If you had a homebirth (or were planning for one), did you pack a hospital bag?
This is on my to-do list from the midwives.
What did you put in yours?
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I didn't experience this, but I would think it would be in case something goes wrong and you need to be transferred to a hospital for some reason. As such, I'd basically pack a standard hospital bag assuming an overnight stay of one night - toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, a change of clothes, etc.
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A friend didn't do this, had a transfer, and had nothing. Her husband wore the same clothes for a week. They lived an hour away, no family nearby to bring stuff, no friends with keys. For her second, she packed a bag and then didn't need it, as she had a safe home birth that time.
So pack the basics! You might be happy you did!
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I would just kind of keep things handy and let DH grab it last second if we needed it. I'm sure we could get things like toiletries somewhere near the hospital, or dh could come home while I was at the hospital and grab it. Stuff like a going home outfit/blanket might be handy.
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Just a standard overnight bag with the essentials. Some comfortable clothes. An outfit for baby. Your own diapers if you have a preference. A few snacks. An installed car seat.
Someone from my neighborhood had a successful home birth with her first and her second was transferred to the hospital during labor. Hopefully everything goes just as well as it did last time- I'm sure it will if you pack a giant hospital bag
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@youboots: So you're saying I should use J's North Face duffle? Lol.
@erinbaderin: Yes, it would likely be last minute for something like exhaustion, or an emergency situation. Maybe I should take a peek at the c-section hospital bag tips. Not thinking it'll happen, but if it does, I'll want just enough to be comfortable.
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I had a few things in a bag (tooth brushes, change of clothing for both of us, hair bands, chapstick, some snacks) and a little list of things to grab (phone chargers, wallet).
It felt good to have a little something. I am a bit of a planner. I think I did it the second time, but I am not sure. Might have just had a list.
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@maddyz: I totally didn't do this the first time, and even though everything went perfectly, I'm kind of surprised my "I need to have everything planned" self didn't have a bag packed.
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@littlejoy: I ended up with an unplanned C-section, and the only thing I needed different (which I made my husband go home and get) was a dress to wear home instead of pants.
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@JennyLayneAZ: Thank you for that insight. That's exactly what I was thinking (that I'd maybe like to just do a dress/nightgown instead of pants/shorts). And, I keep thinking "bare minimum", but if I need a transfer, I should maybe consider that I'd have a 48+ hour hospital stay.
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@littlejoy: I would think you can still pack bare minimum, because it's not like no one can go home and get you something! Especially since you have your older child to be thinking about anyways. Unless the hospital is far or inconvenient, someone can bring you something!
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@erinbaderin: I think you would require a fresh pair of clothes, clothes for the baby, hand sanitise, towels, deodorant , toothbrush, maybe some lotion, you CDs in case you need to stay in the hospital longer, yes i know its a home birth you are talking about but there is a possibility of you heading to the hospital.
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I meant to pack a bag but never got around to it. It never made it to the top of my priority list largely because we live less than a 10m drive from the hospital, so, it would've been no big deal to send my partner or have our housemate bring things.
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