- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
June 2012 Moms
AliciaS1411
member
Thinking way ahead- found a good idea /Hospital Bags
AliciaS1411
member
I've been thinking ahead to the Labor/Recovery hospital bag...and making a list while I'm still rather sane about the whole thing. Lurking on the third tri board has helped a lot, and today someone posted something that I hadn't thought about...
She said shorts for DH, in case he wants to get in the shower or tub with you.
I thought I'd pass it along. DH and I shower together every day (sorry if TMI) and its a very special thing to me. (it's where we have our best conversation actually..haha..but during the pregnancy its mainly been him just holding me. He's even been washing my hair for me some. He's so sweet) but I hadn't thought about the Tub or Shower during labor, and I know that if I'm in pain, I'm going to want him in there with me.
I just thought I'd share that little tidbit for anyone else that feels the same.
If you're interested, heres my list so far for the hospital bags. We're going to do one for labor, and one for recovery. Note that I'm going to attempt to leave my purse at home, so some things in the bag are things that would normally be in my purse. I'm packing the labor stuff in a small duffle, and the recover things will be in a small, carry-on-type luggage bag.
Labor:
-Comfy Socks
-My own pillow (in a bright case that I know I can toss out)
-Chap Stick
-Dark Sports bra (for tub or shower)
-Shorts for DH (for tub or shower)
-Ipod Dock, with cord to plug it in
-Ipod
-Cell Phones
-Cell phone chargers
-Insurance cards, ID.
-tennis ball (for DH to run my back)
-DH's Laptop
-Snacks (Some hospitals provide this during labor, I'm not sure if mine does, so its on there just in case)
-Change for vending machine
-Hair ties, bobby pins. I hate my hair in my face
-CAMERA AND CHARGER!!
Recovery:
For me:
-Mesh Panties (my hospital DOESN'T provide them!!)
-Extra large pads, just in case
-Clean shirt and boxers for DH
-Nursing sports bra
-Shower things (shampoo, body wash, my own large towel, toothbrush, toothpaste)
-Nursing Tank and Cardigan to wear over it, very loose maternity pants (for the next day of recovery)
-Lanolin Nipple Soothe (if breastfeeding)
-Flushable wipes
-Maxi dress (to wear home since at 6 months it will be cold, and my maternity pants will be warm. The dress will be cooler going home in june, possibly july for me)
For Baby:
-Boppy pillow (only because we plan on keeping the baby in the room with us)
-1 swaddle blanket, JIC, not an expensive one though, in case it gets lost
-Take home outfit
-Baby Book (to do foot prints and other newborn details)
-2 baby onsies, new born and 0-3 month size, JIC
We have a long drive to the hospital (45 mins...an hour with the usual traffic) so I'm stocking the diaper bag with everything we need for a change to leave in the car. And we'll have the car seat installed and checked by the fire department at 36 weeks. I'm also considering taking my breast pump, so see if the consultant has any advice for us, but I'm not sure on that yet.
If you've been thinking about this like I have, feel free to add anything! I'm fully aware that some of this might not get used, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Thinking way ahead- found a good idea /Hospital Bags
Just wanted to ask about the flushable wipes. I guess it depends on your doctor, but after DS was born, I was given a squirt bottle thing and that was what you washed with after going to the bathroom, and then you just pat dry...I don't know if something in the wipes might not be recommended for post-delivery.
I would add some hard candy, like Jolly Ranchers, to your list. A lot of hospitals won't let you eat once you're there and in labor, but you can suck on hard candies. I also say to include at least one gown in your bag. Nursing gown if you plan to breastfeed. I don't think anyone goes in wanting to end up with a C/S, but if you do, pants are not comfortable on the incision. I had one gown packed, and wore it all 3 days. I was so glad I had it!
<a href="http://lilypie.com/"><img src="http://lbdf.lilypie.com/WtZom5.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Pregnancy tickers" /></a>
The wipes are a just in case thing for me. I'm not sure if I'll need them or not. When I tour L&D I'll probably be able to cross some things off.
Hard candy! Good idea! Thanks
Same goes to the gown, thought I might end up in a long cardigan most of the time.
If you can bring candy, you could also see a out Tootsie Pops. My X was Type 1 and found they worked well when he went low because he never felt like eating them just for fun and he could crunch them up pretty easily and it was a good amount of sugar. Good luck, diabetes adds a lot of complexity!
Definitely plan on bringing a couple sizes for the take home outfit. DD was swimming in hers to the point where when we picked her up, the pants fell right off.
Bring the breast pump and leave it in the car. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around. The lactation consultant should be able to help you get it set up.
You may want to add to the list baby lotion. Our hospital did not provide it and DD was very dry while we were there. I lotioned her almost the second we got home.
To the person who replied to the OP about bringing change for snacks - I would also bring actual snacks. We brought dollars and quarters but it just wasn't practical. The vending machine was in the ER waiting room. We should've just brought a bag of food. Even if you don't eat it at the hospital, you'll want quick food around for those first few weeks when you're too tired to cook a real meal.
Awesome list! Also, glasses in case your hospital or birth center doesn't allow you to wear contacts during L & D (mine doesn't)
One of my random worries is that I'll forget my glasses and not be able to see anything
Cell phone, Nook, comfy pj's. I haven't thought about anything else. lol
My girlfriend said she brought a picture of the beach/ocean from their honeymoon and taped it somewhere where she could easily see it during labour. She said it helped her go to her "happy place" lol Basically it gave her something to focus on and it helped calm her down.
We're planning to have a home birth, but my dog won't be there while I'm in labour. We feel it'd be too upsetting/confusing/scary for him so my SIL & BIL are puppy sitting him for a week. They'll pick him up when we call and say it's time. My dog is my baby and my heart. Not having him there will be hard and knowing I wont see him for a week is harder so I plan to have his picture close by as something to focus on.
Not sure if that's something that would work for everyone but I thought I'd throw it out there!
Married 9-19-2009
Baby Karrot 2.0 - 6.25.2015 - He's here! Via VBAC @ 36 weeks.
Thanks for posting this! It will be a good reference for a few months from now. I wanted to add that I read here or somewhere else that the nurses/aides prefer when people bring in pieces of card stock for footprints rather than having them go directly in the baby book, that way they can have a few chances to get it right, rather than worrying about messing up the baby book. Then you can put the card stock in the baby book later.
A light bathrobe? I don't think I remembered mine but as a plus-size girl, those gowns don't entirely do great covering sometimes. I remember the nurses gave me a 2nd gown to put on backwards. Didn't matter too much since I couldn't walk the halls like I initially wanted but it's something to think about.
And I would just double up on the socks, nursing bra, etc. And add in breast pads because if you milk comes in quickly, you don't want a soggy nursing bra.