Packing the hospital bag
One of the things I want to get accomplished in the next two weeks is packing the hospital bags. I would like to have it done by 35ish weeks pregnant. Hopefully, that will give me a month of peace of mind. I said hopefully. I have started my list and would love some feedback from Moms who have been through this before. Are there things on the list that are ridiculous or things I have forgotten that are must haves? Some of the items won't be packed until last minute but at least I will have the list to go by while packing.
I am thinking of packing a hospital stay bag and a L&D (Labor and Delivery) bag since at our hospital I will be moving buildings after birth. My thinking is that Jimmy can take the labor stuff to the car and bring up the stay bag. Is that crazy or practical?
L&D bag
- Birthing/Exercise Ball
- Lavender scents for Aromatherapy
- Massage oil for back rubs
- Rice sock for heat therapy
- Affirmation cards (blog post coming soon)
- Chapstick
- Cooler with snacks and drinks
- Cash and change for vending machine
- Camera and charger
- Video Camera and charger (still need to buy)
- birth plan
- hospital registration paperwork
- Cord blood Kit
- Socks
- iPod and dock for Hypnobirthing scripts
- Pillows
Hospital Bag
- Erin's Clothes
- nursing tanks
- nursing bras
- yoga pants
- gym shorts
- socks
- The Captain's clothes
- shorts
- t-shirts
- underwear
- sleep shorts
- nipple butter
- bottom balm
- boppy pillow
- pillows from home
- towel (I've heard the hospital towels are tiny)
- nursing pads
- camera and charger
- video camera and charger
- baby book
- toiletries (last minute)
- toothpaste
- toothbrush
- deoderant
- make up
- face lotion
- body lotion
- hair dryer and brush
Baby Bag
- Going home outfit
- sleep sacks
- swaddlers
- blanket
- hats
- socks
Posts
7 lovely notes from friends:
Looks like a great list and I definitely think you should have 2 bags. That worked for us, because I labored at home for 12 hours and was only in the hospital for 4 hours.
Some other tips that were passed along to me:
- buy a couple cheap pillows and pillowcases from walmart to bring with you (do not buy white pillowcases so not to get confused with the hospitals)
- Bring DEPENDS!!! trust me on this one, the hospital gives you teeny tiny pads with mesh underwear and the last thing you will want to worry about is leaking. plus you can make jokes about how you and the baby are both wearing diapers. ;o)
- make LOTS of copies of your birth plan (make sure it's signed by your OB) and bring tape. Tape them all around the hospital room, on the outside of the door, on every wall, etc.
- in your cooler bring white grape juice to drink during labor and OJ to drink after delivery. the hospital says you can't eat or drink but you can sneak it when the nurses aren't in the room.
Are you having a doula?? We got one at the last minute and honestly? She brought all our bags up when we got to the hospital so DH didn't have to leave me AND she took pictures the whole time so DH could focus on me.
Sorry for the long comment. :)
Great job on the list, and of course you know I have suggestions for you! For clothing for you, you probably won't want to wear pants in the hospital because you will be sore down yonder and a million people will check you at all times of the day, plus going to the bathroom officially becomes a marathon event, so the less items of clothing, the better. I recommend bringing some nighties (preferably something cute you don't mind being photographed in) that have very stretchy straps so you can pull them down for nursing (mine weren't stretchy enough and it drove me nuts); and also make sure you won't be heartbroken if they get gross. Slippers are good, too, if you like to wear them...if not, socks are probably fine. I would also leave the baby book at home unless you're trying to get the footprints in there directly...we just got them on a separate sheet...so it doesn't get messed up. And add shampoo/conditioner and soap to your list...I was scared to death to take a shower afterward, but it really did feel good to get clean!
P.S. After reading Brandi's comments, my hospital gave me MASSIVE pads to use, so no need for Depends here...maybe find someone who delivered at your hospital to ask? Also, ask for plenty of extra pads to bring home with you, and take everything with you when you leave too since you're paying for it anyway! The peri bottle, Dermaplast, sitz bath (if they give you one...if not, ask!), "sexy underwear" (big mesh "panties" that cover the previously mentioned giant pads), Tucks, extra diapers for the baby, etc.
Get some travel size toiletry's, that way you don't have to worry about that last minute. I wore yoga pants too, they are just comfy. Bring a size up for babies going home outfit too, just in case. My girlfriend brought a newborn outfit and her baby didn't fit it. He was too big.
Put the camera and charger in the L&D Bag, not the travel one incase it gets left in the car. :)
Also, bring a spare bag for all the goodies the hospital sends you home with. All of the baby supplies they give you for the baby while you're still admitted, is yours. Don't leave them there...take them home!
I never even used half of the stuff I brought. Possibly not even 3/4 of it. But it is way better to feel prepared than to not. :)
Have comfy elastic waist pants prepared for your go home. There's no point in trying to cram into the jeans you wore pre-pregnancy (don't laugh some people try it).
I don't recall your list exactly, but we took some granola bars, gu packets (energy gu that I usually use when running), chewing gum, etc because we weren't sure what the hospital did for snacks.
Thank you ladies! I have printed your comments so we can start packing the bags. I showed the Captain the list and he is now a little overwhelmed too.
Post a Comment