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Washington Babies
BFP 1/22/12 | Ectopic pregnancy found 2/14/12 | Methotrexate to complete m/c 2/15/12
Ladies who've delivered at Evergreen...
My plan is to labor as long as possible at home (I'm shooting for a med-free/natural birth), and today I'm putting together my hospital bag. What did you bring that you couldn't live without, and what did Evergreen provide that you liked/hated/wished you had your own, etc? I have the basics down, but I'm hoping for some ideas as to what they provide and what you didn't bring that you wish you had.
I've taken the tour and everything, and have their list of what to bring, but I'd love to hear it from other Bumpies. Thanks, ladies! 
BFP 1/22/12 | Ectopic pregnancy found 2/14/12 | Methotrexate to complete m/c 2/15/12
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Re: Ladies who've delivered at Evergreen...
My ipod, pillow, own fluffy robe, and own jammies were the things I was the most glad that I had with me. Make sure the jammies are nightgown style though cause pants would get ruined quickly...
Also, I brought my own shampoo and conditioner cause when I woke up the next morning there, I was SO grateful to take a hot shower with my own shampoo!
I think the only stuff I used from the hospital were towels and gowns - I brought my own nighties, but it was nice to just wear their stuff. Their gowns have awesome openings for nursings, and were way more comfy than my jammies. I did have a c-section though...so I didn't want to get my own nightgowns messy
Oh, and underwear. Wear the hospital underwear, don't ruin your own. Those mesh things they have are ugly but comfortable - ask for extra pairs to take home.
If you have favorite slippers/socks, a soft blanket, toiletries, electronics, and of course outfits for going home for you and babe. Extra pillows and blankets for DH - a travel pillow especially, as DH did some sleeping in the recliner and the neck pillow was nice.
My biggest advice really is to squirrel away everything you can in the room for babe - free diapers, combs, aspirators, diaper rash cream.....technically you're paying for it all so stock up. The nurses jammed so much stuff in our bags we were set for a while.
If you do bring your favorite slippers, make sure to wash them well when you get home. Hospital floors = germs you don't want to track into your house. I wore the hospital grippy socks and tossed them before we left.
Bring snacks and a laptop. I was always hungry at the wrong time. And DH needed food too. And free wifi so bring your laptop. Don't forget your camera - we did!
I had c-sections so I have no advice for laboring and all... but those weird mesh underpants are awesome.
I actually HATED the mesh underwear. It gave me a rash and was so uncomfortable to sit it on. I wish I'd had my own giant granny panties. I also had a c section so I needed something to pull over the incision. I wish we'd brought our own baby shampoo. They used johnson and johnson and I don't care for the way it smells and the chemicals.Your own snacks are good to have. I also needed to send dh out for soothies when I was starting to nurse. W sucked a giant blister on me in the middle of the night and I needed relief, but the staff doesn't have those on hand. We had to get them for the baby boutique.
I actually planned to birth at the birth center near the hospital but I had a stuck baby and transferred. My natural birth didn't go as planned but I was happy to get relatively nice nurses and a couple nice doctors over the course of my stay even if I was a transfer.
What I liked during my labor was having my birth ball. I also preferred laboring in the shower. They may want to hook you up to an IV so perhaps request a heplock so they can hook you in if they need to and you'll still get freedom to move around.
Since I wasn't planning on staying anywhere long (birth center you typically leave 4-6 hours after baby is born) I wish I had a couple nursing bras, a couple changes in clothes. What I liked was all the goodies I got...goodies at the time were those ice packs, weird netted underwear, that squirt bottle, tucks, the baby shirts and hats. There is also a great little store in the lactation clinic within the hospital that has bras and all sorts of supplies if you need things. DH got those cool nipple gel things...forgot what they're called. Congrats
I took home with me: diapers, wipes, tucks pads, peri bottle, tons of heavy duty pads, mesh undies (2 kinds, briefs and boy short styles), a disposable pad for the bed, 2 blow up donuts for sitting, vaseline, 2 suction bulbs, nail file, cheap clippers, 3 baby hats, and a big water mug.
I found the amount of pillows sufficient, (there are more stored under the window seat if you need them and you don't want to wait for a nurse). I think I had 5 or 6 in the bed at one time and DH had 2 for sleeping. I used their towels and gowns, didn't bother packing my own jammies. They provided baby shampoo for showers so bring your own if that is not acceptable. I didn't bring a robe but I think they will provide one.
Don't forget snacks for your husband, mine didn't like the snacks provided in the snack stations. We did take home some pudding and a few juice boxes. Pack flip flops and a boppy (boppy also was helpful to sit on during the drive to the hospital while in labor). I'm also glad I brought a speaker dock for our iPhone for music. I forgot to pack receiving blankets and the hospital provided those, they let us take 2 with us for the drive home but asked us to return them when we came back for our baby wellness check in 2 days. I thought that was odd. I don't think they would have charged us extra for them, but I didn't like them enough to keep.
Good luck, I think it is a great hospital to give birth!
Evergreen was awesome. I had planned to labor at home for as long as possible for the same reasons but ended up at the hospital within two hours of my water breaking (long story). In spite of that not going as planned, the nurses and drs let me progress on my own and I was able to deliver as I had hoped, without pressure to deviate from the plan until the very end (I delivered vaginally 23 hours and 45 minutes - talk about cutting it close to a mandatory c-section!).
While I packed lots of stuff, the only things I used in my bag were:
lip balm
going home clothes for me and baby, plus a blanket
snacks!!! while my nurse saved dinner for me, I was starving again by midnight
tucks
flip-flops
camera
shampoo/conditioner and my own soap (it felt great to shower with MY stuff)
Something to keep in mind that I didn't know about before we were actually there is that a professional photographer can visit if you like before you are discharged for pictures. The pictures turned out great and were reasonably priced...if I had know I would have packed cuter outfits for LO and some make-up for myself!
I've had a c-section, and a natural med-free birth at Evergreen. I liked using their gowns, mostly because then if it got yucky, they just took it away with the laundry and gave me a clean gown. I also liked the mesh underwear. Slippers and warm socks are a must. Snacks for hubby. The staff is great there. The nurse I had with DD was awful, but she doesn't work there anymore, thank goodness. When I went back and had the vbac with DS, everyone was great and supportive. I got the birth I wanted. (I think there's a link to his birthstory in my siggy.
Do you have a birthplan? I had a very detailed birthplan and I gave copies to my doc, doula, and packed one for the hospital.
firstly, I LOOOOVED Evergreen, so congratulations on an awesome choice!
I would (and did) bring:
-Bedding for DH. They have the awesome window seat/bed, but no bedding. So we brought a pillow and blanket.
-My pillow. Best thing to bring ever.
-Boppy
-MY own shampoo/conditioner/body wash. I think I took 5 showers in my 2 days in the hospital, it was just so relaxing and with all the post partum bleeding, it felt great to be able to wash off. I think I was in the shower within an hour of giving birth.
- A robe. I used their gowns (eventually adding some dark pj pants) but wanted a robe for visitors.
-Snacks
-Some warm socks
-If you are breastfeeding: Ask the LCs about the special nipple goo they make there. It helps SO MUCH if you have any chapping/cracking/blistering. They will make you up some, and you can get it from the pharmacy when you go. Best thing EVER.
-But, if breastfeeding, bring some of your own for while you are waiting for THe Good Stuff.
-Clothing for baby for both going home, and taking pictures (if you want to use their photographer.)
Good luck and (I know it sounds crazy) Have fun!