Hospital bag

violetmarie61516 · May 2016

Okay I know you are all probably prepared and ready. Then those that have already delivered! I'm so unprepared and overwhelmed with work and trying to get everything done at home that we haven't even gotten a hospital bag ready. They even talked about inducing last Saturday at 34 weeks due to HTN and yet still I haven't packed our bag.

Obviously I'm not delivering so I won't have to think about that part but DH and I will still need things for ourselves since we will be staying overnight with the baby. Then there is the baby! What the hell do I pack!? Someone help!

sparklecharlie · May 2016

I've been told to bring your own towel and pillow(since they suck in the hospital, make sure you use a color other than white) and something to distract you ( music, Netflix, books). There are really good lists on Pinterest if you look!! I felt so stressed making my bag, and I'm going to go through it once more before next week (getting induced). Good luck!!!

kwife15 · May 2016

Using a search feature might help too. The topic has been discussed more than once with a lot of good input...

huskypuppy14 · May 2016

I'm 35 weeks, and haven't really packed my bag yet. My shower is today, so I figured sometime within the week or two I'll do it.

Since you are not the birth mom, your bag should be easy. Clothes, phone, charger, camera, snacks, toiletries. They keep the L&D floor cool, so a sweatshirt. For the baby, my hospital says they provide everything (diapers, wipes, onsie and blanket in the hospital), so just make sure you have a going home outfit (or 2) a blanket, and a car seat, and bring the pediatricians information.

You are adopting, right? How are the logistics going for that? Do you have to bring paperwork to let you take the baby from the hospital? Bring your ID of course, not sure how that works with the birth certificate for adoptions.

Bear14+ · May 2016

I think I remember you saying you are planning to try to breastfeed. Is that still your plan? I hope things are going well, any updates on the delivery and what is going on with who will be there? Hope you have it worked out!

violetmarie61516 · May 2016

@huskypuppy14 and @ Bear14+ Yes, we are adopting, I'm going to try to breastfeed. Basically DH and myself will be in the delivery room as well as birth mom's mother and possibly her DH (not sure whether he wants to be a part of it or not), she also asked if I want my mom in the room but we are still thinking about it. After the baby is born we will sign temporary placement paperwork in the hospital to allow us to bring her home. The hospital said as long as they had space at the time of delivery, they would set us up in our own room with the baby so birth mom can rest. We couldn't be more excited!!!!

hollywoodave531 · May 2016

@Love4Labs326 good luck to you! From my experience recently, in addition to the obvious items for the baby to go home in, I loved having my own big fluffy towel, a lightweight robe to put on over a nursing tank and slippers. Get cozy and comfortable during the birth and afterward. Also, snacks, lots and lots of snacks. With hospital staff constantly coming in you are woken up at all different hours and might find yourself hungry, although my hospital did have a dedicated snack and beverage room for guests. Maybe for you a small notebook to take notes in if a lactation consultant visits you? Also an extra bag to take home goodies the hospital will give you.

BlueJuice · May 2016

So I already delivered, and as we weren't planning to be delivering when I went to the hospital, I never packed a 'birth bag' as such. Here's what my husband ended up bringing in for me over the three days I was there:

- cell phone charging cables

- laptop

- magazines
- clothes to go home in
- clothes for the baby to wear home
- my toothbrush and toothpaste
- a stuffed animal that my 5-year-old DD 'shared' overnight with her new brother during his hospital stay

If you are laboring, you might want additional things for comfort, but the super minimal route actually worked pretty well for me. You can obviously bring any extras you might want to use instead of the hospital standard-issue stuff, but they do have towels, pillows, diapers, wipes, shirts for the newborn, swaddling blankets, etc. and in some regards it is easier to just use what's there rather than hauling in a ton of your own, nicer stuff. Everyone's mileage is going to vary on whether it's worth the trouble to bring a certain item.

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