Hospital Bags...

[rooskie]

So I got told to have one with me on Monday at my appointment. I feel like I’ve read a hundred Pinterest articles about what to bring and what to leave at home.

Anyway, what do I really need? For those of you who have done this before, give us some advise on what your favorite things were!

[cakewench]

Thanks for starting this! I haven't been told I need one yet, but obviously it's coming and there are so many articles out there it's hard to know what's really essential and what isn't.

[typo31]

Oct 24, 2017 7:11:23 GMT -6 cakewench said:

Thanks for starting this! I haven't been told I need one yet, but obviously it's coming and there are so many articles out there it's hard to know what's really essential and what isn't.

Same! I've lurked on the other boards to find these convos but would love to hear from the December STMs.

[veganontuesdays]

I am trying to remember what I used when I had E. It wasn't much.

Phone charger
Comfy clothes to come home in (I chose a maxi skirt)
I used the net undies they gave me and didn't need my own.
Outfit for baby and H
Boppy
Makeup for the next day. I liked being able to feel human.
Hair ties
I was induced so I brought a deck of cards to play with my mom and a book.
Music/IPOD if you want. I didn't end up listening to any but you may want to.
They provide you with spray for your hooha, nipple cream, diapers, etc but if you have your own that you want to try out then pack that too.
Snacks (granola bars, things for H, etc)

I'll keep thinking.

[ldubhawksfan]

I feel like I didn't need that much, but then again I didn't do makeup and get cute during recovery, and I had a sch CS, so no prep stuff for laboring.

Robe (I stayed in the gown for most of the stay)
Chargers and cords, including camera
Newborn clothes
Car seat
Flip flops for showering (I wore the hospital socks most of the rest of the time)
I brought travel shampoo, etc
Outfit for going home: I brought a loose maxi mat dress which was comfy but hindsight don't wear a dress because I had to strip naked when I got home to BF. This time I'll wear a maxi skirt and loose shirt

Most everything else the hospital provides: meds, soap for showering the incision, pillows for BFing, SNS system and pump when I needed to jumpstart my supply because DD wasn't gaining, food/snacks in a snack room, diapers, onsie, baby hat, receiving blanket.

[kim22]

It depends on how far your hospital is and how often your DH or other close friends/family will visit. With my first I was sent from a routine 36 week appointment right to the hospital with instructions not to stop home. This was before phones were cameras and the only thing I wanted was for someone to get a camera there in time. Everything else came little by little as needed from DH, my sisters, and my mom. I prefer to use as much hospital stuff as possible but some people don't. I did need

Coming home outfit for baby
Boppy pillow
Coming home clothes for me
A few pairs of comfy pants/t-shirts
Zip up sweatshirt
Toiletries for things I'm picky about like my lotion
Shower flip flops
My hospital does not provide diaper rash cream, nipple cream, or pacifiers so I bring those
Wipes (they only had dry towels you have to wet and after a CS wipes were easier for changing baby
Change of clothes for your DH in case labor goes long
Phone charger

I was able to throw most of this in a bag while waiting for the doctor to call back with my second. My third waited for his scheduled CS so we were ready to go.

This time I think I'm more worried about having go bags/plans for my other kids based on time of day and where they could potentially be when labor starts.

[officedronette]

Things I actually used and appreciated:

My own pillow
My nursing pillow
My own clothes - it made me feel more human to have my own (or my husband's t shirt on vs a hospital gown)
Nursing bra - the relaxed sleep kind that are mostly unstructured and you pull down to nurse
A loose cotton robe
Phone charger
Clothes for all of us to go home in - I forget what I actually wore - I think yoga pants?
Pacifier (my hospital is "baby friendly" and they don't give them - I had to fight with the nurse about it too which was charming)
Contacts/glasses
Car seat

I did not have but wish I had - nursing pads. I don't know if my milk fully came in, but I do know I had damp awkward boob spots on my shirts.

[ldubhawksfan]

kim22, great point about a bag for DD! I hadn't thought about that!

[cakewench]

Is there a particular brand of robe you all recommend? I have a terrycloth robe but it's pretty bulky so I'm open to something else.

[kensie5226]

Comfy recovery clothes/yoga pants/PJs
Phone charger that you have checked (mine broke and we were there Mon-Fri)
Nursing bra (I liked the sleep sports type for the first couple weeks before you figure out your size)
A couple baby outfits
I plan to bring several types of pacis to try out
Toiletries
Ipad for movies (I was there a llloonnnggg time)

[rooskie]

Oct 25, 2017 7:41:01 GMT -6 cakewench said:

Is there a particular brand of robe you all recommend? I have a terrycloth robe but it's pretty bulky so I'm open to something else.

My mom got me a short waffle knit one that just goes to my hips. I’m so hot right now that I’m guessing that is all I will want. I think she got it in a few sizes bigger for me so I have plenty of room to BF without taking it all the way off.

[jrun2013]

I think everyone has covered the essentials. Ever the procrastinator I packed my hospital bag with DD1 after my water broke. MH had to come home from the hospital to install the car seat. She was born at 39 weeks, so it's not like she was even very early.

[sarahandben108]

Since I was a csection I had a longer hospital stay than vaginal births (3 nights) even though I had only packed a few things for a night or two. My mom brought me more things as needed.

But make sure you have:
Comfy pants and shirt to go home in (as a cesction I needed something with a forgiving waist so not to bother my incision)
For Pjs- I used the scrubs they gave me only because I didn't have to worry about bleeding through my things and ruining them. Same with the mesh undies they provide.
Socks
Snacks
Phone/iPad/ and charger
Take home outfit for baby
Nursing tank
Travel toiletries- I was able to shower one day. Mostly I needed a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, brush, and hair elastics. This time I'm going to bring waterless face wipes so I don't need to worry about washing my face.
Car seat
My own pillow

My husband stayed as well and he needed:
Couple pairs of change of clothes
Underwear/socks
Toiletries
Pjs
iPhone/iPad/charger
Drinks (they really forced water on me and supplied me with a large container to drink out of. But H needed stuff for him).
Pillow
Sweatshirt

[officedronette]

cakewench - I was wearing a Gap Body plain jersey robe. Knee length, not too heavy weight or bulky. And it's not my nicest robe so if it got ruined, I wouldn't have been upset (though it was fine).

[kensie5226]

Oh I forgot to add; bring food! I delivered at 1am and nothing was open so I was extremely thankful to have the best stale PB&J of my life.

[sizzleb]

TBH, I didn't use most of what I brought last time, and the only thing new I will bring this time is my own pillow and maybe a boppy (the pillows the hospital provided were so thin I had to use like 5 of them to prop my DD up for bf'ing).

I just used their scrubs/socks/underwear so I didn't have to worry about ruining mine. And used everything they provided for baby. Really only needed a going home outfit for her and me (yoga pants), my cell phone charger, toiletries and snacks. And a carseat, of course.

[kensie5226]

sizzleb, yeah I was thinking I'd bring my travel nursing pillow. I'm totally with on using all the hospital stuff! I did like having my own stuff to change into after giving birth, but I wasn't about labor in my own clothes. I was disgusting after 48+ hours.