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ladylisalt
member
How many days/weeks before your dd did you....?
ladylisalt
member
Pack your hospital bag? I am totally procrastinating. Maybe its bc I am not sure of what to completely put in it. I have looked at diff. lists and recommendations but some people say to bring an item, then someone else says leave it at home.
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Re: How many days/weeks before your dd did you....?
I did it at about 36 weeks.
Just put something together. You can get DH to bring you something if you change your mind (I had DH bring the boppy the next morning). It's really not that important. You know what kind of person you are; some people might NEED a hair dryer. I knew I didn't.
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I packed it fully the day before my due date but got induced a week and two days later. The only things I used that were packed were:
hard candy to suck on
underwear
pads (for when the blood flow slowed down)
going home outfit
camera
baby's going home outfit
an extra receiving blanket (even though the hospital gave us like four of them)
binky
As long as you are okay to be in a hospital gown the whole time there is no need to bring anything else. I packed a robe and some lounge pants and didn't use them and I packed socks with tread but the hospital gave me a pair. I also packed some stuff to help the time go by but since the epidural didn't do much for me I was in too much pain to try and play cards.
38w6d- right after my water broke.
fwiw, I had more than what I needed. My mom had to bring a couple pairs of my yoga pants though b/c there were in the wash when my water broke.
all major things were packed by 37 weeks.. but there were last min things packed moments before we left...
there is so much that we didnt even use.
I made a list of things to pack around 36 weeks, bought the things on the list that I didn't have in the house at 38 weeks (mainly nursing tops, bras, and pads), and then DH packed the bag when I went into early labor. It took like 15 minutes, no biggie.
I definitely suggest bringing lounge pants and nursing tops, as well as all your personal hygiene and shower items -- I felt SO much more human after taking a shower and getting into normal clothes. I also loved having my camera, transfer cord, and laptop, so I could send photos out right away. I was high on adrenaline after giving birth and couldn't sleep for 12 hours after, even though I gave birth at 3:30 in the morning and hadn't slept that night or the night before! DH, on the other hand, was totally knocked out.
You don't need to bring anything for the baby, except the carseat and an outfit to take him or her home in. They'll give you everything you need for the baby.
I'd suggest making a few separate lists: things you want/need during labor, things you'll want/need after delivery, and things your DH will want/need if he is staying with you. Then it's less overwhelming.
I was 32 weeks when I packed. I guess the best way to pack is to put all the things you KNOW you will need( toiletries, going home clothes, pads maybe) and then pack the things you feel will help make you more comfortable while in there. Honestly if I had not packed anything I would have been okay bc my hospital provided it all-pads, toiletries, etc but I was still glad I had my things, they made me feel more at ease.
I bought travel sized toiletries and threw an extra pair of flip flops in a bag around 35 weeks. Every week, I added a little too it, but mostly, what I wanted to take was stuff I needed on a daily basis. When my water broke, I finished getting my clothes, DH's clothes, and phone chargers. I think I packed more for DS than I did either me or DH -- we weren't sure if he'd be in NB or 0-3, so we packed both. He wore a NB for pictures, and that was it. He came home in 0-3. We also had him in regular clothes most of the time in the hospital because he hated the hospital onsie/tshirt thing they use.
I'm glad someone told me to take breast pads and my pump. I needed the pads by the time I was discharged (he was born Thursday morning and my milk came in early Saturday morning), and I had the LC look at my pump to make sure the cup was the right size for my breasts. And I also pumped once to help with engorgement issues - he didn't like when the milk came in and I was hurting! A quick pump session (which didn't produce much) relaxed the ducts enough that he could latch.
Picture courtesy of Heidi Keene Photography
the saturday before the monday that we delivered. :-)
This! Except it was DH packing
I'd say make sure you at least have a list made a few weeks early for what you and the baby will need (even though you won't NEED a lot of what you bring!). I was so glad I had the list, because my labor came on really quickly and I was in no condition to think about what to bring. DH called off items on the list, I told him where they were. The only thing we managed to forget was the camera! There was enough down time at the hospital after I gave birth while waiting to switch rooms that DH just went home and got it. These are things I used:
toiletries
my own pillow
snacks
of course camera, phones, computer
clothes for baby and I to wear home
I did it as I was in early labor. So 35weeks. I didn't bring much. Cell phone charger, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, toothbrush & paste, contact case & solution, and clothing for DH and baby.
I completely forgot a hair-tie and hairbrush and I did bring clothing for me but didn't need it except for the going home outfit, (yoga pants and a tank).