Hospital Bags?

[KristyDi]

Ok for those of us who're not home birthing, what are you taking with you when you go to the hospital/birthing center. I keep trying to do mine and feeling overwhelmed. I've never done this before and don't know what I'll want and need and what will be a waste of effort.

So help me. What are you taking? What have you taken to past births. What do you suggest?

So far I have
-fluffy socks with treads on the bottom so I can walk.
-my robe
-loose, comfy yoga pants for after the delivery
-my i-pod loaded with as much of my favorite music as will fit because I can't decide what I'll want to listen to.
-my pillows with my favorite flannel pillowcases, soft and comforting and smell like home
-nursing bra (I need to get another one, I only have 1 that fits)
-baby's coming home outfit

I know there's more stuff I need. What do ya'll plan on taking.

[lilgsmommy]

MIne has:

-breastpump
-breastpads
-MT, pouch, and sling
-PJ set for after delivery
-nightgown
-socks and grandma undies
-fluffy socks with tread
-shampoo, conditioner, lotion, deoderant, toothbrush and toothpaste, and chapstick
-cloth diapers and covers (may or may not use depending on how bad the meconium is)
-a sports bra for during delivery
Still need to toss in a coming home outfit for me


I also have the baby bag packed with:
-3 gowns
-2 sleepers
-a few onsies
-socks and hats
-a few blankets
-burts bees baby soap for the first bath

I packed extras cause I may need a section again, and dont wanna have to deal with my hubby telling me he cant find something to bring to me


I will also be taking my pillow and body pillow when the time comes

[~Katrinka~]

LOL, don't forget your camera!!!!!

Do you have a charger for your ipod? If you end up in labor for longer than your ipod battery lasts, that would be a nice thing. That is one of the couple of things I have already packed.

I'll throw some more ideas at you
--snacks for dh for while you're laboring, and for you for about 5 minutes after you deliver, when you realize you're starving!
--another pair of loose comfy yoga pants...because there's a chance you could bleed all over pair #1
--witch hazel for your perineum
--something to put your hair back with
--toothbrush and toothpaste
--a rice sock that you can heat up if they have a microwave on the floor - comforting for labor, and also for afterwards if you get afterpains while nursing.
--a list of phone numbers
--some receiving blankets to roll up and help keep baby from flopping all over in the car seat
--oh, right. The car seat!
--if you are buying another nursing bra, buy one a little bigger than what fits you now. You will probably be bigger.
--Lanisloh. You might not need it right away, but you will probably need it by day 3 or 4 postpartum.
--Chocolate. Really wonderful, good quality chocolate. Because you will deserve some.

[lilgsmommy]

TY!!

I now need to add snacks, and my rice sock, and some hair ties

[XanaduMama]

I'm HB, so totally crashing your thread, but wanted to chime in to recommend GATORADE! I took a 6pack of the little bottles with us last time, and drank all of them, I think, immediately after the birth--heavenly. The hospital had crappy apple juice and sprite (clear fluids, yk? , but the gatorade was what I wanted.

Oh, and a yoga ball--wish we'd taken ours.

[alijased]

I second Gatorade, also protein bars. My doula recommended protein powder to add to liquid in case I am sick.

[avasmomleigh]

-charge the video camera, make sure you have the cords to recharge in the hospital
-lots of batteries for digital camera-an extra memory stick? or at least an empty one that will take a couple hundred pics without having to download so you can make it a week or so without dealing with that
-something you like to eat with fiber in it. raisins, other dried fruit-they don't give you enough fruit in the hospital.
-prenatal vitamins
-candy/junk food(not that you are going to eat it exclusively-but some comforting food with flavor so you can have what you want to suplement the bland hospital food)
-If there is something specific you think you will want to eat after labor, write down directions or print mapquest and write down your order NOW. Something you love-it will taste soooo much better after labor! You might not remember your favorite thing, the others in attendance won't remember either. My mom and DH were on cloud 9 too and weren't help in the thinking department either. I ended up with a whopper cause I couldn't think of the teriyaki place that had the BEST General Tso's chicken that I had wanted sooo long-couldn't eat it cause of heartburn. It was funny, my mom knows that neighborhood like the back of her hand, there was BK 1 block from the hospital and she couldn't find it, drove for about 35 minutes to find another one! And I didn't even really want the burger, I just wanted her back quickly so I sent her to the closest thing i could think of!

[MamaRainebeau]

Couple things to think about...

If you are a microwave popcorn gal like I am, make sure you pop a couple of bags at home and take those. Many hospitals have rules against poping corn in the L and D floor b/c of the smell when it gets left in the microwave too long (and in some places the firemarshal actually has a rule against it).

If you are going to bring pillows be OK with the possability that they might get blood on them. The first time around I brought 3 pillows from home (old icky ones but still better than the ones at the hospital) and I bought el-cheapo black pillow cases so it wouldn't matter if I stained them. We took the cases home and left the pillows there to be trashed when all was said and done.

I like to bring something to meditate on. For some that might be a mandala a religious picture, etc. - something that can be set where you can see it and focus on it through contractions.

For all you first time mamas - you will be surprised how little weight and girth you loose after birth. You will most likely be almost as big post birth as you were pre-birth (give or take 10-15 lbs) so make sure you will be comfortable in the pjs and going home clothes you bring.

I'm certain there is a ton more. I'm sure I'll be back!

[kluella]

My mother keeps telling me I need gowns, nightgowns etc. because I won't want anything between my legs, but I hate hate hate gowns/dresses/etc. I like pants, I like a crotch, a divider. So it's reasonable to just bring pj/yoga pants? Because again, my mother made it sound like I was going to regret that choice.

Also, I sleep in my bra and panties. Anything more than that and I can't get comfortable, I feel all bound up and cannot sleep. Will it be wierd for me to sleep in the hospital bed in my underwear?

How much clothing for the baby do I need? A few onesies and a blanket sleeper, hat and socks? I guessed that was it but I feel like I don't know anything about dressing this little person.

[~Katrinka~]

Originally Posted by kluella

My mother keeps telling me I need gowns, nightgowns etc. because I won't want anything between my legs,

You mean, besides the GINORMOUS maxi pad, an ice pack, and some witch hazel or tucks? ROFL @ your mom.

I hate nightgowns, too. And a comfy pair of yoga pants is probably going to help keep all the stuff you need for your poor swollen perineum in place better anyway.

I'll be taking a couple of pairs of old maternity yoga pants and some comfy lounge pants.

As for sleeping in your undies...I'm sure they've seen it all.

I don't usually dress the baby in anything from home til we're ready to go home. So, baby needs an outfit with legs (as opposed to a blanket sleeper) for riding home in the car seat, a hat, outerwear, and a couple of blankies.
Bring a couple outfits in case
a) baby is bigger than you expected!
b) baby poops on going-home outfit
c) baby spits up on going-home outfit.

[Shell]

I birthed in a hospital the first time (we're planning a homebirth for #2 due mid-March). The one thing I wished I had in retrospect was my breastfeeding pillow (I'm partial to the My Brest Friend). All the had at the hospital was a zillion mini pillows, which I had to cram under my arms and every crevice to get comfortable - and they kept falling out. Don't underestimate how tired your arms can get nursing the baby!

Bring your breastfeeding pillow with you!!!

[DBZ]

bumping this for those who need it

[ELKMama]

DBZ - You mean those of us who haven't even started a pile, much less put together a hospital bag? Seriously, thanks folks for the good ideas. I've been focused on totally impractical things like what to load on the iPod (it is new, so not much already there) for laboring music. I don't even know where my pump is in the disaster that we call the basement!!! But now I remember that I should find it.

[DBZ]

My hospital bag is looking kind of sad too. At least I'm thinking about this time. I didn't have one with #2 and #3.

[CherryBomb]

I'm such a horrible pregnant woman, I'll probably just throw it together whenever I go into labor!

[pumpkingirl71]

*bump*
I am finishing mine tonight! Have to remember to pack my glasses!