What and When to pack the hospital bag?? And a few other questions
Alright so I know that this has been asked 1000 times but I can't seem to find one now (REALLY wish OH would have a better search feature). I am just over 33 weeks now and I know it's early but I like to be well prepared.
Here is what I had in mind:
For Me:
comfy PJ's / stretchy clothes
lots of comfy underware
socks
slip on shoes
my normal toiletries
chap stick
pads(in case I don't want to use the phone book sized hospital ones lol)
cell phone / charger
camera / extra batteries
i-pod / charger
something to wear home
breast pump (so when the lactation consultant comes in she can help if needed - right??)
a magazine just in case I feel the need to distract myself
Copy of the birth plan
For Baby:
coming home outfit (1 for a boy and 1 for a girl)
diapers / wipes (I guess in case we need them on the way home or get delayed / make a stop)
onesie
blanket
car seat (will be in hubby's car ahead of time)
For Hubby:
Change of clothes (in case he is coming from work - I think he'll want out of his dress pants, shirt and tie)
something to sleep in (if he stays - how many of your hubby's do stay the night with you??)
toiletries
Anything else that I should bring along?
Here is what I had in mind:
For Me:
comfy PJ's / stretchy clothes
lots of comfy underware
socks
slip on shoes
my normal toiletries
chap stick
pads(in case I don't want to use the phone book sized hospital ones lol)
cell phone / charger
camera / extra batteries
i-pod / charger
something to wear home
breast pump (so when the lactation consultant comes in she can help if needed - right??)
a magazine just in case I feel the need to distract myself
Copy of the birth plan
For Baby:
coming home outfit (1 for a boy and 1 for a girl)
diapers / wipes (I guess in case we need them on the way home or get delayed / make a stop)
onesie
blanket
car seat (will be in hubby's car ahead of time)
For Hubby:
Change of clothes (in case he is coming from work - I think he'll want out of his dress pants, shirt and tie)
something to sleep in (if he stays - how many of your hubby's do stay the night with you??)
toiletries
Anything else that I should bring along?
Looks good...as far as babys coming home outfit, I found out the hard way when my 2 year old was born- I had bought a 0-3 month outfit. She was 7 1/2 pounds and was absolutely "swimming" in it! With my son (who was born in July 2009, I bought a Newborn size and he weighed 7lbs/3 when he came home (after NICU) and it was perfect! So, where I am going with this is, unless you are going to have a HUGE baby, go with a newborn size, because the 0-3 months sizes are SO big!
One more thing, I did bring my own undies, but you actually really do appreciate their "net" undies those first few days! I thought, there was no way they would fit, but they did!
AND, my own pillow- I am REALLY particular about pillows!
and a boppy or breast feeding pillow if you have a special one.
and my slip on slippers.
Debbie
One more thing, I did bring my own undies, but you actually really do appreciate their "net" undies those first few days! I thought, there was no way they would fit, but they did!
AND, my own pillow- I am REALLY particular about pillows!
and a boppy or breast feeding pillow if you have a special one.
and my slip on slippers.
Debbie
You probably won't need to take the breast pump...if you are nursing you will want to nurse for a while before using the pump ****il your milk comes in) If you do end up needing a pump, the hospital usually provides one for you while you are staying!
I wouldn't worry about bringing diapers/wipes...you most likely won't need them on the way home (I guess it depends on how far a way you live from the hospital also) but the hospital gives you a bunch when you leave! They stocked us up for a week or 2 before we left. (When you come home...make sure you grab everything they let you take! Take the nose thing and the brush for sure...we use the brush for his hair and body-even now and he is 18 months and the nose thing is great to have when they have a cold and stuff!!)
The less you bring the better! It's more you have to take home! (and remember to bring home)
I would bring a nursing pillow if you are doing that! I wish I would have brought mine! They had me use a regular pillow, but it wasn't as good!
If you are a person that like your own pillow...bring that!
Do you have a video camera? Even if it is just for after birth it's neat to have video of them just after birth and when they are sleeping a wrapped up! We made a special message to him the day he was born.
The only other thing I could think of were snack/drinks...your hubby may want them if it gets to be long...or you may even want a little something! I needed to snack the few days I was in the hospital...after the birth!
I wouldn't worry about bringing diapers/wipes...you most likely won't need them on the way home (I guess it depends on how far a way you live from the hospital also) but the hospital gives you a bunch when you leave! They stocked us up for a week or 2 before we left. (When you come home...make sure you grab everything they let you take! Take the nose thing and the brush for sure...we use the brush for his hair and body-even now and he is 18 months and the nose thing is great to have when they have a cold and stuff!!)
The less you bring the better! It's more you have to take home! (and remember to bring home)
I would bring a nursing pillow if you are doing that! I wish I would have brought mine! They had me use a regular pillow, but it wasn't as good!
If you are a person that like your own pillow...bring that!
Do you have a video camera? Even if it is just for after birth it's neat to have video of them just after birth and when they are sleeping a wrapped up! We made a special message to him the day he was born.
The only other thing I could think of were snack/drinks...your hubby may want them if it gets to be long...or you may even want a little something! I needed to snack the few days I was in the hospital...after the birth!
Becca 
-9/2007-10/2012 (Forever in our 
!)
Liz,
Your list looks fabulous and you have some great suggestions going here. The nursing bras are a must. I would not bother with your own jammies. They will make you put on their ugly gowns anyway...so other than a robe...your own jammies are a waste unless you plan to wear them home (which I have done because nothing else fit) lol....Also, I have my favorite fleece blanket and I was always freezing. There is a time right after you give birth that the adrenaline is rushing through your system and you are uncontrollably shaking...I mean...like you would vibrate off the bed if there were not rales in place...lol...and I ALWAYS wanted my own heavy fleece blanket to put over their pre-warmed blankets.
Last but not least...take everything that is not nailed down and they have used on baby...LOL If you do not take it..they throw it away...they have to. So, it is a good idea to take a small empty duffle or overnight bag that can be folded and put in your other bag to load up with all of the stuff they give you because really...they do give you a lot..I also suggest that if your baby likes the green rubbery pacifiers that they use in the hospital that you ask for extras...you cannot get the ones with the extra short nipples at any stores...so you think you are buying the same thing, but you are not...the nipples are longer and they gag on them...so if you ask for a couple of extra...they will usually slip you some :) In fact, I actually went back to the hospital a week after one of my daughters was born and asked for a couple of them because I could not buy them anywhere...I know...ballsy...but I was desperate...LOL
Ummmmm as far as baby going home outfit...I would see what doc's weight estimate is at the very end...if they say 6 pounder...I say purchase 2 preemie outfits...and 2 newborn outfits...leave the tags on and use whichever fits better. I found with my 6 pounders...the preemie outfits worked perfect for a week or two and they weren't just a bundle of folded sleeves and legs and socks falling off of skinny legs.
Ohhhhhhhhh man girl you are getting close....you are going to be so prepared....and something tells me you are going to go so fast that none of this is going to matter...isn't that the way it usually goes??? If you are prepared it is all for not...and if you are not ready...you should have been prepared??? LOL
Good Luck!!!
Laura
Your list looks fabulous and you have some great suggestions going here. The nursing bras are a must. I would not bother with your own jammies. They will make you put on their ugly gowns anyway...so other than a robe...your own jammies are a waste unless you plan to wear them home (which I have done because nothing else fit) lol....Also, I have my favorite fleece blanket and I was always freezing. There is a time right after you give birth that the adrenaline is rushing through your system and you are uncontrollably shaking...I mean...like you would vibrate off the bed if there were not rales in place...lol...and I ALWAYS wanted my own heavy fleece blanket to put over their pre-warmed blankets.
Last but not least...take everything that is not nailed down and they have used on baby...LOL If you do not take it..they throw it away...they have to. So, it is a good idea to take a small empty duffle or overnight bag that can be folded and put in your other bag to load up with all of the stuff they give you because really...they do give you a lot..I also suggest that if your baby likes the green rubbery pacifiers that they use in the hospital that you ask for extras...you cannot get the ones with the extra short nipples at any stores...so you think you are buying the same thing, but you are not...the nipples are longer and they gag on them...so if you ask for a couple of extra...they will usually slip you some :) In fact, I actually went back to the hospital a week after one of my daughters was born and asked for a couple of them because I could not buy them anywhere...I know...ballsy...but I was desperate...LOL
Ummmmm as far as baby going home outfit...I would see what doc's weight estimate is at the very end...if they say 6 pounder...I say purchase 2 preemie outfits...and 2 newborn outfits...leave the tags on and use whichever fits better. I found with my 6 pounders...the preemie outfits worked perfect for a week or two and they weren't just a bundle of folded sleeves and legs and socks falling off of skinny legs.
Ohhhhhhhhh man girl you are getting close....you are going to be so prepared....and something tells me you are going to go so fast that none of this is going to matter...isn't that the way it usually goes??? If you are prepared it is all for not...and if you are not ready...you should have been prepared??? LOL
Good Luck!!!
Laura
7-09 LOL I doubt that he'll want to stay (can't say I blame him!) he likes his own bed and uses a c-pap machine, I know he won't bring that to the hospital. So in the event that he does stay and keeps me up with his snoring they might have to take him to the ER and recessitate him after I beat him up! lol
I really do love him :)
I really do love him :)
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