I am packing my hospital bag by following the (very generic) list that the hospital gave us, and have also been looking on Pinterest but all the lists seem to vary so much. I was just curious....What was your must have item (or items) for the hospital? Are there things you thought were a total must that you ended up not using?
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Camera, phone charger are must haves in my book. For me, I took clothes with me which I ended up wearing during the day at the hospital after birth, made me feel fresher to have something besides the hospital gown to wear. Hairbrush and toothbrush.
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the one weird thing I reccomed is snacks. The hospital kitchen is closed at night and we were so hungry. It's hard to sleep with the new baby and the nurses keep coming in to check your vitals and give you meds so being awake just made us hungry. My husband went to a 24 hour store to get us some food the first night.
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these were my must haves:
- flip flops (for the shower)
- house slippers (for walking around comfortably)
- robe (easy to slip on when you have visitors or if there's a chill)
- nursing bra
- smartphone + charger (to take pics and browse web)
- going home outfit for you and baby
- an aden & anais swaddle blanket
- food, snacks, bars, coconut water…
- hairbrush, hairdryer, hairtie!, toiletries, basic makeup -
I LOVED having my own robe and fuzzy socks with grippy bottoms, and all the nurses commented on how smart that was. I was much more comfortable walking the halls in my soft black robe than if I had on the hospital gown, and it was nice to be semi-presentable since I ran into people I knew while I was laboring. I also appreciated my own soap and shampoo that I packed, it made me feel much more myself when I finally got to shower.
I didn't find the few diapers and pads I brought useful at all because the hospital provided all that and you take home the extras from the open pack.
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I overpacked the first time but my must haves were: phone charger, change of comfy clothes to go home in, deodorant, toothbrush, baby's going home outfit, change of clothes/toiletries for DH. I could have done without the rest of the stuff I lugged along.
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My midwives were very encouraging of getting dressed every morning - they said I wasn't in the hospital cause I was sick, so I shouldn't stay in bed all day/wear a gown. I packed comfy sweat/yoga pants and button up shirts, nursing bras and gigantic undies, plus a comfy pair of pyjamas. Every night I'd change into PJs and every morning I'd shower and get dressed. I was only in for 2 days but it made a very unusual situation seem more normal!
Also, tylenol or whatever painkiller you like - I had a wicked headache from the dry air on the ward and from labour, and even though i asked the nurses 3 or 4 times they were really busy and I never got the drugs, so I was happy to have my own stash. -
The one thing that I loved having and I personally consider a must have is my own pillow! Just having that made the stay so much more bearable. I was in the hospital from Monday pm to Friday mid day, so it was a long week and having my pillow was awesome! But I'm the type of person to never travel without it, lol.
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Lip balm!
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A head scratcher. Trust me.
OMG it felt so good during contractions!!
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Must have (but I never thought to buy/bring):
Nipple shield!
Breast pump (I actually brought this, but was too embarrassed to try it out at the hospital - I should have)!Must have (and used):
Camera
Brush
Crotch spray (medicated numbing kind)
Comfy clothes that slip on (I should have brought more clothes because I bled onto them)
Gatorade
Healthy snacks
Food for DH(!)Never used:
Make-up
Reading material
Music
Nipple pads (my milk didn't come in, so no leaks)
Nice clothes (at that point, I didn't care what I was wearing) -
I brought a lot of stuff. I work in a hospital so I know they have crappy towels, bedding, etc. I also had a scheduled c section so i knew i'd be in the hospital longer. I brought:
Pillow
Blanket
Towels
Comfy clothes (didn't want to be stuck in a gown)
Robe
Slippers
Snacks
DVDs to watch
Phone charger
Coming home outfit for LODidn't need:
Pads (they provided)
Clothes for LO (they kept changing him back to their clothes anyway)They provide all of the medical/baby/nursing related stuff you need. You may want to being your pump if you want to start using it or want help learning to (I didn't though)
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Agree w @mrstartan- lip balm! I used it what seemed like every 5 seconds while in the hospital and for about a week post delivery. My lips were a chapped mess. I also brought my own pads because I couldn't stand the disgusting feel of the diaper like pads at the hospital. However, I loved, loved the mesh undies they had. I had a c-section and lived in those for at least 2 weeks PP. the nurses gave me like 15 pair. Lol!
Did not use- iPod or reading material.
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Thanks for responding everyone! I definitely will be adding some items from your lists. Can't believe I didn't think about lip balm!
@char54: that thing looks aaaamazing! I may have to pick one of those up!
@ScarletBegonia: that sounds like a good idea too, I feel like I will have quite a few visitors, so it would be nice not to look like I will probably feel! -
all the pp have great items, but i'd also bring your own jammies/cardigan/etc. something for you to change into out of the hosp gown post birth! makes you feel YOU and not like a patient
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Must haves: lip balm, robe, slippers, nursing bra/tank, comfy yoga/pj bottoms, your personal toiletries, camera, phone, chargers, iPad(to update people other than family).
Didn't need reading materials, boppy, swaddling blankets(they had them there.
I would pack additional change of clothes. I ended up having an emergency c section and staying the whole 5 days to recover from my c section and because my baby was in the NICU.
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Phone charger
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Non obvious things I was really glad to have:
*extension cord*-- I could have my phone charging and still next to me in bed. It was so helpful since I was using it a lot to take photos and texting.
-lip balm
-towel (the hospital ones were teeny and scratchy)
-my own basic toiletries and flip flops for the shower.I never got dressed in the hospital- it was just easier to be in the gown, and I had very few visitors. I brought my own pillow, but DH ended up using it (which I didn't realize until later and should have taken it back!). I totally overpacked and didn't use most of what I brought.
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A sleep/eye mask!
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I came back to revive this post as I am being discharged after a 3 night stay for my repeat c section. I think the only revision to the above would be:
--eye mask! There are so many annoying lights it helps you get some rest.
--a boppy or nursing pillow. Both for nursing and to use to support belly or whatever, esp post c section. -
I packed so much stuff but used almost none of it. Obviously the outfit for LO was #1. I also brought her hats (liked them better than the hospital ones.) Didn't use anything else I brought for her (brush, nail clippers, socks, etc.) I wore my robe and I think I wore fuzzy socks. I maybe brushed my teeth. I showered once and it was misery. I had a very tough recovery so I was definitely in that "mode." Didn' use my hair dryer, brush, makeup, clothes, anything like that. Just a phone charger, oh and a nursing bra/tank. I think as long as it's not too much to carry it's probably good to "over" pack because you never know... I WAYYY overpacked and we didn't use most of it but I was glad because it wasn't in my way or anything, so it would have been good that it was there had I needed any of it. (Boppy, real clothes, etc.) Oh I think I used DH's chapstick a lot. And I second what is said above about an extension cord- maybe have one in the car, so depending on where your plug is, your DH can maybe bring it inside. I had to have my phone resting up by my head because of the charger location.
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I agree with everyone and would say having my own pillow and comfy clothes/yoga pants made me feel much more human. I didn't wear the robe at all after I took a shower the morning after we had LO. We also brought snacks and candy and I was glad we did.
@Amelieisme: oh, an eye mask! That is a great one! -
I really needed a water bottle and mindless reading material, like magazines for when I was awake during the night and couldn't sleep.
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All of the above suggestions are fabulous. My sister brought me a few extra things that ended up being really great.
1-Pond's face wipes (just easy to use real quick instead of having to wash face)
2-Luxe body wash. That first shower is AMAZING. But she sent this silky and amazing-smelling body wash for me and that made it even better
3-Big, soft bath towel -
@Amelieisme: thanks for the update-and CONGRATS!
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Chapstick
Pillow and iPad (I was in the hospital for 5 days, so these were lifesavers)
Toiletries (oh my goodness, that first shower was amazing)
Face wipes for when you want to freshen up a bit, but can't take a shower yet. -
Snacks for sure! I packed apples and bananas and energy/granola bars. Sometimes I just needed a little something to keep me going, but didn't want a full on hospital meal
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It depends on your length of stay but the biggest one for me was a phone charger.
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I didn't use about 95% of my bag and wished I had stuff I didn't pack! But many of the 'didn't need' items were because I was planning a vaginal birth and ended up with an emergency c-section. So I'll leave those off my list since even though I didn't need them, I'd still pack them!
Must have:
- Outfit that doesn't put pressure on your bikini line area - I ended up with an emergency c-section and didn't want to go anywhere near the maternity pants I had packed! Someone ended up bringing me one of my maxi dresses from home.
- Chargers, camera, phone
- Change and dollar bills for vending machine
- Swaddling blankets - the hospital did give us some, but I liked ours better. Pacifiers too!
- Chapstick
- Clothes for DH so he didn't have to leave.Nice to have, but not totally necessary:
- Your own pillow. It was on my list, but we forgot it. Wasn't a huge deal.
- Small shampoo and conditioner plus some toiletries and a bit of makeup, not everyone cares, but personally I wanted to freshen up a bit before taking pictures I knew would end up on FB!Didn't need:
- Pads and underwear, the stuff the hospital gave me was a million times better than anything I brought.
- Robe. I brought a big bulky one and it was a pain and never worn, I just stuck to a somewhat modest nightgown most of the time. I can see how a thin one would come in handy though.
- Diapers. Again, the hospital provided those.
- Bathing suit. I thought I'd want one to stay covered up in the labor tub. HAHAHA. Yeah, I didn't give a shit once active labor kicked in, I was naked the whole time. -
- yoga pants & comfy soft shirts
- comfy PJ with easy access to boobs (and TMI maybe even a second pair - when I fell asleep on the first night my bleeding was still so strong it had soaked through 3 pads...)
- phone & charger
- going home outfit for mom & baby (incl. a hat)
- shoes for the shower and walking around the room
- toiletries
- nursing braThe one thing I wish I'd have already had back then is my hands free pumping bra. Since LO was always too tired to nurse properly in the first 2 days they made me pump in the hospital. Holding the flanges while your brand new baby is crying is heart breaking
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Must haves:
Breastfeeding pillow (if you're planning to nurse). I cannot feed LO without it. I struggled so much in the hospital trying to latch him until I finally decided to use it. Made the world of a difference!
Non slip fuzzy socks for walking around.
Ipad or tablet. I wrote my birth story the day after so I didn't forget anything. Now I'm glad I did because I don't remember much!Didn't need:
Extra clothes. I wore the hospital gown until I went home. It was much easier! -
The things that I used the most last time were:
--phone charger
--camera
--chapstick
--my breast friend
--good travel size toiletries (gotta echo the "first shower" sentiment above!)
--my own pillows with non-white pillowcases (so they were obviously mine and wouldn't get mixed up with the hospital's stuff)
--a light robe
--makeup (it made me feel better when company came over to visit)
--velcro SwaddleMe for the baby. We couldn't do it with the hospital's blankets OR the A&A one we brought.I didn't bother packing any clothes for myself or the baby-- I'd rather bleed on the hospital gowns than my own night gowns. I think we're going to bring clothes for LO this time, though, because the hospital provided long sleeved Ts as their tops AND bottoms and it was just awkward. I didn't mind small scratchy towels, either.
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- Phone charger
- toothbrush/toothpaste/shampoo/bodywash/comb
- FOOD (I was starving and needed snacks in the middle of the night when I was nursing)We brought so much stuff and didn't use it. Neither of us changed clothes. My husband didn't shower. I wore hospital stuff until I left.
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For my first I only wore my hospital gown. For my second I changed into pj's quickly. I'm glad I brought them as a just in case. I packed my hospital bag for #2 right after my water broke while leaking all over my carpet. Obviously I was in a rush and didn't seem to forget anything. You don't need much
One thing I always tell people is to bring the baby book for baby foot prints.
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This thread was super helpful, thanks! These suggestions made me feel a little more prepared. I've decided that my must haves included:
*My own clothes (nursing bras, tank tops, sweater/cover up, yoga pants). They make me feel human, and I hate the gowns! I have taken my pants off and just worn underwear/a sheet when I was bleeding heavily, but the tanks and a sweater have been lifesavers
*Flip flops for the shower and generally for walking around
*Hair ties-I hate having hair in my face
*Chapstick, hand cream, hand sanitizer, throat lozenges-I brought bigger bottles, which was the right call, because it is SO DRY in here.
*Lanolin-my nipples needed it!
*Granola bars or snacks for the middle of the night
*Extension cord for my phone charger, so it could be right next to the bed
*My nursing pillow, so I learned on something I would actually be using
The two things I would add are a blanket from home to throw over the hospital bed, because it was cold in here, and a bedtime story to read to baby. DH brought Goodnight Moon from home last night and read it to G before we went to bed. It was the sweetest
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I agree with a lot that has been said - definitely toiletries, camera, cell phone, some snacks, and going home outfits. However, the best thing I brought with me was my own pjs. I had a csection, so I was there for 4-5 days (is it awful I already forget?) and after a couple days, I decided to get out of the giant hospital gowns and into the soft nightgown I brought. It made a world of difference!!
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Bring baby wipes! The hospital just has these rough paper towels which they dip in water. That is awfully rough on newborn skin!
And yes, snacks.
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Your own pjs (yoga pants and a tank for me).
HIGH FIBER SNACKS. I had a couple of fiber one bars. The dreaded first poop after birth? It was NOTHING - and I solely thank my fiber one bars.
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If you're planning on nursing take this book with you! It was a. Great resource while figuring things out. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0553384295/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1397334729&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40
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