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October 2012 Moms
hamiltks10
member
New Mamas: Hospital and Baby Bags
hamiltks10
member
This is for all of you new mama's that have had your babies. Since you have been through labor/delivery and the hospital stay...I'd love to know what you packed in your hospital bag. What was a waste of space? And what did you miss that you wish you would have brought along with you?
Also...what about the baby/diaper bag? What did you need/use for the baby and what was better left at home?
Thanks!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: New Mamas: Hospital and Baby Bags
I just asked my GF this who gave birth 3 months ago. She packed a bunch of stuff, but all she used was:
-Hair brush/hair bands
-toothbrush/toothpaste
-slippers
-newborn outfit for baby (not needed, because hospital keeps baby swaddled, but nice for cute pictures) .
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She told me the most important thing to pack is SNACKS! Lol! She was so hungry, and her parents came with candy/popsicles/ fruit/snacks and she said it saved her.
Also, she went home in the same sweats and hubby's T-shirt she arrived in. She's 23 yrs (my age) and had makeup and cute clothes packed, but could care less about it in the end. :P
warm comfy pjs and slippers, toothbrush/paste, face wash.
for baby we needed wipes and eventually diapers since they did not refill in cabinet and we definately put him in his own clothes bc they had such cold rooms.
We did not have a hospital bag packed yet since I was only 36 weeks when we had her, but we did have my mother-in-law go to the house and grab some stuff for us.
I totally agree with above that snacks were key! We had people bring us a lot of snack food and it was so appreciated!
I was also glad to have:
- a robe to put on over my hospital gown when I was feeling better towards the end of my stay (C-section and other complications so I was in the hospital for 5 nights)
- a cute going home outfit for baby (Really just for fun), the rest of the time she was swaddled in the hospital blankets. We really needed very little for her while we were there
- hair brush, hair bands, some make-up, toothbrush, toothpaste
- extra pillows from home for nursing and for husband - our hospital gave extra pillows, but the ones they gave my husband were terrible!
- nursing bras
I went home in a stretchy maternity top and yoga pants
We had my MIL pack a lot more than this, but this is all we ended up using.
I used everything in my bag. I packed:
our own pillows in pretty blue pillowcases, which were great to have, esp for my H because he was sleeping on a pretty grody stiff chair-bed hybrid.
a boppy
my makeup
a hairbrush and hair tie
a small bag of travel sized toiletries, plus toothbrush and deoderant
a soft nursing bra
a nursing tank
absorbent nursing pads (I started leaking right away, unlike the last time, so I was glad I brought them)
a soft thin robe (I just wore the nursing tank with the robe over it, no pants, the whole time).
slippers and slipper socks
a nursing top to wear home (I wore jeans to the hospital, so I just wore those home. Maternity jeans WILL still fit, haha!)
an outfit for LO to wear home
a cute pumpkin hat because we had newborn pics done in the hospital
blanket for the carseat and of course, the seat.
I wish I had packed a magazine. I didn't think to do so because the first time I had no time to read. But this time I had to be induced and I actually was bored for a few hours there.
We just bought snacks and drinks at the hospital. I agree we ate and drank a lot in the room, but we didn't have to bring it. The hospital we delivered at has a 24 hour cafeteria.
And that was it!
I did not bring hair dryer but sent DH home for it as I dried my hair both days. I used my pjs, makeup, camera, going home clothes. Didn't take boppy as I thought it might be false alarm but DH came and brought it.
Hats for the baby, when they do the little Bella baby pictures they user them and omygah y'all I about died from the cute!
Aden and anais swaddle, the hospital ones weren't long enough.
My own pillows.
Cosmetics and toiletries that made me feel human again. It's really nice to be able to shower and have decent hair and makeup for pics.
Waste of space:
Boppy pillow. Did not fit around my waist, kept popping off in the middle of feedings and scaring baby!
Extra clothes: I lived in my robe and a hospital gown. Getting pants on is surprisingly difficult!
My bag is pretty much the same. I packed myself a few comfy nightgowns with easy boob access - so I could get out of the hospital gown asap - and a robe to cover up when my inlaws visit. I also packed some makeup because I remember being glad I had it last time when everyone was taking pictures. Most of my other stuff is for entertainment: books, magazines, dvds. I didn't sleep much last time but DH did and the nights were very long and boring when LO was sleeping.
When DS was born, I didn't use anything out of the hospital bag except my going-home clothes & my hairbrush/toothbrush/toothpaste.
This time, I've used my toiletries, both pairs of yoga pants I brought (one capri length, one full length), my nursing tank, a nursing bra, and a t-shirt. We're going home today, so I'll likely put on at least a little bit of makeup when I change my clothes.
For baby, we've gone through every outfit we brought for her, as well as some that have been given as gifts since we've been here. (With DS, we managed to make one sleeper last the whole stay). Nothing we have fits her - she's too little for NB clothes & too big for preemie clothes. We've also used both A&A swaddle blankets we brought, and today will use her going-home outfit. The hospital provides us with diapers/wipes, t-shirts for baby to wear, and blankets.
The post-partum wing in my hospital has all sorts of snacks available, so we didn't bring any and it's been fine.