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Hospital bag help
Hi! I mostly just lurk but needed some advice on what to pack in the hospital bag. Any help would be greatly apprieciated. TIA!
Must have items?
Items you wished you packed but didnt?
Anything you could of done without that just took up space?
What is one thing you packed that you were iffy about but were happy you did?
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Re: Hospital bag help
I have to be honest. I didn't use probably 90% of the stuff I took with me. I went over all those list of "must haves" before and took way too much stuff.
I really didn't use much during labor at all (but I had an epi so I didn't need any distractions except my family and a football game on TV). Most of the stuff I did use were my hair brush, hair ties, toothpaste, etc. Stuff like that. Loved having my slippers (it was January). I know a lot of people say they were more comfortable in their own clothes, but I was more comfortable in the hospital gowns afterwards.
Must have a camera, extra batteries, cell phone and charger.
Definitely have an extremely comfortable outfit to ride home in. Comfy and roomy pants and shirt are a must.
Definitely bring your own pillow! Also, something to entertain yourself because it gets boring fast. I think all hospitals have Wi-Fi now, so if you have a laptop, I'd bring it. Bring some DVDs too, assuming you bring a laptop. For myself I brought my own pjs and a bathrobe, but I didn't use either. My pjs were two piece and I ended up with a c/s- so I didn't want the elastic close to my incision. Not to mention I was scared to ruin my clothes from the bleeding after, so I just wore the hospital gown. Speaking of which- you might want to bring your own pads. Then you'll want a comfortable set of clothes for when you come home. I also brought all my toiletries- shampoo and conditioner, body wash, toothbrush and tooth paste, etc as well as stuff to do my own hair. Make sure to bring lotion and chapstick as it's insanely dry in the rooms. For Noah, the had everything I needed, so all I ended up needing/using was his coming home outfit and then a blanket to cover him when we left.
p.s. Don't forget to bring chargers for things like your phone, camera, laptop, etc.
I packed a ton of stuff I didn't need, but honestly I'd do it again. I felt better knowing I had all the stuff even though I didn't use it.
"Must Haves" for me were my pillow, camera, a one-piece nightgown that I didn't care if I ruined, my iPod, and my toiletries and makeup...a lot of people say you don't need makeup, but by the second day you'll want to look nice and have a couple photos in which you look decent.
It's a good idea to pack a change of clothes for your DH, as well as snacks. didn't pack no-scratch mittens for DS and that was the one thing I wish I had.
Comfy clothes, your own pillow, your own pads...overnight ones that are heavy duty and stuff to keep you busy. Flip flops because my feet were so swollen after they didnt fit into my tennis shoes.
It might have been just me, but I was so freaking hot and sweaty that DH ran home and grabbed me a fan
Mommy's little helper
I barely opened my bag too. The hospital provided more than I expected. I had some complications and could barely move for the first 36 hours anyway, so I didn't care what I looked like. I did put on makeup the last day.
I wish I would have brought slippers and a pillow. Oh, and I brought her baby book but didn't open it. I regret not taking the time to fill it out when my memory was fresh.
Must have: Pack a robe and slippers or flip flops - these were great to throw on for me when I had visitors or when going to the special care nursery. I also liked my boppy. Headbands are great too.
I didn't pack a heating pad but kind of wished I did. I would've brought a microwaveable one.
Any extra clothing except your going home outfit is not needed. You will be wearing the hospital gown most of the time since they check you every.freakin'.hour. Also, don't pack underwear. The mesh ones were weird to wear at first, but it was great knowing I didn't have to ruin pair after pair.
I was iffy on packing an extra pillow. I was glad I did. I had one of those micro bean mooshi pillows and it was the best thing ever. It helped prop me certain ways so I wasn't in pain and helped me sleep better in the uncomfortable hospital bed.
If you are planning on breastfeeding, bring your boppy if you have one. Basic toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face soap, toothbrush, toothpaste), hair brush going home outfit for you and baby, pj's for you, nursing bras (if needed). I packed the bare minimum and felt I didn't over pack at all. The hospital provides pads and mesh underwear. I brought 1 pair of underwear to wear home.
I didn't bring my own pillow or blanket and wished I had. The pillows at the hospital were awful and I was cold a lot.
BFP#2: 8/14/11 M/C 8/30/11 6w1d
BFP #3: 10/26/11
Beta #1 @11dpo: 22 Beta #2 @13dpo: 90 Beta #3 @17dpo: 480
Missed m/c 12w3d 12/28/11, d&c 12/30/11
dx Homozygous C677T MTHFR
Mommy's little helper
Hi there! I saw someone else say phone charger, thats a must!
Sports bra's are super comfy for delivery. You can bring DVD's and sometimes depending on where you deliver you can bring an Ipod that will hook into their CD player. I'd bring snacks for after delivery. Bring your own toiletries unless you don't mind using generic ones from the hospital. Deodorant for sure
Don't worry too much about packing a diaper bag because the hospital will have everything you need for baby. And you'll take alot home from the hospital. Make sure the care base is installed. Oh and cash for vending machines.
Oh and if you have decent insurance, you could get a free medela breastpump in the hospital. Ask your nurses.
I think that's all for now
Me too on the fan part! You should get a portable one that sits on a table or clips onto a table. The nurses searched for one and found me one!
A fan is the one thing I wished I had- or anything that could be used for white noise!! DS was in the nursery at night, but the lady in the room next to me had her baby with her overnight. It'd hear everytime the baby woke up. Drove me insane
totally not necessary but wish i had packed... suckers!
Beaumont lets you have suckers and upon finding this out i sent DH to cvs to get me tootsie pops... he came back with dum dums. After a verbal lashing i happily licked my dum dums.
(i also had a 40 hour labor and couldn't eat so i REALLY wanted those suckers!)
This is the only thing I would suggest. I also wouldn't over pack, leave some room in your bag for the extra diapers, bulb syringe, ect. that you can take home.
Good luck!!
I read some online list when packing my bag and brought way too much stuff. I think I had this grand idea of sitting up in bed the day after delivery while in full makeup, wearing my own clothes, holding my sleeping baby in my arms while I watched t.v. with my adoring husband. Needles to say, that didn't happen.
I had an unplanned C-Section and pretty much felt like crap the entire time I was in the hospital. I think I only changed back into real clothes the day that we left the hospital, so the sweats/t-shirts that I brought went unused. PP's have already told you about the mesh underwear. Take extra pairs home with you if you end up with a C-Section. I had to wear them for a good week because my own underwear rubbed on my incision. I did bring an older robe to put on over my gown when visitors came. That at least made me feel a bit more presentable. The shoes that I wore into the hospital were too small on the way home, because my feet were so swollen, so another pair of shoes would have been great. Perhaps bring some flipflops.
Basic toiletries, camera, charger, cell phone chargers, going home outfit for baby and you, picture outfit for baby (if you're having them done at the hospital), BABY WIPES - I assumed that the hospital would have these, and the nurse basically laughed at me. They expect you to use a wash cloth I guess. I would also bring chapstick, as I remember my lips being really chapped during/after delivery.
I brought snacks for DH, and he never ate any of them. He was able to eat out of the "nourishment" room that St. Joe's has, and most of the time the nurses hooked him up with an extra meal too. We didn't bring extra pillows, blankets bc I didn't feel they were necessary. I'm glad I didn't. I brought some books,magazines for myself and DH, and I don't think we used those either. When you're not obsessing over your new baby, you're either being poked/prodded by a nurse, in the bathroom, taking a shower, entertaining visitors,etc. I think I brought a carry-on size duffel bag and a tote bag, and could have done with just the duffel bag.
Wow. That was long. Sorry.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6