Trying to pack my hospital bag

ladylisalt · August 2014

So I am slowly getting things together for my hospital bag. However, I am having a hard time completely packing it. It seems like the things I need are the items I currently wear or use.(comb, comfortable night gown, yoga pants) I don't want to buy duplicates of things,esp. clothes. Anyone running into this?

MrsLaLaBug · August 2014

Throw those things in at the last minute?

ap0wer · August 2014

When I packed my bag, I only packed baby's things.

I'll just throw my things into a bag before I leave to go to the hospital. Unless you wait until you're crowning to leave, you should be fine to do the same.

Liss1481 · August 2014

Throw them in before you leave. I do have a list of those things to keep with my bag just so I don't forget anything at the last minute.

beccalee721 · August 2014

ap0wer said:

When I packed my bag, I only packed baby's things. I'll just throw my things into a bag before I leave to go to the hospital. Unless you wait until you're crowning to leave, you should be fine to do the same.

This. I packed baby's stuff when I started having contractions (always the procrastinator) and before we left for the hospital I added everything of mine. The chances that you won't have time to grab everything are slim IMO. And if you do end up in that situation, you don't need anything you're going to bring until probably the day after baby's born so someone can run and get it for you.

auglove12 · August 2014

I am doing what pp mentioned. Packing toiletries etc now (just bought travel size from Wal-Mart) and then will have a list of the clothing I need

KochavKatan · August 2014

I am very much the planner so I needed to know everything is ready in advance. I packed everything I may need and things that I cannot part with yet are on a post it on the wall next to the bag, to make sure my husband won't forget to grab it since I think I may be too distracted with contractions to start running around for stuff myself.

emmylu30 · August 2014

You should have plenty of time to get hospital bag together before it is actually time to go to the hospital since you typically need to time contractions for at least an hour(5-1-1 rule). Even if your water breaks you don't have to run out of the house immediately.

bohemianlc · August 2014

I have also been packing my bag and am having the same problem, but I agree with PPs that most of us should have plenty of time to add those items before heading out to the hospital.

I attached a detailed list of the items I'm currently using to the bag so I won't become absent-minded and forget to toss them in there before we leave. I agree with you, OP, that it seems silly to invest in duplicates if you don't need them.

ladylisalt · August 2014

emmylu30 said:

You should have plenty of time to get hospital bag together before it is actually time to go to the hospital since you typically need to time contractions for at least an hour(5-1-1 rule). Even if your water breaks you don't have to run out of the house immediately.

I def had time with my first but more concerned since its a second and I need to get antibiotics in since I was positive for Step B.

ladylisalt · August 2014

bohemianlc said:

I have also been packing my bag and am having the same problem, but I agree with PPs that most of us should have plenty of time to add those items before heading out to the hospital.

I attached a detailed list of the items I'm currently using to the bag so I won't become absent-minded and forget to toss them in there before we leave. I agree with you, OP, that it seems silly to invest in duplicates if you don't need them.

For those of you who suggested a list near the bag, I think I will do that. So simple. Thanks

ap0wer · August 2014

theresat858 said:

ap0wer said:

When I packed my bag, I only packed baby's things.

I'll just throw my things into a bag before I leave to go to the hospital. Unless you wait until you're crowning to leave, you should be fine to do the same.

Lol. Because you are always in labor at home before you go and give birth. 100% of the time.

~~
I went to a standard 38 week OB appointment, fully intending to return to work afterwards. I left the hospital 3 days later with a newborn. I did not have a chance to go home and pack anything.

If you do not pack things ahead of time because you need them, make a VERY CLEAR DETAILED list that your DH can follow. Show your DH where everything is. Describe each item of clothing in a way a man can actually understand. I failed to do this, and had only gotten around to packing one shirt in my hospital bag.

Hence, despite DH going home several times while I was at the hospital and me asking him to bring me another shirt each time, I only had one clean shirt to wear during the hospital stay. It was not what I pictured for our coming home photos.

So yeah, just pick some things you don't really need now and pack them, or buy a spare pair of yoga pants.

---------

Was just a general comment, didn't intend to come across as rude or ignorant. My bad.

Edited because mobile quote fail

StefanyaMarie · August 2014

I packed everything I'm not using and then made a list of the things that I need to remember last minute so that my husband can throw them in my bag if I am at work when I go into labor.

mb314 · August 2014

ap0wer said:

When I packed my bag, I only packed baby's things. I'll just throw my things into a bag before I leave to go to the hospital. Unless you wait until you're crowning to leave, you should be fine to do the same.

This is what I thought last time, but I had a really intense labor from the get-go. I thought, oh, I'll have a break between contractions and can throw stuff in the bag during that "break." Well, I never got a break between contractions - it was just a lower level of awful cramping. I wasn't able to do anything. When I instructed DH to finish packing my bag for me with a list of multiple things spread over the house, where only I knew where they were, he laughed and said we'd just have to forget about that stuff.

So if you do leave stuff out that needs to be packed, make sure that your DH knows where they are and can easily get them. I think this time around, I'm going to just have duplicates of everything because my labor may be even faster.

Also, unsolicited advice - pack a towel. My hospital's towels were like the size of hand towels, and were a joke. Thank god I packed a towel to use for showering.

mkw1013 · August 2014

ive been making a list of things to pack and someone told me make sure you have quarters for the vending machine incase you or DH wants to get a snack. I thought that was a good idea. And i plan on packing as much as i can before we go to the hospital. The clothes i want to pack i can do without for a week or so.

tbarker14 · August 2014

I'm supposed to pack my bags tonight. One for the hospital and one for the month long stay in the other area that has a hospital. (since no hospital where I live).

We leave tomorrow morning and I have yet to start any packing.... still in a limbo.
I guess I'll be throwing things in at the last minute! Tonight or tmw am!
(baby's bag is all packed and ready).

I might just end up using my one bag since I don't have a lot of maternity clothes to start off with!

At least if need to be I could always have my DH pack my things for the hospital. Since we will be staying at the hotel prior to waiting... so it would be pretty hard for him not to be able to find my things!

Good luck with packing... it's the one thing I don't quite like to do myself either!

LightBright515 · August 2014

I can't find one thing wrong with having an extra nightgown or pair of yoga pants ...

spinsemeyer · August 2014

Do you really only have one comfy nightgown, one comfy pair of pants? If so, might as well buy another set anyway because who can live with only one comfy pair of pants?!

ladylisalt · August 2014

spinsemeyer said:

Do you really only have one comfy nightgown, one comfy pair of pants? If so, might as well buy another set anyway because who can live with only one comfy pair of pants?!

As far as maternity I am more limited. I don't wear my regular pjs/pants as they would be completely stretched out.

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