@Nxy I'm trying to think how long that line would work for me. Can totally hear myself saying, "My hospital bag doesn't exist because I'm 38 weeks pregnant."
I'm the person who will have the babies bag and my DH bag packed and be walking out the door with nothing for myself. If I don't pack the dog when we go away for a weekend, my DH would have no clue.
TW: 1 infant loss 8/17: Our daughter was born 8/18: Our daughter kicked open heart surgery ass 2/19: We lost our son to Prader-Willi/Paradoxical Vocal Cord/ Noonans at 6wks old 4/26/2020: EDD for baby #3!!!
Still super early to be thinking about this. I plan to have our bags packed at 34 weeks. DS was 2 weeks early, and DH hadn't packed a bag yet. He actually insisted on showering after my water broke, before we left for the hospital.
Must haves: comfy clothes that you don't care about in case they are ruined, toiletries, shower stuff (so you at least have the option of showering if you so desire), Slippers and socks, chargers. I brought my pump last time and didn't use it, I used the hospital grade one they had in my room.
We all live close enough to the hospital that if we forget anything, we can send our hubbies or other family members home to get it.
I had a lightweight robe in my bag. I chose to wear the hospital provided nursing gowns. The gown had slits in the breast area for nursing. Any time I left my room I just put that robe over it so I didn't expose my breasts.
***TW in Siggy*** Me: 34 / DH: 33 Married: Nov 2011 TTC #1: Jan 2013, BFP Sept 2013, DD: June 2014 TTC #2: Aug 2016, BFP Nov 2016, DS: August 2017
One thing I can't stress enough is to call the hospital or take a hospital tour before you plan on packing anything and ask them. Ask what postpartum supplies they have for moms and babies. Ask what they have for your SO and then plan from there. My must haves I haven't seen on this yet are.... -mens bikini cut undies, most people say granny panties, no no. Go for the mens undies, the extra junk room is nice after vaginal delivery -postpartum needs (tucks pads, dermaplast spray, nursing pads) some hospitals provide them others don't. -nursing pillow, I'm lazy and tired after labor so it is a nice comfy way to nurse and cuddle. But the end of the day, everyone is going to have different must haves and leaves behinds so pack what you think you need
@erindippity I was 35 weeks went and I took mine. My hospital is great and they do a free birthing class once a month for women between 32-38 weeks pregnant that includes a tour. I got so much great info which helped me understand a lot of what is going on during labor. I would just talk to your OB or midwife at your next appointment and see what your hospital offers
I took my hospital tour already and I'm about 20 weeks. It really may not matter when you tour. If you have a choice of hospital, taking your tours early will help you decide where you want to deliver and register and have all that over with. It gives you time. If you know where you're delivering then take your time and go when it's convenient for you. This way when you're tired and sore and don't want to think or stress about it you don't need to. If you don't want to be on your feet for a 1-2 hour tour depending on the hospital that's another thing to consider whether to do it earlier. They also give you information that's helpful like things to look at when buying a car seat, where you can get your seat installation checked, etc. My hospital had an online sign up. They did tours two days a week at set times. I checked to see what worked in my schedule and if your hospital is the same it may not be for a few weeks if a tour is full or they only have a 5:30pm on a Wednesday and you work late, etc. Just investigate to see if you CAN wait if you want to. Also check like others said if they do free things combined with the tour. The classes were not free for me (they're free at my insurance though) but I think the package tour and class was discounted so that's something to consider. I am definitely not packing my bag at 20 ish weeks. I just wanted to get a thread started since it's on my mind. I wanted to make sure I either put items I may need on my registry or buy them myself in advance of needing them (nursing pillow, etc). I don't want to scramble at 34 weeks and go into labor early and not have what I need. I heard someone mention formula. I know the hospital gives you formula but that's a great idea bc what if you want to bring a different kind to try. Some things mentioned here are things I may not have thought of, so thanks!
@oriole2017 my milk hardly came in at all and I didn't realize it at first. DS lost a lot of weight. I'm pumping at the hospital this time to see how much I'm getting. He also didn't eat very much the first day because I had a c section and he had swallowed a ton of amniotic fluid so his little tummy was full and he didn't eat. My body didn't register that he'd been born.
find it hilarious that there are so many responses for it being too early to think about a hospital bag or what to pack/prepare for the hospital (ie. having a thread on it this early) but not about baby names (or what diaper to use, or breast pump to get) To me it's all pretty much the same. If I don't figure it out now, I don't want to be scrambling at 38 weeks.
BFP: 5/30/16 and MC on 7/6/16 BFP: 12/4/16 Due 8/8/17 -- Its a boy! Born 8/14/17 BFP: 5/19/19 and MC on 5/27/19 BFP: 6/24/19, MC on 7/24/19 BFP: 10/24, no heartbeat on 11/27, D&C 12/2 Officially diagnosed with Secondary infertility and recurrent miscarriage IVF started Feb 2020 retrieval and PGT testing: 18 retrieved, 17 mature, 16 fertilized, 9 to blast, 8 PGT normal. Transfer #1: June 14, 2020
Mommy to a super cute havanesse puppy and baby boy!
i'm not active every month on the bump, if that's not apparent, which I guess it isn't and i'm just getting to the threads now to read/reply to them. so no, i didn't search through the threads. not everything is intentional. and it didn't warrant a rude comment, I put a laughing smiley in there b/c it was just an observation. so what if people want to post in an "old thread". it's going to start getting active sooner or later anyway
no drama. just someone mentioned in another thread that there were a ton of other threads and some not very helpful crap, and there was NO hospital bag thread, so I created one b/c I needed the information. and then I get comments on creating it this early. IMO it doesn't matter when. i had been polite in all my responses including that one. it's not stirring anything up, but if people can make a comment, I can make a general reply which was polite, and my reply was only 2 months later b/c that's when i was last on. I came back in to see if others had replied with helpful information (which they did), since I last checked. if people get grief over every little thing they post they get disocouraged to even be on here. if you didn't want to see an old thread, or it wasn't helpful to you at the time, don't click on it or don't reply. Someone asking what to buy for their hospital bag or put on a registry for a FTM, is not looking for someone to say don't ask about this, it's too early. Either be helpful or not say anything.
@oriole2017 You were the second to last poster on this thread back when it was originally posted. You coming on here and basically WKing your own thread seems really out of place.
edit: words are hard
**TW Loss/pregnancy mentioned** Married: 7/21/12
BFP: 5/30/16 and MC on 7/6/16 BFP: 12/4/16 Due 8/8/17 -- Its a boy! Born 8/14/17 BFP: 5/19/19 and MC on 5/27/19 BFP: 6/24/19, MC on 7/24/19 BFP: 10/24, no heartbeat on 11/27, D&C 12/2 Officially diagnosed with Secondary infertility and recurrent miscarriage IVF started Feb 2020 retrieval and PGT testing: 18 retrieved, 17 mature, 16 fertilized, 9 to blast, 8 PGT normal. Transfer #1: June 14, 2020
Mommy to a super cute havanesse puppy and baby boy!
Also I'll eta that this thread got side tracked from other stuff going on at the time (two months ago). If it had been started today when most of us are already in or almost in the our third trimisters it probably would have had less other drama attached to it and went over better. But what do I know.
@littlebug2010 yeah, and that last post that I hadn't seen was a direct reply to a question I asked southermama, so yes, I came on to see what had been posted since I last left the thread and that included a reply to me.
@oriole2017 I totally understand that, but your post after that was totally unnecessary. It came off as you scolding us, becuase posters commented that it was too early for a thread like this. You clearly had a new question, and you could have just posted that, and avoided all of this!
**TW Loss/pregnancy mentioned** Married: 7/21/12
BFP: 5/30/16 and MC on 7/6/16 BFP: 12/4/16 Due 8/8/17 -- Its a boy! Born 8/14/17 BFP: 5/19/19 and MC on 5/27/19 BFP: 6/24/19, MC on 7/24/19 BFP: 10/24, no heartbeat on 11/27, D&C 12/2 Officially diagnosed with Secondary infertility and recurrent miscarriage IVF started Feb 2020 retrieval and PGT testing: 18 retrieved, 17 mature, 16 fertilized, 9 to blast, 8 PGT normal. Transfer #1: June 14, 2020
Mommy to a super cute havanesse puppy and baby boy!
@littlebug2010 all of those posts about it being too early were also unnecessary but i'm the one that gets the grief? I wasn't scolding anyone just justifying why I am asking which I felt like I didn't have to in the first place and so I made the correlation to just show that a lot of things at this point is early to talk about but people like (or need) to talk about them anyway. If it's not something you like to talk about this early, then my point was don't. I didn't need to be accused either for coming into a thread later to stir things up than most people would just because that's how often I check posts and reply. The smileys are just there b/c people tend to take things so harshly and literal by default and not trivial or light heartedly. Despite that effort I'm sorry it came off that way as it was surely not my intention.
@Nxy that's probably true. I just recall part of the reason I started it that early was b/c some other poster mentioned they were surprised this group hadn't already started one (I'm assuming she was a veteran poster or STM, and wondered why no one has asked yet) and someone asked about it in another thread. So I started one. It had been on my mind b/c my friend had recently given birth and was telling me things to pack, so before I purchased anything ahead of time, I wanted some other opinions. In another thread on the bump, someone said it took them a month (wow!) to pack their bag, and my friend gave birth a few weeks early, almost a month actually, so it doesn't hurt to be prepared early
Annnnnnnnnnyways, the only thing I haven't seen mentioned that also isn't so much a hospital bag item, but definitely something to have on hand once you get home is stool softener. Go ahead and buy yourself that big bottle. You're going to need it.
I second asking what the hospital provides. Diapers, wipes, receiving blankets, pads, tucks, dermoplast, ice packs, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush and toothpaste, formula, mesh undies, extra bags to carry stuff home, etc were all provided so I really only needed to bring comfy pants and nursing tank, nursing pillow, deodorant, and phone charger. Of course, I packed a whole lot more than that. I'd also recommend buying an extra long phone charger.
I'm super jealous @taylormarie923 - I just got the list for what to bring to the hospital and it was just about everything - One bag for DH & I, one for baby. They'll supply the first diaper/first pad for you and after that you'll either need to have brought them or buy more at the hospital. You want mesh underwear - you can buy those too at the hospital but they won't be supplied for free - sounds like the only thing that would be is the peri bottle that you can take home with you. Healthcare is different up here though (Canada) but they've cut back big time. They gave us the number of diapers to pack, bring a blanket for DH if he needs one etc.
Me: 37 DH: 37 - Married 10.2015 ❤️ Canadian DX: Endometriosis - Stage 4, DOR, RPL
I have my hospital tour next weekend. I'm going to bring a list of questions/ ask what supplies they will provide for me and LO. I'm notorious for over packing and this time I cannot afford to lol! I can only carry so many things!
We overpacked when I went to the hospital to deliver DS but still managed to forget something. My parents were staying at our house and DH left to get us food a few times. Don't stress too much about forget something, you can always have someone bring it up to the hospital for you!! Just make sure you have the carseat!!!
Good grief, I can't imagine the hospital not supplying stuff. I'm going to a bigger hospital this time (Same system) but I'm more focused on a mental list of what food I'm going to have people bring because there's a ton of restaurants near by. There's also a Target so if I need anything I'll send someone out.
@morgy_bee I plan on bringing Gatorade as well. I can have clear liquids during active labor and the hospital will only supply water, apple juice, ginger ale, and jello. I might bring some other clear liquids for some variety.
The first day May 2007 The yes day April 2012 The best day Nov 2013
I plan to just overpack and then leave stuff in the car. I'm going to pack a labor bag for DH and myself. A snack cooler (since it is a 30-40 minute drive there). Then have post-delivery bags for DH, myself and baby. I'm tempted to bring an army cot since we did the hospital tour and the place where they expect DH to sleep is about half as long as he is tall. Does not look comfy.
Re: Hospital Bag
My hospital bag is glossy red with leopard print.
5.5.16 | 8.14.17 | 1.30.19
1 infant loss
8/17: Our daughter was born
8/18: Our daughter kicked open heart surgery ass
2/19: We lost our son to Prader-Willi/Paradoxical Vocal Cord/ Noonans at 6wks old
4/26/2020: EDD for baby #3!!!
Must haves: comfy clothes that you don't care about in case they are ruined, toiletries, shower stuff (so you at least have the option of showering if you so desire), Slippers and socks, chargers. I brought my pump last time and didn't use it, I used the hospital grade one they had in my room.
We all live close enough to the hospital that if we forget anything, we can send our hubbies or other family members home to get it.
***TW in Siggy***
Me: 34 / DH: 33
Married: Nov 2011
TTC #1: Jan 2013, BFP Sept 2013, DD: June 2014
TTC #2: Aug 2016, BFP Nov 2016, DS: August 2017
My must haves I haven't seen on this yet are....
-mens bikini cut undies, most people say granny panties, no no. Go for the mens undies, the extra junk room is nice after vaginal delivery
-postpartum needs (tucks pads, dermaplast spray, nursing pads) some hospitals provide them others don't.
-nursing pillow, I'm lazy and tired after labor so it is a nice comfy way to nurse and cuddle.
But the end of the day, everyone is going to have different must haves and leaves behinds so pack what you think you need
I am definitely not packing my bag at 20 ish weeks. I just wanted to get a thread started since it's on my mind. I wanted to make sure I either put items I may need on my registry or buy them myself in advance of needing them (nursing pillow, etc). I don't want to scramble at 34 weeks and go into labor early and not have what I need.
Married: 7/21/12
BFP: 12/4/16 Due 8/8/17 -- Its a boy! Born 8/14/17
BFP: 5/19/19 and MC on 5/27/19
BFP: 6/24/19, MC on 7/24/19
BFP: 10/24, no heartbeat on 11/27, D&C 12/2
Officially diagnosed with Secondary infertility and recurrent miscarriage
IVF started Feb 2020
retrieval and PGT testing: 18 retrieved, 17 mature, 16 fertilized, 9 to blast, 8 PGT normal.
Transfer #1: June 14, 2020
Eta I put weeks becuase months sounded outlandish to my fingers I guess.
edit: words are hard
Married: 7/21/12
BFP: 12/4/16 Due 8/8/17 -- Its a boy! Born 8/14/17
BFP: 5/19/19 and MC on 5/27/19
BFP: 6/24/19, MC on 7/24/19
BFP: 10/24, no heartbeat on 11/27, D&C 12/2
Officially diagnosed with Secondary infertility and recurrent miscarriage
IVF started Feb 2020
retrieval and PGT testing: 18 retrieved, 17 mature, 16 fertilized, 9 to blast, 8 PGT normal.
Transfer #1: June 14, 2020
Also I'll eta that this thread got side tracked from other stuff going on at the time (two months ago). If it had been started today when most of us are already in or almost in the our third trimisters it probably would have had less other drama attached to it and went over better. But what do I know.
Married: 7/21/12
BFP: 12/4/16 Due 8/8/17 -- Its a boy! Born 8/14/17
BFP: 5/19/19 and MC on 5/27/19
BFP: 6/24/19, MC on 7/24/19
BFP: 10/24, no heartbeat on 11/27, D&C 12/2
Officially diagnosed with Secondary infertility and recurrent miscarriage
IVF started Feb 2020
retrieval and PGT testing: 18 retrieved, 17 mature, 16 fertilized, 9 to blast, 8 PGT normal.
Transfer #1: June 14, 2020
Annnnnnnnnnyways, the only thing I haven't seen mentioned that also isn't so much a hospital bag item, but definitely something to have on hand once you get home is stool softener. Go ahead and buy yourself that big bottle. You're going to need it.
I second asking what the hospital provides. Diapers, wipes, receiving blankets, pads, tucks, dermoplast, ice packs, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush and toothpaste, formula, mesh undies, extra bags to carry stuff home, etc were all provided so I really only needed to bring comfy pants and nursing tank, nursing pillow, deodorant, and phone charger. Of course, I packed a whole lot more than that. I'd also recommend buying an extra long phone charger.
DX: Endometriosis - Stage 4, DOR, RPL
03.2016 - Natural BFP - MC 5w4d
04.2016 - Natural BFP - Chemical
10.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = IUI Cancelled (cyst/no mature follicle)
11.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFP, EDD 08.2017 - It's a BOY!
TTC #2 06.2019
08.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = Chemical
09.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFN
10.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #3 = BFN
01.2020 - IUI w/ Injections #4 = BFN
08.2020 - Natural BFP - MC 9w5d
11.2020 - IVF Retrieval - 3AB & 4BB
05.2021 - FET #1 = BFP, EDD 02.2022 - It's a BOY!