Name your hospital bag essential

coolmama2009 · December 2009

What did you all bring in your hospital bag...or WISH you had brought. I'm packing now and I feel like I'm packing WAY too much.

Radler · December 2009

Chapstick. I never would have thought of it, but a friend made the recommendation, and I was so happy to have it. My lips got so dry during labor.

Your own pillows from home, for sure.

And bring comfy clothes for going home. I packed jeans and then could barely look at them after the delivery. I went home in a cotton maternity dress instead. I had to send DH home to get it from my closet -- ha. No way was I wearing the jeans.

I didn't use much at all from my hospital bag.... so don't worry too much about it.

Baby Snowflake · December 2009

I hardly used anything I packed. I made DH go home and get more of my own pillows. The hsp ones sucked. Oh and a throw blanket:)

MrsPatterson · December 2009

The laptop. Once I got my epi, it was nice to have something to keep me entertained till it was time to push.

ilenegrace · December 2009

I packed WAY too much. The nurses literally LOL when I walked into the hospital for my induction. I thought I would have alot of idle time... right! The only things we used were our snacks, a hand held fan during labor, my boppy pillow for nursing and my pillow from home.

Also our hospital only provided size 1 diapers which were huge on DS (6lbs 9oz) so my mom had to bring us newborn diapers. Oh and I wish we would have brought mittens for his hands. He had extremely long sharp nails when he was born and scratched up his poor face because we had nothing to cover them. GL!

Jessalicious01 · December 2009

A back stratcher!!!

I ended up with an unplanned c-section and was given morphine in my epidural which causes alot of people to get really itchy afterwards.

My bag wasn't ready ahead of time and I'd also forgotten to bring some form of entertainment like a book or magazines but those are obvious things I'm sure you've already thought of.

LovingLife! · December 2009

Your own pillow, Boppy, make-up, camera, and dry shampoo. Saved me from looking like a grease ball the morning after giving birth!

coolmama2009 · December 2009

ilenegrace:
I

Thanx for the tip on the fingernails...I'll pack some socks to put over his hands. I hear those stay on better than mittens. I can't believe they didn't have newborn sized diapers for you...hello...it's ALL newborns at the hospital.

strawberryscentedlovebug · December 2009

definitely good idea about mittens! I did not use much from my hospital bag, but chapstick is good idea and Boppy too. I hated having to put on jeans after for going home after being all comfy and free in hospital gown. Makeup was used also cause family visited and I didn't want to look like poop even though they were obviously not there to see me. Oh and I was glad I took wipes because the hospital provides a small pack of diapers (size one was also the size used for us) and a small package of wipes and they did not last overnight. The black tarry poop was not handled easily and seriously that pack of wipes seemed like a travel or sample pack. Oh and socks for baby! the hopital did not give DD anything except a little shirt and thin hat. so socks were very good to have because it was freezing in room!

Scooter359 · December 2009

I barely used anything from my bag exept for a book. I didnt really need anything other then my toothbrush because they provided everything else and I showered after delivery.(i dont know why people always think your not going to have time, newborns sleep, a lot) We way overpacked but I guess its better then forgetting something. And our hospital put him in a long sleeved shirt with the built in mitten things.

Kristin131 · December 2009

Camera (and connected cable), laptop, chapstick, pillow(felt a little silly taking it in but was so glad I did), and boppy, oh and shower stuff. I didn't change out of the gown until the next day and would have preferred to stay in it. Oh and we brought DVDs too. I had a ton of down time for the two days after he was born I got really bored

Nessdogg · December 2009

A blowdryer, lip balm, hair ties, and headbands. These items truly helped me from looking like a hot mess.

bethmont · December 2009

1. My breast friend. I didn't bring it because I didn't think I'd need it since my milk wouldn't be in yet, but I actually ended up nursing (or trying anyway) a lot. It is hard enough to figure out without trying to arrange 5 soft hospital pillows when you are sore & exhausted.

2. More snacks for me. I had brought snacks for DH, but because I knew I wouldn't be eating during labor, I didn't bring treats for me. PP I really wanted food, juice, etc. I sent my hubby home to raid the cabinets for my favorites.

3. A bath towel. The hospital towel was the size of a dishrag and had the texture of sandpaper.

juliane2004 · December 2009

Other than my iPhone and laptop, which literally were great for passing time before I was induced (had to go in early due to type 1 diabetes), and for passing time after she was born but in the nicu and I couldnt see her - I'm going to lump it together and call it "stuff to make me feel human":

-soap, shampoo, my own underware, my own clothes/pyjamas.

kiki1213 · December 2009

Toiletries, snacks, and your own pads. Once I stopped totally oozing (sorry, TMI), I appreciated not having to wear what the hospital provided. And maternity sweatpants.

finally_mommy2b · December 2009

-chapstick

-camera

-phone

-blanket and mittens for LO

-comfy pj pants and a nursing top

-toothbrush!! i puked all through the delivery and twice after (sorry, TMI)

i brought an outfit for going home, but didn't wear it, and my own pads and underwear, but was too uncomfortable to use them. and i didn't even waste time bringing anything vanity oriented. i was too tired and sore to even THINK about how i looked.

caholland · December 2009

Robe and slippers

darlawoods · December 2009

Definitely chapstick: I used this consistently throughout labor and in recovery.

Also comfy clothes, I was tired of being in a backless robe. Slippers are nice.

DH wouldn't have survived without our laptop, and you definitely need your camera.

My hospital also only had bar soap so my own shower gel came in handy.

lolaxlove · December 2009

Chapstick!!

ZAngel · December 2009

I was in the hospital for 5 days so I probably used more than usual. I had my own shampoo/conditioner, hair dryer, brush, tooth brush/toothpaste and pillows. I also made sure to pack several pairs of sleep pants and shirts. I didn't want to walk around in their gowns and it was nice to be in my own clothes. I also brought slippers to walk around in and keep my feet warm. They gave me one pair of socks but I didn't want to wear the same ones the whole time I was there.

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