Hospital Bag List and Birth Plan

[fatpony]

Does anyone have a Birth Plan and/or hospital bag list they'd like to share?

[itsmemeg]

Just thinking back to last time here is what i plan on bringing to hospital. This is just off top of my head so I’m probably missing things
Things for me:
2 nightgowns
My own pillow
Toiletries
Slippers
Robe
Chargers
Outfit for going home (i usually wear what i wore to the hospital- planned c section)
Nipple butter
Nipple shield

Baby items:
Socks
Going home outfit
Another outfit or 2
Swaddle
Nursing pillow
Pacifier
Car seat

[robot]

I can share my birth plan from last time if you want. It's med-free birth leaning though, so probably only helpful if that's what you're interested in. This time around my MW's office has a one page thing where you can check boxes so I'm just doing that. As for hospital bag, I'm going minimal this time. I didn't use 90% of what I brought last time.

ETA: I would suggest an extra long phone charger cord though.

[Speedy]

My only plan is that I'd like to delay cord cutting if possible, and have skin to skin as soon as we're able. Everything else is flexible.

For the hospital bag I'll probably have to get some ideas from you ladies. I know I'll need snacks, and I want to bring my own PJs, robe, slippers, and pillow. Beyond that I'm not sure.
I know the hospital provides disposable diapers so I'll probably just use those there and start the cloth when I'm home.

[tinyjoys]

My only plan is to have baby exit my body as safely as possible for both of us. It’s worked out great both times previously.

For packing, I overpack & I’ll own it, but everything was used & it’s the same list I’ve had since #1. I like having my own things/clothing.

SPOILER: Click to show

[fatpony]

Mar 10, 2018 12:48:37 GMT -6 robot said:

I can share my birth plan from last time if you want. It's med-free birth leaning though, so probably only helpful if that's what you're interested in. This time around my MW's office has a one page thing where you can check boxes so I'm just doing that. As for hospital bag, I'm going minimal this time. I didn't use 90% of what I brought last time.

ETA: I would suggest an extra long phone charger cord though.

i'm trying to lean towards med free - I'd love it if you could share.

[itsmemeg]

Since I’m having a RCS as far as birth plan, I just want to ask my OB since it’s a new one from last time, if I can have skin to skin immediately after this time. Also I want to get into a room ASAP. Last time they had no rooms available and i was in post op for hours!

[adeline]

My birth plan first time round went to hell in a handbasket so this time it’s much more set (RCS) and I’m ok with that now.

As for what to take: I wish I’d taken birkenstocks/flip flops cause I took slippers and converse (winter) and it was a bit hot/too fiddly to put them on sometimes.

Also I went into labour 7 days early so I didn’t get a chance to have a pedicure I’d planned. Birth plan this time: do it early!!

[kiri]

I figured that labor would take forever and I’d go past 40 weeks so I wasn’t quite prepared when my water broke at 39 weeks without labor starting last time. I was packed but not very thoroughly lol

-BF pillow
- robe
- scissors and an old pair of yoga pants (I cut the seam last time so that the pants fit comfortably around the c-section incision
-flip flops
- don’t laugh, but Depends. I found these more comfortable and snug (in a good way) than a bunch of thin pads on the loose mesh underwear
- pre-charged battery packs (to charge my iPhone when I can’t reach the outlet)
- chocolate for the nurses
- a binder thing to wrap around my stomach to make it more comfortable to cough or move around after CS
- NB outfit (everyone said not to buy NB size anything but I hated seeing DS in oversized clothes!)
- sleep mask (I guess sleep will be a joke but maybe it will help get a few minutes extra with so many lights everywhere at night)

[jessila]

I haven't made my list yet but guess I'll get on that soon.

I will highly recommend kimono snap tops for the baby. Then you don't have to get their wobbly body through a onesie. I just have the baby wear that with a diaper under their blanket. I also bring a NB outfit and a 3mo outfit. My first was over 9lbs so fitting him into NB was a joke.

Also, definitely bring your own pillow. And snacks.

And buy some underwear that's a size up in case you have a c/s so it won't aggravate your incision.

My only thing for my birth plan last time was to not have a c-section but ended up having one. Still not sure if I'm have a RCS or will be able to try for a VBAC.

[lemons]

My plan is the same as last time. Get the baby here as safely as possible, whatever that looks like. Also, yes please to an epidural.

I’m quite embarrassed to admit my bag is 80% packed. That’s just how I roll. Last time I had an excel spread sheet. This time just a paper list.

[lemons]

I bought this nursing gown and this robe to wear after baby arrives.

I also packed pants, shorts, tanks, and nursing bras for after baby arrives. I remember being either freezing or sweating so options were great. Flip flops were essential for the shower and wearing around the hospital room. My feet were suuuuuper swollen so they were the only thing that fit.

Other not obvious essentials:
Chapstick
Hair ties
headphones

2 pillows
my breast friend nursing pillow

gatorade
snacks

I pack a NB and 3m outfit, just in case. Also, a blanket for the car seat in case it's chilly.

My hospital supplied pacis, button open long sleeve tops, diapers, swaddles, hats, etc. I plan on just keeping him in those until we go home.

[robot]

Okay, here’s my birth plan. It’s super extra but I was that person. I got almost none of this so keep that in mind, haha. Luckily I really did mean what I say and I was flexible so it was fine and nbd.

SPOILER: Click to show

[tincupchalice]

Bag:

Baby - coming home outfit, swaddle blanket, baby nail clippers
Me - lounge clothes/jammies, going home outfit, toiletries (CHAPSTICK), snacks, chargers, camera, phone, slip on sandals

My birth plan aims for intervention free. I've never had anything written up previous times, but I'm going to get some of it in writing with my midwife's signature because we had some trouble with the nurses last time. Specifically, I get a heplock instead of a full IV, and I want intermittent monitoring.

[robot]

Honestly, I think this time I’m bringing to the hospital:

Hair stuff
Make up
Other cosmetics
Outfit for me to wear home
Couple granola bars
Couple of outfits and blanket for the baby
Camera
Chargers
Gift for DD

And that’s it. I am such an overpacker normally but last time I wore the hospital gowns while I was there because I didn’t want to mess up my own clothes, didn’t care about my pillow (I never even brought it out of the car), and they provided all the post-partum care stuff I could have ever wanted and stuff for DD to wear while we were there. I was just stuck putting away so much stuff when we got home when I was exhausted and sore that I never used.

[budders]

My birth plan was not written or remotely official, but my only requests (if safe and possible) were immediate skin to skin, delayed cord clamping and delayed first bath. I was fortunate enough to be able to achieve all. I was also terrified of an epidural so I let my nurse and midwife know that I wanted to try to forgo one. I did get to a point where I asked for it, but I had progressed so quickly that I went without it. My “plan” will be similar this time.

[budders]

For the hospital bag, I went with comfort. I also was induced so I prepared to be there for about 5 days (in the end was there for 3 total), so I packed a lot. My bag for this time will include:
-My pillow
-White noise machine (necessary for me to sleep at all)
-Snacks
-Nursing bras/tanks/shirts
-Comfy pants
-Slippers
-Computer/iPad
-Kindle
-Going home outfit for baby
-Photo op clothes for both boys (brothers shirts most likely)
-Breastfeeding pillow

My hospital supplied mesh underwear, witch hazel pads, dermaplast, irrigation bottle, diapers, etc. and we were able to take those home too.

I was out of the hospital gown as soon as I delivered, and wanted to be in my own clothes. I kept V in the hospital shirts and diapers until we took him home.

[numbears]

Bag:
Phone charger
Laptop & charger
Kindle
Camera
Makeup
Headband
Gowns
Normal clothes
Pillows
Blankets
Towels & washcloths
Toiletries
Flipflops
Gift bag for DS
Nursing pillow
Coming home outfit for baby & swaddle

I work on a peds floor next to L&D so I can grab snacks from there, but I definitely recommend bringing some afterwards if all L&D has is jello/ice cream/crackers.

Birth plan:
Epidural
Standing mirror
Okay with episiotomy if needed
No forceps, kiwi if needed
Skin-to-skin as soon as possible
Donate cord blood
Request for specific nurses if available

[Pizzaslut]

Mar 10, 2018 14:37:57 GMT -6 adeline said:

Also I went into labour 7 days early so I didn’t get a chance to have a pedicure I’d planned. Birth plan this time: do it early!!

Lol. Pedicure is on my list too. I went 10 days early. I kept thinking how awful my toes looked during labor 😂

[Pizzaslut]

I hope this one goes as smoothly as last time.
So far my plan:

Get epidural much sooner

Do not be in labor for 30+ hours

Get baby out of me

[Pizzaslut]

As for my bag:

Bras/underwear (although last time I wore the diapers with big ice packs because I had a third degree tear)

Nightgown
2 shirts
Comfy pants
Slippers
Flip flops
Toiletries (soap, dry shampoo, makeup, deodorant, toothbrush/paste, hair brush, hair ties)
iPad
Phone
Chargers
Headphones
Snacks

[budders]

Mar 10, 2018 16:45:15 GMT -6 lemons said:

My plan is the same as last time. Get the baby here as safely as possible, whatever that looks like. Also, yes please to an epidural.

I’m quite embarrassed to admit my bag is 80% packed. That’s just how I roll. Last time I had an excel spread sheet. This time just a paper list.

I have everything packed that I don't need between now and then. 

[tinyjoys]

Does anyone have a hydrating/moisturizing face wipe that they like? My face always feel so dry at the hospital, but I don't want to keep putting lotion on necessarily, you know?

[adeline]

Mar 11, 2018 10:12:27 GMT -6 tinyjoys said:

Does anyone have a hydrating/moisturizing face wipe that they like? My face always feel so dry at the hospital, but I don't want to keep putting lotion on necessarily, you know?

I forgot about this! I remember drinking about 5 liters of water each day because the air in the hospital was so drying. I just used cream and lip balm often but interested to hear other ideas.

Must pack my drink bottle with the filter top for this reason.

[tinyjoys]

Mar 11, 2018 18:03:54 GMT -6 adeline said:

I forgot about this! I remember drinking about 5 liters of water each day because the air in the hospital was so drying. I just used cream and lip balm often but interested to hear other ideas.

Must pack my drink bottle with the filter top for this reason.

So, I texted my sister, because she's into trying all the fun face products (she's 22 & disposable income). She suggested a Burts Bees wipe and one of two Mario Badescu facial sprays, either aloe, cucumber & green tea or aloe, herbs & rosewater. I ordered the wipes & rosewater spray earlier today from Ulta and I may end up picking up the cucumber & green tea spray as well.

[sammichcat]

Birth plan:
#1 Nutcracker music during the section, and
#2 I want to hold my baby absolutely ASAP. (They can take him/her later to do all the stuff that isn't critical.)
#3 I want my husband to be the one to announce if it's a boy or girl.

Bring to hospital:
Toiletries- (chap stick, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, contact soln, contact case, glasses, brush, hair tie, lotion, face cleansing wipes, dry shampoo)

2-3 maxi dresses that can be pulled down for nursing

Nursing bra

nursing pillow
phone charger
wallet, phone
Girl/Boy outfits

flip flops

snacks

Hospital provides:
pacifier
diapers
wipes
vaseline
mesh underwear
pads
stomach binder
formula
food

[sammichcat]

Also, consider packing a larger bag than you need or bringing an extra to fill before you go home. They give you a bunch of stuff like diapers, wipes, formula, the manual pump, etc, that they can't reuse if it's open so you might as well take it. 

[lily]

Most of the bag stuff has been well covered!

Our hospital is all private rooms so I brought a Bluetooth speaker for music during labor & such.

I lived in nursing camis and soft pants in the hospital.

Wide soft headbands to keep my hair out of my face / hide it if it looked terrible (too short for a ponytail or bun.)

The hospital did not provide nipple cream so that was a must pack.

Baby book so the nurse could do LO’s footprints at the same time they did footprints for hospital paperwork... though that’s still the only thing in the baby book 3 years later so kinda not worth it.

[Deleted]

My birth plan is still up in the air, but basically whatever I have to do to get her out. I'd prefer not to be induced this time, unless it's a medical necessity. Last time was a hot mess.

My bag:
Robe, and/or oversized cardigan
Nursing tank/soft pants to go home in
My own skid free socks
Toiletries
My own blanket and pillow
Boppy
Nursing supplies
Charger
Ipad
My nice camera

Baby bag:
Onesies
Sleeper
Blanket
Pacifiers

[ajm]

Birthing plan is basically get baby out as safely as possible without any complications for me. I'd like to do skin on skin as soon as possible after the c-section. And start breastfeeding once we get to the recovery room. That'll all be dependent on how baby is, of course.

Bag List:
Toiletries(especially chapstick!)
Soft pants and nursing tanks
Robe
Outfit for hospital pictures (our hospital does newborn pictures in room and I hated what I was wearing with DD)
Long phone charger
Tablet
Flip flops
Hair bands
Brush
Snacks, mostly for DH

Baby:
Couple of outfits
Boppy pillow
Pacifier (hospital doesn't provide any)
Going home outfit
Big Sister gift