What do you wish you would have had while in the hospital?

LifesGoodUnwed

I want to make sure my cousin is as comfortable as possible while laboring and in the hospital.  She will be going in Monday night so they can start to soften her cervix, and then start the pitocin Tuesday morning.  Right now a vaginal delivery is planned, but we know plans can change on a dime in this situation!

So, anything that you were happy to have with you?  Anything you wish you would have had?  

Thanks!

LifesGoodUnwed

Thanks!  I'll pack a few snacks.  She's definitely not overpacking, she has like an empty back with some slippers in it!  hah!

MoMandA

I really wish that I had brought cherry lifesavers. I was on Pitocin all day before having a section. They were not allowed to give me anything after the surgery but ice chips and I was throwing up. The fact that my mouth tasted like chemicals and puke made me want to puke more my DH was so freaked out about leaving me after the surgery that he could not help.

RobynK

chapstick and a small tube of good hand lotion. 

mrscalkins

Definitely encourage her to pack light.  I took the bare necessities - Travel sizes of shampoo, soap, toothepaste (obvious stuff)  Chapstick was a must, hard candy to suck on, puking can be common during labor and she'll be on a lot of monitors and won't be able to just get up and brush her teeth.  I took some nursing tanks and pajama shorts to wear post delivery and fuzzy slipper socks.  My one extravagence was a towel from home, the hospital towels are super small and scratchy. 

keg

I had a semi-scheduled c-section (scheduled the day before), so I can't speak so much for the labor part, but there were a couple things I had DH bring from home:  a heating pad (great for post-section shoulder gas pain and when I was engorged, hopefully your cousin won't have to deal with either) a box of soft tissues (I had remnants of pregnancy congestion plus the lovely pp hormones ;-), and chocolate. 

LifesGoodUnwed

You guys are awesome, thank you so much!

Mrs. Destructo

You might want to arrive with an extra large chocolate milkshake. I would have cried tears of eternal gratitude if somebody had brought me one.

mrscalkins

Mrs. Destructo:

You might want to arrive with an extra large chocolate milkshake. I would have cried tears of eternal gratitude if somebody had brought me one.

 

Seriously.  Oh, and a tip for anyone waiting around while someone is laboring.  Don't eat in front of them!  It's mean!  I had 22 hours of labor, so I had to go 36 hours on ice chips, some hard candy and sniffing food.  It's evil, trust me.  And a great way to get yourself beaten up.  I wanted to kill my dad when he came into my room talking about the pizza they all had for dinner.  (Hour 9 of labor for me). 

mandy1383

mrscalkins:

Mrs. Destructo:

You might want to arrive with an extra large chocolate milkshake. I would have cried tears of eternal gratitude if somebody had brought me one.

 

Seriously.  Oh, and a tip for anyone waiting around while someone is laboring.  Don't eat in front of them!  It's mean!  I had 22 hours of labor, so I had to go 36 hours on ice chips, some hard candy and sniffing food.  It's evil, trust me.  And a great way to get yourself beaten up.  I wanted to kill my dad when he came into my room talking about the pizza they all had for dinner.  (Hour 9 of labor for me). 

 THIS!!!   DH brought lunch into my LDR room and I went psycho on him!!  

DEP

I had packed a few comfy outfits, ie yoga pants/tank and a sweatshirt.  It was nice having your own clothes on instead of that hospital gown.  Made me feel normal again!  Also, make sure have your cell phone and cell phone charger on you!!!

 

ougrad1

Absolutely a couple of her pillows from home.  The hospital pillows are like the ones on airplanes!

seattlestef

I wished I had a nursing cover with me. My girls were in the NICU so I was pumping in my room every 3 hours. If we had guests I had to ask them to leave because I wasn't comfortable pulling out my boobs in front of everyone. It is one thing to nurse, but pumping made me uncomfortable.

mnj917

As PP said, my own pillow and a towel from home.  I also begged Dh to remember to bring a razor & lotion - I didn't have the time to shave my legs before I left and after 2 or 3 days in the hospital, I had severe stubble itches. Oh - and a robe was a must have for me.