hospital bag - to bring or not to bring

I have my hospital stuff together (due on the 26th), but wanted to ask you girls since you have been there, what do I have to have and what can I be without?

What were some of the things you brought and didn't need and what were the things you wished you brought?

hospital bag - to bring or not to bring

Some things I was thankful I brought:
- a bathrobe
- disposable flip flops/slippers (for walking around and taking a shower)
- my laptop
- my camera
- granny panties (much easier to keep the pads in place)

Things I didn't need
- extra absobancy maxi pads - I bled so much afterwards, I would have needed to use an entire package at a time to control it - sorry TMI.
They give you the big wee wee pads, much better.
- hairdryer - they had one in the bathroom, but I was too exhausted to even care about blowing it out. Up in went into a bun
-

Re: hospital bag - to bring or not to bring

Wished I brought a boppy!
Would've been easier to BF or even bottle feed just to have hands free

Pretty much used the hospital undies, nonslip socks and their pads so didn't use mine either.

Needed a robe
pajamas (pretty much wore nicer pj's the whole time (drawstring pants and tanktop or v-neck short sleeve top)
bra (or BF bra)
hair band, little shampoo/conditioner bottles
small facewash stuff
some makeup, hairbrush (never dried my hair, pretty much brushed and wore it up)
I did bring a toothbrush and toothpaste, but wound up using theirs at the hospital. Just easier to leave there too.
phone, phone charger, camera, etc
insurance stuff
cord blood kit (if you're doing that)
list of family and friends numbers (which is most likely in your phone anyway)
chapstick (a must bc you get dry)
lotion
snacks (mostly DH had this LOL)

of course stuff for the baby. I did not dress my boys each day. They pretty much stayed in the cute white shirts they give at the hospital. Just the take home outfit.

I think that's it. Been a couple of years since my last one.

hospital bag - to bring or not to bring

I found my pajamas, my toiletries, sandals, cute comfy outfits, phone, charger, camera, socks, sandals and really big undies handy. Everything else stayed in the bag!

Re: hospital bag - to bring or not to bring

I didn't pack mine in advance.

All I needed (and threw in last minute bc my wate broke) was pants, shirts, underwear, socks, make-up, toiletries, robe, slippers, Nook.

Re: hospital bag - to bring or not to bring

I was happy to have:

- my laptop and charger
- several pairs of underwear (not granny panties; regular cotton undies. You want that pad securely in place and not loose and moving around! Plus you can expect several pairs of panties to get ruined - bring more than you think you'll need and be ready to throw a few pairs away)
- cell phone and charger
- loose-ish yoga pants and a nursing tee shirt. This looked like a "regular" outfit so when friends and family came to visit I felt better receiving them. But I was comfy sleeping in it too.
- A nursing bra (if you nurse). The cotton sleeping kind is probably best. After a few months I stopped bothering and just used regular bras, but in the hospital you'll be topless a lot - like for 45 minutes every 2 hours during the day! - and it's more comfy.
- Trial-size shower stuff: shampoo, conditioner, body wash.

hospital bag - to bring or not to bring

Thanks. Anybody else?

hospital bag - to bring or not to bring

Definitely a the boppy

I used the throw away undies the hospital gave... i didnt bleed a crazy amount but i also didnt want to waste my own underwear incase anything leaked... i even took what was left to use at home the first few days!

I really didnt need much of what i brought (besides clothes) the hospital gave me anything/everything i would need.

Re: hospital bag - to bring or not to bring

If you are not nursing, make sure you have a really tight sports bra

Re: hospital bag - to bring or not to bring

i'm so glad i brought bath towels for myself and DH (he stayed with me 4 nights).
the hospital towels were awful - small and scratchy!

i ended staying in my hospital gown for most of the time, so i didn't need to bring as much clothes with me.

Re: hospital bag - to bring or not to bring

I'm a minimalist. DEFINITELY flip flops for shower, walking around room, & hospital floor (they encourage walking afterwards). I'm a germ-phob & not touching the floor!

Cozy socks (labor, & in bed afterwards)
Chapstick
Hair clips
Granny undies & *dark* bottom pjs (I bought soft comfy ones with DD2 & still love them)
Nice smelling body wash, lotion, body spray (aeroma therapy, helped lift my fatigued mood)
iPod/speakers....even the nurses loved coming in my room.

Re: hospital bag - to bring or not to bring

I had my baby on May 17th and this is what I can suggest:

Wished I brought a boppy as well! Even if you aren't bf its easier to feed with.

I woulds say slippers, comfy pants(that are dark just in case you leak) tanks tops, a hoodie (sometimes it can be chilly others hot), bra, brush, deodorant, travel shampoo, conditioner, body wash, tooth brush and paste, extra hair tye or clips,
phone, phone charger, camera,
Insurance stuff,snacks ( I was very very hungry the entire time in the hospital and I didnt bring snacks. I could have had hubby pick some up but he had my 2 year old.)
Some hospitals give disposable undies some dont. Bring ones that aren't good.

For baby:
Just the take home outfit. The hospital gives you shirts and diapers and all of that stuff.

*** Bring an empty bag that DH will take home every night. Fill it up throughout the day with stuff in the babies bassinet, pads, anything you can bc they expect you to do it. If you have a vaginal birth take some of the cream and witch hassel bc you wont want to go to the store to buy it and I needed it for 4-5 days after I got home. In the store its not cheap. The cream can be used for bug bites too.

GL feel free to FM with questions!

Message edited 6/14/2013 10:59:18 AM.