a good friend emailed me some awesome tips

Here are my thoughts on what to bring to the hospital and helpful things to do before your big day! xoxo

Hospital bag packing list

Baby's outfit home. Honestly you don't NEED an outfit because the hospital provides everything you need. It's more for pictures ...

Copy of your insurance card. Copy of your paperwork if you pre-registered at your hospital.

Name an contact info of your pediatrician if you have one (hospital will ask you but it’s OK if you don’t have one)

Your cell charger. Your husband's cell charger because he will forget his J Keep in mind that reception is generally poor in most hospital maternity wards.

Speaking of husband. Pack a pair of underwear & T-shirt for him. He’s likely to forget

Your camera / video camera & necessary batteries.

Your hair stuff (brush, hair bands, shower cap)

Pre-natal vitamins
Sleep mask & ear buds (you may have a roommate in your postnatal room)

Plastic flip flops for using shower
Your toiletry bag (toothpaste, toothbrush, face soap, moisturizer.)

Your make up bag. Will need at least concealer, blush, mascara, lip gloss J

Mints / gum

Sleepwear - I took comfy (yet pretty) pajama top and pants. Black is good color in case you bleed through :( V-neck or loose tank is good so you can nurse (nursing tank is even better). If you plan to wear pants, make sure they are roomy in the event you have a C-section. A robe is a good idea too for those unexpected visitors


Clothes – pack your pregnancy jeans. And whatever outfit you’d like to wear home. Keep in mind, you make take a lot “bringing home baby” pictures. You can pack your nursing bra if you already have one. Else, you can buy one online when you are home. I found that a nursing tank and cardigan worked best. Wear comfortable shoes to the hospital.
Warm socks (hospitals are cold) and slippers to walk around in.
Pack your breastfeeding pillow (my brest friend is best) &/or books for reference.

Pack an extra bag or two to bring home all the gifts you will receive at the hospital and all the hospital stuff you will steal

Small bottle of your favorite champagne & plastic flutes to celebrate!

Other general tips:
Before checking into hospital, eat a big meal! You will have time even if you having contractions. If your water breaks at home, go to the hospital but take a sandwich with you! Once you are admitted, no food or beverages allowed (incl water). You will only be able to suck on ice chips!


Have your phone tree ready (who’s calling who for updates) so that you & your hubby are not getting a million calls/texts. This is important esp if you have large families!

While at hospital, esp at check-in, tell as many nurses as possible that you will be breast feeding. Tell them not to give your baby formula while in the nursery.
Also your baby will never be hungry at the hospital so don't let anyone guilt you into feeding her formula. Your baby's stomach will be the size of a pea or grape the first week. And you will be providing colostrum. Your milk will come in day 3 or 4.

Take whatever you can from the hospital (pads, panties, onesies, etc). Don't be embarrased ... Everyone does this and the hospital expects it.
Act like you are in hotel while in the hospital :) Let them take the baby whenever ... This is the time to rest!!!! Just take the baby when you breastfeed.

You will need a carseat to be discharged from the hospital.  Ask your husband to take it to be installed by local firestation. They will install for you and show you how to do it.

Ask your husband to call hospital in advance to make sure you are pre-registered for admission. Not a big deal, but may save you some time.

Also, don’t freak out if your husband wants to go home the first or second night. In fact, offer that he does. He may be overwhelmed and he may need a night to digest being a new dad & relax. Let him grab a beer or whatever

Anything that you can do now to save yourself time later, do. If you plan to do birth announcements, order & address & stamp them now. tinyprints.com will let you order in advance so that all you have to when the baby comes is fill out the birth day/ weight / length. They even offer a mailing service.

Plan at least one big shopping trip to the supermarket (your husband.) Stock up on essentials and ingredients for your favorite quick meals. Making soup/chili is a great idea and then freezing. In fact, any meal you can freeze into mini-meals will help you while at home with the baby. Remember you will be nursing, and you need to be well-fed!

Continue to take your pre-natal vitamins after giving birth.

After delivering, people may want to visit you. Only allow visitors if you want them. Don’t let anyone guilt you into it. If a visitor does come, ask them to bring you a meal They should really offer. But if they don’t, ask them to bring a meal or order in when they come.

If you don’t have a pediatrician, look for one prior to delivery. Ask for referrals from friends, colleagues, etc. It is best to find one near where the baby is since you will have to go quite frequently in his/her first year.

Message edited 8/16/2010 9:47:04 AM.

Re: a good friend emailed me some awesome tips

thanks! Added to my notebook

Re: a good friend emailed me some awesome tips

just printed this, thanks so much

Re: a good friend emailed me some awesome tips

Awesome! Thanks for sharing - notebooked it!

Re: a good friend emailed me some awesome tips

I would also pack a pillow or 2. I hear that you might not get one in L&D and IMO I would rather have my own.

Also, granny panties to wear at the hospital and home

Message edited 8/16/2010 10:01:42 AM.

Re: a good friend emailed me some awesome tips

This is awesome!!!

Thanks for sharing!

Re: a good friend emailed me some awesome tips

Tanks Dana! I just notebooked it!

Re: a good friend emailed me some awesome tips

thanks!

Re: a good friend emailed me some awesome tips

BUMP

Re: a good friend emailed me some awesome tips

This was great-- Thank you so much for bumping!

Re: a good friend emailed me some awesome tips

Awesome!!!! Notebooking this. THANK YOU!

Re: a good friend emailed me some awesome tips

All great advice. When I had DD I also brought my own towels and was really glad I did. The hospital I delivered at just had the cheapie hotel kind. And, as someone else said, I was glad I had brought my own pillows. I made sure they were in colored pillow cases so they didn't get mixed up with the hospital ones.

Re: a good friend emailed me some awesome tips

she has a great list, I'd just add a BATH TOWEL! the towels at stony brook are tiny - great for hair, not so much for body. I took 3 showers in the 2 days i was there.