What's on your list?

[wobblykate]

So, for those of us not birthing at home, what's on your list to take to the birth center or hospital?

I'm thinking out loud here:

For me:
Outfit for birthing
Outfit for after
Nursing bra/Nursing pads
Music CDs
Extra contacts
Contact Solution
Tooth brushes/Tooth paste
Food/Drinks (enough for me and DH)
Champagne (for everyone--we're at a BC)

For baby:
Going home outfit
2-3 diapers
extra hat
little mittens for hands
Blanket
car seat


Anything you think I'm totally missing? What are you taking?

[fairymom]

For me:
top for birth
sweat pants and nursing tank for stay
outfit to go home in
toiletries-shampoo/conditioner/body was/tooth brush/paste/hair brush
socks-warm
camera
baby book
contact numbers
chocolate milk (have gd- not be able to drink since 20 wks pg!)



For baby:
outfit for pics
outfit to go home in
carseat
blankets

[michanders4]

I have:

a robe
slippers
socks
outfit to come home in
jammies
snacks (for after the delivery)
meds/vitamins
games
undies (that I purposely bought big and cheap since I'm sure they will get ruined)
toiletries
breastfeeding cream (need to get some)


For baby:
diapers
a couple of outfits
onesie
wipes
socks
hats
burp cloths
receiving blanket
car seat

[ShineliketheSon]

A little long list!

Depends on how long we labor at home...if we labor alot at home then some will be left behind as they won't be needed...

Me:
copies of birth plan
health insurance card
nursing nightgown, jammies
bathrobe
slippers
boppy pillow
lip balm
mints/gum/worthers hard candy
personal tolitries (hair clips,tea tree body wash, deo, toothbrush, comb, makeup etc)
lotion and coconut oil
gatorade rain
protien bars/trail mix snacks
music CDs and on DH blackberry
Change of clothes for me and DH (we forgot Dh's last time-oops! MIL got em)
Breast pads
roller massage and rice packs
vitamins and probiotics
peppermint and tea tree oils
cell phones and chargers
video camera and charger (to tape birth and leaving hospital)
camera, batteries and BW and regular film (for birth and after)
large ziplock for placenta (we are doing encapulation)
laptop computer (to send announcements/for something to do during labor)

Baby:
2 changes of clothes
booties
blanket
baby hat
onsies
unscented wipes

Car:
puddle pads and towels(just incase)
carseat (forgot this last time too, but MIL brought it to us)
few infant diapers
bottled water
blanket
birth ball (incase the ones at the hospital are being used)

[wobblykate]

okay....thanks ladies, keep it coming...my list is much longer now...including one I didn't see...cell phone chargers!

[Murph12334]

i need to look over my list and edit and start on the packing. I just keep having a feeling i'll go early and don't want to go into preterm labor and be throwing things into a bag like last time. I'll come back and add my list tomarrow

[Lindsay1234]

A little bottle of olive oil for babys butt? (makes the mec come off easy!)



Just curious, how long do you stay in a birth center after youve given birth?

[wobblykate]

Olive oil! good idea.

Depends on how long you want to stay. Minimum is 4 hours and a pee...if you have GBS, it's 12 hours. If you deliver at night, you can stay til morning if you want. There's no set hard and fast rule, but people usually don't stay as long and definitely not the 48 hours like at a hospital.

Course, this is all for my bc.

[emmaegbert]

with my first I was at a hospital-based BC (planning a HB this time). I was expecting to stay a few hours, a day at most. Ended up there 4 days b/c they didn't release my son (and boarded me with him). I would recommend having in the car some extra clothes (really loose, comfy ones), nursing bras and pads, stuff like that. More than you think you need, just in case. I was seriously washing out the milky breast pads and trying to dry them on the windowsill b/c I hadn't expected to be there long enough to need a whole bunch...

The hospital provided shirts, blankets and diapers for the baby. (I had a going-home outfit that was way too big!)

Snacks and drinks are a really good idea, and change/one-dollar-bills if the hospital cafeteria isn't 24-hours and there are vending machines. I was HUNGRY after giving birth and when my milk came in.

[ShineliketheSon]

Just bought some Earth baby mama bottom spray to use instead of the anticeptic spray they give you...so will add that to my bag! Also some xylotol gum...supposed to be better for your teeth!

[momma2be_k]

For Me -

Yoga Pants
2 Sleep Nursing Bras (like a sports bra, but with easy access for nursing)
1 Black to wear in the birthing pool
1 White to wear once out of the birthing pool
2 Black nursing tanks
Comfortable outfit to wear home
iPod & Docking Station (speakers)
Socks/Slippers
Emergen-C (good for energy if/when you can't eat)
Honey (if your throat gets sore/scratchy from vocalizing through contractions)
Snack Bars
Bottled Water
Bottle of Champagne
Homemade Granola
Homemade iced tea (probably RRL tea in a big thermos)
Homemade baked goods for L&D nurses (part of my labor project)
Nice Smelling Candle
Laptop & charger
Camera & charger
Video Camera & charger
Shower Stuff (too many things in here to list)
Flip flops (to wear in the shower... I have a SERIOUS issues with my feet touching strange floors in the shower)
Pillows for DH and I
Change of clothes for DH
Blanket for DH
Glasses, Contacts and stuff for contacts (thanks for the reminder, Kate!)

For Baby -

Wipes (hospital uses gauze and water so we need to bring our own wipes if we want to use them)
Diapers?
Outfit to go home in
Side snap T shirts (to wear while the cord stump heals)
Blanket
Hat
Socks
Burp cloths
Car Seat

I'm SURE I'm forgetting something......

[Jennbee]

don't forget the baby wipes

[Azreial]

planning a hb this time but my other births all involved hospital stays

You don't need to bring diapers for the baby. The hospital provides them and will give you a handful to take home

you don't need to bring clothes for the baby, beyond the going home outfit. They'll put the baby in a kimono t-shirt and wrap in a receiving blanket. You can put your clothes on the baby if you want but it really seems to annoy the nurses

I highly recomend bring slippers for you. Slip on ones are best. Very easy to slid on when you have to go to the bathroom, have guests, get a snack etc

Also pj's you can nurse in. I brought clothes with #1 and ended up spending the time in the hospital johnny because I spent most of the time in bed and clothes aren't so comfortable in bed. PJ's have the added bonus of sending the message of "I'm recovering and not here to entertain you" to your visitors.
Its really amazing the difference, things go from "can I have a drink?" to "let me get you a drink"

Bring magazines or something equally entertaining and brainless. Or $$ to get some from the gift shop. My mum brought me big stacks of tabloids, after my last 2 births and they were the best thing any one brought and I'm not a tabloid person

This isn't really a pack thing, but find out what is aroudn the hospital for take out That way when people call and ask if they can bring you any food or whatever you can tell them what you would like from where. I really don't mind most hospital food and some it is good but when you're extra hungry or want some varity its good to know

[ShineliketheSon]

Originally Posted by momma2be_k

For Me -


Emergen-C (good for energy if/when you can't eat)
Homemade iced tea (probably RRL tea in a big thermos)
Homemade baked goods for L&D nurses (part of my labor project)

......

OOOH THanks...so adding these to my list! The baked goods will be in a basket with our birth plan...just a nice little hint!

[FischK]

Thanks for sharing your lists. I was beginning to think about what I would take, but as I have officially about 7 more weeks to go, I hadn't quite figured it out. Now, I feel more prepared.

[mamamccloud]

Thanks for taking the time to share your lists. I have my c-section in 5.5 days and counting! I was just beginning to put together my list when I saw this thread. Thanks!

[scraphappy-Red]

Although I'm planning a hb this time...my last three babies were born in the hospital. And like some of the other posters pointed out...at least at this hospital, the diapers and wipes are provided. The babies wear little kimono outfits and the nurses prefer that because it's easier for them to check up on a baby who is wearing loose clothing.

I only brought toiletries and an outfit to wear home, because I'm quite a bleeder and would rather ruin the hospital's items then my own. I wore their net panties, the hospital gown, and even their traction socks...cause I bleed on those too. They provided the maxi pads, peri bottles, soothing cream and even the toothpaste (forgot that once).

The only thing that I always remembered to bring (after my first time) was snacks!!! Sometimes they would have new-mommy sandwiches in the fridge for that 2am hunger attack, but sometimes they wouldn't...so having yummy snacks available 24/7 was high priority for me.

This would be my list if I was delivering at the hospital:
- Nursing bra
- Basic Toiletries
- Going home outfit for me (maternity clothes...nothing else fit yet)
- My sister's gift was always the baby's going home outfit, so I never worried about that.
- Camera!!!!
- Birthing Music (but it got too annoying last time and it was turned off during transition).
- Baby Blanket
- Car Seat (but that was already installed in the car).
- Anything else could either be provided by the hospital or hubby could run home for it it was desperately needed.

I always packed light...and even so...hubby still had to make several trips down to the car as we were leaving, carrying all of the balloons, flowers, baby gifts and paperwork that you end up leaving with, but that you didn't bring with you in the first place. So keep that in mind too!

This is getting pretty exciting ladies...we're almost there!!! :

[herins]

I don't think I saw this mentioned, but hubby will bring a bathing suit in case I spend time in the shower and want company (unfortunately there are no tubs at my hospital).

[Aka mommy]

I really need to take notes. My last was born at home and im clueless as to what i will need, thankfully its only for me since babe will be going home with her parents. So far i have come up with:
Toothbrush and toothpaste
DH's boxer briefs (what i wear after birth)
Extra outfit to change into
Cell phone and chargers

I dont plan on taking much since i plan on checking out AMA by 4 hours post and then my mw's will be taking care of me at home.

[Murph12334]

have a bag for dd in case she has to come with us.

General:
ipod loaded with hypnobirthing tracks & soothing music/headphones/docking station
camera with extra batteries and cards and wall charger
cell phone and wall charger
list of numbers to call
hypno birthing signs and birth plan
hypnobabies book

for me:
puzzle book
slipper socks
old underwear
nursing bra
nursing tank/gray sweats
going home outfit (maternity jeans and shirt)
toiletries (tbrush, tpaste, shampoo, soap, deodorant, Lansinoh)
brush and hair elastics
eyeglasses
prenatals

for baby:
going home outfit (one preemie size, one newborn size)
baby socks
2 warm blankets
baby book
carseat (w/ a base installed in each car)

for daddy:
book/magazine
food
coins/cash for vending machines
change of clothes/pj’s/toiletries
medication/tylonal

Josie:
Big sister gift or gift from the baby to her
Quiet toys
Change of clothes
Diapers/wipes