What goes in the hospital bag thread

SweetnSassy23 · August 2015

You don't want to pack much, because then you just have to haul it all home again. Not to mention, the baby and all the baby gear. So what does a mom really need in the hospital bag? All suggestions and questions go in here!

NatalieBrooke2007 · August 2015

A few copies of your birth plan and a cute take home outfit for the baby.

SweetnSassy23 · August 2015

For mom:

An outfit or two

Backup shoes in case water breaks

Snacks

Toothbrush/toothpaste

Hair accessories

Glasses/contact stuff (if needed)

Special soaps or lotions

Makeup (if wanted)

For baby:

Coming home outfit

Blanket for animals to smell scent

Blanket for pictures/coming home

Infant carrier

Tip: You'll come home with a lot more than you take to the hospital. Pack an empty bag or almost empty bag to haul everything!

SweetnSassy23 · August 2015

Won't let me edit. I forgot to add phone or camera, and the baby book for footprints!

eat111315 · August 2015

Above plus:
Phone charger
Lanolin (if nursing)
Bag for partner (if they're staying with you)

MamaOwl15 · August 2015

Your hairbrush. If you forget to pack this, you may have to contend with getting a crappy one from the gift shop.

Depending on your personal feelings about bras vs. going braless, you might want to pack a comfortable bra or two. I regretted having only the bra I arrived in when I was in the hospital to have DS. After 4 days, my boobs were crying out for support. I'd at least pack a sleep bra.

And your own socks. Those hospital socks are clean and all, but they're weird. I wished I had some of my own socks to hang out in.

batmom05 · August 2015

Having done this once before and knowing what I used/didn't use, this is the list that I made for myself:

For Mom:

* Socks (for labor - I like the fuzzy ones!)

* Flip Flops (for the shower)

* Sports Bra (for labor in the tub)

* Nursing Bra

* Comfy panties

* Outfit to wear home (Yoga pants, a tank and a zip up hoodie)

* Pjs

* Hair Brush

* Toothbrush and Toothpaste

* Shampoo and Conditioner

* Body Wash

* Hair elastics

Misc

* Phone charger (his and mine)

* Gum

* Chapstick

* Playing cards

Hubby

* Snacks

* Change of Clothes

Baby

* Outfit to go home in

* Car Seat (in the car)

RainNFyre · August 2015

Some local mommies also recommended a towel. Hospital ones are gross - seriously - we wash thousands of butts a year with those towels. I'm just sayin'. Edit: spelling is hard.

MamaOwl15 · August 2015

RainNFyre said:
Som local mommies also recommended a towel. Hospital ones are gross - seriously - we wash thousands of butts a year with those towels. I'm just sayin'.

Oh yeah, I didn't even think about that . . . On the one hand, everything on the hospital bed and the gowns themselves have been worn by countless people, and washed, I'm assuming, in very hot water. But then you're probably big scrubbing poop of someone's butt with a pillow case . . .

dparker721 · August 2015

I feel so unprepared on this topic.

Aside from a car seat, are the only things we need to pack for baby just an outfit to wear home and maybe a blanket?

I saw someone mention the baby book for prints also. I don't know what I expected, but I guess I just thought I'd need to pack more for baby.

DeeGreer · August 2015

All I have left to pack is snacks!

SweetnSassy23 · August 2015

@dparker721

My hospital provides diapers and wipes, and the leftovers come home with us. They also provide blankets that we must leave at the hospital. Knitters donate hats for the babies, so I don't have to worry about packing that. Baby really doesn't need much at all.

alibagnulo · August 2015

Are you guys bringing the diaper bag? Or just your bag with everything in it? I feel so unprepared!

batmom05 · August 2015

alibagnulo said:

Are you guys bringing the diaper bag? Or just your bag with everything in it? I feel so unprepared!

@alibagnulo There really isn't a need to bring the diaper bag. The hospital will provide you with all of the baby essentials. You really only need one outfit to take the baby home in. We bring a couple because I like to have the baby dressed, but that is personal preference.

MamaOwl15 · August 2015

@dparker721,
When I was a FTM, I thought I'd need the whole diaper bag, the Boppy pillow, etc. I didn't end up using any of them so it was more to carry home.

This time, I plan to bring a going-home outfit, which includes a hat and blanket (though my MIL is crocheting one to match the car seat canopy so we might use that one), the baby book, and that's it. I might throw the Boppy in the car so if I want to have DH bring it to me, it'll be right there. But there's really no need to bring much.

swelniak · August 2015

My list, which is edited from last round with DS:

For me:
PJs and robe
Nursing bra (the sleep comfy kind) or nursing tank
Socks
Slippers/flip flops
Underwear - comfy granny panties to ruin
Pads - the ones in the hospital are like freaking pillows. Wayyy too bulky.
Nipple Balm
Chapstick
Snacks
Bluetooth speaker
Towel

Toiletries

Pillow
Small bottle of champagne to celebrate

We forgot this last time!

For baby:
Blanket
Coming home outfit
Car Seat
Boppy

For hubs:
Air mattress (our hospital's recovery rooms are super small and it's a fold out chair in there. We brought a twin air mattress at another couple's recommendation and it was key!)

Pillow/blanket/sheets for air mattress

Snacks

Chargers

Ipad

mommy_wife_nurse · August 2015

@swelniak the twin air mattress is a great idea! Will have to mention it to him and see what be thinks. I would think he'd rather have that than the chair. Then again he can sleep anywhere, so who knows lol!

Sballerina · August 2015

Can someone tell me the reason for bringing the baby book? Is it to fill stuff like the birth weight and length out in it? Can't you do that once you get home?

Krysta6 · August 2015

Sballerina said:

Can someone tell me the reason for bringing the baby book? Is it to fill stuff like the birth weight and length out in it? Can't you do that once you get home?

People say that the nurses who do the baby foot prints for the birth certificate (I think that is what they use them for lol?) will also do them to go into your baby book.

Sballerina · August 2015

Oh ok! That is a good reason. I might do my own scrapbook though rather than a premade book, unless I am given one. Thanks @Krysta6 !

Krysta6 · August 2015

Sballerina said:

Oh ok! That is a good reason. I might do my own scrapbook though rather than a premade book, unless I am given one. Thanks @Krysta6 !

You could always just bring a piece of scrapbook paper then that would be super easy!

J1D · August 2015

I'm working on packing my bag so I'm bumping this thread since the search function isn't working.

jessrl · August 2015

I'm a FTM, but when my nephew was born I was sent out to grab no scratch mittens because he kept scratching up his face. I'm planning on packing some.