those who have given birth already...

ahkh0910 · May 2015

I'm trying to finish up my hospital bag. For those who have given birth, is there anything you didn't pack that you wish you would have and anything you packed that you didn't use/need?

Thank you!

danibii · May 2015

I feel like I packed a few outfits for myself and I really didn't need them. If anything I wish I had brought a few more empty bags to load up stuff to take home!

cassietegtmeier · May 2015

More than one pair of warm socks!

nursej519 · May 2015

I packed way too much for baby and not enough for myself. I was glad I brought my own extra long pads with wings. The hospital ones sucked. Oh, and flushable wipes for yourself. Toilet paper sticks.

Megaphone2752 · May 2015

I didn't use my boppy.

ashleyk251 · May 2015

Definitely bring a few pairs of socks for yourself. I brought black yoga pants to wear afterwards to help keep this huge diaper I'm wearing in place. Glad I did. I'm also glad I brought my own button down PJ top, slippers, shower flip flops and robe. My hospital provided witchazel pads, dermoplast, and hemorrhoid cream for afterwards.

Curlygirl84 · May 2015

Robe and slippers were a must. And lip balm

uwemi · May 2015

I didn't use anything in my bag except toothbrush and bathing soap. My hospital provided everything including snacks, comfortable undies,nipple cream etc

Chichi93 · May 2015

I didn't use anything in my hospital bag. They provided wipes, pads, numbing spray for stitches, underwear, medicines, etc.

I only used a change of clothes, and toothbrush. They made me use baby soap to take a shower due to stitches from ripping. And i couldn't wash my hair because I was rushed to get to the nursery. However, I took a boppy pillow and used that for the ride and it helped so much! I know that's not what they're for but hey, I didn't have time to get a donut pillow afterward.

My baby was born and found out he had heart problems so I wasn't there 24 hours and rushed to be with my baby at arkansas childerens hospital. But I don't think I would have even used anything other than what I did either way.

ali0608 · May 2015

I used my flip flops, robe, and hairbrush.
I hardly opened my bag while there. I also brought something to wear home.

Beth0011 · May 2015

I thought I wouldn't want to use their pads ormesh ununderwear but I LOVED THEM. There pads are like a ice pack they break in half and then stay cold... also more snacks...and I packed makeup but iI'm to sore to the point where I don't even care lol.

MrsS728 · May 2015

The best thing I used was my own towel and pillow. We also packed a blanket and pillow for my husband to use. Snacks came in handy and baby wipes. Our hospital only uses wash clothes (which are rough on her hiney) so we are glad we brought our own for her. We also used her own clothes/sleepers/swaddle pods. Our daughter doesn't like her hands swaddled, so we swaddle pod under her armpits and she loves it. I brought a nightgown, but preferred the hospital gowns at night because it was easier to nurse the baby in the middle of the night. Bring comfy socks. The hospital socks that they gave me tore my feet to shreds, so much so that my mom had to bring more socks and lotion for my feet.

Amber Woods · May 2015

Blanket, pillow, lip balm, earplugs, couple comfortable outfits for walking or visiting your baby if in nicu, hairbrush, toothbrush, contacts or glasses, iPad, cellphone charger, camera, camera charger, hospital paperwork, baby clothes for leaving, boppy, car seat, change for vending machine

funkychicken789 · May 2015

The best thing I brought was a light robe. (10 bucks at Walmart). I had trouble with latching so it made it easy to cover for visitors, but could do skin to skin and feedings or consultations easily.

allyshaa · May 2015

I ended up having to stay an extra day and ran out of clothes for baby, of course they have the little hospital shirts for babies to wear but it's much more fun to dress him/her yourself. He also spit up on all of his outfits so we went through the clothes faster. Don't forget little mittens so he fornt scratch his face also.

lestes1121 · May 2015

Beth0011 said:
I thought I wouldn't want to use their pads ormesh ununderwear but I LOVED THEM. There pads are like a ice pack they break in half and then stay cold... also more snacks...and I packed makeup but iI'm to sore to the point where I don't even care lol.

After I got home I wish I had asked for extra pairs of mesh undies. They were the most comfy thing for my incision from my section. I packed a ton of stuff and hardly used one thing. The hospital I delivered my first at didn't supply any thing but this one supplied everything I needed. It was so nice not having clothes and stuff to wash when I got home.

jakobaby · May 2015

I didn't use the makeup I packed and I lost the breastfeeding pillow somewhere between labor/delivery and post partum. Wish I had it, but we made it work.
We brought two pillows from home which was great. It helped make the uncomfy hospital comfier for DH and I.

WarEagleYall · May 2015

Didnt use boppy.

Loved having my lightweight robe.
I brought regular panties to use when i was tired of the mesh panties.
I also loved the daytime outfits that I brought for the baby but I didnt use any of the pajamas I brought for him.
My husband got a ton of use out of the snacks we brought. I was also glad that we brought our laundry bag for dirty clothing.

Bon2737 · May 2015

I'm so glad I brought lip ice and my own face cloth, hospital provided nearly everything else. I did not bring empty packets to pack my dirty clothes in, so I suggest bringing that. Oh and also bring a dummy for baby, if u don't mind using one.

Bon2737 · May 2015

Another nice thing is a notepad and pen, in case you want to record feeding times or write about your birth experience whilst it is all fresh in your mind

natbcain · May 2015

Just got home from my hospital stay. Thought it would be 2 nights but ended up 5 nights.
Wish I would have brought-
more yoga pants with the fold over top. Those were the only thing comfy enough to wear with my unexpected c section plus mass amounts of fluid.
Flowy tops. I had tank tops mostly with zip ups which worked great, but the flowy top would have felt so comfy after all that!
More baby blankets/swaddles. Used the hospital ones mainly but wanted my softer ones.

Didn't need- reading material. I had no energy or focus to read.
A bunch of baby clothes. Never put baby in clothes till the day we were leaving. He loved just a diaper and two swaddle blankets. Made it so easy to breastfeed skin to skin every time and never worried if he was too hot too cold or comfy. Plus changing diapers/having nurses check on him/etc was so easy!
Water bottle- they gave me a great one that we kept filled the entire time!

Glad I had snacks, blanket and pillow for husband, slippers, one size bigger undies, lotion, shower stuff to feel human again, our own towels and cell phone for pictures!
So glad to have also brought thank you cards from someone else's suggestion on a blog. I ended up writing over 10 because the staff was so anazing! So glad I was able to say thank you for all their care and support!
Good luck!

QueenVict0ria · May 2015

Chichi93 said:
I However, I took a boppy pillow and used that for the ride and it helped so much! I know that's not what they're for but hey, I didn't have time to get a donut pillow afterward.

I left my boppy and had my bf go home and get it.We only live maybe 2 miles from the hospital if that. My baby was too small for me to use the boppy for breastfeeding so i used it to sit on as well. So it serves multiple purposes! One thing i wish i packed is more snacks because the hospital food was AWFUL. I ate takeout pretty much the whole time but when i needed a late night snack i wish i had packed more.

mbt385 · May 2015

I'm so glad I brought my own pillow! Also, be sure to pack some full-size towels, phone, and camera chargers (with longer cords, if possible)! The hospital pillows and towels are pitiful. My hospital provided meals for mom but not dad, so I recommend bringing plenty of snacks and/or cash for cafeteria and vending machines. My stay was 5 days and I'm so glad I packed toiletries so I could shower! Also, comfy yoga pants were a must for me! It was better than walking around in just a hospital gown for our extended stay!

seamama525 · May 2015

I was glad I brought shampoo and soap from home. The towels are small but not a huge issue. I always put a bathrobe on after I shower though. The hospital towels are not big enough to sit around in. Really glad I brought my bathrobe especially since the room they moved us into the second night was more chilly. I ended up wearing it all night.

I used the jacuzzi tub in labor so it helped to have flip flops but I didn't use a swimsuit-just went in naked.

Other must haves-lip balm, a couple of blankets for baby to wear over the car seat, water bottle(they provided one but I really like my own) and cash for my husbands meals at the hospital.

I asked for extra tucks, pads and disposable underwear which I was able to use for the last few days I've been home. Definitely ask for extras to bring home!

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