Hospital bags

[ssm]

So I realized the other day, with my complications, I need to go ahead and pack a hospital bag now rather than later. And I saw someone in randoms mentioned thinking about her bag as well.

I know from experience a few things I want to pack. But, let's all chat!! What are you/aren't you packing?!?

[thatgirlrachel]

I started my list this morning.

For Me & H:
Change of clothes for H
Comfy clothes for me after birth
Extra nursing bra
Toiletries (tooth brushes/paste and travel size bath products)
Phone chargers for me and H

For baby:
Pacifier
A few outfits
Swaddle blanket
Boppy

I just jotted this down this morning so I'm sure I'm missing a few things.

[codex320]

I'm following this - I was just thinking about putting together a list!

[cythe]

My list is a bit longer because I'm a FTM and an overpacker in general lol. Also I may not have the ability to get things from home so best to pack too much.

Me/H :
Nursing tanks
Home outfit
Cell charger
Toothbrush/paste
Shampoo/bodywash
Chapstick
Boppy (nursing pillow)
Snacks
Towel
Baby book
Pillow/blanket for H

Baby/Diaper bag :
Diapers (since I'm CDing, likely won't use at the hospital)
Wet bag
Home outfit (2)
Hat
Blanket
Nipple cream/pads
Burp rags
Pacifier

[mommabakes]

Myself/DH:
•Comfy clothing-nursing tanks/yoga pants/cardigan/undies/nursing bra
•Toiletries-body wash/shampoo/conditioner/toothbrushes/toothpaste/deodorant/chapstick/hair brush/hair ties/pads-I hated the massive hospital ones after the first day.
•Pillow for DH
•Kindle
•Camera + memory card
•Chargers for camera/phone/Kindle

For baby:
•Outfit+booties in both NB and 3 month sizes
•Pacifier
•2 Swaddle blankets-1 to send home with my mom/kids for the dog to sniff.

[arimaythea]

This post made me put together a list so here's what I've got so far. It's in checklist format so I can check off once things have been put in the bag, which is why all the little things are on separate lines.

Toiletries
[ ] Lip balm
[ ] Hair ties
[ ] Hairbrush
[ ] Hair dryer
[ ] Toothbrush/toothpaste
[ ] Deodorant
[ ] Shampoo/conditioner
[ ] Razor
[ ] Body wash
[ ] Lotion
[ ] Shower flip flops
[ ] Depends

My Clothes
[ ] Socks/Slippers
[ ] Robe
[ ] Nursing tanks
[ ] Nursing pads
[ ] Pajama pants
[ ] Going home outfit

Baby Stuff
[ ] Boppy
[ ] Infant car seat
[ ] NB going home outfit
[ ] 3m going home outfit
[ ] Sleepers
[ ] Hat
[ ] Blanket
[ ] Baby journal/pen
[ ] Nipple shield
[ ] Lanolin
[ ] Burp cloths

Misc.
[ ] Cell charger
[ ] Camera and charger
[ ] Phone battery
[ ] Snacks
[ ] Pillows with blue cases
[ ] Empty bag

[mkrupar]

I haven't even contemplated this. I had way too much stuff last time, so I'm going pretty minimal. I stayed in the gown the entire time I was in the hospital, so I'll probably do the same this time:

Change of clothes for me to go home
Toiletries
Phone/charger
Kindle/charger
Robe (need to buy)

Baby:
Going home outfit - probably two in different sizes
Hat
Pacifier
Swaddle blanket

DH:
He can pack his own bag. 😂😂

[burritosateverymeal]

I am not bringing much this time. Just the necessities for me- clothes, deodorant, hair brush, toothbrush, nursing bras, etc.

A Boppy pillow because I wish I brought it last time.

Front zip onesies and a few sleep sacks for the baby. Mittens, too. And wipes and Vaseline. Just a few sets of PJs for him.

[gamergirl]

For me:
*Delivery gown (It's just a little more comfy than the regular hospital gown they give you, I used it with DS also)
*Hair ties/headbands & brush
*Toiletries
*Robe
*Socks
*Undies
*2 Nursing bras
*2 Undercover Mama nursing tanks (they hook right onto the nursing bra, love them)
*2 Leggings
*Sweater
*Earth Mama Bottom Balm
*Maxi pads
*Nursing pads
*Lanolin
*Phone charger

For baby:
*2 Onsies
*2 Zip up sleepers
*SwaddleMe Pod
*Muslin Blanket
*Boppy pillow
*Car seat

The hospital provides diapers and wipes.

[cythe]

I think my hospital provides swaddles while baby is there... I think. I suppose they're not that big, I could throw some in the diaper bag.

[gamergirl]

cythe Ours puts baby in a Halo sleep sack right away, and sends a new one home with you as a gift. I probably don't need to bring ours along, but just thought I'd throw it in there anyway.

[seventythree]

Add me to team Less is More, and also team Refuses to Pre-pack Hospital Bag. Last time around my BFF asked me for weeks prior if I'd packed my "go bag", I was always like "I'll pack it when it's time to go!"

I'm going to keep the toiletries minimal: chapstick, hair brush/ties, deodorant, toothpaste/brush, soap.

I plan to stay in the hospital gowns, and I will bring a robe from home. Aside from that, obviously I will bring a going-home outfit, and if I wind up with another induction I'll probably just go home in whatever clothes I wore there (with clean undies and bra). I'll arrive in flip flops no matter what because fuck bending over to put on shoes, so those can double as slippers.

For baby I'll bring a sleeper in NB and 3m, a hat, a blanket, and a pacifier. Those things will be set aside soon.

Aside from that I think it will just be phone/charger, earbuds, a pillow from home, and some snacks (for MH during labour, and for both of us afterward if needed).

Things I did not use last time: our "real" camera, a book and magazine, shampoo (arrived with clean hair, then ponytail FTW), a notebook and pen (I had hoped MH would take notes during labour, LOL for days). The hospital provided diapers, wipes, flannel swaddle blankets, burp cloths, and nipple cream.

[doodlemommy]

For me/H:
- Toiletries
- Robe, nursing nightgown and nursing bralette for during/after labour
- Change of clothes including underwear/pads and nursing bra for going home
- lanolin
- change of clothes for H
- bathing suit and towel for H so he can get in the tub with me
- iPod with charger and speakers
- Phone charger
- camera

For baby:
- diapers and clothes for the trip home (two options -one boy, one girl)
- swaddle blanket/nursing cover
- warm blanket and hat/mittens for the drive home

I will toss in my wallet and a water bottle but the birth centre has everything else we could possibly need and we won't be there for long

[doodlemommy]

I also plan on bringing DD's big sister present. And sending her to my parents house with her present for the baby as well

[arimaythea]

cythe, the blanket on my list is for putting around baby for the ride home in the car. I use the hospital swaddle blankets while we're there.

[rebeccabunch]

Everything seems covered!

I'd add throw away flip flops or slippers for me and throw away flips for H.

Hospital floors are about as gross as it can get.

Because I'm weird, I also bring a hand sanitizer to put on the stand by the bed so I can make sure my hands are clean for the baby without getting up if needed.

I bring some loose pants just in case I have a C. I wasn't expecting one with DS1 and only had yoga pants and could not handle anything tight around my mid section.

[August Blooms]

What arimaythea wrote... I'm also bringing a few other things like pillows and towels because the hospital basically gives you nothing.

I'm also going to make separate bags for as needed situations... if everything is ideal I'll be out of the hospital 4 hours after I give birth, if not I'll need more stuff for a stay. So I'm going to divide things up that way.

[riverraine]

I'm on team Refusing to Pre-Pack the Hospital Bag with seventythree. I feel like it's a jinx and I won't go into labor until November if I'm too prepared.

However: phone charger, multiple chapsticks, toiletries, socks and wool clogs, leggings, nursing tanks and cardigan, swaddle blanket and a couple sleepers for the baby. We live literally 5 minutes from the hospital so DH can run home if I forget anything.

[thecatsmeow]

Good call on the boppy. Definitely taking it with this time!

I feel like I will be on team last-minute-packing. The hospital provided so much when it came to supplies last time - diapers, wipes, lanolin, dermoplast, pads, tucks pads, baby hats, baby shampoo, pacifiers, etc, so I probably won't bring anything like that. I will pack our not in daily use items and put a list of what to throw in right before we leave on top of the bag.

I will probably take a baby nail clippers since the nurses couldn't/wouldn't help us with DS's little daggers.

[Taitai]

Whelp, I'll be the lame-o and admit that I already have a little rolling suitcase and tote bag packed. Due to my membranes thinning, I've basically been told my water can break anytime, so....cue packing hospital bag for this A+++ personality type lady 😂😩

Everyone has everything covered already. The only thing I packed, which I didn't see listed was:

-sleeping masks/eye masks for DH and myself, good for daytime cat naps when it is light outside...and for at night since hospital rooms always seem to have those stupid motion lights that wake me up at all hours.

-ear plugs for DH (I won't use them - I want to be able to listen for the baby)

[blackmamba]

My list is much shorter this time. I'm also waiting to pack my stuff (will have baby stuff ready to go). It looks like you all covered everything. I bring my own slipper socks that I order off Amazon, they're thicker than the ones the hospital provides. I also need to remember change for the vending machines and cash to tip the valet this time. What are you all doing for nurses gifts?

[ssm]

I WAY overpacked last time around. I'm being much more minimalistic this time.

I'm not planning on bringing anything for the baby other than his going home outfit and a car seat blanket. I will maybe pack 2 outfits, one preemie and one nb, but most likely he will be in the preemie size. Our hospital has everything and sends you home with everything as well. So we will be well stocked for a couple days.

I need to buy a few button down men's dress shirts that don't matter. I want to wear those over tank tops as an easy way to cover up for visitors. Black yoga pants. A few underwear for once the bleeding slows to a manageable flow. Nursing bra (I only have one sleep nursing bra. I'm not sure if I need to get more now or wait). Breast pads (I need to make more. I only have 1 pair right now). Flip flops.

Shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, contact solution, spare glasses (that way they are packed and I don't have to remember to grab my glasses), CHAPSTICK (dude that place is soooo dry), coconut oil for hand lotion and nipple cream (I may add some lavender and frankincense or fennel for soothing and milk production), hairbrush, ponytail holders, deodorant

Pen and paper to write info down (I'm super forgetful lately), phone charger, depending how long I'm in for a couple books,

Everyone keeps mentioning snacks. I haven't figured out what snacks I want...I was thinking peanut butter crackers are easy. And I have some larabars. But beyond that? I don't know what to grab...it doesn't help that just about every restaurant is super close. And jimmy johns is literally half a mile from the hospital....

[trinitrotoluene]

I found the last minute packing - snacks and chargers and toothbrushes- to be very soothing last time, so i will probably not pack ahead of time, just make a checklist on my phone to work from when the time comes. If i don't end up getting it packed, we live like a mile and a half from the hospital, so no big deal.

[cythe]

Aug 30, 2017 5:48:22 GMT -6 blackmamba said:

x. What are you all doing for nurses gifts?

I was thinking about putting together a coffee/tea/Keurig/small snack basket. It's more of an idea right now which is why there are so many options. My L&D floor isn't huge, but I want to do at least 2 small baskets, 1 for the day and 1 for the night shift.

I guess that depends on when I'm there. Well no, because I'll be there overnight anyway. My real hang up is do I bring it with me or send after I'm gone?

* I should add that there is a very real possibility that these nurses will end up being my entire support staff - basically a free doula, so I would like to do something.

[bubblefan]

Had not even considered packing a 3m outfit---thanks, guys!

[rebeccabunch]

Aug 29, 2017 22:29:30 GMT -6 riverraine said:

I'm on team Refusing to Pre-Pack the Hospital Bag with seventythree. I feel like it's a jinx and I won't go into labor until November if I'm too prepared.

However: phone charger, multiple chapsticks, toiletries, socks and wool clogs, leggings, nursing tanks and cardigan, swaddle blanket and a couple sleepers for the baby. We live literally 5 minutes from the hospital so DH can run home if I forget anything.

Totally. I packed mine at 34 weeks w DS1. I ended up being three days late. I'd taken so many things out of the bag to use that by the time I needed it, nothing was in there!

If PTL is a concern, early packing is a must though.

Taitai yes to eye masks! I bring ear plugs too. Otherwise I'd get zero sleep.

[rachydc]

Everyone has said everything I would, but I just want to chime in that Vaseline is WAY better than chapstick for your lips in labor-type situations. Much more hydrating

Our hospital provided a lot for baby and myself, but nothing for MH. So I'd just stress again to bring comfy blankets, a fitted sheet for the partner bed and pillows.

[rachydc]

Aug 30, 2017 6:46:12 GMT -6 ssm said:

*snip*

Everyone keeps mentioning snacks. I haven't figured out what snacks I want...I was thinking peanut butter crackers are easy. And I have some larabars. But beyond that? I don't know what to grab...it doesn't help that just about every restaurant is super close. And jimmy johns is literally half a mile from the hospital....

I packed a bunch of Larabars, Quest Bars, and candy hahah Those were my snacks. I ended up needing to do a liquid diet and couldnt enjoy them until after delivery. 

[seventythree]

Ooohhh, good call on the eye mask Taitai. I'm one of those people who can usually fall asleep in most situations if I'm tired enough, but the hospital is an exceptionally bright, loud, and annoying place.

[seventythree]

ssm as far as snacks go, I mostly mean an assortment of protein/granola bars. Nothing fancy. I think MH threw in some beef jerky last time, yuck.