What's in your hospital bag?!

[easternshoregirl]

Share your packing lists!

[aprilz81]

I've not started packing yet, but here is what I'm going to pack

-Extension cord to charge things that might not reach the closest outlet
-rechargeable battery pack
-real camera (my sister will take pictures for us)
-maybe my laptop but not sure
-robe
-nice pjs for after birth that are suitable for visitors
-makeup/toiletries
-leggings and casual top
-maybe a going home outfit if I don't just wear what I go to the hospital in
-nursing bra
-nursing supplies (nipple cream, nursing pads, etc.
-my own pillow
-boppy (will stay in the car until I figure out if I need it)

For baby:
-carseat & car seat cover
-coming home outfit (including hat and booties)
-baby book for hand & foot prints
-blanket

[dragonflyinn]

We waaaay overpacked last time. This time:

-Extra underwear (like size large Hanes haha) so I don’t ruin my nice stuff
-phone charger
-my own pillow (best thing I did last time!!)
-a change of clothes (probably nursing tank & sweats with a cardigan or zip-up)
-toiletries for myself
-one pair of pajamas for baby to wear home

[benandjerrys]

I had a legit spreadsheet for dd1. Like I scoured the internet and combined all the lists into a master list.

I was way overpacked, obviously. But FTM and all.

The only thing on this HUGE list I didn't have when I went into labor 1.5 weeks early was a baby hairbrush. I was legit upset about not having it at the hospital. But DD was bald basically until she was 2.25. Santa is going to bring her her first hairbrush in her stocking this year. She's 2.5.

This is how much hair she has.

[sunfrogger]

I over packed last time.

This time :
Fuzzy socks
My camera bag and battery charger / charge batteries * need to buy new SD card actuality *
My laptop bag - still have schoolwork to do
Phone charger
IPad
Extension cord
Nursing camis - I mean I just bought like 7 so I'm sure I have plenty
Nursing supplies - cream, pads, soothies
Yoga pants
Open sweaters/ etc for while nursing
Shorts to sleep in - I fully plan to steal all the mesh undies but shorts would be great
A warmer blanket than the crap at the hospital
Boppy in the car
Carseat w cover
Couple of swaddle blankets for dog / pics
Home outfit

[sunfrogger]

I would totally leave the yoga ball at home it was a pita.

Oh flip flops for the shower in the hospital.

My own face wash /etc

[pippiann]

Don’t forget hair ties!

[Deleted]

I am a minimalist. Hospitals are designed for the "I didn't know I was pregnant" crowd, they will have just about anything you need!

- Phone charger
- Basic toiletries
- A couple comfy outfits for you
- An outfit for baby
- Snacks
- Boppy (not a necessity but a "nice to have"!)

I am not one to pack in advance because staring at a packed hospital bag waiting to go into labor would make me stabby 😂 DD1 was induced so I packed immediately before heading in and with DD2 I packed while I was in labor. I plan to do the same this time around and worst case we only live 5 minutes from the hospital so DH or our families can bring what we need!

[watermelonseed]

I had DD1 at 34w4d, so my bag had almost zero clothes since I figured I had like 6 more weeks of wearing them. I was so annoyed to wear the same stuff for the whole 5 nights we were there.
We are about 50min away from the hospital I deliver at so it didn’t make sense to try and have anyone get other stuff.

I’ve been fully packed since 21w this time - no shame!

Large comfy pjs
Slipper socks
Pillow
2 Black stretchy pants
Open sweater
2 nicer loose tops for daytime
Diapers....I don’t do mesh panties and pads after day 1
Toiletries bag
Extra long charger

A couple hats for baby
Coming home outfit
Personalized name blanket/hat & jammies for NB shoot

Also my parents have specific meals to bring after birth. It made my stay awesome knowing I was going to get my favorite take out meals. We even ordered pizza the last night to the room lol!

[marygracerich]

Right now....nothing. I should work on this.

[amesie]

Dec 11, 2017 21:22:40 GMT -6 dragonflyinn said:

We waaaay overpacked last time. This time:

-Extra underwear (like size large Hanes haha) so I don’t ruin my nice stuff
-phone charger
-my own pillow (best thing I did last time!!)
-a change of clothes (probably nursing tank & sweats with a cardigan or zip-up)
-toiletries for myself
-one pair of pajamas for baby to wear home

this is essentially my list too. Minus the undies since I only wore the crappy mesh undies last time. Plus the boppy pillow.

[sunfrogger]

FFTC : I really loved the mesh undies. Mostly because I stole a lot of them and I could trash them.

[aprilz81]

Dec 12, 2017 7:13:53 GMT -6 sunfrogger said:

FFTC : I really loved the mesh undies. Mostly because I stole a lot of them and I could trash them.

I didn't mind them either...

[easternshoregirl]

Dec 12, 2017 7:13:53 GMT -6 sunfrogger said:

FFTC : I really loved the mesh undies. Mostly because I stole a lot of them and I could trash them.

FFTC I kept them so I can include them in the rotation this time....

[sarahh]

Dec 12, 2017 8:26:17 GMT -6 easternshoregirl said:

Dec 12, 2017 7:13:53 GMT -6 sunfrogger said:

FFTC : I really loved the mesh undies. Mostly because I stole a lot of them and I could trash them.

FFTC I kept them so I can include them in the rotation this time....

I still have a whole stash from last time too.  I couldn't find the right regular underwear for after that didn't irritate my incision or cut into my tummy so I wore the mesh underwear for a while.

[sarahh]

marygracerich, I'm right there with you. This thread may just give me the motivation to pack my bag.

[pinkcat]

As a FTM, just want to say this thread is soooo helpful!

If you had a C-section, what types of pants were most comfortable afterwards? I have a lot of yoga pants but is something that goes up that high on your waist comfortable?

[sarahh]

Dec 12, 2017 9:10:56 GMT -6 pinkcat said:

As a FTM, just want to say this thread is soooo helpful!

If you had a C-section, what types of pants were most comfortable afterwards? I have a lot of yoga pants but is something that goes up that high on your waist comfortable?

I didn't wear pants in the hospital because the nurses were in there constantly checking my incision. To go home I wore a dress because I had my DD in July but this time I'm going to take over belly maternity leggings. I imagine those may be best as they won't touch the incision and won't cut into my belly.

[yellow711]

I guess I need to start thinking about this .... soon

[tiffrobot]

This is probably the most organized we’ve been for packing wise, but we have two kids this time and I feel like I need us all to be prepared and I didn’t want to think about it come Christmas with so much else going on haha.

Bag wise probably nothing too out of the ordinary, a couple outfits for both of us, underwear, bra, long phone plug in, real camera, take home outfit for the baby, pads, diapers, snacks, toiletries for both of us, cheap slippers for gross hospital floor, car seat and car seat cover. My water broke in both my outfits with my last two so I definitely need backups and can’t plan on wearing the same stuff home haha. And our distance from the hospital means H won’t be running back and forth if he needs anything.

We have a 45 minute highway drive before we get to city limits, then maybe another 10/15 by the time we get to the hospital. This is our first born in the winter, let alone the most likely coldest stretch of it. So with my history of fast labours and the potential for bad weather, more of our focus was on making sure the van is ready for an emergency. Blankets and towels for me and baby, our winter accessories (I feel like in labour I’m not going to be grabbing my toque and mitts because I don’t want anything touching me lol), back cleaned and back row seating down. Ooh I should buy a package of water bottles to throw back there. It’s hard to say how long an ambulance would take to get to us.

Also, I’m a fan of the mesh undies too haha, and I may even have a couple pairs of depends packed for the ride home 🤷🏼‍♀️

[marygracerich]

@karenwalker I too stayed in the hospital gown while I was there. Honestly, it didn’t dawn on me to change into clothes while I was there. I just remember how glorious my first shower and fresh gowns felt.
As long as he stays put, I will thankfully have a shower before I head to the hospital for my C.

[marygracerich]

I think I am bringing these huge pajama pants that I bought in Walmart. I actually bought one pair and my bff bought me two more. They are the most comfortable pants and should be big enough to fit over my belly and not touch my incision. They fit over my belly now and they have a drawstring waste.
I will probably bring a regular shirt and two tank tops. Also socks and easy to put on shoes.
For baby I will bring some warm jammies for him to come home in.
I will pack toiletries, a pillow, I will put the boppy in the car just in case I want it and pack my phone charger and battery pack.

[flippinchica]

Dec 12, 2017 11:05:58 GMT -6 @karenwalker said:

Dec 12, 2017 9:21:08 GMT -6 sarahh said:

I didn't wear pants in the hospital because the nurses were in there constantly checking my incision. To go home I wore a dress because I had my DD in July but this time I'm going to take over belly maternity leggings. I imagine those may be best as they won't touch the incision and won't cut into my belly.

I had a similar experience. DS was born the end of April in Georgia and it was about 90 degrees when we left the hospital, so I left in a maternity dress. This time (I’m just assuming I’ll end up with another c section...maybe not, I guess we’ll see) I’m planning on going home in over the belly maternity pants and mesh undies. I didn’t want anything near my incision last time.

Also, maybe it’s just me and my rough delivery but I never got out of the hospital gown while I was there. I wore one the regular way and a second like a robe so my ass was covered when I got up. We’ll see if I can muster up the energy to get dressed this time! Another +1 to mesh undies. I loooooved them. I took a full pack with me and washed them on delicate to keep using them.

I liked using the mesh undies but I was glad I brought my own clothes. I wore the hospital gown until the next morning but didn't find it comfortable at all.

[pippiann]

Dec 12, 2017 9:10:56 GMT -6 pinkcat said:

As a FTM, just want to say this thread is soooo helpful!

If you had a C-section, what types of pants were most comfortable afterwards? I have a lot of yoga pants but is something that goes up that high on your waist comfortable?

I just wore the shit out of my high waisted maternity leggings!

ETA: and sweats

[tiffrobot]

I’ve only worn the gown in the hospital too, but I was in and out in a day with both of them, even though DS had to stay for a couple weeks.

[kyzo]

Dec 12, 2017 9:10:56 GMT -6 pinkcat said:

As a FTM, just want to say this thread is soooo helpful!

If you had a C-section, what types of pants were most comfortable afterwards? I have a lot of yoga pants but is something that goes up that high on your waist comfortable?

I can't remember what I wore last time...I think it was a gray skirt. Regardless, I took a gigantic hospital pad and laid it across my incision (my OB's idea) and then pulled my mesh undies over it to hold it in place. I could wear pretty much any pants as long as I had a pad against my incision. I actually did that for several days at home. This time I'm thinking my VS sweatpants on the way in and the way home. I'm more concerned about which shoes to wear (likely sneakers as long as DH will tie them for me).

[snowyowl]

Pretty much what people have mentioned. I’m going to bring my big pregnancy pillow this time. I know it’s ridiculously large to have in a hospital bed, but I was so sore sitting and lying in that bed for two days that I couldn’t sleep. I think my pillow will make it more bearable because I can arrange it to take some pressure off the nether regions when sitting up or lying down.

I also brought makeup. I kinda laughed at myself at the time, thinking I’d never bother to use it. But I actually did put it on after my first shower. I was a puffy mess and it was nice to be able to spruce up a bit. Definitely a personal preference but I was happy I had it. I’m not even normally a makeup all the time kind of person.

[snowyowl]

Dec 12, 2017 7:13:53 GMT -6 sunfrogger said:

FFTC : I really loved the mesh undies. Mostly because I stole a lot of them and I could trash them.

This. I found them super comfortable and convenient. I washed and wore them until they fell apart (which didn’t take that long, but by then I was ready to graduate back to my regular pairs).

[hiimjamie]

sunfrogger GOOD CALL WITH FLIP FLOPS! I had those last time. Totally forgot this time!

pinkcat my incision line is super low, think bikini line level. So high waist bikini undies and yoga pants are completely fine. I have lots of LLR leggings that would be fine and I bought 2 pairs of old Navy yoga pants specifically for PP that are plenty high too. I wore capri yoga pants last time and those were fine too!

I have packed: big black undies from Amazon Basics, 2 pair black Old Navy yoga pants, 3 nursing tanks, nursing bras, lanolin (I didn’t need nursing pads last time bc it took several days for my milk to come in), mukluk fluffy slipper socks, robe, pjs with nursing access, dry shampoo and face wash wipes bc no shower for a few days w c section. My own toiletries, going home outfit and the Boppy.

[ajetter]

I’m actually trying to convince myself to prepack my bag and have it in the car for my next few appointments this time. You’d think I’d learn something after three inductions for hypertension but we’ll see.

-2 nursing tanks
-robe
-zip-up jacket
-2 pairs of yoga pants
-fuzzy socks
-large cheap underwear

-toiletries
-make up
-blow dryer
-straightener

-phone and charger
-camera and charger
-trail mix
-boppy
-my own pillow (with a non white pillow case so it doesn’t get confused)
-maybe a soft blanket I like? Haven’t decided on that one.

-couple of swaddle blankets
-couple of hats
-going home outfit

I’m in the minority but I don’t like the mesh undies. I also like taking a shower and feeling put together as soon as possible.