Okay ladies & babies ~ let's think about our hospital/birth bags!

[Asher]

Because some of us (ahem lotus.blossom) are getting a wee bit close to full term! OH MY GOSH! When did that happen?!

So, what is your "must have" in your bag? Has anyone got theirs started, yet? Any good lists out there? I know what I need/want in my baby bag, but am totally DER! when it comes to my bag right now.

This is what I have for babe (packed already for some reason):
Going home outfit
Socks
Pacis (jic)
Special blanket
Gowns (I dress them in our own clothes right away)
Hats
And..er..can't remember what else!

Mine is just started, but not done, yet. So far all I have is:
Going home outfit for me
Nursing pj's (I don't wear the hospital clothes after birth)
Shampoo/conditioner
Toothbrush/paste
Deodorant
Brush
My own panties (hate the odd ones at the hospital and they are my comfy nursing panties which I will never use again anyway so don't mind if they get yucky and need to be trashed)
I don't remember what else.

I know I still need nursing bra, camera, batteres, adapter, laptop, adapter, cell phone, adapter, list of phone #'s in case my cell phone doesn't work, some snacks (maybe granola bars), copies of my birth plan and I don't remember what else I normally want/need. I don't do the birth announcements, etc. at the hospital b/c I don't do them like a normal person. Also do not bring the baby book with me (don't even have one, yet, for that matter).

[CanBoo]

If you plan a hospital birth, pack Toilet Paper. It is missing on all sample lists... and you don’t want the ½ ply they supply on your sore bottom.

I will pack a small hospital transfer bag, because I am planning a homebirth.
Essentially:
For baby: a few newborn dipes, some baby clothes, receiving blankets, cloth wipes and wet bag. (I prefer putting baby in cloth even in case of transfer, too hard to figure out the first wet diapers otherwise)
For me: a toothbrush/toothpaste, lanolin, breast pads, pack of granola bars, 2 emergen-c, pajamas, slippers, shampoo/conditioner samples, undies (I’d just use their pads while I am there), pair of comfortable pants and t-shirt, nursing tank... and a roll of soft toilet paper.
We have an old digital camera we don’t normally use, I guess I could throw it in that bag.

[CookAMH]

That's on my To Do List, so I have been working on it It's mostly complete:
Take to Birth Center

Pack beforehand:

1. Camera
2. small jar of coconut oil
3. baby clothes
4. Nursing bras
5. nursing pads
6. comfy clothes
7. shirts for baby
8. 4 receiving blankets
9. baby hats
10. booties
11. Brown Robe
12. Lansinoh
13. CDs
14. snacks
15. a few cloth diapers
16. RRL tea bags
17. couple tank tops
18. mints
19. baby mittens
20. headband
21. emergen-C packets
22. Directions and map to our apartment

Pack last minute:

1. laborade
2. Clothes for Ryan
3. Cell phone chargers
4. birth ball
5. toiletries
6. some makeup
7. pillows
8. slippers

[kriket]

gag....
I can't believe we're packing our bags!

I laied on in the living room floor the other day, thinking I would put something in it!

I'm not a packer. I can make do, I would really like to bring this card thing that I snagged from a photo book I gave my mom so the nurse can put his feet prints on it for her. Thats the only thing that I just MUST remember.

[CookAMH]

Do any of you plan to put towels and plastic in the car in a few weeks just in case?

[lotus.blossom]

( thanks for reminding me!!!!!!!!! )

I will have a small bag packed in the event of a transfer, but I'm not gonna think about that right now.

Last time though, I forgot my contact case and soap/shampoo/conditioner. Frankly for a whole week it slipped my mind that I even wore contacts. Those things were in for 5 days straight without a second thought! But while the nurses station supplied me with a little cup of johnsons shampoo, there was nothing I wanted more than to have a shower and wash my hair with nice shampoo and conditioner and use something other than hand soap on my privates. And for some reason that was not something that I ever thought to articulate to my DH to bring back for me on his trips home.

Honestly- after a baby your brain turns to goo! So think ahead! (especially since -god/dess- forbid you end up with a c/s. Think longer term than just a day)

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by lotus.blossom

Honestly- after a baby your brain turns to goo! So think ahead! (especially since -god/dess- forbid you end up with a c/s. Think longer term than just a day)

I've wondered if we should pack a bag with more clothes just to keep in the car in case we transfer from BC to the hospital. If we do transfer, the stay goes from 12 hours to 2 days, so I'm not sure how to be prepared for that without bringing a TON of stuff to the birth center.

[Asher]

Originally Posted by CookAMH

Do any of you plan to put towels and plastic in the car in a few weeks just in case?

I will be due to a conversation I had with my midwife Tuesday. She said fluffy blanket and two towels. She has this idea that I'm going to give birth before I get to the hospital. That would solve my "little to no interventions" request on my birth plan, wouldn't it?

April AFTER the baby? My brain is already goo! I stg I feel like I'm doing this for the first time, I seriously do not feel like I know what I am doing. You'd think I didn't have other kids and hadn't done this before. That's why I'm starting a lot of this stuff NOW...figure it gives me longer to remember what I might be forgetting!

[Norasmomma]

Hi DDC crashing, but the one thing I forgot that drove me crazy.... Change for the vending machine. I had to beg family for change, we had our debit card and check book. I also just packed the wrong clothes for DD, we had a ton of those open bottom nightgowns and she HATED them and would scream as soon as one was on her. I had to have my friend go to our house and grab jammies.

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by Norasmomma

I also just packed the wrong clothes for DD, we had a ton of those open bottom nightgowns and she HATED them and would scream as soon as one was on her. I had to have my friend go to our house and grab jammies.

Good to know to bring a variety of clothes. Thanks!

[Miasmamma]

I am admitting that I haven't even considered the possibility of needing a bag, so I guess I'll have to go start a list now...

[Kelly1101]

Oh, here we go.

I am an obsessive packer and I always pack more than I need, anywhere I go. It's kind of a joke. I already have my lists:

LABOR BAG

□Chapstick
□Fuzzy socks
□Pen and notebook
□Tennis balls
□Lotion
□CD/MP3 player
□Snacks
□Water bottles
□Drinks
□Camera
□Batteries (camera / MP3 player)
□Change (vending machines)
□Phones
□Phone list
□Toothbrush / Toothpaste
□Jason toothbrush
□Slippers
□Tootsie pops
□Pillows
□Hair scrunchies
□Watch
□Birth ball
□Jason clothes
□Debit card
□Kelly ID
□Jason ID
□Insurance cards
□Hospital registration forms
□Birth plans
□WTE book
□Papers from Lamaze class








HOSPITAL BAG

□Nursing bras
□3-4 Underwear
□Robe
□PJ pants
□PJ shirt
□Belly band
□Shampoo/Conditioner
□Comb
□Body wash
□Deodorant
□Jason Deodorant
□2-3 pair socks
□Fleece blanket
□Phone chargers
□Pads
□Books
□Snacks
□Hot chocolate packs
□Blanket for baby
□Clothes for Jason
□Home clothes for Kelly
□Home clothes for baby
□Home diaper for baby
□Nursing pillow
□Baby book

[Asher]

I don't do vending machine change b/c DH stays with me the entire labor and I cannot get out to the vendors after baby b/c I'll be alone and he'll be rooming in with me. May get some more snacks to bring along, though, just in case he's another late night birth and I can't get food right away.

I forgot socks!

[Kelly1101]

*adds to list: toilet paper, nursing pads for bra*

[j_p_i]

I can't believe I hadn't thought to do this yet. I'm taking notes....

[ScootchsMom]

I haven't even thought this far yet!

I brought my shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body puff when I had DD. It was heaven to take that first shower with all my familiar stuff. I didn't know I was allowed to bring my own pj's, but I'm bringing them this time. I'll also pack the digital camera, clothes for me and baby, snacks for labor (sneaking them in ) and my chapstick. Other than that stuff, I can't think of anything else I used last time, that DP can't go back home and get if we need it after the baby is born.

[chaibaby]

Don't forget about water bottles! A friend of mine suggested keeping a couple in the freezer so that they are COLD when you want them cold. And then another couple at room temp.

[Asher]

I've never done a water bottle. Is that just to stay hydrated or...?

[Madalyn]

Thinking about the hospital bag makes me super excited ahh!! When do you guys plan on actually packing it? I was thinking I'd wait until about 36 weeks. I've looked at a few sample lists online but I haven't even really planned what I want to bring yet. I'm going to have to remember toilet paper! Totally wouldn't have thought of that.

A lot of the lists I've seen mention bringing your boppy of you have one. Any opinions? I feel like that's a huge thing to be lugging into the hospital along with my bag and a regular pillow for me. On the other hand this is my first time breastfeeding (obviously lol) so I don't know if it would be helpful to have it with me.

[CanBoo]

Originally Posted by Madalyn

A lot of the lists I've seen mention bringing your boppy of you have one. Any opinions? I feel like that's a huge thing to be lugging into the hospital along with my bag and a regular pillow for me. On the other hand this is my first time breastfeeding (obviously lol) so I don't know if it would be helpful to have it with me.

I would not worry about the Boppy.
I is very different to nurse in a hospital bed, they are not the most comfortable things so you might adopt a very different position than what you will do at home. Plus they have gazillions pillows there there they can bring you for support. It worked fine for us.

One less thing to get covered in hospital germs