How Much Did You Really Need at the Hospital?

Hi Ladies!

Doing my usual......laying around keeping my feet up.  Been a rough day, super sick with vomiting.  Called the OB and he says nothing to worry about unless it gets worse because I've been doing it the whole time.

So, I was trying to make my hospital bag list so the BF can begin going out to get the things I will need.  I figured several extra pair of panties, extra absorbent pads, Tucks, toothbrush/toothpaste, soap, shampoo, brush, about 3 pair of pajamas, socks, a sweat jacket, a nursing bra, my own pillows  for me......and for the baby....about 4 onsies, our own diapers and wipes, Desitin socks, and her coming home outfit......

Other than entertainment for him, am I missing anything?

Thanks for the help!

When I was in the hospital I used 1 pair of comfy pajama's w/ the nursing top and never put on a bra until I left the hospital. I used their pads because you need the HUGE ones. As for baby she used the hospital onsies, diapers, and wipes the entire time. Baby shouldn't have a diaper rash so no need to bring Desitin. All you will really need for baby is her coming home outfit. Bring a Boppy pillow! That really came in handy! Also bring some nice baby blankets to cuddle with. :)

My male cousin highly recommended that I bring SNACKS for my husband when the time comes. His wife wouldn't let him leave her side and he was starving!



Also, don't forget a camera, phone, and chargers!

Oh yeah, and makeup for yourself (if you wear any) because you will be in the "coming home" pictures, too!

You're almost done baking.  I know you must feel miserable right now...but keep the big picture in mind that you're almost done. 

It's been a hundred years since I had my son (he's 15)...but it sounds like you might be bringing too much stuff.  When you're actually giving birth...you'll be lucky if you have on the lovely hospital gown at the most.  Assuming everything goes according to plan, you'll likely only be in there two days - maybe a few more if you end up having a c-section.  I'd only take one pair of jammies and some clean undies to wear home.  The hospital will likely give you some fashionable stretchy undy things to wear with their ginormous pads - so you should need all the extra undies, pads etc.  I'd bet they even give you some tucks if needed.  You will need at least one pair of socks - no more than two - and I wouldn't bother w/the sweat jacket unless you're going to need it coming home.  Remember you're going to be in a twin bed...If you need your pillow(s) - try to limit it to the smallest amount (ie one...I'm a pillow person also and usually take my favorite one with me when I go anywhere also).  Don't bother w/the diapers and wipes...the hospital will take care of changing the baby while there and they'll send you home with a stash to get you through. 

I'd also suggest taking some lotion (I'm a lotion fiend...need it for my hands and feet several times a day!), some chapstick...maybe even your ipod and charger if you can listen to it and relax while in labor? 

Good luck...I hope your day gets here soon so you get to feeling better.

They will provide you with mega pads and disposable panties. They aren't pretty, but it is better than messing up your own. Just bring a pair for going home in. Usually they will also give you tucks pads and dermoplast for afterwards as well. They will also clothe the baby and provide wipes and diapers, so don't worry about those unless you have a brand preference. I just took 1 going home outfit.

You definitely don't need anything for the baby other than a coming home outfit.  Of course, if you want to have your baby in his/her own clothes, that's up to you. But it's way easier to have them in what the hospital provides- usually a t-shirt/onesie type thing with a receiving blanket swaddled up.  They'll give you diapers, wipes and anything else you can need while you're there, plus they let you take extras home.

You'll want to bring your own toiletries if you're set on what you use, otherwise they'll give you the basics with soap/shampoo/lotion/toothbrush.  They'll give you the wonderful pads, but you won't want to risk messing up your own panties with all the bleeding you have in the beginning.  Especially being in the bed, depending on the way you sit things could leak out and you wreck the panties.  Same goes for your own pajamas.  I personally was more comfortable in my own, but the first day I was in the hospital gown.  My son was in the NICU so when I would go visit him I'd put my own robe/slippers on or PJ's.  I had to share the elevator with hospital visitors and I hated being in the hospital gown among all the visitors.  If I was at least in PJ's or a robe I felt a bit better. 

Phone chargers, batteries, laptop cords, camera cords to upload pics to a laptop if you have/bring one.  Some hospitals have wireless Internet.  If you have a baby book and you want the baby's footprints in there, bring that.  Identification for you (photo ID, drivers license), insurance card, money for vending machines or snacks for BF/DH.  If you need your own pillow be sure that you have a pillowcase that you know is yours so they don't change it out with the bedding, use something with a print or whatnot that doesn't look like it could be mistaken for a hospital sheet.

Most times folks pack WAY more stuff than they need.  The rooms are small and when you have a lot of stuff plus visitors it gets really tight in there!  So try to keep your stuff to a minimum.

I packed  ton of stuff and didn't use 3/4 of it! 1 pair of PJ's, an outfit to come home with, slip on shoes, toiletries. For baby - a coming home outfit and a snuggly blanket. THe boppy pillow if you are going to nurse might be helpful. I agree on the snacks for your BF. I also brought my camera, laptop, cell phone and chargers for them all. The hospital with provide these mesh undies for you that are a total god send. They will also provide super pads and tucks. Dermoplast spray was a lifesaver, not sure if all hospitals provide that or not though.

They had Amelia in a gown the whole time she was there and it just made changings etc easier.