Bringing pillows to the hospital...yay or nay?

Meagan0528 · October 2012

Opinions ladies? I am getting all of my stuff together and I have heard differing opinions on this. I am for sure bringing a blanket from home, but don't they usually have a ton of pillows? Are they comfortable? I work in a hospital but ironically don't know much about being a patient.....

savannat421 · October 2012

i don't know much about the birthing rooms at my local hospital yet (i plan to take a tour next week), but i would think the hospital would give you lots of pillows if you wanted! i want to take mine, since its a memory foam pillow and squishy and wonderful (haha), but i'm worried about something happening to it. if you feel comfy bringing your own blanket, then by all means bring your own pillow!

and i haven't thought anything about bringing a blanket, so i might look into that too!

Bambina54 · October 2012

I didn't bring them the first time around. I've thought about bringing my body pillow this time but I'm worried it will just be more crap to carry. I honestly was too tired to care about the pillows because I don't remember thinking they were horribly uncomfortable.

nanabanana06 · October 2012

Yes, take them! Hospital pillows suck. If you want to feel comfortable for the 3 days your there than bring your own. No white pillow cases though. Bright colors are best. This way they know that they are yours and not theirs.

sschwege · October 2012

I was really glad I did. Those pillows were really stiff! I was also happy I brought my own bath robe.

jerkyanne · October 2012

Hospital pillows kind of suck. I would just make sure that your pillow has a not white pillow case so that it's differential to both you and the staff at the hospital.

married2m · October 2012

I haven't decided yet. I did bring a pillow when I had DS. It just seemed like I had so much stuff though, I want to pare down my bag so I might skip it. I only sleep on one pillow as it is, so I don't feel like I need extra.

I will, however, definitely be bringing my boppy pillow. It made breast feeding so much more comfortable!

MelleTX · October 2012

During my childbirth class and hospital tour, they recommended several times to bring your own pillows. They profusely apologized for their poor quality pillows. I guess they have to meet certain anti-microbial standards that make them not fluffy or comfortable.

I am taking my own.

lavet22 · October 2012

I took a body pillow when I delivered DS2 and then threw it away there. I didn't want to risk bringing any hospital icky stuff home with it. They are only around $10 at walmart, so I didn't think too much about it. I will be doing the same this time around. They will give you as many pillows as you like, but if you need a specific type of pillow to be comfy, best bring it yourself.

persephonerose · October 2012

On our hospital tour they specifically told us to bring pillows if we thought we would want extras for delivery. While they have pillows there, and all rooms will have the standard two pillows. They might not have extra pillows for spouse if he needs to crash on the pull out because the extra pillows go to women birthing. If it is a busy night birthing they could have no spare pillows to go around since some women request a LOT of pillows apparently.

AliceMM · October 2012

I brought one and my husband ended up using it on the daybed for himself. I obviously lived without it. I got no sleep anyway between my baby waking every two hours and the annoying blood pressure cuff that goes off with an alarm every so often the first night, so the pillow wasn't really high on my list of priorities. But I do plan on bringing it again- why not.

brianabrad · October 2012

Nana_Osaki06:
Yes, take them! Hospital pillows suck. If you want to feel comfortable for the 3 days your there than bring your own. No white pillow cases though. Bright colors are best. This way they know that they are yours and not theirs.

After being in OB triage this weekend due to the stomach flu, I totally agree with this. They suck and they only had one on the bed. Probably could have asked for more but was wishing for my own pillow even though we were there less than 6 hours. We'll be taking our own to and be as comfortable as possible.

ETA - OP love the MU pic. We live in Columbia and DH is a MU alum.

doggiemom4 · October 2012

The nurse that did our tour told us that if we wanted comfy pillows to bring them from home (w/ a different color or patterned pillowcase as not the get confused with the crappy hospital pillows).

HTH.

I will def. be taking mine.

bearkatjen · October 2012

I vote no. I missed my pillow, but not enough to lug it up to the hospital. My hospital gave me as many pillows as I wanted. I didn't bring my brestfriend pillow (big mistake), so I had loads of pillows to prop up on and to prop the baby on when I needed to nurse.

Amaryllis619 · October 2012

I found it was unnessesary, so I won't be bringing mine. Just take the tour of your hospital and see what the quality is like before you decide.

Mrs.DeliaMarieP · October 2012

I will bring mine this time, because last time the ones I was given were completely flat and useless. Just make sure you put a very distinct pillowcase on it so that it doesn't get removed by the cleaning staff.

ambermccormick · October 2012

I have a tiny bag packed and had just enough room left open to stuff a pillow in so why not bring one.

GigiFairy · October 2012

I say nay.. I don't want to haul all that stuff and pillows are bulky.

jennygirlmt · October 2012

We'll take one for DH and leave it on the car until he needs it. I still can't decide if I want to take my boppy in. I did last time and it was nice but now that I know how to nurse I might not add one more thing to carry.

AimeeL85 · October 2012

Before I had DS I used to think it was silly when people recommended bringing your own; I figured I'm not that picky and never have trouble sleeping away from home. I was wrong, the pillows really are bad! I had DH bring mine from home ASAP and slept so much better when I did.

HopeNotLost · October 2012

I never brought my own to either of my previous births. I always asked for more if I needed them.

sourapplemartini · October 2012

I loved having my pillow in the hospital. The hospital ones are thin, flat and uncomfortable.

Kingston54 · October 2012

I wouldn't. The hospital will give you extra pillows. That's another thing to lug there and lug home. The less you take, the better.

sbevmc09 · October 2012

I didn't bring pillows last time and don't plan to this time. They have plenty of pillows there (and if you need more, they'll bring more) and honestly I found the hospital bed to be really uncomfortable anyway and hardly slept the entire time we were there for a variety of reasons even though I was in bed nearly the whole time. My pillow from home wouldn't have made me any more comfortable and it would have been one more thing to have to worry about taking. I wouldn't bother.

LoveActually4 · October 2012

Im a nurse and with all of the hospital acquired infections and bacteria that could be brought home, I'm skipping it. Fabrics pick up these things and pillows aren't really washable so it grosses me out to think about it. I'll deal with the uncomfy ones.

Kie310 · October 2012

I didn't need regular pillows from home, but I ended up with a c/s so my mom brought me in a little pillow for my belly when getting in and out of bed, coughing/laughing/sneezing. that was very helpful

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