What to pack for a hospital birth -- a helpful (& funny!) checklist « Back to Group Discussions

[joy2grow]

I am preparing for my first hospital birth.  While looking for suggestions on what to bring I found this awesome list on this hilarious pregnancy website.  I hope some of you find it helpful & funny as well.

[Quinalla]

Nice, that's a pretty good list, though a lot of that stuff is often supplied by the hospital so it is good to check ahead of time to not bring what you don't need (Lanolin, diapers, huge mesh undies, pads, baby hat, soothers if you wanted them, etc. were all supplied by the hospital, they also supply crappy shampoo and soap, bring your own). While hospital pillows are pretty flat, I wouldn't bring my own pillow or nursing pillow into the hospital, I wouldn't want all those germs in the hospital getting into it! I also was happy wearing the hospital gowns with a nursing bra (or not) until I left, but some folks like to get back in their clothes ASAP.

The only things it doesn't really mention is a lot of labor gear, there is some listed. If you want music, special scents, focus items, birth ball (even if the hospital has them you might bring your own), etc.

Also, the biggest thing is to pack your bag early and have the carseat installed early. The last thing you want to be doing is packing your bag in hard labor looking for stuff. You DH will be able to bring you stuff after birth if you forget something, but remember he has to find said stuff, so I think it is better to pack yourself.

[cadybh]

What a great site!  This list and the birth announcements have me in stitches.

We are planning a home birth but I still want to "pack a bag" of things I want available that I wouldn't otherwise care about - like making sure the nursing pillow is nearby and has a clean cover.  So thanks!

[Miss Ess]

Originally Posted by Quinalla 

...
Also, the biggest thing is to pack your bag early and have the carseat installed early. The last thing you want to be doing is packing your bag in hard labor looking for stuff. You DH will be able to bring you stuff after birth if you forget something, but remember he has to find said stuff, so I think it is better to pack yourself.

This is SO true. Between being a bit of a procrastinator, and planning a home birth for #1 that didn't end up working out, I had nothing packed when my water broke spontaneously at 35w2d.

I will be packing a bag super early this time around. There weren't many things I missed having, but those few things I missed a LOT.

[kimble]

Originally Posted by Miss Ess 

This is SO true. Between being a bit of a procrastinator, and planning a home birth for #1 that didn't end up working out, I had nothing packed when my water broke spontaneously at 35w2d.

I will be packing a bag super early this time around. There weren't many things I missed having, but those few things I missed a LOT.

based on your experience, what are some of the items you missed a lot? I'm sure a lot of it is personal preference, but as a first timer I'd appreciate your perspective having BTDT with nothing packed.

[Quinalla]

I know you weren't asking me kimble, but I think the thing I would miss the most is not having a camera. We didn't snap nearly enough photos of the first days in the hospital even though we did have a camera and I regret it. It is easier to have a camera handy now with nearly all phones having them, but I still prefer a "real" camera that takes better pictures. My labor was so fast I didn't need any labor stuff (except I am definitely taking a copy of my preregistration this time as they lost it last time so I got to fill it out verbally while in hard labor), it was after labor I was glad to have some things like my phone and DH's laptop so I could connect online and through e-mail with folks right away, I liked having the option of wearing my own clothes even though I didn't until the last day except for nursing bras and thick socks, my own shampoo/conditioner/soap were great and made me feel more like me, and I wanted to have the coming home outfit I had picked out for DD and proper clothes for me to wear home, I'm sure DH would not have been able to find my clothes if all he had to go on was my descriptions of what and where.

[CoBabyMaker]

Oh my goodness, snacks.  Yes, I WILL remember to pack those this time. 

Me: Hi, I just labored for hours, puked and had a baby who is now busily sucking away at everything my body has.  Can I have a snack and whole bunch of water?

Nurse: Here's a single graham cracker and an 8 oz. cup of ice chips. (Totally not faulting the nurse, I know she is probably at the mercy of the system.)

Yeah, I need to bring snacks this time.

[Quinalla]

Ugh, that's awful CoBaby! I sent DH to get me soup at the Tim Horton's in the lobby after labor and everything was over, it was delicious!

[sweetlowmom]

I'm not a make-up wearer by any means ... but I found it helped a lot to have vaseline/lip gloss - not for the post-birth pictures, but for labor - my lips get chapped very quickly when I'm not taking in enough water, and sure enough ... it helped! :) For what that's worth!

Can't believe we're talking about packing already ... !!!! What keeps shocking me is that there are now ddcs up to September - we're not at the top of the list anymore! yahoo!! :)
 

[kimble]

thanks everyone for the great ideas! I think now that we are half way through this journey our prepping/nesting tendencies are kicking in more. I'll be packing early since our SIL ended up giving birth at 35 weeks. Not that there's any connection, but that made it clear to me that due dates are just a best estimate and babies keep their own schedules :)

[CoBabyMaker]

Ugh, that's awful CoBaby! I sent DH to get me soup at the Tim Horton's in the lobby after labor and everything was over, it was delicious!

I think it never really occurred to me to send DH for food.  I ended up with emergency c/s both times so things were a bit of a whirl wind.  Then there is the whole issue of what's ok to eat afterward which I now know is a bunch of garbage. 

[Miss Ess]

Originally Posted by kimble 

based on your experience, what are some of the items you missed a lot? I'm sure a lot of it is personal preference, but as a first timer I'd appreciate your perspective having BTDT with nothing packed.

Lip balm, music, and warmer socks (hospital was super cold in January).

Also, because we were out when my water broke I a) had none of my own clothes which would have been nice as visitors started showing up b) had no bra which I felt a bit naked without. Our son was born in the evening and it was about noon the next day before my spouse showed back up... he was at home trying to pack, and kind of freaking out a bit about the early arrival