What will you pack for the hospital/birth center?

[pixiesmommy]

I'm working on my list and might go ahead and start gathering things in the suitcase too, since I don't plan on anymore trips between now and the birth. If all goes well, we'll only have to stick around in the hospital for 6 hours, but I want to make sure I take everything I need to make me comfortable for labor. With Pixie I didn't take anything other than clothes, a journal, and some breastfeeding books!

What's on your list?

Manda

[maisiedotes]

Hmmm. there was just a thread on this and I am glad you posted it- it is the little boot in the arse that I need. My "master plan" was to get in the car with me and the carseat and DH till I realized I would need more than that...

My mom was in the hospital with me for 6 days (apparently that was not uncommon then)- I can't imagine packing for 6 days! At our hospital if all goes well you are in and out in like a day and a half- 2 days...

[YankeeMomInVA]

Hmmm... I've been thinking a lot about this, too...

One thing DH demands that we take this time is HIS deoderant. Sounds strange but we forgot his deoderant when we packed for the hospital for ds, and he ended up using mine for the few days that we were there. I'd joke with him every morning after he showered that he smelled soooooo pretty! To me, it wouldn't matter.... but my teasing didn't help

On a serious note...(while I hope not to be there more than the minimum required time as long as we're both healthy)... I plan to bring my own pillow again...I loved having my own pillow...and lots of healthy snacks.... and this time I'm going to bring a COMFY outfit to wear home. I was so uncomfortable in my unstretchy denim shorts for the trip home last time. Gonna bring a nursing tank or two as well... That stupid hospital gown really made me insane... my entire top half was exposed while I was nursing and every tom dick and harry would come into the room while I was like that... :

We'll also bring the baby book, b/c we loved having the nurses put ds's first footprints in the baby book right after he was born :-) We figured if they were going to ink up his little feet, we might as well have him "stamp" his baby book, right? :-)

I really need to get on this, though!!! Thanks for bringing it up!

[yogachick79]

Oh Lauren, that is a really good plan about the baby book.

Well, I plan on staying as long as I want (obviously no more than 2 days) so I'll pack for the whole time. I may ask for early discharge, but at the same time I rather enjoyed my stay last time :

my pillow
nursing tanks
comfy nursing nightgown
a book or two
knitting things (optimistic, I know )
lots of undies and good PP cloth pads
cloth dipes
travel outfit for babe (including warm bunting or something for the ride home)
car seat (obviously)
boppy (?)
baby book
rice milk boxes (like juice boxes, shelf stable) for cereal, etc
journal
sweat suit for me to travel home in!!! I agree, I was way to uncomfortable on the last trip home...

For DH:
2 full changes of clothes incl underwear
toothbrush
deoderant (he used mine last time too!!!)
pillow (if he wants)
deck of cards (came in handy with the super long labor last time)
??? not sure what else he will want. Oh, maybe my iPod

[sorteep]

I really need to work on this list.. at the birth center we also have to provide all our own food and drinks (which is no biggie since i prob would not have eaten much of the hospital food anyway..) our min atay is 6 hrs PP and max is 12 hrs.. it depends on what time he/she is born and how I feel when I will come home.. we will see.. last time I only had the pants I went to the hospital in to come home in !!! good news was my water broke JUST as I had taken them off to get in gown. !!

I will def bring nursing tanks and comfy PJ's and a really big T-shirt or two and some sock/ slippers I don't mind tossing if they get messy.. I tend to belld a lot PP so this time I ma getting smart and bringing depends... really.. also with BAD lac's I have had I can be incontinent PP from being so torn up.. I was very sorry I did not have them 1st 2 x's! hopefully I won't really need them this time! I really must make a list..

[oskie]

The BC should give you a list at your next appointment, sorteep. I just got mine Tuesday.

It looks pretty basic, but as a first timer I have no idea what I'll really need anyway, so it's a good starting point and even has the essentials for home listed on the reverse. Totally freaked out DH - I don't think he realizes we're under 100 days to go!

[scheelimama]

I haven't given this much thought yet. Here's what I can think of off the top of my head (for a birth center birth):

-Clothes/gown/sports bra to labor in, a couple changes so I can get in and out of the water
-Comfy outfit to come home in
-2-3 outfits for baby, so I can decide what I want her to wear home based on her size and the weather
-3-4 cloth diapers and wetbag
-1-2 receiving blankets
-Gifts for and from other two kids
-Baby book (for footprints)
-overnight disposable pads for me (I'll use cloth after the first few gusher days)
-snacks/juice/water for me and the kids, any other food we want, maybe some herbal teas
-cd's
-candles if they are allowed

That's all I can think of that we used or needed at our last birth.

[LittleBrownDog]

Originally Posted by yogachick79

I rather enjoyed my stay last time :

No tomatoes here, that is one thing I'm going to miss by having a home birth this time- meals brought to me on a tray and everyone having to come to ME while I lounged in bed with my new babe!

If I were doing an out of home birth, I would for sure have my boppy, something VERY comfortable to wear home, my own soap and shampoo, a birth ball if the hospital doesn't provide them, going home outfit and diaper for the baby, CAMERA, baby book, print-outs with labor affirmations/position diagrams, snacks, phone numbers for people to call after the birth, slipper socks with the little no-slip treads on the bottom... I'm sure there's more.

Oh! A notebook- I couldn't sleep after DD was born (just before midnight) and everyone else was gone, so I sat up and wrote out an outline for the birth story- By morning I'd forgotten so many details I was so glad I had done that. I also jotted down notes during long lulls between contractions when I was in labor. DH also kept a list of food he had eaten from the little stocked kitchen they had for labor partners- He was very pleased with himself for how much food he was able to get out of them.

[pixiesmommy]

Here is my list so far:

Birth plan
Cell phone
List of important phone numbers
Snacks- for me and for hubby, honey is good I hear
Hair Ties/scarf
Extra clothes for self and DH
Toothbrush/paste- self and DH
Deoderant- self and DH
Gardening kneeling pad- for doula, etc outside of birth tub
Reference books
Eurcerin lotion- doesn't have a scent, good for massages
Bottled water
Tennis Ball- for massages
Mini paint roller- again, for massages
Disposable camera- in case we forget or don't have time to grab good one
Eye mask
Pillows (wedge, snoogle, etc)
Birth Ball (I think hospital has one, but I'll have to check)
Arnica tablets and gel (for pain)
Peppermint essential oil (can be dropped in toilet after birth to help you relax enough to pee easier if necessary)
Barf bucket for on the way to hosp/ Piddle pads for seats
Depends and comfortable pads
Journal and pens
Camera- the good one!
Items to focus on
Stress ball to squeeze
Nursing bra
Breast pads (some soothing ones too)
Nursing gown
Comfy underwear (several pairs)
Socks and slippers
Tucks pads
Diapers/wipes for baby
Going home outfits for baby (various sizes!)
Receiving blankets
Carseat- installed
Hairbrush
Chapstick
Sour candy
Length of fabric for pulling during contractions

I also want to pack bag for DD in case we end up overnight at hospital and/or she stays the night with in-laws. She will need clothes, a stuffed animal to sleep with, pj's, underwear, socks, shoes or boots, and coat/hat/mittens (depending on weather.) What we'll probably do is pack a bag and leave it at their house ahead of time so in the chaos we don't leave her things behind... if there is chaos... gosh, I hope not.

[yogachick79]

Agh! I compeltely forgot items for DD as we'd really like her to be present for the birth this time. And the nursing bra/nursing pads too... Off to update my personal list

[pixiesmommy]

Oh, I also hear that cut-up pool noodles are good for support when you're in the birth/labor tub too.

[Momma Aimee]

here is the list i have -- so far. But i am just now really sitting down to think it though. These are just things i have randomly thought of up till now and written down to remember

•Bring my own blanket and pillow
large ditgal clock to plug in where I can see it (could not see clock last time without glasses)
•gel filled stress ball to squeeze
•MP3 Player and head phones
•CDs
oHynobirthing compluation
oRain cd
oWave cd
o
•Photos of Theodore – baby and now
•Food
o
•Cooler
oRoot beer
oJuice
oPop-cycles

I am off to read all the great lists and see if there is anythign else

what i will NOT bring ...

boppy -- too much space and didn't use it last time. it can wait at home.