March 2016 Moms

Hospital Bag Checklist and Advice

2

Re: Hospital Bag Checklist and Advice

  • My bleeding was only heavier than a period for a couple days, then it was like a two week period. I'm sure everyone varies. My sil only bled three days total. Once I left the hospital regular pads were okay for me. I've bought one large bag of super heavy with wings and put about 10 in my hospital bag. Ill probably use hospital supplies until I head home, I only packed ten just to be sure. This is probably tmi, but I remember the smell being overwhelming at the hospital, like gagging me when I would be changing underwear and pad. I worried about my whole hospital room smelling- probably all in my head. I've thrown a mini size bottle of Lysol spray in my bag to keep in my hospital bathroom for the smell and for drips on the floor. But I also packed sanitizing wipes and anti bac hand lotion so maybe I'm just weird.
    Just to show the wide spectrum, I bled heavily for about 2 weeks, then light (think beginning/end of period) for about 4 more...so 6 weeks total. I had second degree tearing as well.
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  • My bleeding was only heavier than a period for a couple days, then it was like a two week period. I'm sure everyone varies. My sil only bled three days total. Once I left the hospital regular pads were okay for me. I've bought one large bag of super heavy with wings and put about 10 in my hospital bag. Ill probably use hospital supplies until I head home, I only packed ten just to be sure. This is probably tmi, but I remember the smell being overwhelming at the hospital, like gagging me when I would be changing underwear and pad. I worried about my whole hospital room smelling- probably all in my head. I've thrown a mini size bottle of Lysol spray in my bag to keep in my hospital bathroom for the smell and for drips on the floor. But I also packed sanitizing wipes and anti bac hand lotion so maybe I'm just weird.

    Just to show the wide spectrum, I bled heavily for about 2 weeks, then light (think beginning/end of period) for about 4 more...so 6 weeks total. I had second degree tearing as well.

    I had a c-section both times and bled heavy for 8 weeks with both. I know it varies with everyone. I've always been a bleeder use to get a period every two weeks until I got on birth control at age 19. My doctor isn't concerned since it how my body works but just know some people bleed longer than others even when not having a vaginal birth.
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  • When do you install the car seat? 30 weeks and anxious to open the box of our Graco travel system, set it up, and install the base of the infant carrier. I know that if in an accident we'd (insurance) would replace the base/car seat so not concerned about that. Planning on just installing base and putting the car seat by the door with the bags. I was thinking around 35 weeks?
  • tJaffe said:

    When do you install the car seat? 30 weeks and anxious to open the box of our Graco travel system, set it up, and install the base of the infant carrier. I know that if in an accident we'd (insurance) would replace the base/car seat so not concerned about that. Planning on just installing base and putting the car seat by the door with the bags. I was thinking around 35 weeks?

    Whenever you want. I'm almost 33 weeks and one of our bases is already in my husbands car since we will bring that one to the hospital. The other base will go in my van soon, as soon as we figure out the arrangement we want. 35 weeks is good, but I think anytime is also fine :)
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  • I'll be putting mine in by 35 weeks (DS1 came at 36 weeks, so I want to be careful). If you're itching to do it, do it. :) 
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  • Dvds- I watched I Love Lucy during my entire first labor.
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  • tJaffe said:
    When do you install the car seat? 30 weeks and anxious to open the box of our Graco travel system, set it up, and install the base of the infant carrier. I know that if in an accident we'd (insurance) would replace the base/car seat so not concerned about that. Planning on just installing base and putting the car seat by the door with the bags. I was thinking around 35 weeks?
    Honestly the sooner the better, especially with a new seat.  You need to make sure it fits in your car - learned that one from experience with DS1 - car seat didn't fit in our car and we almost had to scramble as he came 15 days early.  Also FYI if you want to take your car/seat to the local firestation, firefighters are trained to make sure the seat is properly installed and they will help you out.  Ours provided us with stickers we could stick on the car seat that had the baby's info on it (in case of an accident, then EMT's know the baby's info/your contact info). 
    DS1 - 9/21/11
    DS2 - 7/4/14
    DS3 - 2/21/16
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Our family of 5 is complete!!  Love our boys!

  • One thing I'll add to the packing list is a shower cap. They always seem to rush me into that first shower after I deliver and I'm usually not feeling super great so I just want it to be quick to rinse the yuckies off but not get into wash/condition/drying my hair.
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  • One thing I'll add to the packing list is a shower cap. They always seem to rush me into that first shower after I deliver and I'm usually not feeling super great so I just want it to be quick to rinse the yuckies off but not get into wash/condition/drying my hair.
    That has to be hospital specific.  I had to ask if it was ok to shower hours after giving birth because I really didn't know.
    DS1 - 9/21/11
    DS2 - 7/4/14
    DS3 - 2/21/16
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Our family of 5 is complete!!  Love our boys!

  • tJaffe said:

    When do you install the car seat? 30 weeks and anxious to open the box of our Graco travel system, set it up, and install the base of the infant carrier. I know that if in an accident we'd (insurance) would replace the base/car seat so not concerned about that. Planning on just installing base and putting the car seat by the door with the bags. I was thinking around 35 weeks?

    I'm 33+5 and I just put my car seat in the car this morning. The base isn't latched in yet- I wanted to see where it would fit and it wouldn't go directly behind my seat (doesn't help that I have a big preggo belly rubbing on the steering wheel so I can't adjust my seat any more than it is) so I moved it to the middle to see if dd had room to sit next to it. By time we got all that done I was too tired to look for the latch bars and tether the base in. I will do it tomorrow. We are leaving the car seat in the car too, and once our bags are packed they will be in the back too, ready to go so we don't forget anything.

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  • Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure middle seat is the safest, so @charley15 you're golden!
  • skruhmin said:
    One thing I'll add to the packing list is a shower cap. They always seem to rush me into that first shower after I deliver and I'm usually not feeling super great so I just want it to be quick to rinse the yuckies off but not get into wash/condition/drying my hair.
    That has to be hospital specific.  I had to ask if it was ok to shower hours after giving birth because I really didn't know.
    That's crazy!  I've delivered in 2 different hospitals (this will be #3!) and they were all that way.  As soon as I could feel my legs they had me in the shower.  I was like geez can I get a freakin sandwich first?!?  
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  • Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure middle seat is the safest, so @charley15 you're golden!

    Really depends on the car. Read the manual and they'll tell you. Lots of cars only have the LATCH system on the outer seats.
    DS1 - 9/21/11
    DS2 - 7/4/14
    DS3 - 2/21/16
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Our family of 5 is complete!!  Love our boys!

  • For me: Pillow, boppy, comfy pants to rave the hospital, nursing bra/tanks (I lived in these the whole time), a robe to throw on when people drop in, cosmetics for shower, I took a couple pairs of panties but never needed them as the hospital provided them and pads, slippers.

    For DH: pillow, mostly comfortable clothes, book/magazine/computer, camera

    For Baby: pacifiers (some hospitals are strange about giving them to the baby- they saved our life), a couple of outfits, car seat, a cute blanket if you want to get any cute pictures at the hospital
  • smount2011smount2011 member
    edited January 2016

    Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure middle seat is the safest, so @charley15 you're golden!

    Middle is best but I have an 11 year old to sit in the back too. I didn't want her to feel smothered :)

    ETA: I have a Jeep Patriot- the back seat is split into 2 seats; a 2/3 and a 1/3. I haven't checked the latch yet but I think it's in the 2/3 side. I'll have to check that out.
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  • charley15 said:

    Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure middle seat is the safest, so @charley15 you're golden!

    Middle is best but I have an 11 year old to sit in the back too. I didn't want her to feel smothered :)

    ETA: I have a Jeep Patriot- the back seat is split into 2 seats; a 2/3 and a 1/3. I haven't checked the latch yet but I think it's in the 2/3 side. I'll have to check that out.
    My car only has latches on the two side seats, not middle. My husbands car has a built-in booster in the middle, so we can't put a seat there. I don't know if I'd be up for crawling into the middle seat anyway, I barely felt like sitting for weeks the first time.
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  • yodapupyodapup member
    edited January 2016


    skruhmin said:



    One thing I'll add to the packing list is a shower cap. They always seem to rush me into that first shower after I deliver and I'm usually not feeling super great so I just want it to be quick to rinse the yuckies off but not get into wash/condition/drying my hair.

    That has to be hospital specific.  I had to ask if it was ok to shower hours after giving birth because I really didn't know.

    That's crazy!  I've delivered in 2 different hospitals (this will be #3!) and they were all that way.  As soon as I could feel my legs they had me in the shower.  I was like geez can I get a freakin sandwich first?!?  


    Qbf

    I had to ask to take a shower the day after I delivered because I still had the buff cap in my wrist. They wouldn't take the stupid thing out even though I kept asking. So annoying.
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  • Did anyone mention change for the vending machine?
  • Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure middle seat is the safest, so @charley15 you're golden!
    Middle is best but I have an 11 year old to sit in the back too. I didn't want her to feel smothered :) ETA: I have a Jeep Patriot- the back seat is split into 2 seats; a 2/3 and a 1/3. I haven't checked the latch yet but I think it's in the 2/3 side. I'll have to check that out.
    My car only has latches on the two side seats, not middle. My husbands car has a built-in booster in the middle, so we can't put a seat there. I don't know if I'd be up for crawling into the middle seat anyway, I barely felt like sitting for weeks the first time.

    I actually looked it up and because my seats are split so both have them and the vehicle is able to fit 3 car seats in the back.  The only issue I had is it said for a single car seat it should be placed on the passenger side- but my husband is 6ft 3 and he rides passenger (I'M THE DRIVER!!!) and there would be no room behind that seat for this huge honkin' infant car seat/base we have.  So it will stay in the middle.  Once we switch to a convertible then we can move it to the passenger side.
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  • skruhmin said:
    One thing I'll add to the packing list is a shower cap. They always seem to rush me into that first shower after I deliver and I'm usually not feeling super great so I just want it to be quick to rinse the yuckies off but not get into wash/condition/drying my hair.
    That has to be hospital specific.  I had to ask if it was ok to shower hours after giving birth because I really didn't know.
    That's crazy!  I've delivered in 2 different hospitals (this will be #3!) and they were all that way.  As soon as I could feel my legs they had me in the shower.  I was like geez can I get a freakin sandwich first?!?  
    I was barely done getting my stitches and my nurse was feeding me food. LOL! It was awesome. She asked me what I wanted, ordered it, put it on rush and made me eat RIGHT away. But I had a long delivery I guess, so not a lot of food in me. I wasn't able to take a shower until I got to my room, not the delivery room, but the next room (whatever the hell that's called). 
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  • skruhmin said:
    One thing I'll add to the packing list is a shower cap. They always seem to rush me into that first shower after I deliver and I'm usually not feeling super great so I just want it to be quick to rinse the yuckies off but not get into wash/condition/drying my hair.
    That has to be hospital specific.  I had to ask if it was ok to shower hours after giving birth because I really didn't know.
    That's crazy!  I've delivered in 2 different hospitals (this will be #3!) and they were all that way.  As soon as I could feel my legs they had me in the shower.  I was like geez can I get a freakin sandwich first?!?  
    I was barely done getting my stitches and my nurse was feeding me food. LOL! It was awesome. She asked me what I wanted, ordered it, put it on rush and made me eat RIGHT away. But I had a long delivery I guess, so not a lot of food in me. I wasn't able to take a shower until I got to my room, not the delivery room, but the next room (whatever the hell that's called). 
    DS2's delivery I don't even remember them bringing in the sandwich, it was just there.  And it was the best thing I've ever eaten.
    DS1 - 9/21/11
    DS2 - 7/4/14
    DS3 - 2/21/16
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Our family of 5 is complete!!  Love our boys!

  • They brought me a ducky hot dog that I later lost to a bowl. It was the worst hot dog. Plus, it was like 12 hours after having ds that they brought it in (to be fair, I had ds in the middle of the night so the cooks were gone anyway)
  • That's awesome. I hope I get that lucky this time. I always have my babies at 9-10am for some reason and they're always like 'well you just missed breakfast and now you have to wait for lunch'. And This girl doesn't like being hungry!
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  • Our hospital has 24-hour dial a dinner. You order from a smallish menu whatever you want, when you want. Apparently it creates less waste.
    I could NOT imagine having to wait @FutureMrsCaesar I'd get soooo hangry!!
  • skruhmin said:
    One thing I'll add to the packing list is a shower cap. They always seem to rush me into that first shower after I deliver and I'm usually not feeling super great so I just want it to be quick to rinse the yuckies off but not get into wash/condition/drying my hair.
    That has to be hospital specific.  I had to ask if it was ok to shower hours after giving birth because I really didn't know.
    That's crazy!  I've delivered in 2 different hospitals (this will be #3!) and they were all that way.  As soon as I could feel my legs they had me in the shower.  I was like geez can I get a freakin sandwich first?!?  
    Maybe you smelled bad and they didn't want to tell you.  ha ha jk.
    BFP 2/11/15 (EDD 10/13/15). MMC 3/30/15 D&C 4/3/15 "We will always love you"
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  • My hospital kept the IV and such in me for at least 24 hours, so I wasn't free to shower until almost two days later.  It was extreme.
  • smushi said:
    My hospital kept the IV and such in me for at least 24 hours, so I wasn't free to shower until almost two days later.  It was extreme.
    Same here... I wasn't able to shower until I got home and that was the first thing I did. 
  • edited January 2016
    That's crazy you guys!  Maybe I am smelly???  I am a pooper when I push so maybe that's the secret to getting a shower ;)  The first time my IV was still in (I was getting antibiotics) and a nurse helped me, the 2nd two times the port was still in but no actual IV hooked up to it.  
    ETA: The hospitals I've been in have told me they always leave the IV port in for 24 hours in case you need a blood transfusion.  Which kinda scares me, but I guess it's better to leave it in.
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  • Thanks ladies for all the great ideas and reminders of things to bring in the hospital bag. FTM so all the information, and reasons why, is helpful.  I too have not yet installed a car seat.  My shower is on 2/6 (DD 3/18) and I'm 32 weeks now.  I'm hoping to get the car seat at the shower.....too late?  I saw BRU advertise in the month of Feb. you can trade in a car seat and get 25% off a new one?!  Anyone know about this deal? I'm tempted to buy it myself now if I can get the deal with a used one I was given.
  • Thanks ladies for all the great ideas and reminders of things to bring in the hospital bag. FTM so all the information, and reasons why, is helpful.  I too have not yet installed a car seat.  My shower is on 2/6 (DD 3/18) and I'm 32 weeks now.  I'm hoping to get the car seat at the shower.....too late?  I saw BRU advertise in the month of Feb. you can trade in a car seat and get 25% off a new one?!  Anyone know about this deal? I'm tempted to buy it myself now if I can get the deal with a used one I was given.
    They do this trade in event twice a year.  It's an amazing event.
    DS1 - 9/21/11
    DS2 - 7/4/14
    DS3 - 2/21/16
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Our family of 5 is complete!!  Love our boys!

  • @skruhmin out of curiosity do they take expired ones too? That'd be a great deal! I'm lazy and don't want to learn new things so I wouldn't likely trade in my seat. Although the maxi cosi micro weight might make me think about trading in my britax bsafe.
  • @skruhmin out of curiosity do they take expired ones too? That'd be a great deal! I'm lazy and don't want to learn new things so I wouldn't likely trade in my seat. Although the maxi cosi micro weight might make me think about trading in my britax bsafe.
    The whole purpose of the event is to get expired seats out of circulation, so they definitely take expired ones. 
    DS1 - 9/21/11
    DS2 - 7/4/14
    DS3 - 2/21/16
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Our family of 5 is complete!!  Love our boys!

  • Something to keep in mind about the car seats being installed early: In the unlikely chance you are in a car accident before they are born and the car seat is installed, you will likely have to replace the car seat with a new one. Most companies require replacement even if they are not in use. Again, not likely, but we will test the install and then keep them stored until we are much closer to D-day to eliminate that chance. Just FYI!
  • There are some great ones on here although im shocked from second time moms some of the things that were NOT provided by the hospital - I just had an unfortunate 3 week stay at the hospital but anything I asked for, I got... Even when the 5 page cooked to order menu wasn't cutting it and I asked for advocados they suddenly appeared !! 
    I've seen a lot of people say that heating pads from home are banned because of electrical fire dangers... I was given a "k pad" this last few weeks in hospital, it filters hot water through a huge pad and can be regulated from body temperature to 42 degrees - if you've never been offered one, ask about the k pad... I'm laid on a microwaveable rice pack now but I've seen people comment hat those are sometimes banned too ! anyone been able to ask for one of those during labour to ease back pain ?? 
  • @amyid I'm the opposite I'm shocked at the things people DO get in the hospital. I'm in Canada and it's bare bones, like you're supposed to bring your own diapers, bare bones. It's free health care so I'll deal but when I hear hospitals offering up clothes, bottles, pump parts for non-NICU patients I'm like "whaaa??".
  • I had my baby last week and had no idea it was going to happen (DD March 5). I hadn't gotten around to packing a bag and wasn't in labor, so when I delivered I had nothing. The things I needed my husband to get from home afterwards were:

    -chapstick 
    -face wash
    -hair brush/comb
    -hand lotion
    -nursing bra (my boobs grew about 2 cup sizes in 3 days so maybe buy a size up)
    -laptop (work wasn't prepared for my unexpected leave and I was in the hospital for 6 days)
    -cell charger
    -ponytail holder
    -nasal spray (had a cold)
    -conditioner (didn't get to shower for nearly 3 days)
    -razor
    -shave gel

    Things the hospital  provided:
    -mesh undies (these are the best, use them, steal them)
    -maternity pads
    -gown
    -shampoo/body wash with ph balance and no fragrance
    -hairdryer
    -body lotion
    -towels/wash clothes (paper thin but they got the job done)
    -breast feeding starter kit for medela symphony
    -hand pump for breastfeeding
    -syringes/bottles for all stages of pumping
    -lanolin
    -newborn size halo sleep swaddle sack  (only for nicu babies)
    -water bottle

    For baby:
    Since Willa is a preemie it was slim pickings on outfits at the hospital. They gave us a few to use that were too big so we went out to find some preemie outfits and those things are next to impossible to get. I think if she were at full gestation they would have been able to clothe her better and we would t have had to bring our own. The hospital also has all the diapers and wipes we need. So aside from clothes and what she's going to need to get home we haven't had to bring anything.
  • I have a box of Mother's Milk tea and fenugreek supplements packed just in case.  :)
  • @jenniferamcooper haha - I know what you mean, I'm originally from England with socialized medicine and yes, you get nothing ! I do pay over $600 US dollars for my individual health plan right now here in the US though so having things for "free" at the hospital should be law haha... I did get my $350 breast pump also for "free" via my plan... "Free" but not so "free" :) 
  • Lurking from Feb 2016 moms- I packed the Always brand discreet underwear for after delivery and they were a godsend! So much better than the mesh hospital panties. I am size 10/12 jeans and bought a size large and they were perfect. It was like a diaper, yes, but I had full leakproof protection. I used the always underwear to put the hospital pad inside. Best $7 I've ever spent! 
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