Just my two cents

tyswife306

Hello 3rd Tri ers....  Someone asked about the hospital bag on the O-6 board so I thought I would share here what I found helpful.  FWIW, I had a c section.  I know sometimes people get flamed for posting things like this and I'm not trying to be a know it all, just sharing what worked for me.  I loved reading what worked for other people and tweaking it to fit my needs

 Good luck and see you at 0-6.

Ok, here is my advice for the hospital.

Things that I couldn't have lived without:

1. A long tank top night shirt that buttons down the front.  ( I say long because you don't want to worry about sitting and it being SHORT.  I say tank top because you SWEAT a lot after giving birth due to hormones and sweating the fluid you don't really need anymore.)  The nurses/dr will also want to come in and check you quite often so don't get anything with pants or you'll have to keep taking them off.  I felt like a hundred bucks when I was able to wear my own nightshirt instead of the annoying hospital gown. 

2. My own pads and underwear.  They will give you pads that are the size of diapers.  I was NOT comfortable in such a big pad.  I wore then the day I gave birth because well, you bleed A LOT on the first day and there are lots of GROSSSSS  clots that come out.  But after the first day, I was more comfortable in a Target brand Super pad that I changed every 4 hoursish or so.  They will also provide mesh underwear.  Some people SWEAR by them but I hated them.  It's like sitting on fishnet and eventually I got itchy from sitting in them and having them stuck to me and leaving imprints. 

3. Bring a nippleshield or 2.  I breastfed the first day and ended the day with bruises and bleeding nipples.  I thought people were joking when they said your nipples bleed.  Well they weren't.  The nipple shield goes over your nipple so that the baby isn't directly sucking on your nipple.  It takes some NOT ALL of the pain away from your utterly sore nipples.

4. Bring your own slippers.  I was constantly getting up to go to the bathroom, pick up the baby, get the remote that fell off the bed, etc.  I didn't wear slippers for a good period of the day and it was pretty hard wiping my dirty feet off before getting into bed.  Oh... and they will give you those slipper sock deals but I was so hot and sweating that wearing socks was NOT an option! 

5. Throw a razor in your bag.  I was at the hospital for 4 days and wished I could have quickly shaved my armpits...lol

6. gowns for baby.  The hospital has millions of white side snap t shirts that they put on the babies BUT they were huge on Ally.  They were always falling off her shoulders, the arms were SOOOOOO long it was ridiculous.  Throw lots of gowns in your bag for baby to wear.  She looked so much more comfortable when i had her in her own clothes that were the right size. 

That's all I can think of right now! 

Things that I needed when I got home:

1. formula-  If you are gung ho on breastfeeding that's awesome but if you're like me and have no colostrum to feed your baby and your milk doesn't come in for 5 days, you CAN NOT starve your baby.  You might have to supplement them.  Even if you have free samples or just get the smallest amount you can buy and return if you don't need.  The last thing you want is a screaming baby who just wants to eat and you have to have your husband run to the store.  Ally screams bloody murder for the 2 minutes it takes to heat the bottle let alone having to wait for someone to go to a store.  My hospital gave us Enfamil with Iron.  Ally likes it and it doesn't give her gas.

2. Stool Softener- I had a c section and it was hard for me to go to the bathroom the first time.  Drs want you to take a stool softener for a month after delivery.  They will give you one at the hospital but you have to get your own when you get home.

That's all I really needed once I was home.  She doesn't use much.  Goes through a lot of onesies and receiving blankets.  She loves to sleep in her swing.  She'll sleep in that thing for 4 hours at a shot!  Can't beat that.  We also use a lot of changing pads.  We put them on top of the changing table cover so that if she pees or poops on it, we don't have to change the whole cover we just have to wash the pad.  Our first day home she peed all over the changing table cover!  Comical!

Bring something comfortable to wear home.  You might want to bring a dress or some sort or pants that are NOT low rider type pants in case you have a C.  I still can't wear pants because of the staples.  Well maybe I can but I'm not brave enough.

ONE LAST thought I promise.  Bring a BUNCH of different outfits if you're having a hospital picture taken.  I thought I wanted her in a little dress but when the way the pic is taken you wouldn't have known it was a dress and I hated it.  I ended up putting her in something absolutely different than I ever imagined I would! 

If you're still reading, god bless ya. 

Good luck!

DRMRS

Thanks for the info and congrats on your baby girl!

newdru03

Thanks for all of the info.