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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
hospital bag
For those of you who just delivered or still have a pretty good idea of what was important and what you can leave at home: what were you so grateful you brought and what did you not touch in your hospital bags when delivering??
For example:
- Did you bring outfits for LO? I have a couple of onesies and sweat pants and then the coming home outfit.
- Did yall bring panties? On my hospital tour the RN giving the tour said to leave them at home but what were your experiences?
- Pillows?
- For DH? Blanket, pillow, change of clothes? I recently read an article that said to send him home after baby is born.. Any opinions about that?
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Re: hospital bag
I only brought a going home outfit for DD, plus an extra hat, some socks, and mittens (didn't use the mittens, she was way too small for them).
No panties...didn't need them at all. I don't see how I could have possibly fit the hospital pads in my regular undies, anyway. The mesh ones were perfectly comfy.
Pillows...yes! We brought our own pillows (one for DH, one for me) in patterned cases plus I brought my buckwheat & lavendar travel pillow, which was nice to have because you rarely will lie flat in a hospital bed, so it's nice to have something to rest your cheek against.
For DH: All of that. We live 40 minutes from the hospital I delivered at. I was induced at 5am on Monday and didn't have her until 2:06am on Tuesday. He was VERY glad that he brought a change of clothes, a toothbrush, a pillow, and a blanket. They would have provided DH with a pillow and blanket but it was a very long day and he was glad to have more comfortable items from home. We just left his stuff in the car until we were situated. I'd rather have it in the car and not need it than need it and him have to go home to get it.
The other random thing I was glad to have were Wisps. Someone actually went to Walgreens to get them for me. I labored for a long time with an epidural that only half-worked. I couldn't get out of bed and it was way easier to use these than to try to brush my teeth for real.
Glad I brought nursing tanks and sleep bras because I got a shower and changed quickly after delivery. Loved having my boppy too.
I didn't use bra pads since I wasn't leaking yet since my milk hadn't come in. Didn't need underwear either since they give you some and they give you pads so don't bring those. Don't need outfits for LO either, we did just fine with only a take home outfit (though we brought both NB and 0-3 size just in case).
I only used the hospital panties and pads. They also provided toothbrushes for DH and me. I couldn't live without my phone, iPad and chargers. Eyeglasses. Mascara. My WEN shampoo, which I also used on my body. Virgin coconut oil for my skin and lips -- it was very dry there! Tinted lip balm. A few changes of sweats and pajamas. I was there four days because of c-section. Also Mothers Milk tea, which I drank the whole time I was there.
Hth!
I used very little of what I brought. Here is a run down-
outfits for LO- brought 1, and it was too big. He was smaller than expected. Should have brought a couple more. Brought a personalized beanie with his name on it, and a baby blanket with his name on it. LOVED these items.
Panties/pads- used the hospitals!! didnt change into mine until I got home.
Forgot my pillow but didnt need it. The hospital gave me as many as I asked for.
DH- he brought a change of clothes and a toothbrush. He used all his items!
Here is what I ended up using and loving-
hair ties
Make up remover wipes and makeup. (wipes came in handy to freshen up)
Toothbrush/paste
Cardigan hoodie ( I used this like a robe)
I had brought pjs etc, but I had a very sleepy babe who struggled to nurse at first and the nurses and LC had me constantly doing skin to skin. I wasnt able to change out of my gown until I left.
I hadn't even thought about it yet, because I ended up have a c-section at my 36 week check-up. I had my husband bring my cell phone charger, a change of clothes for me (nursing top), and my contact/eye glasses stuff, and the boppy pillow. The hospital gave me EVERYTHING else. Wonderful toiletries, everything for LO and the gigantic underwear and pads. I was only in there for 2 days and didn't miss a thing.
My DH stayed at the hospital until about midnight both nights and came back around 8am. For us it didn't make any sense for him to be there with me over night, and to be exhausted from not sleeping. I ended up really liking this because during the two days my hospital room was always packed with family and everyone took their time holding LO. I found that at night I got to have my one on one time with her. It was such a strange experience for me to go from feeling her in me and always knowing she was safe and sound to her being on the outside and being passed around. I stayed out of the way during the days so that all of the grandparents could have their bonding, the evenings were all about DH, LO and I and then I cherished the nights alone with LO. I wouldn't have changed a thing, it was a perfect experience!
You definitely want to bring your phone and your phone charger. A million people will be calling/texting and you want to make sure that you can keep in touch. I brought my toiletries and a spare outfit for myself. I didn't use my robe at all, nor did I use sweat pants. I just hung out in my hospital gown until the day that we left.
We did bring an outfit for LO, which was good, because when we left the hospital, they kept everything that he was wearing, so we wouldn't have had clothes. If we hadn't brought any, I'm sure they would have let us keep them, but it was cute to put his first little onesie on him. Since I had a natural birth, I only brought one pair of panties, because otherwise I used the mesh ones they give you. I only put mine on when it was time to leave. Pillows and blankets they have.
For DH, he brought his work laptop and his iPad, which was good, because otherwise he would have been very bored at times, especially when I was sleeping through the contractions. I also had my mom with me, so I sent DH home, but otherwise I would have wanted him there with me the whole time. He appreciated being able to sleep in our bed while my mom stayed overnight. Again, I wouldn't have wanted to be by myself, but that's just me. My mom and DH took shifts with me, so she would go to our house and relax while DH stayed with me, and vice versa
I couldn't live without my own toiletries because the hospital ones sucked. And when I could finally take that first shower I was very glad I had those comforts from home. Also, 2 extra pillows. My husband coveted both at one point but again, it was my own piece of home.
What Idid not need nd thought I would really use was the boppy. People love these things but with being swollen and the softness of the cover - it was slipping all over and just got me really frustrated. Now I don't even use it at home cause I sort of scarred myself lol.
Iphone (pictures) and ofcourse charger, ipad, change of clothes (me and dh), and a nb and 0-3 outfit for lo. Thats all we used, and it was a natural birth. We really didnt need anything else the hospital supplied everything else ( and the panties relly werent that bad)
Clothes: Going home outfit for LO (2 different sizes just in case) and for myself. I bled a lot so used the hospital underwear which was great with the large maxi pads and ice packs. Also it was a lot easier to be in the hospital gown to do skin to skin very often with LO and easily be checked out by the nurses.
Toiletries: The only thing I used was my toothbrush and toothpaste. Didn't bother to even comb my hair in the 2 days I was there, my hair was in a ponytail the whole time. I did use chapstick a lot during labor.
Pillows: Yes, yes and yes. Sure the hospital gives you but they will never be the comfort of your pillow.
DH: He chose to stay with me at the hospital even though we were 15 minutes from home. Very important for him was a hoodie/sweater because I would keep the room freezing (mainly while laboring).
i made my DH go home and get my pillows. I didn't think i would need them, but so glad i had them.
i bathed immediately after birth ( all natural) and put on the mesh undies/icepack/pad/tucks combo but my own clothes over top. think roomy pj pants and nursing tank/tshirt. i brought a zip up hoodie and was glad i did, the a/c was cranked!
newborn and 0-3 outfit for lo
make-up to feel human