The Hospital Bag Thread

PensiveCrayon · August 2018

That’s hilarious @katy0990!

I thought I wanted to spend the early hours of my labor watching funny videos to keep my mind off of contractions, but the minute H turned on the first dumb cat video I was like, “TURN THAT OFF.” But labor started out crazy intense for me. Maybe this time around

Jens_Hoes · August 2018

The tv was on while I labored and then once the contractions got too much and I asked for the epidural I slept. Once I was pushing there was a sitcom on and my mom requested the tv be turned off (no one was paying attention to it) I guess she didn't want her granddaughter born to a laugh track lol

rosebud332 · August 2018

I watched a lot of HGTV while I was up with DD in the hospital. I feel like I was awake in the middle of the night a lot...was that not other people’s experience? I also was there an extra day because of a c-section. Anyway there’s this show on that channel called Lottery Dream Home and I’ll never be able to watch it without thinking of being in the hospital with DD as it was constantly playing.

katy0990 · August 2018

@rosebud332 I also ended up with a c-section and felt like we were there forever! I was admitted Friday at 7 pm and released Wednesday afternoon. DH was climbing the walls by the time we were discharged. I was so tired most of our stay that it was all I could do to stay awake for all of the nurses, LCs, doctors, etc. I remember wanting to catch the Bachelor finale, but being unable to focus or stay awake.

hkom · August 2018

Re: TV. I think it probably depends on whether or not you're a TV person in general. I am not. We have it on in the house often, but it's more for background noise. There are very few shows we will actually sit down and watch with undivided attention - we're always doing something else while "watching". It's been the same here for me the past 2 weeks. I have it on, but I don't pay all that much attention to it. I will say that if my husband insisted on having a video game console to entertain himself in the hospital, I would be so. fucking. pissed. It's only a few days, and isn't he supposed to be getting to know his new child? Maybe I'm being ridiculous but that seriously rubs me the wrong way. Thankfully, neither H nor I have any interest in video games whatsoever.

runrinserepeat · August 2018

@hkom I guess IMO there’s not much to “get to know” at that point. Newborns are potatoes whose needs must be met, but who give back nothing. I’m not a psychopath I swear. I’d actually be pissed about the video games just because it’s my room, not his. He can go home and play all he wants, I don’t want to watch that.

hkom · August 2018

@runrinserepeat I totally get what you're saying. And yeah, I despise video games in general, so I don't even want them in my house. But bringing them to the hospital after the birth of your child just seems extra inappropriate to me.

Katzalia · August 2018

I’m so not a TV person, so never switched it on in the hospital, either.

But music — that’s a different story. We’ll probably bring a little bluetooth speaker along for the music.

echo-charlietango · August 2018

We might have the TV on for background noise? If I want to watch something I put on Netflix because I have very little patience for commercials (I really hate advertisements period)...but I don't anticipate wanting to watch anything. Meanwhile, it would be so weird if DH brought a console to the hospital because I think we sold/gave away the consoles

I kind of can't wait to pack the hospital bag!

mamajudec2018 · August 2018

@echo-charlietango I agree! I can't wait to pack my hospital bag! I've been searching Amazon all day for the clothes I want for the hospital and first month postpartum.

tunnel · August 2018

Find a winter appropriate outfit that fits good now and make a mental note to pack that for your going home outfit!

temmetime · August 2018

A lot of great advice has been given! I very much overpacked last time, so FTMs if you take anything away from this, just don't do that. It's so overwhelming to come home with so many things that it stresses you out.
For this time I am planning:
2 comfy outfits for me (including what I wear there)
baby book for prints
pumping bra - this was something I had to have SIL grab for me last time. I didn't plan to, but ended up having to pump because DS wasn't latching and life is 100000% better pumping with a bra
snacks - same as @katy0990 in that our small town hospital offers limited hours/food
movies - if I have to be induced again that is. DH and I brought like 5 movies and it was fun to make it a little date night at the hospital while we watched The Equalizer
Robe - I am a robe gal. It was amazing to have my own soft robe to walk the halls before and after the birth.
socks
nursing tank
1 outfit & 1 blanket for baby
toiletries bag with minimal makeup & soap
hairbrush & hair ties
car seat

The hospital will provide everything baby, huge water jugs, towels, pillows (I don't recall if I brought my own or not, but I know DH did), OTC meds, pump & parts if needed and everything else other people mentioned.

westcoastfoodie · August 2018

I feel like a FTM all over again for some reason! I feel like I've forgotten so much!

Charger with long chord
Chapstick
Handheld fan (like the accordion kind) – I carry one everywhere because I run hot and I actually used it quite a bit in the hospital
Black jersey robe – Nothing fancy, just something a little more comfortable than the hospital gown. Towel (I didn’t take one last time and wished I had)
Toiletries (the hospital supplied some, but it was conforting to use my own)
Basic, bare minimum, makeup (I didn’t use it last time, but I like to have it just in case)
Nipple cream
Something for the baby to wear home
Something loose for me to wear home
Flip flops/slippers
Folder for hospital papers
Ponytail holder
Socks

Things I didn’t use, but brought last time and won't be bringing again...

Snacks – our hospital was well stocked and there were lots of 24 hour stores/restuarants around for DH and family to run to

Nursing clothes – I lived in my robe and mesh undies the whole time.

Multiple clothes for baby

Pads – They had all I needed

Diapers/wipes

texas_t · August 2018

@tunnel Good call on the outfit that fits now for going home!

kristah2 · August 2018

Re: TV
I went in for my section 6am on a Wednesday. I was there until Friday late afternoon. I always had the TV on.
Now visiting hours in my ward were limited so I didn't really have many guests. H was there in the evenings but I loved having the TV during the days on in the background while I relaxed or fed. Plus I like the TV if I'm up at night feeding and it was no different in the hospital. I found the TV helped keep me awake during feeding sessions and being up every 3 hours I needed it.

Erinka · September 2018

I remember being really happy that I brought my comfy and warm slippers. Def doing that again since I’m having another winter baby!

scaredunprepared · September 2018

@erinka ooooh good idea! Adding to my hospital bag list right away!

katy0990 · October 2018

Someone mentioned this in another thread and we are getting close to full on prep time!

PensiveCrayon · October 2018

@katy0990 STOP IT NO WE ARE NOT. I guess this means I should probably get into the attic and figure out what I want to bring down/set up the nursery area.

hkom · October 2018

I think we were debating the merits of having a non-hospital-gown robe on here. I will say that I had H bring me mine from home after I had John and I was so happy I had it. I wouldn't wear it during delivery because you will most definitely get goo and/or blood on it - all of my clothes were completely soiled or soaked through with sweat. I never even made it into a hospital gown - I gave birth in one of H's tshirts

I wore the robe and nursing nightgowns the whole 2 days afterwards and never got anything on them. I also put on loose yoga pants to waddle down to the NICU. I definitely bled a lot but it was nothing the supersized pads couldn't handle if I changed them frequently and the nurses had plenty easy access to check everything.

Erinka · October 2018

I feel like equally important to a hospital bag is a toddler bag for DD with snacks, stuffys and coloring books. I have no idea what the situation will be for her care when I go into labor—it’ll all depend on timing.

Selina1313 · October 2018

With my first, the only things I will definitely remember to bring are
A razor (I don't feel human if I don't shave my arm pits)
A robe (it's going to be cold and I want to be cozy afterwards)
Cheap flip flops to wear in the shower (my feet got extra dry and painful for some reason)
Lotion (again my feet and hands got so dry after the birth)

Other than that I'm going to keep it very simple. We didn't need to bring much for the baby because they have everything there so probably just a going home outfit and car seat. I'll be happy if we just make it in time to the hospital for the delivery lol

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