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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
karma79
member
Hospital Bag - I'm asking the pros! =)
karma79
member
I'm visiting from Pgal. I was wondering what tips or advice you have for packing a bag for the hospital - what did you take? What did you wish you had that you didn't pack? And what was a total waste to take with you?
Reality is sinking in for this soon to be mommy and I thought I'd go straight to the pros for advice. TIA!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Hospital Bag - I'm asking the pros! =)
Pack what you would take for an overnight trip - makeup, hair stuff, toothbrush/paste, shampoo, pillow.
I wore yoga capris, nursing tank, flip flops and jacket during the stay.
Going home outfit.
Camera, cell phone, chargers
Going home outfit for LO. Blanket. Car seat. baby book.
Hospital provided nipple cream, diapers, pads, wipes.
My water broke and I packed in 15 minutes.
I would have liked the boppy and fluffy towels, though that might have been annoying to take home if they were wet.
chapstick! My lips were so dry and I was so glad I had it.
I wore night t-shirts, but I had a csection
flip flops for the shower
I packed a bag and I thought it was pointless!! my water broke at midnight and my LO was born at 7:54pm that night .
What I did use;
toothbrush, toothpaste (my H too), hairtie, CHAPSTICK, going home outfit, makeup so I can look decent
instead of slippers I wore super soft socks with grips
baby's going home outfit, thin blanket (it was july),
camara, pens,
stuff I packed and didn't use (didn't even take out);
my own blanket, robe, slippers, baby's memory book (I also didn't open it) .
**Yes, it sucked using the hospitals crappy little soap bar for my hair, and their tiny towels. I used their giant pads, and the robe they supplied. No need for pillows because I had lots!! I'm talking like 5! No need for blanket either. As for baby, they will supply you with a small package of pampers diapers, and mini size baby wash, and wipes aswell.
Good luck!!
DEFINITELY bring one or two comfy pillows from home with pillowcases that can get dirty.
Also, a comfy thing to sleep in and nurse in if you plan on breastfeeding. Hosdpital gowns are not fun.
Make-up (I was in labor for 16 hours and there was nothing else to do so I put on make-up to feel more human and to look semi-decent in pictures), shampoo, conditioner, soap, razor, toothpaste, toothbrush, hair brush, blow dryer...also a lot of hospitals have photographers now so you want to be able to get cute if needed.
outfit for baby to come home in
Comfy outfits easy to breastfeed in, but also suitable for visitors to see you in
Socks Granny panties to come home in. This is not the time to wear anything sexy and uncomfortable down there.
Loose fitting outfit to come home in
change - I put like $10 in coins in a ziplock for DH. You don't know how long you will be in labor and the cafeteria could be closed when you are done. It's nice so DH can get snacks for himself.
My and baby's bag:
nursing tank - qty 2 one for each day
boppy and my breast friend - used the boppy a lot with this baby
baby's going home outfit
a blanket
book/paper if you want additional baby foot prints
face wash - didn't bother putting on make up in the hospital.
Dh's bag
camera, ipod, chargers, snacks, change of clothes.
I did a blog entry specifically for these kind of posts
HTH
https://wp.me/pJ62o-dx
The best thing we brought was my favorite blanket from home. Not only did it make sleeping more comfortable and easy in the hospital room, but DH loved it when he had to sleep in the uncomfortable recliner.
We also were glad we had our cell phone charger, a laptop (for DH and for updating family via facebook and email). We packed snacks like pretzels and granola bars that did come in handy.
My own toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, soap, face wash, etc were nice to have and so were hairties and a headband.
I overpacked my own clothes and didn't use all the resources I brought (books, handouts from baby classes, etc).
Good luck!
I agree with a lot of the posters above:
Cell phone, laptop, camera and all chargers and connectors.
A few options for LO to come home in depending on his/her size. Plus a blanket and hat for going home in.
Comfortable clothes that allow for nursing (I had a nightgown that I labored in and then nursing tanks/pajama pants for hanging out in the room).
I wish I had had my Boppy although we did fine with lots of hospital pillows.
Your own pillows with NON WHITE pillow cases so that you can remember which are yours easily.
Toiletries and a bath poof (felt SO GOOD after labor).
Snacks for you and everyone else (our hospital served dinner at 6ish and breakfast at 6ish. I was up all night breast feeding and got HUNGRY).
We brought diapers but only because we were using cloth. Pretty much everything else you need, including any maintenance medications you are on, will be provided by the hospital.
Car seat (obviously)
I brought my kindle and a couple magazines and read about a page over 3 1/2 days. We never used the TV. My husband did play Angry Birds on the cell phone! Admittedly I had an unmedicated labor--if you have an epidural you may want some entertainment. I couldn't possibly be bothered with makeup and barely showered or brushed my hair but I didn't mind looking a little sloppy in photos. There was too much going on to fuss.
To be honest.....
The hospital gave me everything I needed. I didn't even pack or care to put make up on, I was exhausted the whole time I was there, stayed in bed the whole time.
The only thing I used that we packed, was my toothbrush and toothpaste deodorant and socks.
I didn't wear anything i packed except my going home outfit, didn't use the laptop. all I needed was my phone charger and I was happy.
? Voted Cool Cat ~ 2012 Sweetpea Mom Awards ?
Got the epidural and totally slept for the next twelve hours. I think my husband and I played half a game of Words with Friends. I might have watched a little tv before I got the epidural but after being in labor for about 20 hours, I just can't remember. (I remember almost throwing up all over one of friends once they put the internal monitors in but that's about it....)
Anywho.
Things we used:
Cell phone chargers- Reception was horrible and the wifi signal was really weak so I kept myself busy trying to keep two phones charged with one charger.
Candy/gum/snacks- I ate a lot of cinnamon discs and chewed a lot of gum. I think my husband had a couple Clif bars.
Footwear- I wore socks for about 15 minutes. I went back and forth between slippers (Yay! Target!) and flip flops while walking b/c I kept getting really annoyed by how loud the flip flops were but the slippers were too hot.
Going home outfit and picture outfit for baby.
Going home outfit for me, clean bras. Don't bother with underwear. Just wear the mesh ones b/c you will turn your awesome granny panties into a bloody mess. They don't hold the ginormous pads as well. I wore the hospital gowns the whole time.
Brush, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bath poof. The bath poof seriously does feel soooo goooooood.
Folder for paperwork.
Swaddle blankets. We brought two so we could wrap him in them and then my husband would bring them home whenever he went home to change and stop by the dog sitters' house with them.
Camera and extra batteries.
Vending machine change.
Your own pillows. I brought my tempurpedic pillow and an old, limp, lumpy pillow with pillowcases my husband had used for a couple nights. It was soothing to have something that smelled like him on the bed with me while nursing and he was sleeping in the little fold out bed.
I'm not sure what I did during our stay after the baby was born. I fed the baby mostly. I ate more than I have ever eaten in my life. (They had chocolate milk and Cocoa Krispies. Best nighttime snacks.)
I was induced and when I knew I was going to be I added some stuff to my bag - my favorite movies, a computer, and trashy magazines - all distractions because I knew I'd be there a while. And I was. I went in Friday night and sat around for over 24 hours waiting for something to happen. However, if you go into labor on your own, they'd be completely unnecessary.
What I used:
Toiletry bag - face wash, toothbrush/paste, contact stuff, glasses, shampoo, bodywash, brush, ponytail holder, headband
otter pops - so much better than ice chips during labor
pillows - with different colored pillowcases so they didn't confused with the hospital stuff
camera/video camera/phone/chargers
footwear - socks/slippers/flip flops
2 nursing tanks and a pair of yoga pants, which I wore in the hospital and for going home
stuff for the baby - cap, 2 outfits (because we didn't know how big he'd be), swaddling blanket