What and When to pack the hospital bag?? And a few other questions

Thanks Jessica! I can't believe how close we are getting - NEXT MONTH baby will be here!

Always pads, OK that's what I got for after my D&E so I have a pack of them. MAybe I'll pack some old undies just in case - I can always toss them.

I'll get some of the nipple cream too.

Clothes and quarters for Chris - good thinking!

Thanks again!

Oh and I'll write the ice thing down so I don't  forget!

Listen to me when I tell you this.   You will want to use the massive hospital size pads, trust me.  LOL   In fact, you will probably want to put two together and use them.  And as fug as they are, wear the disgusting hospital underwear and save your own for when you go home. 

You are going to destroy your own underwear especially in the first 48 hours. 

I don't see nipple cream on there, bring that.   Also, do you use a hair dryer?  Bring that too.   I felt so much better by drying my hair after the shower. 

How about your computer (if you have a laptop)?

My husband stayed in the hospital with me the entire time.  

Pack a snack bag for after you give birth.   You will be hungry, they will want you to eat, and hospital food sucks.   Snack food is massively expensive at the hospital.     

My family knows...if you ever wanted information out of me...you don't have to torture me, keep me sleep deprived or whatever...simply take away my lotion.  I cannot sleep until I have put lotion on my feet and hands.  Doesn't matter if I'm in the hospital, at home, at a hotel...I need my lotion.

Re the diapers...chances are high the hospital will give you a handful...you shouldn't need them unless you're detouring for a day or two to see the grandparents or something.  How your hospital is set up would determine what to bring for hubby.  If they have an actual bed for him in your room, then yeah, bring him something to sleep in...but if they just give him a chair, chances are high he's not going to go change clothes for that.  Maybe just make sure he has comfortable jeans/sweat pants.  If it were me, I wouldn't even pack him anything unless you think there's a chance he'll be running from work to meet you at the hospital?  He can always go home and change later, while you're resting after the baby's there.  Or just tell him to keep a change in the trunk of his car 'just in case.'

The baby book. They can put baby's hand prints and footprints in there for you. Plus, I like to fill out all the delivery details and baby's stats while they are fresh in my mind. Put all of baby's stuff in their diaper bag, that way you can put any keepsakes from the hospital (first outfit, first blanket, first little cap, themometer, I always take the bulb syringe home, the extra diapers they give you, formula if breastfeeding doesn't work. They always have a lot of extra stuff that can send home with you, especially if it's already on your baby's cart, they won't put it back in their stock after that.....usually.

It's all been said....but I'll second (or third) a few items...

 -  use their crappy undies and don't wreck yours.  Plus the icepacks leak on them, etc you don't want to bring home a bunch of wet/dirty panties

- My hospital provided all the diapers/wipes/butt cream / vaseline (for a boy when he's cir****ized) / gauze, etc etc  So I brought my shampoo/conditioner / lotion and hairdrier and that was it.  I did bring a robe and pair of PJs - which I went home in.  (I'm not a fancy person)

- Bring snacks!  I was in that labor room for almost 12 hours before having Cooper.... I wanted my (lower carb) snacks so I packed peanuts, protein bars, and other snack food I enjoy.  For my husband I packed a bag with his favorite snacks as a surprise -- licorice, M&M's, cashews, etc so he wouldn't have to leave the room to eat. 

(Our hospital had bagels / donuts in the morning, sandwiches in the afternoon and cookies for family members so they didn't have to leave the floor.... but I wanted him to have other stuff if he wanted it.)

- The camera / charger and laptop/charger were important to me.  (I worked while in labor!)

Good Luck!  I can't wait!!

Cindy

Buy a pair of cheap slippers in a dark color.  Trust me on this, but you can probably figure out why.   Hubby stayed with me, but I had c-sections.   It was nice because he could bring me the baby to breastfeed instead of me having to get out of bed.   Don't forget a rubber band to pull your hair back.  I had long hair when I had Hannah and it kept getting in my way while trying to get her to latch on. 

You are so close!

Oooh, is there a way I can favorite this thread so when it's time for me to pack my bag I ca refer back to this? It is so helpful!

i 100th the net panties....also julie is right... you bleed so much while you are there that you will prob end up doubling up the huge pads.... and if you are like me and dont like to feel "wet" you will chage them frequently... just use thiers... lol.. i brought 3 outfits for me ( a few extra shirts for when baby puked on me) and 4 onsies for her.. and 4 sleepers ( again extra incase poop/pee/puke) crisis.... i brought magazines and stuff to do.. but really all i wanted to do was look at my baby and take 1 million pictures and love up on her... plus i had visitors allllllll the time

Thanks ladies! I've sent myself a link to this thread so I can pack off of all your recomendations! I'll also make a list of them (cause I am anal like that) so  I can post it later if anyone needs too.

Thanks again!

Oh and I was going to pack in my little rolling suitcase - good idea?

A deck of cards came in handy with my first.... I was in labor for a loooooong time.
Make up... I don't care if I'm puffy, I want to look halfway decent in all those L&D pix! 
contacts/glasses stuff if applicable for you or hubby.

My hubby will most definitely be staying with me every single night I'm in the hospital (which, with any amount of luck, will be only one). I'm hoping to score a family suite so he'll have a fold out sofa instead of the reclining chair bed thingy. I'll gladly pay the extra $$.