Minnesota Babies
Lyn09
member
Options
Hospital Bag - What did you bring? What did you wish you had?
Lyn09
member
What did you bring with you in your hospital bag? I'm starting to get my bag together and am trying to make sure I don't over pack.
What items did you not use? What items did you wish you would have had?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Hospital Bag - What did you bring? What did you wish you had?
Whatever you do, do not overpack!! Bring an extra bag for the "freebies" (they aren't really, but let's face it, you're going to take home the opened pack of diapers for your LO, the extra formula samples, formula company bag, etc. Even if you plan to BF take the samples and if anything donate them yourself to Second Harvest)..
Bring...
-Your pillows!! A lot of L&D is hurry up and wait, especially if you end up there for observation. It was awesome having my own pillows because the ones from the hospital took 12 to replace the job of 2 of my own.
-Change of clothes (take your stretchy comfy 9mo PG clothes... drawstring pants)
-Robe/PJ for the PP time.. (the temp wasn't as easy to adjust in our PP rooms as it was in the L&D rooms - it was nice to have my robe with me for warmth and to cover up if guests came)
-PJ's - in case you end up there for observation, it's a lot easier to sleep in your own PJ's than the hospital gown.
-Few pairs of underware (yes, the size you're wearing now)
-Overnight pads of your preferred brand
-(ETA) Shampoo/body wash/puff/towel (as other posters mentioned it's a lot more refreshing to use your own!! and not only are they towels they provide tiny, but they're very well starched)
-FOOD!!!! Snacks!!! (After working that hard to get a LO out, there's nothing worse than not having something to eat when the late night munchies hit or if you deliver late into the evening there won't be anything other than a TV dinner at many hospitals)..
-Couple "I could watch it 100 times and it'd never get old" movies.
-Cords/Chargers/laptop/camera/backup camera..
-If you're on a medication schedule, even though the hospital may grouch, bring your own meds! The hospital I delivered at could NEVER get my daily meds right (I am on a couple that are VERY time specific), and what was worse they didn't stock half of my medications anyway (The prenatal was the only thing they actually had!). When it came to the prenatals, it was on order that I was suppose to get it at night to avoid nausea issues, every flip'n day they'd bring it first thing after breakfast... Same goes for a morning medication (states ~4 hours prior with no food, then no food for an hour after taking), without fail they'd bring it in after they delivered breakfast.. Then snarl at me that I had already taken my own so I could eat hot food...
-When it comes to LO, bring a couple Newborn and a 0-3mo outfit. With DD she just wore the hospital shirt/diaper the whole time... With DS he wore the outfits/hats we brought along with us. Both were huge and still fit into the newborn size. Since you're delivering in the winter, a blanket to cover the carrier (do not use a "Bundle Me" as it will null your carseat's warranty and put your LO at risk in the unlikely event of an accident because there is no way to get the straps properly tightened)..
-Leave the birth plan at home.. Your best plan is to go with the flow and communicate your needs! If there are "absolutes" (like you want the baby with you at all times after delivery, your DH to cut the cord, etc.), then write them down and bring that. Remember that it is YOUR L&D and that YOU are in charge! If you don't want the IV in your right arm, you say "You're not putting it on that side!".. If you don't want to be checked, you can say "NO!".. If you don't like a nurse and she's bringing you only stress, you can request a different one.
You could also say, "Could you my left arm instead, please?" Why would you do that? That's a good way to get your nurse to hate you.
Here were the things I packed that were handy to have:
-Slippers: These were handy for walking around the halls during labor, and were also easy footwear to slip on during the postpartum stay
-Casual, comfortable clothes: I picked up a pair of cheap XL size yoga pants and workout shorts (I gave birth in the summer), as well as a couple of tanks, which were comfortable, loose, and easy to put on, making them ideal postpartum wear. It is nice to have something comfy to wear that is not a hospital gown. I also wore these quite a bit the week or two after we got home from the hospital.
-Toiletries (body wash/shampoo/deodorant/etc)
-Laptop, movies, camera: For entertainment and taking baby pictures in the hospital.
-Boppy pillow: this was helpful for supporting LO as I was learning how to breastfeed. Actually, the hospital was the only time I really used the Boppy.
-Baby blanket/couple of newborn and 0-3 month outfits
-Car seat: Also, it is ideal if you can get the base installed before going to the hospital. I think we forgot to do this, so DH had to go down and install it before we could leave. I would also make sure you read the directions on your particular car seat and understand how to strap in the baby. We didn't, and the nurses weren't able to help us much.
-Snacks/clothes for DH/money for meals: DH stayed with me in the hospital for my entire stay on the couch in my room. During our hospital tour, we found out that he could order off the hospital menu, but we'd have to pay cash - so we stocked up on 1's and 5's and had a bunch of them in an envelope in the hospital bag. It is good to check on the hospital policy regarding partners ordering meals if he plans on staying with you.
-Birth plan: I had a copy of this handy, but I would call it "birth preferences" rather than a plan. "Plans" can (and do) go out the window, but I think it's a good idea to have your wishes in writing. Just be open minded when you draft it, knowing that circumstances may dictate that something different happen than what you would ideally like.
Things I packed that I really didn't need:
-Birthing ball: I had bought an exercise ball to use during labor, but I ended up not using it a whole lot, and the hospital actually had some on hand. It was unnecessary for me to have bought my own.
-Overnight pads/underwear: I thought the huge pads and mesh underwear provided by the hospital worked best the first couple days postpartum. I bought two large packs of overnight pads, and ended up returning one of them and getting lighter flow pads instead; I didn't find my lochia to be as heavy as anticipated.
-Witch hazel pads: I heard these were good to have postpartum, and that was correct, but I believe the hospital had some. As with pads, these were good to have at home, but unnecessary to bring to the hospital.
You don't really need much for the baby. I just had LO wear the hospital clothes while he was there. He was in a longsleeve shirt, diaper and swaddled pretty much the whole time. We had 1-2 NB outfits and 1 or 2 0-3 outfits and a blanket or 2. We ended up getting out of the hospital at 7pm, so we put LO in a sleeper and put him down when we got home. I personally didn't bother with a special 'going home outfit' as no one saw him leave or get home. It was just us.
May want to bring extension cords/power strip for plugging in: camera, cell phone, computer, DVD player, Ipod, etc. It was nice to have all that stuff where I could easily reach and there may or may not be enough outlets close to the bed. We did bring a few TV shows on DVD to watch. Since I labored for 18hrs before pushing, it was nice to have a distraction. Although, we didn't need a DVD player, the TVs in the rooms had DVD players.
Snacks and/or change for DH to go to the vending machine for snacks.
Zip up hoodies. I put them on over my hospital gown when people were visiting.
Comfy, inexpensive pants, preferrably a dark color. People aren't kidding when they tell you there is lots of blood for a few days afterwards. So bring pants that you don't care if they get blood on them. I personally just used the hospital gowns.
I used the hospital provided giant pads and mesh panties. They did also provide witch hazel pads, but good to have those on hand for afterwards. I used them for about a week or 2 afterwards, as I had a tear.
Contact information for your pediatrician (if they aren't coming to see LO in the hospital) My pedi didn't come to the hospital, but they wanted to know when he was born and wanted to get him in within the first week. Also contact info/forms for your insurance company. Most companies, you can add LO within in the first 30 days, but the sooner the better. I also had to contact my leave administrator/HR person to let them know when my leave started. My boss may have made contact with her too, I can't remember for sure.
On one of my observation trips, it started out that way (super polite) with a nurse that just wasn't meshing and the overly sweet polite asking, when she grabbed the right arm anyway, yea, the sweetness came off and the nurse after her reminded me when I was having problems trying to move and I said that I hadn't wanted them to put the IV in that arm because of it, she reminded me that it is MY L&D, and to assert myself for MY wants/needs at ANY time and never worry about if it makes a nurse "feel bad" because they are here for you, and if there's still a problem, ask to speak to the charge nurse! Yes, you should use the polite way, but if they aren't listening, you turn on those hormones and point out who's in charge!
Glad I had:
Snacks! As a PP said, you will be hungry after you deliver. I delivered at 6:06 PM, and by the time I was in my post partum room, nothing was open, so we had to get food delivered. Snacks are your friend.
Comfy pants - make sure they are plenty big. You won't want them tight at all on your waist, just for comfort. Hoodies, or something that zips - easy to put on when visitors come and just have a tank under or nursing tank.
Socks that you can throw away, or slippers. I just brought a heavy pair of socks and threw them away when we left. Don't bring anything that you want to keep - they get gross.
Toiletries - nothing feels better than using your own stuff for your first shower.
I would suggest a newborn and 0-3 month outfit for your baby. My little guy was 9 lbs., but wore newborn and it was big.
Wish I would have brought or didn't need:
My own towel - I had heard this from others but didn't bring one. wish I had - the towels are tiny!
I brought WAY too many clothes - one pair of yoga pants/comfy pants and a shirt will suffice. I think I brought 2 or 3 pairs.
You're on the right track though - don't overpack! But like me, you may overpack, and oh well!
I think that a lot depends on your hospital. I gave birth at Methodist and honestly, I shouldn't have brought snacks for myself at all, because they had PLENTY of food for me.
I also way overpacked on clothes. I went in for an induction and thought we'd only be there a day or two, and packed what I thought was enough for that, and ended up having too much even though we stayed five days because by the end of the first day I was just in my hospital gown, robe, and fuzzy slippers. I lost all sense of modesty.
If I did it again, I would bring:
Warm robe. Slippers or other comfy shoes (crocs if you like) that are easy to get in and out of. Pajama pants if you're modest.
A comfortable going home outfit for yourself. Remember that you will probably still need your maternity clothes and that you will probably want a nursing bra or the like on top.
I really wish I'd brought hair conditioner. I was in and out of the shower so much my hair was a terrible snarly mess for days afterwards. Also moisturizer, it can be very dry.
I wouldn't bother with more than two extra pairs of panties. You'll likely be going home in the stretchy ones they provide. Make sure to get more of those!
Pillow for yourself and one for hubby.
Snacks for hubby. Also a lot of dollar bills and/or quarters to use late night vending machines for coffee.
Cell phone and other electronics chargers.
Going home outfit for baby, pack both a newborn size and a 0-3 months size just in case. Also blanket.
Music or DVD's that you enjoy if there's a player in your room.
If you have a hard time sleeping, I would suggest an eye cover, as it never gets really dark.
<a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Pregnancy"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1d11fc" alt=" IAmPregnant Ticker" border="0" /></a>
We definitely over packed the first time so I will be avoiding that mistake this time. I'd recommend bringing:
- 1 outfit for baby to go home in as well a blanket or coat depending on the weather.
- car seat (obviously)
- phone, camera
- pump if you don't want to use the hosptials. you may or may not need this.
- a bath robe and slippers to walk around in
- 1 outfit for you - I lived in the hospital gown during my stay
- change for vending machines
- toiletries for yourself and DH/SO
That's all I can think of. The time in the hospital went by so fast for us. You think you will have a bunch of down time, but you aren't going to sit and read, or jump online or whatever. You'll either be in labor, having visitors, being with your baby, or sleeping.
My must haves:
Chapstick
Lotion / facial moisturizer
Makeup (To feel human!)
Own tolietries
Camera / phone and chargers
Slippers
I didn't use:
Most of the clothes I brought
Pads / underwear - I liked the mesh panties and my pads were way too small!
Outfits for LO - we only used one sleeper to bring him home
Our hospital (Fairview Ridges) provided everything we needed for LO so no need for diapers, wipes, anything really.
Water bottle
Birthing ball
Baby book
I would say over all, keep it simple!
ETA: Totally forgot my favorite item I brought - My own pillow!
This is a good suggestion as well! After an unexpected c-section and complications I was in the hospital for almost five days. DH brought some silly classic Adam Sandler movies and it felt great to relax and have a good laugh during everything!