What do you think is neccessary to put in your hospital bag? What are you leaving out because you think you won't need it? What is your hospital providing you with (please indicate your country here as not everywhere is the same)?
One of the best suggestions I have heard from family and friends so far is to bring a fan with you for when you get hot during labor. But maybe some hospitals have those available? I'm not sure.
Re: Hospital Bags! What is in yours?
Black maternity leggings
Nursing tanks (didn’t bother w bra’s just the tanks)
A robe
My own non slip socks (the ones I wore during delivery from the hospital got very gross)
headbands, for labor and after.
Glasses, if you wear contacts you won’t want to wear them during labor
Chapstick
Normal toiletries in travel size
phone charger
For baby, just a going home outfit. The hospital provided everything and gave us tons to bring home. I even used the pump at the hospital and they give you all the parts needed and bottles to pump into.
DH I didn’t bring anything but we lived 5 min from the hospital so he just ran home for showers.
https://www.babylist.com/hello-baby/what-to-pack-in-your-hospital-bag
Slippers
robe & nursing nightgown
chapstick
snacks (my hospital allows eating)
tinted moisturizer
hair tie
Change of clothes for husband
going home clothes for me & baby
phone charger
essential oils
tennis ball for massaging back
additions this time:
deck of cards or something if induced again to keep us entertained
Own pillow and blanket
gift for big sister
rabozo
also, a tip I got from a friend who recently had a baby. She got a blowout right before the baby was born and her hair looked amazing. Her timing just happened to be right, but why not a little pampering at the end!
Eta: birth plan! It’s nice to have it written down with all the shift changes. While not everyone will know it or care about it, it’s nice to have on hand so you aren’t constantly repeating yourself.
Also, I’m in the US and our hospital provides a lot. And there’s just many things you’ll bring and won’t be necessary (clothes for baby until going home. Even swaddles)
Comfy clothes
granny panties
Long cel phone cord
something to do! Book, magazine, games i had DD during March madness and we didn’t have many visitors so BORED!!!
Any medications you need
socks/slippers
chapstick
hair brush/hair ties
Really you have everything you need at the hospital.
DH: 37
DD: 03/17/17
DS: 12/06/19
i know others mentioned it too, but besides a going home outfit, I only used the hospital clothes for the baby. I would bring a nice blanket if you plan on getting pictures done. I didn’t think of this with DS and he was wearing white with a white blanket so his pictures are a bit washed out.
sweatpants
oversized shirts (i hate nursing clothes lol )
sweater
A going home outfit
Phone and charger
Laptop and charger (i do online school and I am due the same day as my final exams so maybe a fun day!)
Travel shampoo and soap (showering after baby felt so good last time with my own stuff)
Hair tyes
Hair brush
snacks for after birth but my hubby brings those
nice camera because I take my own pictures in the hospital
For Baby
Heavy blanket and a lighter swaddle blanket
clothes to go home in
hat
car seat
pacifier
I live in Washington state and the hospital we went to last year supplied absolutely everything for baby up until we left. We kept baby in her swaddle blankets the whole time we were there since they come to check all the time, plus we have a heat lamp for the baby so no need for clothes really
For me they supply all the pads and underwear until I leave that I need. They make up the ice packs to sit on. They also give you a ton going out the door. And their socks are super comfy so i always get a few of those!
They are very accommodating at the hospital for whatever I needed or wanted. I even got extra meals throughout the day outside of regular meal times to replenish my body which was awesome
This baby too, my husband and I decided he would be in the hospital for the birth but go back home after to help my parents with my other two little ones. There was not much point for him to sit around the hospital with me after the birth since everything was focused around baby and I, and since i was breastfeeding I was awake no matter what.
We had:
toiletries-travel size
phone chargers
nursing shirts (a lot of people find them unnecessary, I liked them)
nursing bras
comfy pants
PJs for DH
comfy clothes for DH
underwear/socks for DH
socks for me
going home clothes for DS
extra bag for gifts
snacks
we also had some special clothes for the baby. DH had a shirt that said “I’ve created a monster” and DS has a onesie that had a monster on it. And DS had a special wolverine onesie (his inside nickname).
We found those plastic zip bags you buy sheets in to be helpful in separating small things (socks, underwear, baby clothes) to make them easier to find.
I also had gestational diabetes (and do again) and demanded a cookie cake be waiting for me in the room lol. I think I will make the same demand again.
Married 1/28/17
TW:
BFP #2 10/10/17, MC 11/4/17
BFP #3 12/17/17 Birth 8/13/18
BFP #4 4/21/19 Birth 12/5/2019
Married 1/28/17
TW:
BFP #2 10/10/17, MC 11/4/17
BFP #3 12/17/17 Birth 8/13/18
BFP #4 4/21/19 Birth 12/5/2019
I know they have all kinds of procedures and policies in place now to make sure that a mix up doesn't happen. But I'm just paranoid enough to make sure I have a safety net in place before she leaves my sight. I'm also making sure my husband is with her constantly if they take her out of my room for tests while I'm still recovering.
Married 1/28/17
TW:
BFP #2 10/10/17, MC 11/4/17
BFP #3 12/17/17 Birth 8/13/18
BFP #4 4/21/19 Birth 12/5/2019
@anniemarie887 - OMG I would never do a real one heavens no. But Bic makes some tattoo pens that last for a few days then eventually wash off. That is what I plan on bringing.
I know I way overpacked last time, but we also had a midwife delivery so we were only at the hospital for 1 night (end even then it's only because we lived far enough away that we didn't want to drive all the way back the next morning to do baby tests.)
I specifically remember that I used my own personal blanket from home (during the non-messy parts and recovery), a different set of clothes to wear home because the ones I came in with had my water break all over them, a phone charger, and a few different sizes of clothes for baby since we didn't know what size he'd be. Beyond that I don't really remember anything else that we specifically needed.
Also scored a pair of joggers at Aerie that are made out of that material that feels like a cloud - SO SOFT. I know I’ll wear them at hospital or after as well
https://www.kindredbravely.com/collections/nursing-pajamas/products/davy-maternity-nursing-pajamas-navy-blue?variant=20200487059552
Nursing tanks
soft pajama bottoms
robe
flip flops for the shower
my personal shampoo and conditioner
slippers with bottom sole
extra ponytails
chapstick
my own pillow
my own couch blanket from home
Married 1/28/17
TW:
BFP #2 10/10/17, MC 11/4/17
BFP #3 12/17/17 Birth 8/13/18
BFP #4 4/21/19 Birth 12/5/2019
I have a big family that is super close. I know a lot of them will want to be there. But my family alone could fill the waiting room and sometimes it takes 20+ hours. I just don't want a bunch of people up there. But they will be hurt if I don't say anything. The only person besides my hubby and doula I would want is my mommy. But she lives 9 hours away and probably wont be able to make it.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Personal preference and plans?