What do you take with you to the hospital?

[MSweeten]

Ok, my baby is due in 2-3 wks. Need to make sure I have everything in my bag. What do you take? Any suggestions on taking cd's? Or should I just take some of my freebie disposables?

Anything you wished you had but didn't?
Thanks:confused:

[CMamma]

I learned from my first that I didn't need nearly as much as I thought I would. We packed WAYYYY too much w/DS #1. For the second one all I packed was:

Going home clothes for me & baby (remember you want to be comfy & not depressed by bringing your pre-preggo clothes)

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

My brands of soap, face wash, deoderant

Something to pin my hair back with

Brush

Oh & don't forget stuff for daddy

[OneFabMama]

Honestly, when I went into labor I forgot my bag. LOL I was just too excited and I left it at home. When I was in labor I could given a rip about the bag. If anything, bring your own pillow for labor - hospital pillows are sucky! But, bring one that you dont mind gets a little dirty.

As far as PP I dont really remember. I had DH go home and get the bag - with going home outfit. I wasnt CDing then so I used sposies.

I didnt need nursing pads because my milk didnt come in until 3 days later.

A comfy roomy outfit for yourself. Some nipple cream. Pads. I did take a shower and brought my own shampoo and soap and all that it made me feel much better than using that universal "shampoo/conditioner/AND body soap" LOL

I would bring your CDs. You might as well. I hear fleece liners work well for the meconioum poo! YOu can just throw the liner away.

HTH!

[Luv2bemommy]

I didnt do cloth in the hospital, I didn't want to have to take dirty cd's back home then wash, etc.. I just used the sposies the hopsital gave us.. I also went and bought travel size soap and shampoo, toothpaste to save space (oh and dont forget deo lol).. Make sure you take a list of the people you/dh need to call, take your camera with extra batteries and film if you need it.. Don't worry about taking pads, they have plenty!! Then of course clothes for you and baby to come home in, undies and nightgowns..

Thats about it really.. I brought my chap stick and extra pillows too.. LOL


Anyone else? Did I forget something? LOL:cool:

[OneFabMama]

ooooo yes a hair brush. i forgot mine -well DH forgot it and all I wanted was to brush my hair.

As far as my DH. He went home to shower. But people told us to bring books, and mags and stuff and we did and didnt even LOOK at them. When I was in labor he was too busy keeping me calm and relaxed and when the baby was born we were too busy LOOKING at her to do anything else. LOL

[mom22lilguys]

Will the hospital supply anything? Our hospital had prefolds available when my 1st son was born 7yrs ago (too bad I didn't know what they were for at the time:rolleyes:) I just used the disposables. I would bring my own cloth diapers to use for after the merconium and use whatever they had before then I wouldn't need to deal with the mess. or if you really want to use your own right way, bring some disposable or really cheap fleece liners that you can just toss if it is really messy.:D

[wbkt8]

i wore the gowns the whole time i was there, i found them pretty comfortable...

i would bring

1)necessary toiletries
2)shower shoes
3)brush & way to put your hair back
4)a few t-shirts & a going home outfit for the baby
5)cloth (if you're planning to do that at the hospital) - ours provided sposies, blankets, hats...heck they even gave me t-shirts
6)something comfy to wear home for yourself...i brought a pair of stretchy knit pants & one of my fav. cotton maternity t-shirts - it was roomy but not that big.
7)music for l&d - i really enjoyed that
8)whatever other "comfort" things you think you might want in labor - i used my birthing ball and that was about it, but i packed a few other things that i thought i might like.

that's about all i can think of that i used a lot at the hospital.

katie

[mom_of_3g_1b]

A pillow is great. I used mine all the time. I was always in the hospital for 4 days so I found that having something comfy to wear was the best. I also brought pics of my DS and kitties to hang on the bulletien board in my room (Private Room). When I had the girls I had lots of nurses coming in to see their pictures (They were in NICU).

[fuzzymom]

I wish I had brought reading material/crossword puzzles with me. The hospital I stayed at didn't have cable so there no tv when I couldn't sleep and no one was around to talk to.

I second bringing your own pillow and bring a pair more socks, I went trhough a lot of socks for some reason.

[hfitz5051]

Well, this last birth was in a birthing center and I went home in the morning so I didn't take much.

Toothbrush, hair clips, change of clothes for me and baby, food, gatorade, pillow, cds to listen too, if you are getting in water bring trunks for dh-he's not aloud to be nakey.

Oh, I recommend Depends(or a cheaper brand) for right after.

[offlikeapromdress]

definitly your own pillow. I also brought some lounging clothes for after I got my first shower, i hate hospital gowns. my toiletries and such. I used the sposies the hospital gave us, this time Im gonna do the same however, I have a bring home outfit that I bought that has matching dipe and longies that I plan on using for when we come home. I figure Ill take the sposies they give me and will use them at nite till the run out. I only have about 12wks left. yeah us preggo ladies!!!

[Parvati]

Bring your pillow. I can never sleep on strange pillows, and I like having something that smelled like my bed at home.

My hospital did have cable, but I was so exhausted I barely watched the TV, and I never even glanced at the book or magazines I brought. I was too busy looking at DS.

Bring some of your favorite snacks from home, just in case. It turned out that my hospital had really good snacks and beverages, but it was still nice to have something right there in my room late at night if I wanted a little snack (DH didn't sleep at the hospital and I was there 3 nights). And bring enough for dad, too.

Change for the payphone or a calling card. Money if you want the hospital pictures (at our hospital you had to pay cash at the time if you wanted them. We skipped them.)

I packed a little massage thing for my back during labor. We used it and I was glad for it.

I packed some scrapbook paper for the nurses to make an extra set of footprints for the baby book.

Camera, film, and batteries. An iPod or CD's of your fav music.

BRING SHOWER SHOES!! I didn't and I got athlete's foot at the hospital!! :mad:

[Christy]

Definitely what the pp's said. Oh and I love how the What to Expect When Expecting book tells you to pack Champagne. :rolleyes:

[jdames]

If you plan on breastfeeding bring a Boppy Pillow. :goodvibes: It's easier then having to prop a bunch of different pillows everytime. If you have a older child too... I would pack an activity book with crayons, cloth diaper (if you cd) and a change of clothes.... That's what I have in my bag. :giggle:

[SativaStarr]

Well, Im on my 3rd baby and I still dont know, lol. I got caught offgaurd with both my babies coming early so I never had a bag packed. So this time Ive already ot my bag packed.. a few preemie prefolds, and outfit for babe, and outfit for me, and a couple mama pads. I'm fine using the hospital's soap/shampoo/toothbrush/toothpaste.. I do want my own deodorant tho.. my pillow, and my pillowcase (aka my blankie :giggle: )

[laceysmom]

The only thing I had at the hospital that pp haven't mentioned is my moby wrap. DD was early and I had anticipated having to be topless with nothing between us to stimulate her to nurse and me to produce milk. I learned early how to use the wrap, and had some modesty when guests came.

[duck411]

Typically, the hospital provides baby's first diapers - although I plan on taking NB CD's next time. :giggle2: Just to cause a stir! -

Here's my list:
Robe
Boppy Pillow (if breastfeeding)
Going Home outfit for baby
Warm cuddly blanket for baby
Calming CDs (something VERY mellow, i thot something upbeat would be nice - - - it wasn't! :giggle2:)
2 Pairs of PJs (if you're not comfortable in a hosp. gown. 2 pairs in case you have a bloody accident like I did. bah-humbug)
Dirty laundry bag
Camera
House Shoes/Grippy Socks
Going Home outfit for Mama
Old Fashion Candy sticks to suck on for flavor during labor
Hmm.... I know there was a few other nit picky things - ive gotta find the list i made..... hmmm........ but anyhoo - - GOOD LUCK :hugs:

[Liddle1]

if it's allowed you might want to get yourself a short nightgown to wear (one that you don't mind dirtying of course). Hospital gowns are so scratchy and uncomfortable (and open in the back) and wearing one can subconsciously change your thinking to "i'm sick".

i'm also bringing slippers and a robe

[blossomgoat]

I way overpacked. I didn't need ANYTHING to entertain myself. I didn't need my own clothes. I did wear them at all. I went home in the outfit I arrived in. Bringing two outfits for baby was nice, though.

I did use the hospital disposables and it was easier that way.

This time, I'll bring:

toiletries
my pillow
baby's clothes
cameras
cell phone
baby's book

and that's about it.