All you fabulous moms!!

AshSchultz

Although I have been watching children my whole life and working in daycares since I was old enough to do so.. there are still some things I don't know...

Forgive me, I am new to this whole mommy thing.. and he's not ever here yet.. I'm sure you all will get tired of me and my questions here on thebump.. Feel free to tell me to SU whenever you'd like!

Question-- I know I need his carseat.... But Do I take a hospital bag for myself AND the baby? 

My bag -- just clothes, toiletries ? what else?

If the baby needs a bag, what goes in that? (other than coming home outfit-- which could go in my bag, right?)

I feel so dumb not knowing... I've read so many websites that say different things.. and then others that say to bring like 804948673 things and all I can think is WHY do you need that much? and what a pain in the A to carry!!!

donna&ed

Recommended items to pack.

- Babies going home outfit 

 - Your going home outfit (Nursing bra if u r breastfeeding)

- toiletries for u and ur dh . make up

- a comfy outfit for ur dh to sleep in.

- going  home outfit for ur dh. 

- boppy pillow(if u like).

- i took a robe with me to put on whenever guests come in. 

rara855

I would pack an outfit for him to come home in, in your bag. Don't take anything else. The hospital will load you up. Let them give you diapers, wipes, formula (if your not breast feeding) Shirts, hats, ect. Take it all. 

For you. I was most glad I had my shampoo, conditioner, body/face wash and lotion. I did take makeup and pony tail holders were my BFF. I was so glad to be in workout pants (they hold the tummy in comfortably, and the mongo huge pads) and nursing tank tops. Other than that chapstick, my laptop and camera.

 

Good Luck.  

atlbride23

I just put a coming home outfit for the girls in my bag.  Actually, I brought 2 different sizes.  You might want NB and 0-3, or preemie and NB, depending on how big your LO is expected to be.  Everything else was provided by the hospital. 

maykat

Things that we brought the last time that we actually used were:

Baby

• Coming home outfit
• Baby Blanket (we brought a colorful one that we laid her on for her newborn pics)
• boppy/nursing pillow

Me

• chapstick
• hair ties
• nursing tanks and yoga pants (2 outfits)
• flip flops
• toiletries (toothbrush, paste, soap, hair products, make-up)
• Camera and charger
• Cell phone and charger
• laptop
• Books (I actually read at night-knowing I would never have time again)
• Notepad--to write questions for doctors, to-do lists
• empty folder -to put all of baby's paperwork
• pillows
• extra empty bags to put all the stuff you will take from the hospital
• Clothes for DH (comfy stuff and slippers)
• Music
• DVD to watch at night

I didn't bring pjs, I  just wore the robe there.  Also just used the mesh undies for a while.

Alison422

I just used one bag and I am trying to remember what I brought that I actually needed.

I wore yoga pants and t-shirt to the hospital, so when I was ready to put on some clothes (around 2nd day) I wore the same pants with a nusring tank and a hoodie.

flip flops

toiletries

camera/cell phone and chargers

two pillows from home - one for DH and one for me - the will give you a million hospital pillows, but I needed one that had some support.

Some snacks for DH - they don't give him anything

I brought Caroline's going home outfit and a blanket.  I also brought some little pants for her but she never wore them.  She was always in the white t-shirts the hospital provided and swaddled.

californiafrog7905

No dumb questions on here!  Well, only the ones you don't ask.

Honestly, I had about 30 min to pack any form of diaper bag b/c HC came 3 weeks early and I'd just finished my semester, but other than toiletries and a couple of changes of VERY COMFORTABLE (read: no fancy outfits, IMO there's no point) clothes and a hair dryer if you use one, I barely got anything out of our bags.  And I brought a few onesies for HC (it was June, so temps were high), but that was really about it.  

What I found to be really, really helpful was to have people bring in outside food, to practically abuse the lactation consultant on duty while I was there (we stayed 2 nights b/c she was jaundiced; originally I hadn't wanted to but when it was all said and done, I could have stayed a week and loved every minute of it!), to make arrangements to have your house/mail/pets/whatnot looked after for at least 3-4 days just in case, stuff like that.

Either way you do it, you're going to be FINE.  Enjoy the last weeks of being pregnant and get ready for the most amazing time ever...birthing and beyond! 

(And keep asking questions; this board rocks!)

hthomas02

be sure to leave some room in your bag because you will want to take everything from the hospital bassinets, all the diapers/wipes/nose suckers/ pacis/blankets/everything....and clean it out often because they will keep restocking it.  and FWIW, the hospital nose suckers are the best nose suckers around, so take a couple!

rara855

Ooo that's right Heather. Those are the best nose suckers. I came home with two but, wished I had gotten an extra one. 

Daisy22

Our hospital bag was for me, dh and Bailey:

~for bailey just his going home outfit.

~for dh, change of clothes, toothbrush, snacks

~for me

~~yoga pants and shirt to go home in

~~nursing tanks - I wore these under the hospital gown the whole time

~~underwear - I didn't wear my own for like a week after my c/s. The mesh panties rock esp with a c/s scar healing

~~nipple cream - several friends told me to start using this asap to not get crapped or cracked nipples. worked awesome

~~bathroom stuff - I brought my own stuff

~~pillows - I was in the hospital for 5 days with PTL and their pillows suck. So I brought my own

~~camera, laptop, cell phones, chargers for everything

The only thing I wish I had was my bobby. I think it would have been easier then using the hospital pillows to help me BF.

Daisy22

Oh and even if you're BF I would take the formula anyways. The ones I got from the hospital and our pedi didn't expire for a year so once I stopped BF I used all that for over a month before I had to buy any.

Mrs. Theobald

donna&ed:

Recommended items to pack.

- Babies going home outfit 

 - Your going home outfit (Nursing bra if u r breastfeeding)

- toiletries for u and ur dh . make up

- a comfy outfit for ur dh to sleep in.

- going  home outfit for ur dh. 

- boppy pillow(if u like).

- i took a robe with me to put on whenever guests come in. 

I ditto this list.  Just remember what you take in has to come out.  Meaning you don't want a bunch of stuff plus the baby when leaving the hospital.  I brought way too much stuff.  I used the list on here but didn't need half the stuff.  I loved my slippers and my robe.  Best things to pack!  Also back an extra set of clothes for DH and some snacks for him. 

julienandy

Pack as light as possible...I had lots of flowers and gifts delivered to hospital...granted I had a csection and was there for 5 days.