Hospital Bag!

[pumpkingirl71]

So I started packing mine I have to say, I really do believe the hospital is the right choice for me, my baby and my family. But I am so jealous of you mamas who get to stay home!

Right now, I just have a few travel sized personal care items. I will be working off one of those generic lists. I do want to get a decently nice pair of pjs for the hospital and I need more nursing bras. We are planning a birthday party for the baby to make my three year olds happy So I will be addng a few things for them. And I need to buy a few nursing bras...

Any special things you will be packing that you want to share?

[Snookler]

I started putting my bag together this weekend and so far have the following:
-2 Short Cotton Nursing Nightgowns & 1 Robe
-2 pair of warm socks - (walking on Hosp floors is gross)
-1 Rice sock - (Heat/Cold Pack)
-1 Lavender Aromatherapy Pack
-Smart Water/Vitamin Water (electrolites & carbs)
-Clothes for Baby (2 onesies 2 sleepers & "Going Home Outfit")
-Natural baby soap (Cause *if* I choose to give baby a bath, I won't be using their freebie chem stuff)
-Snacks for Husband & Doula (granola bars, candy, micro popcorn)
-MP3 Player with my music
-Radio for general room ambiance (I like sounds of nature)
-Birth Ball
-Extra Pillows

Plus all the standard toiletries, etc. But the above were the vital things I Loved having last time, or really wished I had.
Can't wait to see others lists as I'm sure I'm forgetting things.

[salt_phoenix]

I never thought I'd NEED a hospital bag, and I ended up here without a thing but my backpack. HOWEVER, since I have been here, I can give you a rundown of what I have used and appreciated MOST.

personal hygiene items
MY gowns/bras/clothes/PANTIES
slippers/robe
ipod
scented candle
RRLT, vitamin water, kefir
pens/paper/journal
LIPBALM
My favorite essential oil blend.
MY pillows (I brought 6 of them. )
MY fuzzy blanket
MY phone/phone numbers.
Laptop
Camera
A birth plan, if you have one ( i didn't write one until i ended up here)

Now mind you, I didn't come in to specifically labor, deliver and go home, I am here for the long haul, but these are the things I would find essential, I think.

L&D has birthballs, boomboxes, etc. over there, so I chose not to bring my own. I DID bring my own speakers tho. I probably wouldn't do that if I were only here for two days.

What I have for leh behbeh here at the hospital:
A few cloth diapers
a couple onesies & a change of clothes
a blanket

I'm hoping not to need any baby stuff here... it would be MAGICKAL to be able to just go home to deliver, where all our stuff is.

[milky_mama]

I need to get packing!!

Good ideas ladies - keep them coming! :

[nugglemama]

I really should get packing my bag. We have to stay 2 days min so I usually pack
My own pillow and blanket
2-3 comfy outfits
Jammies for me
shampoo/conditioner ect toiletries
a few sleepers/nighties for baby ( I hate the little nighties they have)
a book
i pod
computer and some dvd's
camera/ camcorder
pads and panties
nursing bras
my phone book and a long distance calling card
gifts from the baby to the kids

That's it I think. I don't bring alot to labour with, I never end up using anything

[DBZ]

Don't forget extra batteries and whatever chargers you need.

[mleh99]

Don't forget the baby book to put his/her footprints in!!

[~Robin]

I got to start packing since I am already in premature labour and not expected to make it much longer I just need enough time to get some cute clothes in the mail.

[mtm]

lip balm and hand cream were two must haves on my list. Fruit for me when labour was over, I was starving and it was hard to get food before the next meal time.

[~Katrinka~]

snacks
ipod and/or some cds.
camera
phone numbers -- although last time, I could never figure out how to get my calling card to work with the hospital phone system :
I was thinking of packing a bath pillow for me, and a foam gardening pad for dh, so he can sit/kneel next to the tub.
Saline nasal spray or gel is really important for me - it's distracting in a very unpleasant way if your nasal passages get all dried out in the dry hospital air. Also chapstick and lotion.
Tums
Toothbrushes (1 for me, one for dh) & toothpaste, shampoo, etc.
something to put my hair back
rice sock
old comfy bathrobe
old comfy yoga pants for afterwards
nursing bra
witch hazel (for perineum)
something for baby to come home in
something comfy for me to wear home
baby blankets to roll up for supporting baby's head in carseat


My hospital has birth balls, snacks for laboring moms and their partners, non-slip socks (they won't let you wear your own socks unless they have a non-slip bottom).

Last time, I had a bag all packed and we didn't even have time to get it open before I started pushing : And we left the camera in the car, oops. I was soooooo happy to have a bunch of snacks in the bag when I was starving and it was 3:30 a.m., and the snack area had nothing left but graham crackers. Oh, and I did hang on to my warmed-up rice bag pretty tight on the ride to the hospital.

[pumpkingirl71]

*bump* since others are asking aobut hospital bags

[Trinitty]

This is a good reminder.

I will pack one just in case we have to transfer.

I don't want to be stuck without our own stuff if we have to have a hospital birth, it would just make it that much more frustrating and stressful!!

Trin.

[DBZ]

bumping this one too

[pumpkingirl71]

bump

[Trinitty]

Argh.

I still need to do this.

I'll do it tonight and be done with it.

Trin.

[Saramomofmany]

I need to get ours packed too. I'm 36 weeks tomorrow, so I probably have plenty of time, but I want to be sure I have what I might want/need. 4th birth I was planning a homebirth, but transferred for high b.p. and only had a short time to get a few essentials together.

Sara

[New_Natural_Mom]

Still on the same topic, but with all this stuff to bring - mom stuff - diaper bag with baby stuff - pump - pillows - camera bag - etc. does it look like you are coming in for the long haul when you get to the hospital. As stupid as this is I don't want to look like I packed everything and the kitchen sink....

[Bellejar]

I just pack it all into a large rolly suitcase. Believe me there is always someone who brings more. They suggest bringing pillows on the list I got from the hospital. Hospital pillows apparently suck

[kaspirant]

I'm nearly 39 weeks and still need to pack mine.

I think I'm in denial...