Okay ladies & babies ~ let's think about our hospital/birth bags! - Page 2

[BabyMae09]

I'm birthing at home via planned UC, so my 'birth bag' is actually a couple of baskets full of things for labor, delivery, and pp. I have some herbs for pain, pp bledding, and calming. I have cord clamps, gauze wipes, and floor pads. And I have a couple peri bottles, some tree tree oil spray for pp and a bunch of other stuff too that I can't remember. And since we're already at home, I of course will have all kinds of clothes, etc. on hand for her

[Smithie]

Hmmmm. This is my first hospital birth, so I guess I will have to figure out what I need!

Off the top of my head: just clothes for both of us, toiletries and camers equipment should do it if I stay home for most of the labor as I'm hoping to do. If I go earlier in labor for whatever reason, I guess I'll need my body pillow, bottled water etc.

I totally intend to push this kid out and get myself home ASAP, so I'm kind of hoping to go minimalist on the packing. I guess a warm plush blanket and pillow would be a good idea in any case, whether I spend the night or just take a little nap before I shower and limp out.

[j_p_i]

I just emailed my list to my mom, and she thinks I'm totally over-packing. Can I expect the hospital to have most of the clothes/diapers/stuff for the baby? I know there will be blankets, so I won't pack many of those. I do plan on cloth diapering, but may just use what the hospital has to start. Also, the length of time I'm there will sort of dictate how much I pack. If it's just overnight, that's one thing, but 2-3 days and I'll pack more.

[filiadeluna]

From the March DDC here, but I am SO glad I looked over this one last time. I finally finished packing EVERYTHING, but I almost forgot my insurance card! That would have been a disaster, for sure!

[lotus.blossom]

Originally Posted by j_p_i

I just emailed my list to my mom, and she thinks I'm totally over-packing. Can I expect the hospital to have most of the clothes/diapers/stuff for the baby? I know there will be blankets, so I won't pack many of those. I do plan on cloth diapering, but may just use what the hospital has to start. Also, the length of time I'm there will sort of dictate how much I pack. If it's just overnight, that's one thing, but 2-3 days and I'll pack more.

Every hospital is different of course but with L I only brought one outfit since I was supposed to birth at the birth center and leave 12 hours later
He spent the first 5 days in a long sleeve t shirt from the hospital and wrapped in a receiving blanket. The hospital had diapers and they used wet washcloths for wiping. I didn't start cloth till a day after I got home. They had tons of little things that I didn't think about. Mini packs of lanolin for me, extra mesh panties and pads, I even got fitted and bought a nursing bra and breast pump there! Really all you need for the babe is a going home outfit and carseat! They'll probably send you home with a bunch of diapers, blankets, t's (and formula )

[Asher]

I do bring my boppy. I want to be as comfortable nursing as possible from the beginning and I love my boppy.

I've already started packing my bag, just as I remember stuff b/c I forget so easily otherwise. I've never started it this early before, though.

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by 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.

I'm probably going to pack a lot of it around 35-36 weeks, but since some of it I will be using up until the day I go into labor, I'm going to put a small checklist on top of the bag, so that before I leave I can grab those last few items (like, toothbrush, some snacks, my slippers which I wear all the time at home, etc).

I'm going to bring a nursing pillow, but the thing is I'm going to have two bags-- one to bring in when I arrive and has all my labor/childbirth stuff, and the other that my husband can go out later on and get that has, like, shower supplies, change of clothes, the baby clothes, etc etc-- I'll have the nursing pillow in with that one. Some people may not need two bags, but my hospital mandates at least one overnight (and two if you deliver during the day-- have to stay that night, the next day, one more overnight and leave in the morning) so I'll definitely need some supplies that I won't feel like dragging in while I'm in labor.

Originally Posted by j_p_i

I just emailed my list to my mom, and she thinks I'm totally over-packing. Can I expect the hospital to have most of the clothes/diapers/stuff for the baby? I know there will be blankets, so I won't pack many of those. I do plan on cloth diapering, but may just use what the hospital has to start. Also, the length of time I'm there will sort of dictate how much I pack. If it's just overnight, that's one thing, but 2-3 days and I'll pack more.

Are you taking a tour of the hospital? I'd ask about all that then-- that's when I found out that my hospital, they provide blankets, diapers, and hats for the baby, maxipads for me, etc. And yeah, I'm bringing one cloth diaper to bring the baby home, but using their disposables while I'm there-- less hassle.

[CanBoo]

Originally Posted by Kelly1101

Are you taking a tour of the hospital? I'd ask about all that then-- that's when I found out that my hospital, they provide blankets, diapers, and hats for the baby, maxipads for me, etc. And yeah, I'm bringing one cloth diaper to bring the baby home, but using their disposables while I'm there-- less hassle.

The hospital where DD was born was asking you to bring your own diapers and pads in their official pamphlets, but we used theirs anyways
I am assuming they would have had the same answer on the tour.

I hated their baby blankets though, they were so rough.

[lightheartedmom]

(furiously scribbling notes)
I don't remember much of what I brought to the hospital for DD's birth. I didn't pack until the last second, when they told me they wanted to induce. This time all I know is that I want my ipod, extra socks (since I puked on my only pair last time) and I will not (WILL . NOT.) wear a hospital gown, so I need to find an outfit to labor in.

Other than that, I'm bringing a hat that I just finished knitting for the new LO. I hope I don't forget it. We don't know what we're having, but I'm so tempted to buy a girl outfit and a boy outfit and bring them both...DD came home in hospital clothes because the outfit I brought for her was to huge (she was 6lbs when we left the hospital).

:::sigh::: I can't believe it's already getting to be time for me to stop just thinking about this stuff and actually start doing something!
Thanks for all the tips ladies!

[lil_miss_understood]

Bumping it up because I'm just starting to do this now.

[scrappingmom]

hmm.. i missed this last time somehow... yup, i should pack a bag! i've been aying that at least daily for the last.. i dont know, 6 weeks... i dont even know WHERE i have a bag to use... i have camera and batteries in a little diaperbag, a couple wool diaper covers b ut i'm thinkig i may use the sposies at teh hospital and/or till miconium is done. i think i put an outfit in for baby.. i should look. My knitting needles are in there, but i took out the yarn hmmm.... guess i should get off here and pack some stuff before these contractions get to uncomfortable

[mynameisMom]

I sat on the boppy on the car ride home - keeps pressure off the tender areas.

[mamasurprised]

I finally got my suitcase out of storage a few days ago. I had bloody show on Saturday and kinda figured it would be a good idea to start packing a bag soon.

I have the bag and a long list. There has yet to be packing even though DP asks me everyday if I've packed it yet. It'll be my luck that these contractions will go full force and I'll get a big fat " Told ya so!" from DP.

I am a procrastinator. I have accepted this long ago.

[lil_miss_understood]

Originally Posted by mamasurprised

It'll be my luck that these contractions will go full force and I'll get a big fat " Told ya so!" from DP.

You are just totally leading me into these stories today. What's up with that?
Yesterday, I told DH that I needed him to go to the garage and get the suitcase for me. Now, remember that we moved in December. When we were moving, he wanted to throw out the suitcase and I told him "No, we need it." It was a small argument and he agreed to bring it in his last load (which I knew, at the time, that he wouldn't and was just saying to shut me up, but I forgot about this all yesterday).
So today, he goes to the garage to get the suitcase. Guess what? It's not there. Hmm. I wonder why? (PS. Told you so DH. )