Hospital Bag Thread?

[bepandnick]

I'm on my last official work trip until baby comes, so I can start thinking about hospital bags when I get back. I know it's come up in Randoms, but I thought it would be nice to have a thread where we can list must haves and didn't needs. I didn't get to pack a bag last time, so I have no idea what I'm doing.

[akraus2015]

There's a thread on Pregnancy with a ton of great recommendations...check it out! 😊

[Crisco Salad]

[MissSally]

When is it normal to start packing these things?

[linny12]

With W, my hospital stay was a blur (early and nonstop visitors, PPA, PPD, and a newborn that cried so much that a nurse quit her job), and I found that I way over packed.

necessities:
Nursing bra (if you plan to nurse)
shower shoes and slippers or slipper socks for the room
granny panties, if you're not a lover of mesh undies they provide
toiletries
hair ties/ headbands
chapstick and lotion
Pen and paper to write down visitors, gifts, special memories, notes from Lactation consultants and Pedis, etc.
phone charger
camera
I brought clothes for each day I'd be there (just lounge stuff), I lost 53lbs immediately after delivery, and needed pre-preg sizes (actually smaller than pre preg because I was 30lbs less than when I got preg).
One newborn outfit and one 0-3 outfit. W stayed in the kimono and swaddle/sleep sack the hospital provided until we left. I may bring more sleep & plays this time.
robe- I stayed in my gown or nursing tank and covered up with my robe when people came.

Leave the carseat in the car til it's time to go.
I brought my boppy but left it in the car until I saw if I needed it. I didn't.

Things I packed but didn't need/use:
Boppy
blow dryer (I just braided my hair because I was lucky to get 5 minutes without a visitor)
Flat Iron- see above
baby blankets- hospital had plenty and the halo sack worked fine.
Some days it was easier to just stay in my hospital gown so I didn't wear everything I packed.
I didn't use a tablet or anything, but again I was entertaining people from 8am-10pm all 3 days I was there (it was hell).

[linny12]

I think it's funny how things change with each kid. My aunt had a huge bag packed for weeks before her due date with her first, by her 5th she threw some stuff in a grocery bag and walked out to the car. When she got to the hospital she realized she had only one slipper and pants that hadn't fit in years, haha

[linny12]

Mar 27, 2017 7:36:24 GMT -5 MissSally said:

When is it normal to start packing these things?

I don't have a ton of clothes so I waited until the very end to pack most of my things. Luckily I was at home when my water broke, and walked around throwing random crap into a bag while waiting for my H to answer his phone to tell him to come get me.

I made a list and left it on my dresser just in case H had to pack for me. Plus I'm a lister by nature. I love lists.

[AmazingTulip]

I brought my own pillow from home. That was probably the best thing I brought. The hospital has most everything you need.

[Tgrrl]

I will also add snacks...I brought a bag of my fave starbursts and granola bars.
+1 to my own pillow, and I ended up having H bring me a blanket from home.
I wrote a list on our bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker with the things I still needed in the bag, it was a lifesaver when packing at 4:45am. And had H needed to pack for me it was easily visible.

[akraus2015]

Mar 27, 2017 7:36:24 GMT -5 MissSally said:

When is it normal to start packing these things?

I started packing mine last week.

[Crisco Salad]

If you bring your own pillow, make sure your pillowcase is not white. It could get mixed up with the hospital pillowcases and tossed or (more likely) forgotten when you leave.

[amyface813]

I didn't use anything I brought last time. I think I will use more this time though. The gowns had a million buttons so it was a bitch to nurse which is annoying because it was designed for that. I'll bring some comfy nursing friendly clothes.

My list right now is mostly snacks. Must have lots of snacks. We'll probably be there longer this time because this hospital requires a bit of a longer stay.

[amyface813]

@tgrll +1 to the list of last minute grabs. I needed my comfy sweat pants, phone charger, camera and a few other things that I didn't want to pack early.

I bought a new toothbrush and toothpaste and other travel bottles of toiletries so I didn't have to think about that stuff last minute. I also had a small hairbrush and hair ties in that bag. I had a new mascara in there too but I don't think I used it.

The diaper bag was stocked with his clothes, special blanket and lots of odds and ends that you put in there. I also had some stuff for me since that became my purse for maternity leave: lip balm, tissues, gum... drawing a blank here.

[MissSally]

I don't even remember packing a bag the first time. But the one thing I wanted (had a friend bring me) was soft toilet paper from home. Maybe it was just my hospital, but that stuff was NOT soft enough to use on a vey sore area.

[amyface813]

Mar 27, 2017 9:30:26 GMT -5 MissSally said:

I don't even remember packing a bag the first time. But the one thing I wanted (had a friend bring me) was soft toilet paper from home. Maybe it was just my hospital, but that stuff was NOT soft enough to use on a vey sore area.

They told me to just pat dry, not to actually wipe. Smart though because TP is probably not on their priority list budget wise.

[xxjen015]

Are sleepers okay to pack since it will be crazy hot? Or would a onesie be better?

[linny12]

Mar 27, 2017 10:07:21 GMT -5 xxjen015 said:

Are sleepers okay to pack since it will be crazy hot? Or would a onesie be better?

W was an end of May baby. She lived in sleepers for the first few weeks. Onesies will work because baby will spend time swaddled too.  My hospital provided just shirts for the baby and then blankets to swaddle or a sleep sack.

They're brand new to the whole regulating temp outside of mom thing, plus hospitals always feel cold to me.  You can find really light sleepers if you're concerned about baby getting too warm.

[Tgrrl]

Mar 27, 2017 9:30:26 GMT -5 MissSally said:

I don't even remember packing a bag the first time. But the one thing I wanted (had a friend bring me) was soft toilet paper from home. Maybe it was just my hospital, but that stuff was NOT soft enough to use on a vey sore area.

I'm a tp snob, and I don't remember the quality of the hospital TP. The peri bottle of warm water to rinse is a lifesaver and then pat dry very very gently.

[MissSally]

I'm thinking I might just bring myself some comfy nursing dresses. It is crazy hot here in July and I don't think I'll want to be wearing pants.

[amyface813]

Mar 27, 2017 10:07:21 GMT -5 xxjen015 said:

Are sleepers okay to pack since it will be crazy hot? Or would a onesie be better?

I don't know what crazy hot is to you but the babies will be used to upper 90's so being too warm isn't likely. The hospital will likely be cold or at least lower 70's inside.

My hospital provided little wrap shirts and he just stayed in a diaper and wrapped in a blanket/wrap.

[amyface813]

Mar 27, 2017 10:59:31 GMT -5 MissSally said:

I'm thinking I might just bring myself some comfy nursing dresses. It is crazy hot here in July and I don't think I'll want to be wearing pants.

I was thinking about this too. I need something black or very patterned to avoid staining...

[akraus2015]

Mar 27, 2017 10:59:31 GMT -5 MissSally said:

I'm thinking I might just bring myself some comfy nursing dresses. It is crazy hot here in July and I don't think I'll want to be wearing pants.

This is my plan, too.  I have one sleeveless blue nursing dress, a comfy robe, and then a maxi dress that I plan to wear home.

[MissSally]

This is crazy to me that we are even at this stage to be talking about it. I think when I hit 30 weeks I'm going to actually pack the bag. But holy cow it's so soon!!

[babywisher]

I can't think of anything to add. Most ftm over pack. The hospital has everything for the baby so really an outfit to go home in is all you need for baby.
I packed last time at 37 weeks. Then finished as we were leaving a day later.

[nola1017]

I had DS at 37 weeks so I want to be packed and ready to go by 37 weeks. If I am starting to dilate before then though, then I'll start packing after the first time I'm told I'm dilating. I noticed no one's mentioned the baby book. At our hospital, they'll out the baby's prints directly into your baby book.

1. Boppy
2. A kindle book to read during nighttime feedings
3. Snacks
4. Sleepers for girls and boys since I'm Team Green
5. Ditto re going home outfits
6. Toiletries
7. My pillow
8. Camera / chargers
9. Comfy clothes - I prefer soft pants, a nursing tank, and a shirt to pull over for when we have company

[nola1017]

Side note: I had DS on 7/3. On the 4th, our hospital was pretty much shut down to the bare minimum. The cafeteria was closed. DH couldn't get any food (but I was given food since I was a patient). We didn't have any cash on hand to use the vending machines. Poor DH was starving. So you might want to check with your hospital on how that works if any of you deliver around 7/4. The hospital we ended up at was very small so that may have played a role in it. (We didn't make it to our actual hospital because of how fast Jack came).

[Tgrrl]

Mar 27, 2017 18:53:32 GMT -5 nola1017 said:

I had DS at 37 weeks so I want to be packed and ready to go by 37 weeks. If I am starting to dilate before then though, then I'll start packing after the first time I'm told I'm dilating. I noticed no one's mentioned the baby book. At our hospital, they'll out the baby's prints directly into your baby book.

1. Boppy
2. A kindle book to read during nighttime feedings
3. Snacks
4. Sleepers for girls and boys since I'm Team Green
5. Ditto re going home outfits
6. Toiletries
7. My pillow
8. Camera / chargers
9. Comfy clothes - I prefer soft pants, a nursing tank, and a shirt to pull over for when we have company

I completely forgot about a baby book for A!!!! I was like she's been here an hour and I'm already a failure.

[megeliz1]

I'm such a minimalist when it comes to this. And being my third go I have a short list.

Nursing bras/tanks
Yoga/comfy pants
Maternity tops (you will leave the hospital looking about 6 months pregnant)
Toiletries
Flip flops
An outfit or two for baby
One swaddle blanket
Underwear and my own pads (I hate the mesh undies and pads provided)
Phone chargers
Car seat
ETA: footprint page from baby book! I've done it with both girls!

[akraus2015]

How many bags are you all bringing?

I have one for baby's things (diapers, onesies, swaddle blankets, etc) and one for myself, but not sure if I should pack H his own bag or try and shove a change of clothes for him into my bag.

[akraus2015]

Mar 27, 2017 21:18:12 GMT -5 megeliz1 said:

I'm such a minimalist when it comes to this. And being my third go I have a short list.

Nursing bras/tanks
Yoga/comfy pants
Maternity tops (you will leave the hospital looking about 6 months pregnant)
Toiletries
Flip flops
An outfit or two for baby
One swaddle blanket
Underwear and my own pads (I hate the mesh undies and pads provided)
Phone chargers
Car seat
ETA: footprint page from baby book! I've done it with both girls!

I bought my own underwear and pads specifically for the hospital, too. DNW the mesh undies. I hate them.