I was looking at some lists of what it's suggested that I take to the hospital. Here is a compilation of two lists from the Pampers Village package I got at Utah Valley Hospital and my book Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy:
For Trevor
Insurance information (I am planning on pre-registering too)
Snacks
Swimsuit (what the heck?!)
Change of clothes
Toiletries
Camera or video recorder
For Me!!
Watch to time contractions
2 bed pillows
Lotion/oil for massages
Warm socks
Lip Balm
Hard candy to suck on
Reading material
Paper fan
Picture for a focal point
Back Massager
Heating pack (thought they had it there...)
Nightgown that opens in front (but those are ugly!!)
Robe and slippers
Underwear
Nursing pads
Nursing bras
Toiletries
Hair care and cosmetics
Comfy clothes to wear home
Something relaxing, music or scent
For Baby
Sleeper or undershirt
Receiving blankek and clothes to wear home
Sweater, cap, extra blanket if cold weather
Car seat correctly installed!
Baby wipes
Baby diapers
So, which of these items did you have in your hospital bag? And which items are not on this list but you highly recommend that I take with me?
14 comments:
A friend of mine had a baby in January and didn't have any lip balm. Good thing I keep it in my purse. Definitely don't forget that.
I'd also find out if they'll have a DVD player in your room and pack some favorite movies or something. Hospital rooms get boring when they aren't overly exciting.
Nightgowns that open in the front are going to be a lot easier to nurse with.
Make sure the clothes you take to come home in are from the end of your pregnancy. I took some from the middle of my pregnancy thinking I'd be oh so skinny after having a baby and they were tight and uncomfortable.
All we really brought was a phone, camera, toiletries, clothes, car seat, diaper bag, baby clothes, nursing bra and pads, and that was about it.
Don't forget that after the baby is born if there is something you are in desperate need of I'm sure Trevor can run and get it for you. Good Luck!
I brought a robe for myself because those hospital gowns are drafty...and it's nice to cover up a little bit when you have visitors coming! Also, I labored for 14 hours before Aubrey was born, so I am glad that we brought some siendfeld dvd's to watch while I was in labor...it really helped take matt's and my mind off of things. (Although...I feel I was able to do that because I had an epidural, and I probably wouldn't have been in the mood to watch tv if I didn't!)
Well, they ask the dad to bring a swimsuit if you plan on going in the bathtub during labor, or if you're going to have a water birth( are you? I don't think so) What I took was, camera,video recorder, toiletries,lip balm( I always have those though),comfy clothes to wear home, nursing bras and pads, and trust me, the nightgowns that open in the front are the best for nursing, also some really comfy underwear.Its also a good idea to bring dvd's. The hospital I stayed at had a little "library with dvd you could get. But if you like to read, maybe books and magazines would be a good idea. For the baby all you really need is the clothes he coming home in and the car seat. Hope that helps you!
For Trevor
bring pillows and stuff in case he needs to sleep over
For Me!!
movies, definitely, you never know how long you will be there or how long i will be able to stay with you and keep you company.
Nah, you don't need all of that. Things to do in the hospital--books, DVDs. Toiletries so you can shower. Clothes to go home. Outfit for the baby to go home.
I wouldn't buy a nightgown that opens in the front--especially if you don't think you'll ever wear it again. The hospital gowns work just fine.
Enjoy the hospital cause it's like a little honeymoon with your babe. And keep the nurses bringing the juice!
Ok, here are the things that I think you should bring:
For Trevor
Snacks
Camera
For You
Warm socks (wear them there, if you can)
Back Massager
Robe and slippers
Toiletries
Sweats to wear home (you'll still look preggo, so make sure to bring bigger clothes to wear home, not your pre-pregnancy clothes)
For Baby
Receiving blanket and clothes to wear home
Baby bunting (one of those fleece footed, long sleeved things, if the weather is cold)
Car seat
The hospital gives you diapers and wipes. I also lounged around in just my hospital gown for the whole time I was there, no gs at all. A lot of my friends told me you wouldn't need gs and I didn't believe them, so I brought some older ones - take my word for it, you won't need 'em! Just bring a pair to wear when you go home.
I'll just comment as I go down:
For Trevor
Insurance information
Snacks DEFINITELY
Swimsuit DON'T NEED IT
Change of clothes
Toiletries
Camera or video recorder
BOOK OR LAPTOP OR SOMETHING FOR HIM TO DO! nothing's more annoying than a bored husband, especially when you're in pain
For Me!!
Watch to time contractions UH, THEY HAVE YOU HOOKED UP TO MONITORS THAT TIME THEM--THAT'S STUPID
2 bed pillows I TOOK ONE, JUST MAKE SURE IT'S IN A COLORED/PATTERNED CASE, NOT WHITE
Lotion/oil for massages MASSAGES? WHO'S GONNA BE GIVING YOU A MASSAGE? YOU'RE LUCKY IF YOU THINK YOU'LL GET ONE. BUT I HAVE DRY SKIN AND WOULD DIE WITHOUT LOTION. SORT OF LIKE THE LIP BALM.
Warm socks THEY EVEN GAVE ME THOSE AT THE HOSPITAL, BUT WHO KNOWS. THEY WERE VERY WELCOME
Lip Balm YES!
Hard candy to suck on I TOOK THEM BUT NEVER ATE THEM WITH JARED
Reading material TAKE SOMETHING FUNNY AND ADDICTING OR YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO CONCENTRATE
Paper fan I GUESS
Picture for a focal point
Back Massager AGAIN WITH THE MASSAGES?
Heating pack (thought they had it there...) I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE FOR
Nightgown that opens in front (but those are ugly!!) MY MOM BOUGHT ME BUTTON-UP PJ'S FOR NURSING AND BEING IN THE HOSPITAL. AS SOON AS I COULD GET UP, I GOT OUT OF THOSE UNCOMFY GOWNS (THEY ALSO REQUIRE YOU TO BASICALLY STRIP TO NURSE--NOT SUBTLE!) NIGHTGOWNS SUCK.
Robe and slippers YES!!!
Underwear THEY HAD THIS AWESOME/AWFUL MESH STUFF TO WEAR. IT WAS AWESOME 'CAUSE YOU DIDN'T GET BLOOD ALL OVER YOUR OWN, AND IT'S COMFY, BUT IT'S AWFUL-LOOKING.
Nursing pads MY MILK NEVER CAME IN UNTIL I WAS HOME, AND I STAYED FOR 4 DAYS. BUT YOU NEVER KNOW...
Nursing bras YES
Toiletries I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS, MAYBE SHAMPOO?
Hair care and cosmetics YES!!! YOU FEEL LIKE CRAP, SO GETTING UP TO PUT ON SOME MAKE UP AND DO YOUR HAIR MAKES YOU FEEL SO MUCH BETTER!
Comfy clothes to wear home TAKE A SMALLER MATERNITY OUTFIT OR BIG SWEATER. YOU'LL LOOK ABOUT 5-6 MONTHS PREGNANT WHEN YOU LEAVE.
Something relaxing, music or scent I SUPPOSE. ANYTHING SOOTHING IS NICE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT i WOULD HAVE TAKEN. BUT THEN AGAIN, I DIDN'T HAVE AN iPOD BACK THEN (AND I WASN'T ABOUT TO TAKE A BOOM BOX)
For Baby
Sleeper or undershirt NOPE, THEY MAKE THEM STAY IN HOSPITAL GEAR UNTIL YOU LEAVE. IT'S A SECURITY THING, SO THEY KNOW WHICH BABIES AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE LEAVING THE FLOOR.
Receiving blanket and clothes to wear home OUTFIT AND A BLANKET TO TUCK IN ON TOP OF THE CAR SEAT. A RECEIVING BLANKET IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST CHOICE FOR A BLANKET.
Sweater, cap, extra blanket if cold weather HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO BE OUTSIDE ON THE WAY HOME? ARE YOU WALKING? NO! AN OUTFIT AND A BLANKET ARE FINE, ALTHOUGH A HAT ISN'T A BAD IDEA
Car seat correctly installed! YES, AND GET IT CHECKED BEFORE YOU GO (IMMEDIATELY!)
Baby wipes HOSPITAL PROVIDES
Baby diapers HOSPITAL PROVIDES
ALSO, HOSPITAL PROVIDES BOTTLES AND PACIFIERS, DIAPER BAG, AND LOTS OF OTHER STUFF.
JUST DON'T FORGET THE CAMERA!
and it's not really a hospital "bag," it's a freakin' suitcase.
Also know that Trevor will probably want to go home sometimes after things have settled down (I sent Ryan home every night so he would let me sleep). Send things home with him that you don't need anymore, so you have less to haul down to the car with you when you go home. and he can bring things that you forgot.
Another piece of advice is to take the nurses up on their offer to take the baby to the nursery while you sleep (day or night). You will be exhausted, and you won't be catching up on sleep when you get home! Also, take them up on the offer for a sleeping pill. I didn't and woke up every hour the first night, even though Jared wasn't in there with me.
Good luck!
Oh, and there ought to be a little sample of Lansinoh in your hospital goodie bag. I thought it was to put on when I got sore. NO!!! Put it on after you nurse every time, and you won't get nearly as sore! I also tried to stretch it out and only used it when I needed it. Just use it! You can buy more. Even though it's kind of expensive, it's worth every penny.
Don't forget your tums (or whatever). And I never wore anything but the hospital gown. They may have some that open in the front (the last hospital I tried did) but you may bleed so much that you don't want to put on your own clothes.
And lanolin (sp). Good luck! Love ya!
I think you got a lot of good advice on what you need (and don't). For me, the necessities where a robe and slippers, toiletries (toothbrush/paste/facewash/lotion/mascara) and clothes to go home in. Everything else is just kinda nice if you think about it and have room. For hubby- a toothbrush and maybe a change a clothes. If your hospital isn't too far away from home it's no biggie for him to run home for whatever he needs (and kinda nice for him to get out for a while). For baby-going home clothes, blanket and car seat. LIke I said anything else is nice but not that necessary. That's just me though, I'm easy! :)
Minha nossa, eu nao levei metade do que suas amigas recomendarao. E estamos todos bem aqui...:) A primeira vez foi mais dificil a segunda eu estava super preparada e nao usei quase nada do que levei. Nao leve muita coisa nao, vc so vai ficar uns 2-3 dias no max. E e um saquinho sair do hospital cheia de coisa e mais um bebezinho. Eu esqueci algumas coisinhas no primiero, nao esqueci nada no segundo. A melhor coisa e levar pouco, leva o principal na mao e o resto deixa no carro em caso que precise. E bom saber onde estacionar, pra ficar o mais perto possivel. Aproveita bastante pois e uma experiencia meio unica. Cada um e diferente. Vai dar tudo certo. BEIJAO!
You know, it really depends on exactly how the birth will go...I really didn't need hardly any of that stuff for skylar, except like your tolietries...but really just think about the things you will really use. Things like massage oils and pictures, etc...i just think you won't even use! (C:
I think the idea with the massage stuff is to get your husband to massage you while he's not busy having a baby and stuff like you are. Foot massage, back massage, hand massage, that type of stuff. A tennis ball can work real well for that, as well as throwing it at him when he's asleep in the chair and you're up with contractions or other things.
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