BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

I don't want to be totally ridiculous and lug around a bunch of stuff I won't need -

My list is:

Shamppp/Conditioner/Soap/Body Wash
Face Moisturizer, Deodorant, Body Lotion
Antifrizz, Gel
Hiar ties
Toothpaste/Toothbrush
Flip Flops
Lip Balm, Concealer, Mascara, Blush (I am not planning on full makeup, but I'll feel gross w/o anything)

Underwear, Sports Bras, Socks
Yoga Pants, Long Sleeve T's
Zip Up Hoodie
PJs

Going home outfit for Baby
"Whatever fits" me

Insurance information, copies of pre registration hospital forms, ID ........

Am I missing anything? Or is this WAY too much stuff?

TIA !!

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

Not too much, I don't see any things worth leaving off.

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

I also brought a book/journal to record when I fed DS

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

I brought snacks with me too and they came in handy late night after my husband left - things like Rice Krispie Treats and Applesauce singles.

Don't forget your camera charger and your phone charger.

I also brought the boppy and that was a lifesaver to hold the baby on since I had a c-section.

I brought my own pillow just to make the stay somewhat comfy.

An extra bag to steal things from the hospital

Message edited 2/26/2009 11:58:50 AM.

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

Posted by Diana1215

I brought snacks with me too and they came in handy late night after my husband left - things like Rice Krispie Treats and Applesauce singles.

Don't forget your camera charger and your phone charger.

I also brought the boppy and that was a lifesaver to hold the baby on since I had a c-section.

I brought my own pillow just to make the stay somewhat comfy.

An extra bag to steal things from the hospital

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

Like some of the other posters said, definitely don't forget to bring a pillow (and an extra pillow case - in case you use it to BF). I would also maybe add a nursing bra and a nursing tank. . . . And definitely magazines, sucking candies and an ipod for the L&D room!

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

If you're banking - the Cord Blood Box.

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

I brought everything you listed and used everything! Esp. the personal hygiene stuff.. it made me feel human again.
I would also suggest bringing your own pad, I love my Kotex overnight night with wings

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

Thanks !!!

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

I didn't wear any makeup in the hospital, but I did bring lip balm.

I wore one outfit the whole day - mostly pjs. I put new clothes on daily after I took a shower, and slept in that as well. I was in bed or sitting in my room most of the time, so that was fine for me and cut down on the amount of clothes I needed.

Brought my own maxi pads - ALways overnights- and my own bathrobe. Having both made me feel more like a mommy and less of a patient in the hospital.

I had warm slippers, and I was glad I did. I used the flip flops in the shower only.

I also brought snacks and juice boxes to keep in the room. I was there for 4 days after a c-section and was so glad I did!

If you are there longer than the 2 days for a vaginal birth, send the stuff you didn't need or use home with DH the 2nd or 3rd night. It's less stuff to track down when you leave with the baby. Send him home with the gifts and flowers too the night before you are discharged. It makes things a lot easier.

Good luck! See you over here soon!

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

Seems like a good list. I'm also bringing a book and magazines to flip through, my blackberry charger and a camera.

It may be worth it to get slipper socks that have the grippy things on the bottom. The floor of my hospital room was slippery.

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

What I used and I had a c-section:

Everything I packed but this is my 2nd time around so I learned

Robe
Slippers
Nightgown
Socks
Underwear
Boppy
Makeup - MIRROR!! I forgot this the first time.
A junky watch (did not bring my good jewelry)
My not so good camera (did not want to keep my good one there)
Junky Flip Flops for the shower.
Magazines

What I forgot that I am made about because it made me sick was a hairdryer.

And that is it. The hospital gave me shampoo, soap, lotion, a toothbrush, and toothpaste.

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

That's a good list.

I didn't want to be in my maternity clothes but knew I would not fit in my pre-pregnancy clothes so I went to old navy and bought 3 or 4 pair of yoga pants and t-shirts in larger sizes to wear in the hospital after giving birth. I just didn't want to be in my gown when people came to visit, etc.

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

Definitely snacks and your own pillow(but I had DH bring that when he went home to shower the day I had her).

Phone charger was another must!

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

EARPLUGS!!!!!!!!!!! I had a private room but still brought these - hospitals are noisy at night! Also helpful to drown out DH's snores
And one of those satin sleep masks - I napped in the daytime and these helped block out the light,

I swear I'm not princess-y IRL no matter how it reads here

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

Your list looks fine to me! I ended up leaving the hospital in my shower flip-flops because my feet were so swollen from being on IV fluid. I couldn't fit into the shoes I wore coming into L&D! Also, I left the hospital in maternity clothes. I was under the assumption I could go back into regular clothes right away, but that was not the case.

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

your list was exacty my list all 3 times.

You're set...


Oh, I did bring mouth wash and mints and my own pillow.

Message edited 2/26/2009 1:08:31 PM.

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

Out of all the crapola I packed, I only used:

Toothpaste/Brush
Hair brush/ties
Granny undies
Sports bra
Oversized comfy pjs
Face wash
Deordorant
Coming home outfit for baby

I went home in the same outfit I came to the hospital in cause they were my comfy sweats. I never bothered to put makeup on. I had packed snacks, but people brought me food and the hospital gave me congrats snack basket. I was using the oversized hospital maxis and the chucks from there. I used all the baby supplies they had there and if it wasn't in his cart, I asked for it. I wasn't super comfortable getting around yet after my cs, I was only in the hospital 3.5 days and I was kinda skeeved by taking a shower there, so I never did. If I had decided to do so, I would have just asked my DH to bring some stuff from home afterward. I brought some magazines and I never even had the opportunity to pick one up.

Good Luck!

ETA: Camera, batteries, cell phone, important documents you may need for work or insurance.

Message edited 2/26/2009 1:13:56 PM.

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

Your list looks good---I also had my IPOD to listen to.

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

Cell phone charger!

Snacks, book to read, toiletries like toothpaste, moistutizer etc.

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

I agree with the bag-I could have gotten so much stuff! Take the wipes and pads-those are great. Also take diapers, baby stuff etc.

If you have a laptop bring it. You will wonder a million times if something is normal and the internet was great for me.

I thought I remembered you saying you were going to pump-get an Easy Expressions hands free bra-that thing has saved my life! You can do multiple things while pumping.

Definitely a notebook and a folder for birth cert form, discharge papers etc.

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

Def brings some snacks. I had a bag with granola bars and other non-perishable stuff that was a godsend. The hospital had some stuff around between meals but esp at night, I was famished and I was so glad I had them.

ETA: Do you have a baby book you are starting? I had one with each of my kids and even though they do the baby's footprints on a card for you, I had it in the side pocket of my bag and made sure my DH gave it to them to put their footprints directly in that section of the book.

Message edited 2/26/2009 1:33:05 PM.

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?

the only things I used were:

cord blood box
pjs/robe
yoga pants / tank
slippers/socks
undies
boppy!!!! (don't forget that!)
my own down pillows (I can't sleep on poly )
undies
cameras
might want to bring lansinoh cream for BF'ing
bathgel/shampoo/conditioner/toothpaste/comb/chapstick (I definitely did not wear any make-up... too tired and sore)
also don't forget the going home outfit for the baby....

Re: BDTD Moms - What items did you ACTUALLY USE from your overpacked hospital bag?