I am 29 weeks pregnant now, but I would like to pack my bag fairly soon since I am having twins, so it would be a good thing to have ready just in case I go before my dd. What are some things I should pack for myself for before and after the delivery?? Thanks!
Can we do attachments here? I have my list in an Excel file.......its is quite lengthy but then again I always overpack! I am never without anything!
If somebody knows and I can attach, let me know. Otherwise I can probably copy and paste.
I brought a lot of things to use as comfort measures for labor. The number one thing for me was a rice sock (check beforehand to make sure you have access to a microwave, but most likely you will). Most hospitals won't let you plug a heating pad into the wall. My rice sock was actually a fancy schmancy thing from the healthy back store, but a rice sock would work just as well. If you want cold, that is easier to improvise. you can put ice in a glove, or use a cold soda can from a vending machine (hopefully they don't have those plastic bottles). We also brought 2 handheld massage tools. Bongers (rubber balls on the end of sticks used for massage). MP3 player and little speakers. You get the idea--whatever labor goodies you want to bring. I actually brought a lot of stuff and didn't use any of it except the rice sock, but I like having a lot of tools in the toolbox just in case.
I also brought cookies for the nurses--enough for 2 shifts in case I ended up laboring there that long.
For after the babies come--a nursing bra. I personally would not worry too much about other nursing apparel (though some people like to have something). In the beginning I had to take my shirt completely off to nurse. A nursing pillow might be helpful. In the hospital I nursed lieing down, so I didn't use one there.
You might also want to bring regular bed pillows, since the ones at the hospital are most likely not the best. If you do, put bright-colored pillow cases on them so they don't get lost in the shuffle and mixed in with the hospital pillows. I got some cheap pillow cases at a thrift store for this purpose.
What else? A couple copies of your birth plan. Your insurance info. Going home outfits for the babies. If you can have the car seats installed a couple weeks before your due date that's good. I don't remember if these are your first babies, but you might want to find out where in your area you can have the seats checked to see if they are installed properly. My hospital actually had a staffperson trained in this who checked your carseat before you left, but not all have this.
Also, I didn't actually pack the hospital bag beforehand because I used a lot of the things while laboring at home. But I had all the birth bootie together in the house with a list in the suitcase. When we decided to go DP packed the bag and it really helped having the list.
Don't bother bringing pads for you or dipes for the babies- they supply everything like that. I would definitely bring a nursing bra and a nightgown or pj's. I hated being in the hospital gown for that long.
I packed very lightly because I know what they provide at our hospital. I packed a toiletry bag (toothbrush/paste, powder, shampoo, soap, floss, deoderant), and then a diaper bag with 2 outfits for baby, socks, onesies, cotton breast pads, and a robe for me. I usually where what I came in to go home. I usually use their gowns because for me it's just easier and therapeutic to shed them and put on my own clothes to go home. The hospital gives us slipper socks, pads, epi bottle, diapers and anything used on babe, like suction bulb, vaseline or anything like that. We also live like 5-10 mins away so dh could run after anything I might need. Don't bring anything too valuable. I have been robbed in recovery before. I was walking baby up and down the hall and came in my room and everything I brought was thrown everwhere and my money gone. I tend to trust too much LOL.
Thanks for all the great advice!! These are my first babies so I really am lost on what I really need/what I don't need ect. We actually only live about 5 minutes from the hospital so I'm sure if I needed anything DP would run home and get it. I have the book Mothering Mulitiples already, so that will come in handy. I've got my nursing bras, ect. I guess all I have to do now is throw it all together and pick out some outfits for the little ones to come home in
I'm going to be sure to bring lip balm. I keep having new mothers and veteran mothers tell me the same thing. Apparently it's somethng to do with most hospital environments being dry? I'm in a birth center so I'm not sure I'll need it, but since so many have said to make sure to have it, it can't hurt to buy a little $1.29 tube of chapstick and call it done. LOL!
Also bring your own tolietries. Shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, toothbrush and paste. A razor (if it bugs you to have stubble) all of these things they will have at the hospital but will likely charge you for, and won't feel as good as your own stuff.
You might want to bring your own overnight pads in case you don't like the ones at the hospital.
Bring movies. Most hospitals have TVs and VCRs in the room, and in latent stages of labor as well as post partum, it's kind of nice to have something to watch. Like Dirty Dancing. Or something you've seen 768 times and still love.
rice sock & Back massager & cream for massages, etc.
boom box and CDs
DP Clothes (t-shirts & shorts, socks and undies, swim trunks)
Toiletries for DP
mints and Recharge
baby doll & sling for DD
Cosmetic Kit
Call List
For babe: infant car seat, going home outfit, blanket
To ADD when IT'S TIME:
Body pillow
Camera and tripod and tapes
Snacks
Cell phone
OJ and champagne
Toy Bag for DD at Hospital
Dolls, etc.
Coloring stuff and NEW scissors
DVDs and Player
Disposable camera
Present from babe
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