Hospital bag

heatherjeanp · July 2014

I searched our board and didn't get any hits for "hospital bag", so I figured I'd start a thread. For those experienced and knowledgeable moms out there, I'd like your two cents as far as what you would pack and not bother to pack in the bag, based on prior hospital stays. Of course I found a list, but there's lists for everything and I value your words more at this point. Thanks!

golfingdarwinfish · July 2014

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12396539/hospital-or-delivery-center-bag#latest

jesslinnn · July 2014

I took wayyy too much with my first! With my second I took about half of that and it was still too much.

Off the top of my head- I'll be taking...

2 pairs of dark pjs/yoga type pants.
Tank top for nursing
T-shirt and zip-up hoodie
Slippers
Nursing bra
Phone/camera/camcorder & chargers
Change of clothes for DH
Going home outfit for baby girl, probably one in NB and one in 0-3m size.
Breastfeeding pillow
Shampoo/conditioner, body wash, deodorant, lotion, chap stick, brush, toothbrush/paste, make-up
Glasses, contacts, case, solution
Snacks- granola/ protein bars, sour candies, gatorade, etc

I'm sure I'm forgetting something but that's the main stuff.

Syllessa · July 2014

mel689 said:

I took wayyy too much with my first! With my second I took about half of that and it was still too much.

Off the top of my head- I'll be taking...

2 pairs of dark pjs/yoga type pants.
Tank top for nursing
T-shirt and zip-up hoodie
Slippers
Nursing bra
Phone/camera/camcorder & chargers
Change of clothes for DH
Going home outfit for baby girl, probably one in NB and one in 0-3m size.
Breastfeeding pillow
Shampoo/conditioner, body wash, deodorant, lotion, chap stick, brush, toothbrush/paste, make-up
Glasses, contacts, case, solution
Snacks- granola/ protein bars, sour candies, gatorade, etc

I'm sure I'm forgetting something but that's the main stuff.

This is almost exactly my list.

melaniedel · July 2014

They have it covered above, but I will add: Probably 3 nursing tanks Nursing cover or nursing cardigan Flip flops for shower My own pillow in bright pillow case so I remember it My birthing plan (although its nothing crazy, I have had a few things go wrong before and want it all down)

Emerald27 · July 2014

I just found out that the minimum stay where I'll deliver is just 12 hours...and God willing we're healthy, I want to go homeeee...

So now I'm trying to rethink my hospital bag. I don't want to take too much, also don't want to end up wishing I had something that I left off the list! I need to research short-stay hospital bag recs.

MendozaAJ · July 2014

I forgot to bring Chapstick and I really needed that after all that mouth breathing. I also got really sick from the the pitocin (sp?) and couldn't hold my bladder and throw up at the same time so I ran out of socks : ( and I wish I had brought more. I brought snacks with me but didn't eat any of them. I just sent my hubby after to get whatever I wanted. I just didn't feel like eating the things that I had brought, which was way too much. It was good for my hubby to make trips out of the hospital room after a long labor and delievery anyway.

persephonerose · July 2014

Emerald27 said:

I just found out that the minimum stay where I'll deliver is just 12 hours...and God willing we're healthy, I want to go homeeee... So now I'm trying to rethink my hospital bag. I don't want to take too much, also don't want to end up wishing I had something that I left off the list! I need to research short-stay hospital bag recs.

I'm envious! I wish that was the case for us. I hated the entire time I was in the hospital, all four days. My stupid blood pressure would not go down and they wouldn't let me leave. I expect it to be a long four days this time too.

future mrs dash · July 2014

When is everyone packing their bag?

MrMrsandBaby · July 2014

I packed my bag about a week before my EDD and just packed like I was going to a hotel or something overnight. I brought a change of clothes and my bathroom stuff. Maybe I'm in the minority but I stayed in the hospital gown (a clean one) for the first day. I did NOT feel like getting dressed and they were constantly checking me for bleeding, etc so wearing pants would have been a pain in the ass.

We are close enough to the hospital that DH can go home and change so we didn't pack anything for him. Just me and an outfit for the baby (NB size and she was swimming in it!). Just remember, everything you take in has to come out - and you will have a baby and all the free stuff you can steal take with you.

amstevens78 · July 2014

I am due Oct. 1 and will probably not pack my bag until about 1-2 weeks before. This is my second child and with my first I went up until 2 days till my due date so I don't think I will go early. I know for sure I will be packing snacks because last time I gave birth around 2:00 am and by the time we were settled and back in the room I was starving and there was nothing open.

mbobrow1 · July 2014

So as a first time mom, kindergarten teacher, and a general germ weirdo, I'm hesitant to bring my nursing pillow! I really want to minimize hospital germs on my personal stuff! Any thoughts? Am I alone in this?

MrMrsandBaby · July 2014

mbobrow1 said:

So as a first time mom, kindergarten teacher, and a general germ weirdo, I'm hesitant to bring my nursing pillow! I really want to minimize hospital germs on my personal stuff! Any thoughts? Am I alone in this?

Yeah, I don't really get this either but not for the germ reason! I never found the Bobby all that helpful and am not planning on buying a different one.

PC0909 · July 2014

MrMrsandBaby said:

mbobrow1 said:

So as a first time mom, kindergarten teacher, and a general germ weirdo, I'm hesitant to bring my nursing pillow! I really want to minimize hospital germs on my personal stuff! Any thoughts? Am I alone in this?

Yeah, I don't really get this either but not for the germ reason! I never found the Bobby all that helpful and am not planning on buying a different one.

I'm leaving the boppy home since it was useless last time. I brought shower shoes and a cheap-o toothbrush and tossed both because of germs... not too weird at all.

CraftonKirkpatrick · July 2014

I like this one!!! I have no idea what to bring so this is really helpful!!!

ashie0610 · July 2014

mbobrow1 said:

So as a first time mom, kindergarten teacher, and a general germ weirdo, I'm hesitant to bring my nursing pillow! I really want to minimize hospital germs on my personal stuff! Any thoughts? Am I alone in this?

Not weird! However, both my boppy and brestfriend pillows had removable, washable covers, so this didn't bother me with DS. I will leave the boppy home this time anyway.

MsMacual · July 2014

mbobrow1 said:

So as a first time mom, kindergarten teacher, and a general germ weirdo, I'm hesitant to bring my nursing pillow! I really want to minimize hospital germs on my personal stuff! Any thoughts? Am I alone in this?

I didn't have my nursing pillow at the hospital with my first and I wish I would have had it. I managed without it, but it was soooo much easier to nurse with the support of a pillow that actually was meant for breastfeeding (I have and love mybreastfriend). I'm very fair skinned and fair skinned ladies are prone to very sore nipples. I think that my nipples were worse off b/c I didn't have adequate support for LO during the first couple of days. Besides- the cover on the boppy and mybreastfriend are removable and washable so maybe you could plan to wash your cover the day you return home?

Emerald27 · July 2014

@theresat858 Why does your insurance require such a long stay, and what happens if you leave early? That would really upset me too.

MollyC20 · July 2014

One random thing we brought last time and I loved was our little wall scentsy with my favorite smell... It was nice having that familiarness during labor and smelled yummy!

pnwlover12 · July 2014

At the birth center I'm delivering at, the minimum stay is 3 hours if everyone is healthy (the midwives do a home visit within 48 hrs of birth as well). I'm excited and freaked out at the thought of being discharged so early.

pnwlover12 · July 2014

FamousEa said:

pnwlover12 said:
At the birth center I'm delivering at, the minimum stay is 3 hours if everyone is healthy (the midwives do a home visit within 48 hrs of birth as well). I'm excited and freaked out at the thought of being discharged so early.

I'm actually looking forward to my 4 day stay atte hospital. With DD2 I wanted out of there and got released a day early but last time I didn't have a toddler and a CS, this time I will.

Eeee having a toddler at home with a newborn is going to be so brutal...hold me, I'm scared. Dd will be staying at our inlaws for a day when I go into labor so we have time to adjust to having a newborn again.

Emerald27 · July 2014

theresat858 said:

Emerald27 said:

@theresat858 Why does your insurance require such a long stay, and what happens if you leave early? That would really upset me too.

I have no idea. This is what it says:
"

The mother’s (and newborn
child’s) inpatient stay will be no less than 48 hours following a vaginal
delivery or 96 hours following a Caesarian section unless the mother and
her attending physician decide otherwise as provided by law."
So hopefully my doctor can get me out of it.

------------------------------
@theresat858‌ This sounds more like they're saying that the law provides that your insurance will cover no less than 48 hours (or 96 for a section), even if mom and baby are healthy...like it's protecting you from your insurance saying "you had an easy birth so we're just paying 24 hours"...not like you HAVE to stay. But that's my totally uneducated interpretation. :P

It just doesn't make sense to me that insurance would arbitrarily choose to pay MORE for maternity care than just what a particular mom and baby need.

I would call insurance to verify the requirement, and if I'm wrong and you've interpreted it correctly, bring it to your OB and ask for an early discharge.