BTDT - Hospital Bags

Hi Ladies -

I have an extensive hospital bag list right now -- all taken from various posts and advice from online reading ...

My question is ... WHAT DO YOU REALLY NEED?

Do I really need 5 bras, 7 pairs of undies, 5 outfits, etc and so on ... I need a large suitcase for all this stuff and I am not even halfway through the list!

So if anyone has any advice on what they HAD TO HAVE and what was a WASTE, I would appreciate it!

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

Depends on how high maintence you are!

The only items I used from my bag were my toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner, hairbrush, and clothes to go home in. I wore the disposable hospital underwear and gowns while I was there.

Message edited 8/27/2007 9:23:13 AM.

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

I wouldn't bring too many outfits. Maybe bring 2 and if you need to exchange them, DH can deliver them when he comes back to visit. I would def bring shower items, undies, slippers, toothbrush....
I am bringing my pillow, because the hospital ones are not comfy. Hope that helps!

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

Besides what everyone else said:

-Baby book - the doctors will stamp your baby's feet in that section after they do the birth certificate
-Oust or Lysol if you are sharing a room/bathroom
-Underwear & socks - some of the hospitals give you disposable
-A robe
-I (being extremely nice) brought snacks for DH for while I was in labor
-A phone list for people to call after DC is born

HTH!

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

There may be more stuff but here is my recomendation:

bra tank (I nursed) - I don't have a big chest thogh so this is a personal thing!
yoga pants - they were really comfy and made me feel better about wearing the HUGE pad things
grandma panties to go home in (you know, the biggest pair you own!)
going home outfit for you and the baby
boppy (only if you are nursing or plan on nursing)
flip flops (a MUST!!)
a "lovey" to sleep with (you not the baby!) so it gets your scent
music with speakers - i liked to play low music while nursing
a book to write in or have people sign - someone else did this but I think it is a great idea. I can not for the life of me remember who came to the hospital and when!
shampoo and conditioner - once I was finally able to shower, it was very comforting having my own stuff.

WHAT I DID NOT NEED:
nursing bras (see my note above about the bra tank)
underwear - I only needed to go home
robe/pjs - I wore the hospital gown pretty much the entire time, especially to sleep - I didn't want to ruin my own

I ended up having a c-section so my list might be different than someone who had a vag. delivery. DH also went home to sllep each night so he was able to bring me and take home stuff in the mornings when he would come to see me and the baby.

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

dont forget SOCKS!!!!
I was going to bring my sleppers, but I didnt want them getting all yucky from the hospital.
Your own maxi pads..I ahte the ones they give you.
They did provide shampoo/conditoner, but i brought mine anyway
toothbrush /toothpaste
a brsuh, hair scrunchie.
Lots of underwear
sweat pants (it gets COLD in the hospital, and pretty much wheat everyone else said, robe, ...etc.

Message edited 8/27/2007 9:37:08 AM.

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

These are the things I used:

I used hospital gowns and socks.

I think you need 5-7 pairs of undies in case you have a c/s (make sure they are not tight and don't come up too high or come up way over you bikini line.

2-4 bras depending on how much you leak - nursing pads too - the hospital ones are AWFUL! (even if you aren't BFing - you will leak)

baby books and nursing book, if you are planning to do that. (I brought a novel both times and never touched it)

your basic toilettries

a boppy - makes feeding - BF or FF - so much easier (but you can leave it in the car until baby is born)

I also brought my own pillow.

If you are BFing - you may want to think about bringing a hand pump. I did my second time and when I became engorged, it helped so much to pump a little before and made latching easier.

bring your cell phone - my hospital lets you use them. camara, of course

a check book - to pay for the TV and baby pictures (also DL and insurance card for checking in)


if you don't want to pack a lot, you can always have people/DH bring you things.

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

You're so close, Lisa!!!

Andrea totally made fun of me because we met them on my due date & I had my suitcase with me in the trunk. It was a big suitcase. But I was glad I had most of it, especially:

my own pillows - I brought two and they were in colored pillowcases so the hospital people (and I) knew they were mine

slippers

my own towels - the hospital had those cheap, white ones

I didn't bring my boppy and was fine nursing with pillows - the hospital gave me a ton of pillows.

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

honestly, I did not use my own pjs or underwear cause I didnt want them to go to waste...

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

what i def needed w me at the hospital:

1) insurance and other paperwork

2) cell phone + adaptor

3) camera + charger

4) flip flops (for the shower and walking around)

5) going home clothes and one set of undergarments

6) ear plugs

7) going home clothes for baby

8) showering necessities (shampoo / cond, soap, toothpaste / brush, etx)

9) snacks

10) something to make the time go by (a mag or ipod...)

11) a duffle bag or two. the hospital will give you stuff to take home. so, you may need an extra bag.

i'm sure i may be forgetting one or two things but this is basically it for me.

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

I wouldn't bring 5 outfits for yourself. That's a little overboard IMO. You are there 2 days for a vaginal delivery or 3 for a c-section. I didn't even wear outfits until I was leaving. I wore PJ bottoms and my hospital gown the whole time and a robe over it. The underwear I would be prepared to throw in the trash (my hospital didn't give me undies), along with any socks or slippers you bring. My slippers were trashed. Surprisingly all my pj's survived without a spot on them.

If your hospital has wireless, I would bring a laptop. I know I couldn't sleep very well in the hospital at night so it helped to be able to go online to tell friends/family the good news.

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

What I really used and would take again:

My own pillow with a bright pillow case so that noone took it by accident when changing the bed..

Socks
Pajama/comfy lounge pants and nursing tanks (if you're gonna nurse)... more comfy than bra...
Boppy (again only if you breastfeed)
Shampoo, conditioner, good smelling body wash (made me feel better) and lotion.
My own bath towels... and spongy thingie
Walkman
flip flops
my own big pads with wings
big grandma underwear

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

All I brought was two pairs of pajamas (which I wore all day) and an outfit to come home in, 4pairs of underwear (need extra just in case) 2 bras, 3pairs of socks, brush, toothbrush,toothpaste,q-tips,deoderant, razor (I have to shave my legs ) , shampoo, conditioner, soap and then for the baby I brought an outfit to come home in, a onesie, snowsuit, hat. I tried to keep it very light.

Message edited 8/27/2007 10:21:32 AM.

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

I brought a TON of stuff with me, but only used a little bit.

Here's what I used:

Nursing nightgown - they were checking my episotomy every hour, so pants were a pain.

MY toiletries. - I have thick hair, so their teeny tiny shampoo was no match and I wanted my own toothpaste, etc.

BOPPY!!! - If you plan to breastfeed this makes things so much easier.

My MP3 player - helpful for blocking out hospital noise when sleeping.

DS's going home outfit.

A SUPER COMFY outfit for the ride home. Yoga pants and a Long Sleeved T for me.

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

I used:
2 sports bras
comfy pants
comfy shirts
my maternity underwear (since I didnt care if it got ruined)
Shampoo/conditioner
soap
face wash
toothbrush/toothpaste
lip balm (definitely a must, I would have been miserable without it)

I did blow dry my hair the last day when we were leaving, and I would have blown my hair dry the day before too, but DH forgot to bring it.

Also- I had a change of clothes for DH in my bag, and he used them- and was quite grateful that we did that. I also had snacks in my bag for him, and that came in quite handy as well!

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

You gals rock! Thank you. I really thought I was going to have to break out the expandable Samsonite, LOL!


Keep the ideas coming!


xoxo

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags

I had a c-section so I did not walk around too much. I ended up wearing the hospital gown. I could not lift my legs up to put my sweats on. From all the stuff I brought, I needed the following.

Robe
slippers
hair ties
boppy pillow
2 outfits (one was the going home outfit)
Breast pads
nursing bras.

I used the disposible panties from the hospital. I could not wear my panties with the c-section and had to buy grandma underwear when I came home.

Re: BTDT - Hospital Bags