay last time in the hospital gown
- Phone and charger
- Possibly tablet and ereader. Didn't bring last time, but my induction took 28 hours and I want to have entertainment
- outfit for newborn photos. We use the hospital photographer for newborn photos
- going home outfit for baby
- any snacks for DH. I can't eat during labor, but it's nice for him to have snacks. On the same thought, money for vending machines for him

Definitely take home anything you can from the hospital. We took diapers, wipes, formula, lotions, etc for baby. For me, took home lots of the mesh underwear, pads, the spray bottle for down there. I suggest having tucks pads at home, too.

smallbutmighty77

So I am a planned c section, with this being my 3rd c section I know how long I will be there etc.
-Toiletries: Lip balm!!, lotion, dry shampoo, hair ties, soap, toothbrush/paste, brush. 
-Clothing: I hate the hospital gowns and both times I ended up having to be in the NICU so I like clothing people can see me in. Loose lounge pants and tops (cute ones I feel good in), short easy on robe makes pumping with people around easier, socks and hard sole slippers. Easy grandma style underwear.  Belly Binder. Going home outfit-Loose and easy clothing. Pumping bra.
-Pillow w. easy identifiable case-hospital pillows suck. Also brought one for DH since he stayed overnight.
-Baby: a few swaddles/blankets, 2 zip up sleepers just in case one gets messy for going home (Kenzie spit up seconds after putting hers on-luckily we had an extra). Car seat and cover ready in the car.
-Snacks: For me and DH since we were there a few days. Easy dry snacks mainly. Big water bottle (swell or hydroflask) again, I was in the NICU and water had to be closed- no open pitchers like the delivery floor.
-Phones and chargers
-Small basket of snacks for the nurses (single bag crackers, chocolate) just as a thank you.

doraleigh35

I'll be having a CS and am also preparing for a possible NICU stay. My goal is to have my bag ready to go by 32w to be safe. I have a pretty lengthy list going on my phone and I try to buy something each time I go to the store (pads, toiletries, etc). Our hospital provides very little and last time I used almost everything in my hospital bag (we were in NICU).

My Bag
Toiletries- Chapstick (a must, your lips get so dry), shampoo/body wash, lotion, toothpaste/mouth wash, tooth brush, brush, hair ties & head band, makeup wipes, deodorant.
Clothing- Robe, nursing tank, comfortable/loose pants, nursing bra, nursing nightgown, grip socks, regular socks, slippers (I threw away after so get cheapies), granny panties, flip flops for shower, comfortable going home outfit
Extras- Charger, iPad, nipple cream, headphones, pads, depends, nursing cover, makeup bag, water bottle, hard candy, nightlight (loved this for MOTN), towel and wash cloth (I prefer my own), pillow and blanket (hospital ones sucked), nursing pillow (leave in car)

DH
Change of clothes, deodorant, headphones, water bottle, charger, pillow and blanket (leave in car until need), snacks

Baby
2 onesies, 2 sleepers, swaddle & hat (pictures), extra blanket, announcement sign (from Etsy), diapers and wipes (our hospital provides very little unless in NICU), burp cloths, carseat (leave in car)

*I watched alot of "what's in my hospital bag" videos on YouTube when I was having DD.

KFrob

@doraleigh35 ooooh good call with the towel!  The hospital ones are tiny and rough.  

mandarenee898

Me:
- Toiletry bag - I actually keep a toiletry bag for traveling (travel size shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, moisturizer, hair ties, travel perfume and a hair brush).
- Hair dryer & straightener & makeup bag (and yes, I used them before being discharged)
- Clothing: going home outfit, 2 pairs of leggings, 2 nursing tanks, nursing tee (short sleeve and long sleeve to put over my tank for some modesty), socks, flip flops - just plan on using the hospital mesh undies/pads until I'm home
-Extras: charge cord, prescriptions meds (still have to tell the nurse and they document it)
- Chapstick is a must! but make it so that it won't roll (either put a hair tie around it or use one that is a weird shape) - mine rolled off the side table a lot. 

NOT BRINGING: I labored in a cotton, nursing nightgown that I bought off Amazon and I'd bring that again - except I'm having a c-section so I just plan on wearing whatever the hospital wants me to for the c-section.

DH:
- Toiletry bag (I made him one with travel size stuff too: shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, toothpicks)
- Clothing: underwear, undershirts, t-shirts, pair of jeans, socks,and flip flops 
- Extras: charge cord (his is different than mine otherwise we'd share), prescription meds, cash for vending machines, gatorade, snacks

What I plan on for the babies:
Going home outfit for each baby + a knit blanket for each baby (if I finish little girl's on time) for the car seat.
For while we're in the hospital I'm bringing some swaddles and some of those long sleeve tees that button up on the side so we don't have to deal with onesies in the hospital with the umbilical cord stump. 

skc040512

I won’t write out my list because most ladies here already have that covered but let’s just emphasize the importance of chapstick and lotion. Hospitals have super dry air and my hands were chapped within the first 12 hours of being there with DD1. 

Things I didn’t need: magazines/books/computer. DH worked on the laptop for a bit, but even though I had a looooong induction with DD1, I had no desire to read - I basically tried to nap and flipped through the tv channels. I would bring an ereader just in case though!
more than 2 changes of clothes - I had a vaginal birth and was discharged 48 hours after both girls were born (a little longer with DD2 since she was born at night), but I basically wore pajama pants, a nursing bra and a robe the entire time I was in the hospital, and then real clothes for going home (maternity leggings and a tunic top). Obviously this will be a different story if you’re having a csection or a NICU stay.
my full makeup kit - I basically used tinted moisturizer, cream blush and some mascara to feel human.

Things I will bring: my own pillow (in a colored pillowcase), a soft blanket for me, one outfit for baby in NB and one in 0-3mo

ejoseph16

As a FTM, this list is SUPER helpful! Thanks, ladies! I never would have thought of chapstick... good call! 

krthouse

Has anyone given birth in a birthing centre? Did that change what you packed? I want to be somewhat prepared in case we get transferred to a hospital, but with midwives you go home 4 hours after birth barring complications (you still get postpartum checkups, just at home). I don't want yo pack so much as to be moving in, but not sure which parts of people's bags are just for labour vs. a longer postpartum stay.

literatureandink

This list is super helpful! I'm mostly going back and forth on the what to wear for myself category. When you actually labor, you're not getting all nasty and fluidy are you? That's just the pushing/delivery part? But the medical people need easy access to your vageen and your veins, right?

smallbutmighty77

@literatureandink I wore a hospital gown for labor (40hrs) before we needed a c section. It was just drs and nurses, so I didn't care about what I was wearing for that.

skc040512

@literatureandink I just labored in my hospital gown. Your water can break at any point (if it doesn’t at home), or the doctor may break it during labor to help you progress, so yeah you’ll get messy then. The hospital will make you change into *something* but it doesn’t have to be the hospital issued gown. You’ll be checked at least once an hour typically, so you want easy access, and if you’re induced, you will be hooked up to an IV And BP cuff and my have a fetal monitor strapped to your belly, so again, easy access is key. 

TL;DR - you will probably get messy at some point during labor (aka pre delivery). You don’t have to wear the hospital gown, but you won’t be wearing underwear, and I’d suggest ditching the bra too (especially if you’re hooked up to an IV because baby will try to nurse soon after birth and it gets in the way)

KFrob

@literatureandink I'd say the whole thing is pretty messy.  Between water breaking, bleeding, catheters... even my IV since the nurse messed it up and got blood everywhere.  In addition to what @skc040512 they'll need access to your back if you decide you want an epi.    

literatureandink

Looks like I'm getting a delivery gown then...lol

KFrob

At least for me, by the time I got to the hospital they could have told me I had to put on a garbage bag and I would have went with it haha

babybison

I brought a labor gown  (pretty pushers I think) and was glad did. I made me feel less hospital-ly.
I also liked a zip up sweatshirt and nursing tanks for after instead of a tieable gown. 
I wasn't approved to shower by the nurses in the beginning, so I used those body/face wipes.
Oh! And I brought those travel single use toothbrush things where you just add water? I spent so much time in labor without the ability or energy to get up to the bathroom, so being able to "brush" my teeth felt so nice.

Find out what your hospital policies are too. They may have banned something you wanted for your birth plan, or they may already have a ton of whatever you need. Our hospital doesn't let babies wear clothes other than the hospital provided ones, as a safety measure, so all the stuff we packed for LO was unnecessary. 

mandarenee898

@literatureandink this is the one I had, it was soft and comfy and they ran the epidural underneath it.  It was inexpensive so I assumed I'd throw it away after.  I ended up jacking it up above my hips most of labor as I was under the blankets on the bed. (Most of my laboring was overnight, started pushing in the morning.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E84WCO0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

coaster102516

This is my third time and I bring the bare minimum for both myself and baby. I overpacked with my first and so much stuff to haul in and out. 

for baby:
going home outfit
car seat 
*we did skin-to-skin the majority of our stay so baby only had diaper on until we left for home*

for me:
going home outfit (maternity leggings, t-shirt, nursing tank, cardigan and slippers)
phone charger
adult diapers (I prefer these over the mesh panties and pads for the first 1-2 weeks)
Boppy 
Makeup & hair items
face wash, face lotion, toothbrush/paste, deodorant 
Nipple cream & pads

*I was in the hospital gown until we left for home. I just had them bring me a new ones as needed

For dad:
blanket & pillow
change of clothes 
pajamas
toiletries 
phone charger

Take everything!!! I took all the baby supplies and postpartum supplies they had in the room. My favorite take homes were the hospital sized water bottle, witch hazel pads, peri bottle. 

krthouse

This is the list I was given by my midwives. Thought I'd share in case anything on here is something we might not have considered. I definitely would not have thought of something in case I need to be sick en route to the hospital. The highlights are what my midwife said are an absolute need, but really if we can have all of it that's helpful. OHIP card and hospital card are specific to here, but I would guess packing your insurance card/papers would be the equivalent in the States. 

literatureandink

Thanks for sharing @korthouse

edited to ask: @korthouse since you’re giving birth at a birth center, assuming all goes to plan, how long are you there for?

krthouse

@literatureandink If all goes well with both baby and myself we get discharged 4 hours after and my midwives continue my postpartum care in my home. This is the same for a natural hospital birth attended by midwives here. It's partially to help with postpartum bonding as well as to reduce exposure to potential infections/germs

fitzandgiggles

This will likely be my 3rd induction so I tend to pack stuff geared towards a long period of waiting as both of my inductions took 24+ hours from start to finish. 

I'm bringing the following:
- Snacks for me and DH
- Compression nursing tank and maternity pj pants.
- Change of clothes for DH
- 2 going home outfits for baby (accidents happen lol)
- Maxi dress for me to wear home because I hate pants lol
- My brush and dry shampoo and a big ol' scrunchie.
- Toothbrush/paste
- Breast pump and lanolin/nipple pads
- Phone chargers, tablet, and my kindle. 
- My pillow because hospital pillows suck.
- Deck of playing cards so I can wreck DH at many games of rummy.
- Both of our Nintendo Switches 
- Our old super 8 camera so we can get some post birth footage like we did with our first daughter.

kath1414

Can anyone recommend a cute, comfy tie robe to wear at the hospital and for post partum? I like the posh peanut ones but the shipping to Canada is just so expensive! 😩

literatureandink

@kath1414 I’m planning on getting a labor gown and robe from Latched Mama although I don’t know the delivery prices to Canada! 

fitzandgiggles

About the delivery gowns... speaking as someone who has done this 3 times so far; save your money! You'll most likely claw everything you're wearing off once contractions get real anyway. That pain makes it so anything touching your skin suuucks. I gave birth each time as naked as the babies I was delivering 🤣

babybison

Woah @fitzandgigglesI could never be naked! And I was so cold I wanted as many layers on as possible. Labor is weird 😂

literatureandink

I’m definitely very modest so having a labor gown ready to go makes me feel secure. That being said, I’ve never done this before so maybe I will take off all my clothes - in that case, I’ll have a cute nursing friendly gown for after! 😊

ejoseph16

@literatureandink I hear you on being modest. I’m super modest. That being said, when I had to go to labor & delivery in the beginning of January, I was anything but modest. MH was actually shocked, because the nurse was lifting up the hospital gown to put on the fetal monitors and I never even flinched. I even peed in front of her to do my urine sample. You’ll be surprised how much you just let go when it relates to baby! 

literatureandink

@ejoseph16 I hope so! That would make it so much easier!

ejoseph16

@literatureandink I definitely was worried about how modest I am up until that point. Lol. Now I’m relaxed about it going into giving birth, just because I know how fine I was with everything in early January. Lol. 

phinzlabyrinth

this is all some solid advice!!! i tend to overpack and as a FTM, no idea what i'll actually use. there's a local doula collective that handed out a checklist so I figured i'd loosely follow that. but, when did everyone start packing theirs? I just ordered a weekender bag off amazon for the occasion. 29 weeks today and I feel like it's too early, but have heard people suggest I start now!

Kathryn0903

@phinzlabyrinth I've started packing already. I had several hours of hospital monitoring at 32 weeks last time and was induced at 37 weeks, so I'm not expecting to go the full 40 weeks and want to be fully prepared.

skc040512

Team no modesty during labor over here 😂 with DD1, I honestly had no idea how exposed I was going to be but I was so ready to be done, I just didn’t care anymore. I ended up laboring in my gown most of the time (I had the chills - pretty standard side effect to IV meds but very unexpected), but by the time I delivered both kids, I was down to basically a nursing bra and a paper sheet to keep my legs warm.

As for packing...I think I packed at 35 weeks for DD1 and 38/39 weeks for DD2. Unless there is some reason to expect to go into labor early, you are pretty safe leaving it until much closer to your EDD. Obviously if you have something like pre-eclampsia, multiples or any other factor that can contribute to an early labor, you want to be ready to go earlier than that. Since I’m now a SAHM, I’m honestly probably not even going to pack...just have my bag pulled out with a checklist so I can grab things when I need to. I had to wait 7+ hours with both kids between going into labor and actually going to the hospital so I am in zero rush this time

krthouse

@phinzlabyrinth I've started slowly gathering things so we have them, but don't think I'll pack it all until 35/36 weeks. 36 weeks is my d day for when I want to have everything other than fresh snacks ready to pack by. I don't think I'll be super early, but I think I'll be less anxious knowing it's ready to go 

coaster102516

My modesty went out the window when I was pregnant with my first. I wore the gown they provided but that was it. If you plan to do immediate skin-to-skin after you deliver baby, your gown will basically be gone in order to place baby on your chest. And you’ll still be spread eagle to deliver placenta and for the doctors to make sure everything looks ok. I even had to be helped to the bathroom for the first few hours. 

I’m packing a little bit already. Things I have to wait on are mainly things for me that I currently use daily (makeup, clothes, etc.) or need to buy. 

sbalding88

Haven't started my hospital bag yet, but here's my list of what I am planning on bringing: 

For Me:
1. Toiletries - deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner (it's fragrance free and I love it so it'll make me feel better than using whatever they've got), my skin care products, face wipes, bare necessities of makeup just in case, my brush, chapstick, and my spray and scrunch hair product. 
2. Cell phone, headphones, and charger (hopefully gonna buy an extra long cord for it in case the outlets aren't convenient). 
3. Snacks for me and DH. 
4. My comfy robe to wear postpartum - I'll wear the hospital gown they give me for labor and delivery. 
5. 2 pairs of leggings, 2 nursing tanks, a loose comfy shirt, a couple pairs of socks, slippers, sneakers (for when I leave the hospital), flip-flops, and a nursing bra for afterwards - if it's a scheduled c-section, I might add an extra shirt or something because I know that I might stay longer than with a vaginal delivery. 
6. My pillow with a pillow case that isn't white (apparently it can get mixed up if it is) and is not the normal one I use in case it get something on it.  
7. Should I bring any nipple pads or cream with me? Thinking about bringing my breast pump to have lactation consultant help me with questions I have about using it. 
8. Water bottle
9. Thank you card for the nursing staff. 

For DH: 

1. Toiletries - deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, flip-flops for the shower.
2. Cell phone, headphones, and charger. Maybe his laptop if he wants to - though I doubt it. 
3. A couple books for him to read - the man never goes anywhere without a book. 
4. A pair of pajamas, a shirt or two to change into, and a couple pairs of boxers. 
5. His pillow and a big fleecy blanket. (We both love having it and it'll make us both feel a little more at home.) 
6. A couple small games we can play together if we feel like it. 

For baby: 

1. Her going home outfit (and a back-up). 
2. Her diaper bag to put the supplies we get from the hospital in.  
3. Her infant carrier in the car and already properly installed. 
4. The nice fleecy blanket my mom got her at Christmas because I love it so much. My sister brought hers when she had my niece in September. 

ejoseph16

I’m going to start getting my bag ready in the next few weeks, but I’m also being closely monitored with gestational hypertension and was told once we hit 37 weeks we will start considering inducing, so... 😔 it just feels so soon! 

coaster102516

@sbalding88 I will bring nipple cream and a few nipple pads Just in case but my milk didn’t come in until I was home after both my previous deliveries (both vaginal). 

I wouldn’t bring your pump. Are you close to the hospital? If you need to pump they will also have pumps on hand. 

babybison

@sbalding88 Bringing nipple cream can't hurt, and it's small. Our hospital recommended not bringing your pump because a) the pumps they have are better, and b) there are so many styles the LC's aren't familiar with them all. 

In the early days (3-5) you mostly have colostrum until your milk comes in. And baby only needs about an almond size of colostrum, so there's really nothing TO pump.

sbalding88

@coaster102516 @babybison Thanks for the information and experiences!! I think I'm just nervous because I have almost no idea how to use a breast pump, and I'm planning on using my Spectra S2 a lot once I go back to work. But perhaps if they show/explain the basic ideas, I'll be okay. I really want to breastfeed, but I feel a little overwhelmed by it at the same time. I'll bring some nipple cream and a few pads just in with my toiletries in case I do need them. 

KFrob

@sbalding88 the first couple of times pumping is a bit cumbersome, but you'll get the hang of it.  The biggest thing you might want to ask the LC is about the correct breast shield size.