July 2019 Moms
Panaceia
member
To early for a hospital bag thread?
Panaceia
member
I know it's still early, but my hospital bag with DD was woefully lacking. I feel like I need some ideas and want to start thinking about this. Plus some of us are only a few weeks away from viability...at least that is how I'm going to rationalize this post:)
What are the things you feel are must haves for your hospital bag?
What are the things you feel are must haves for your hospital bag?
Re: To early for a hospital bag thread?
This is my list: robe, clothes to wear home, clothes for baby to wear home, nursing bra(s), boob pads, lanolin, snacks, deodorant, hair tie, toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, phone charger, & face wipes.
I think a robe is the least essential but I ordered a pretty one and I’m looking forward to having something pretty to put on when I’m still not up for regular clothes. I think the hospital would give you lanolin. They did with my first as I don’t even know if I knew it was a thing. I planned on taking it just because I like to be prepared and it doesn’t take up much space.
I am probably going to try and find the perfect robe soon though, I'm already worried about the temperature it's going to be in the hospital mid-July. I HATE BEING HOT, I hate summer and I hate sweating. I'm a winter girl all the way, but I know they won't be cranking the AC with all those babies around. I'm going to need a specific kind of robe to be able to deal with all that warmth!
- going home outfit for baby and me
- toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, hair ties, contacts and case, glasses)
- boppy
- camera
- phone and charger
- robe ( I haven’t used one for either of my first two, but might get one for this one! Even if I don’t use it at the hospital I’ll have it for being home)
- nursing bra
I think one of those accessible labor dresses,. robe, snacks, definitely the boppy for nursing, take-home clothes, a nipple shield just in case cause I needed it last time, nipple balm, toiletries but also shampoo and my makeup.
Don't let anyone make you feel bad about having makeup at the hospital. One of the nurses made a comment to me, but the point was to make me feel good, not them. I felt so ashamed and I was so tired from being up almost 48 hrs I look like hell in all M's first photos and I hate it.
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• Bath robe
• Nightgown
• Change of clothes including maternity leggings and soft knit top
• Slippers
• Cozy socks
• Shampoo/conditioner/brush/hair dryer**
• Skin care and makeup **
• Lip balm
• Clif Bars for snacks
** Having the means to shower and get looking presentable was my ticket home early. I had a scheduled CS and the nursing support was so terrible I wanted to get out of there after my first night. After 2 nights I got up, showered, dried my hair, put on makeup and got dressed. When the doctor on rounds came to check on me I told her I was feeling good and wanted to go home early, so she checked my vitals and released DS and I. It was so much better to go home at that point so that we could all relax, get some sleep and take care of ourselves without the hassle of overworked nurses who did not DAF.
I think if we end up in the hospital again, I'd like a pillow from home and some other snacks like fresh fruit and veggies.
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But at this point I’m also on team what’s for lunch on Monday. 😂
So basically I could be there for 4hrs or 24hrs + which obviously affects what I’ll want to pack
- Phone & Charger
- Chapstick
- Face Wipes
- Tooth Brush / Toothpaste
- Toiletries (deodorant, lotion, body soap, etc.)
- Comfy clothes (t/shirts & yoga pants)
- Robe
- book or magazine
- notebook / pen
- Snacks (Both my kids were born at night and l&d was out of food and had hardly anything left. There were no meals until breakfast.)
- flip flops / slides for the shower
- slippers
Baby
- Boppy
- Outfit to go home in
- Car Seat ready to go
@xtinecatherine I was seriously thinking about doing this too and bringing a small bottle of something! But I’m pretty sure with a RCS and the meds they’ll be giving me, it’s probably highly advised not to be drinking. I think with DD I had a beer about 2-3 weeks after she was born.
@mrscammack Plan for the worst, hope for the best??
My bag consists of:
-the usual toiletries(toothbrush/paste, brush, face wash/wipes, deodorant)
-a long phone charging cord (6’ or so, the walls are so far away in the hospital)
-maternity leggings/yoga pants
-robe
-nursing nightgown dress
-CS panties (those mesh ones were a joke!)
-outfit for baby
-water bottle (hospital ice chips are the best!)
-snacks
-boppy
-pillow for me
The lactation nurse comes by and usually gives samples of lanolin and nipple shields and all that, so I will be taking full advantage of this.
There's not a lot of evidence that the reason you're told not to eat or drink during labor - the risk that you'll have to go under general anesthesia and will throw up and it will go down your airway - is an actual legitimate concern and something that happens often enough to disallow eating altogether.
Not everyone likes this site, but I find that they generally have a pretty good summary of the results of lots of different studies. This article is quite interesting on the subject. And they have links to the studies, so you can look at them yourself if you don't like the conclusions they reach. https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-eating-drinking-labor/
In regards to the snacks, I would check with your hospital birthing center about what they offer before bringing a bunch of stuff. My hospital has a kitchenette on the recovery floor that had a lot of snacks available. I ate so many graham crackers with peanut butter. Breakfast, lunch and dinner I ordered from the regular kitchen they have. If you have your baby late or MOTN, your SO will probably have to go get you food!
These are the ones I have, which are really thin, super stretchy and comfortable. Identical to the kind I had in the hospital:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q7FQS8/
And I just bookmarked these because they are rated well, washable and come in black:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DK3B9B6/
@nolemomma14 I took a bunch last time too! I actually still have one pair that I saved almost 2 years but they kind of lose their appeal once I'm recovered and back in normal clothes. Lol
My essentials:
pillow
blanket
phone/charger
baby book
slippers with hard soles
bath towel (the hospital ones are like the size of a large hand towel)
shampoo
flip flops for the shower
some thing for baby and I to wear home
snacks
nursing tanks and robe
toothbrush/toothpaste
hair ties and brush
My other essentials:
big jacket for husband during L&D
pillows with non-white pillowcases (easily identifiable from hospital pillows)
non-white blanket
2-3 large refillable water bottles
snacks
boppy
nursing gowns (i got stir crazy and wanted to walk all around the hospital, so hospital gowns were a no)
robe
giant, comfortable cotton granny panties (I hated the mesh undies)
toiletries
shower shoes
bath towel
phone charger
multiple outfits for baby to wear home (there were spit up/poop incidents as we awaited to be discharged.
Other tip: Make sure your partner/support person(s) wear clothes that they don't mind getting blood on. My husband somehow ended up with my blood on his pants after delivery.