The Hospital Bag thread

[katelou]

What's in yours? STMs, what did you find essential or useless last time? Discuss.

[lovegrilledcheese]

I haven't figured out my whole bag but based on my recent 10 day stay I have some things I definitely want to pack.

-toiletries (they give you some but they suck)
-my own towel (they had tiny ones)
-sandals and shower shoes
-my own pillow
-chargers for phone/iPad
-lipbalm
-clothes to go home in.
-snacks

-boppy
-clothes for baby to go home in
-camera
-nursing tank/bra

[melody330]

Most of the crap I packed was useless. I will be packing light this time.

Must have :
-three pairs of pants or shorts that are baggy enough to be comfy with the ridiculous diaper on

- three nursing "sleep" bras OR tanks

- three shirts if you don't bring nursing tanks

- toothbrush with my own tooth paste

- travel size shampoo & conditioner

-brush & hair product

-contact case, solution & glasses case

-Phone charger & phone

-nursing pads

-take home outfit for baby

-an extra bag so you can stock up on mesh underwear, witch hazel pads, giant hospital pads, and pee pee pads. As your nurse for extras before you are discharged. I loved the mesh underwear


DO NOT BRING
- socks
-underwear
-a million outfits for baby
-diapers for baby
-blankets




-

[katelou]

My most essential items were:

- nursing sleep bras
- light robe
- flip-flops
- snacks. I thought they were mostly for DH. But I'd wake up in the MOTN after birth and was hungry enough to devour a cow. More snacks this time!

The only thing I didn't use was the Boppy. Adjustable hospital beds make side-lying nursing so easy. I ended up being anti- Boppy for the long term.

I wore a maternity dress home. I could not fathom anything near my swollen crotch, not even soft yoga pants. I needed a pillow to sit on in the car or I would have died. Luckily the nurse let me steal one. I'll bring one this time.


I didn't do this but a lot of moms from my BMB brought either their baby book, or a big notecard to do footprints on while the nurse was doing the ones for the hospital.

[cabbagecabbage]

I'm a light packer. Mine is a smaller bag.

Soap
Shampoo
Deodorant
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Nipple cream


Nursing gown
Maternity yoga pant
Big sweatshirt cardigan
2 tanks
Socks
Flip flops
Baby clothes: 2 onesies, going home outfit, hat, socks, mittens

That's it. Last time I brought reading material I never touched.

[lostinfaith225]

I need to pack, but I have basic idea in my head.

Glasses/contacts and solution
Toiletries
My own towel
Flip flops (which I'll be wearing anyways.)
Going home outfit for me and baby
Camera
Chargers for everything
Present for ds from baby when he visits
Change for vending machines
Snacks for Dh and mom
Extra pair of leggings and shirt
Mittens so baby won't scratch
That's about it.

[housecarder]

My bag:
-pj pants
-tanks with camisoles built in
-loose t shirts
-travel size toiletries and Chapstick
-charger for phone and iPad

I'll probably bring some snacks too, but there is a drugstore and grocery right around the corner and the hospital food is really good so I'll play by ear. The last two times I would solicit snacks when visitors texted asking if I needed anything before they arrived.

Baby bag:
Don't bring diapers, wipes, formula, creams, etc. The hospital will provide all that and then some. I took tons home.

I will be the voice of dissent and say I loved having my boppy and baby clothes at the hospital. The boppy allowed me to sit in bed cross legged with baby in front of me resting. So I could talk to them and look at them without holding them the entire time.

Clothes: I loved having our own clothes there, but this is just me. Being that I had a c section I was there for 3-4 days and tried to get as many visitors to come to the hospital as possible so that they wouldn't come the first few weeks we were home. So I wanted cute clothes for pics of them meeting family and friends. During the quiet moments I got to play dress up so to speak with them and take tons of pics to put on Facebook for family out of town. This def isn't for everyone and the hospital absolutely provides clothes and blankets while you are there, but it's something fun I like so I'm doing. I have 3-4 outfits each packed and a couple of my Aden and Anais muslin blankets packed for a nursing cover or to have for cuter pics.

My plan is to have our frame stroller and the car seats so the two bags can just go in that on our way out.

Eta: I plan on wearing maternity jeans, t shirt, and flip flops to the hospital and wearing the same ones home since I am going in and immediately changing.

[housecarder]

DH isn't bringing anything since we live 15 mins away and he wants to go home and shower and change and check the animals.

[mcktymck]

I started packing mine a couple nights ago after I had 3 consecutive hours of period-like cramping/contractions and figured it might be a good idea to have one ready haha

For me:
Phone chargers
Nightie to wear after the birth
Soft socks with rubber bottoms to wear while walking the floor
Images of labor positions and words of encouragement/birth mantras printed off for us to look over
Headphones in case I feel like tuning everyone out during labor
Nursing tops and pads
Nipple cream
Going home outfit
Lounging clothes for H
Snacks
Something for baby's hand/footprints
Robe (need to get a cheap, thin one still)
Makeup and bathroom stuff

For Sam:
Boppy (I'll use it to bf plus we'll also have my grandpa use it to hold baby since he's very unstable)
A couple onesies plus his going home outfit
Muslin swaddling blanket
A couple burp cloths (probably not necessary but they're small and don't take up much room)

Question for you more experienced ladies: I plan on getting Depends and stool softener for after delivery. Are those things I should bring with me, or just leave them at home? Should I even bother with stool softeners or will they give me a prescription at the hospital?

[littlesthobo]

Haven't started packing yet, but here is what's on my list:

- comfy pants, tank tops, open cardigans, flip flops

- toiletries (I'm planning on buying travel-sized everything so it's all ready to go)

- towel and facecloth

- snacks (DS was born after midnight- a long wait until breakfast!)

- a straw cup for water (this was so handy while pushing because DH could easily feed me water between pushes)

- present for DS from DS2

- cash (our hospital charges $20 for a baby kit with diapers, plus cash for coffee/vending machines)

- magazines (kept me busy last time after I got the epidural!)

- phone charger

- 2-3 onesies

- one pair of baby jammies

- swaddle blanket

- heavy flow pads to wear home (made me feel so much more human to wear regular pads than those giant hospital pads)

- ibuprofen and colace

[littlesthobo]

Also, I need to make a note outlining DS' daily routines and food suggestions to leave on my fridge with an envelope of cash for groceries or take out. Not sure yet who might be available to watch him.

[melody330]

Jun 3, 2016 11:01:41 GMT -5 mcktymck said:

Question for you more experienced ladies: I plan on getting Depends and stool softener for after delivery. Are those things I should bring with me, or just leave them at home? Should I even bother with stool softeners or will they give me a prescription at the hospital?

FWIW my hospital supplies socks with grips on them, so I'm not bringing my own this time.

In my experience, they will give you Colace at the hospital and if you ask for a Rx they will gladly write you one.

I have no experience with actual Depends. Are these adult diapers or huge pads? They give you all you need to take care of down there at the hospital. The mesh underwear is fantastic. You will be sweating your ass off for a while after delivery, and I would not want to be wearing regular underwear or depends.

[mcktymck]

melody330 yeah, Depends are adult diapers haha. I'd read from others that they're great for post partum because you don't have to worry about getting your underwear messed up or dealing with leaks. I've heard great things about the mesh underwear but was worried I wouldn't be given enough to last once I went home! I guess I can just have a list of things we might need to stop and get later on, just in case Does the hospital usually give you the Dermoplast spray also?

[harlowjune1984]

I will be there for 3-4 days (I was there for 5 days last time), so I pack a little more than needed. I am sure I would pack less if I was only staying 24-48 hours. Some things listed, are items that you would think that the hospital provides (but our's doesn't), so we need to bring them....

Baby's diaper bag:
-Wipes
-Nail clippers
-Going home outfit
-bathing soap (we don't use J&J products)
-a couple of other outfits
-swaddle blanket
-butt ointment (makes it easier to get meconium off the tush)
-binkies
-Baby book for them to put the footprints in. I brought it last time just to fill out while I was there, and never mentioned it to MH or the nurse. I was so out of it, I didnt even think about putting the footprints in, but the nurse noticed it on the table in the room, grabbed it, and put DD's footprints in it. I didn't notice until I got home from the hospital a few days later.

My bag:
-Toiletries
-3 comfy pairs of pants, nursing bras, tanks
-slippers
-flip flops (will wear to the hospital)
-contacts/glasses
-phone cords
-Nipple cream (hospital gives tiny tube of hard to spread stuff...so I am bringing my own)
-cardigan type sweater
-SNACKS!
-Chapstick and saline nose spray. The air in the hospital is so drying, I remember my lips and inside of my nose getting really dry and being painful!
-nursing pads
-My pillow. I hated the hospital ones.

Things that will stay in the car until actually needed:
-Boppy (I liked it better than pillows after having a c-section)
-Breastpump (I will be doing a mix of BF and pumping in the hospital)
-Carseat
-Reusable grocery bag for any random items we need to take home with us and don't have space in our bags for.

MH will pack whatever he thinks that he needs. I am not bringing any reading material because I didn't touch it last time. Also not bringing any movies or anything because they are built into the tv. We both have iPhones, so no additional cameras needed.

[housecarder]

mcktymck they will have giant pads and mesh underwear there. They will also have stool softeners so make sure to ask if they don't give them to you. But I would have a bottle for home waiting since they won't give you any to take home and it's an OTC med not a prescription.

[harlowjune1984]

Jun 3, 2016 11:01:41 GMT -5 mcktymck said:

Question for you more experienced ladies: I plan on getting Depends and stool softener for after delivery. Are those things I should bring with me, or just leave them at home? Should I even bother with stool softeners or will they give me a prescription at the hospital?

I agree that the mesh panties are awesome when you have just had a baby because you get sweaty. I would totally leave the Depends at home and deal with them when you are discharged. When it comes to the medications, they are going to give you medications at the hospital, but they are going to charge an arm and a leg for them. Like last time I went in, they had the "postpartum kit" and it was a bag of tool softeners, ibuprofen, and gas pills. They were regular sized bottles, and the nurse mentioned that a lot of people ask what pills they are going to get so they can bring in their own, but they have to mention that they have them before the nurse opens that bag. As soon as they open the bag, they have to charge the patient for them. But the nurse told me that you can get a bottle of stool softeners for like $5 at Walgreens, and the hospital charges over $50 for the same bottle. The ibuprofen bottle was around $100 and the gas pills were around $50-$60. Insurance will of course cover some of the cost, but you still cover the difference. I am actually going to ask my OB at my next appointment what ones are used (if they have added any since last time), and pick up my own. Because even after insurance, I think I paid like $100 for the kit, for something I could get for like $15 at Walgreens. 

ETA: The hospital where I delivered did allow you to bring the three bottles home, since I owned them once they opened the bag. The bottles were kept in my room, and they would come in and give them to be from my bottles..... unlike the other local hospital where my friend delivered, they would just come in during the day with each pill in a little pill cup and give it to her, so she left with zero pills. 

[comicSans]

I'm a minimalist and the hospital offers a lot.

- maxi skirt and maternity shirt for going home

- nursing tank

- yoga pants

- hoodie

- flip flops

- slippers

- toiletries

- tooth brush and paste

- phone charger

- Chapstick

- hair brush and hair ties

- going home outfit for baby

DH will be responsible for clothes for him to sleep in, camera, a pillow if he needs it, his phone charger, tablet, and snacks.

I found the small digital camera useful last time since we ended up in the OR.

Did not use my nursing pillow.

Had breast pads last time, but my milk didn't come in til I was home so didn't need them. I'll probably stick a couple in the bag this time just in case.

We live close to the hospital so DH can run or mil can bring anything else if needed. DH will probably go home to shower and to be there for dd's bed time.

Eta: this is a theoretical list. The bag that will one day be packed is in a closet somewhere.

[melody330]

mcktymck my hospital does give the spray. Just ask the nurses to load you up before you leave! They gave me like 12 pairs to take home

[comicSans]

If you're doing a hospital tour, ask what yours provides.

Mine has diapers, wipes, a tote bag, a giant bag of pads and mesh panties, soap if needed.

Baby was always in side snap tops and a blanket. I was in the hospital gown until I could shower about 24 hours after my csection.

I got prescriptions for stool softeners, strong ibuprofen, and oxycodone. It was convenient just to get them filled at the hospital pharmacy and we just paid our regular insurance prescription costs.

By the time I went home my bleeding had slowed enough that I was fine with a big overnight pad. It continued for the whole 6 weeks, but wasn't super heavy after the first couple days. The overnight pads were also handy to have on hand when my water broke.

[mcktymck]

harlowjune1984 that's asinine how much they charged for those medications! I'll have to look more into what our hospital does so that I can plan ahead, DNW to be overpaying for something I can get at the local Walgreens or Rite Aid.

housecarder that's good to know, when I had my surgery in December I was given a prescription for Colace so I wasn't sure! It'll be easier to buy a bottle now though and just have it waiting for me when we get home, so I'll definitely run out and get some.

[lostinfaith225]

mcktymck

I would just have your big bottle of stool softener ready at home along with ibprophen or aleve!

I would also have some Tuck pads ready at home too!

The hospital should give you extra mesh undies, ice packs, spray, tucks, and large pads to take home.

Also, make sure you ask them for a Sitz bath to take home! It is heavenly on your vag!!!!

I was sent home with an RX for extra extra strength ibeprofen.

[lostinfaith225]

Also, ask for an extra peri bottle! I kept one downstairs and upstairs.

[tikoberry99]

Following since I haven't packed yet!

[housecarder]

Jun 3, 2016 12:20:19 GMT -5 mcktymck said:

harlowjune1984 that's asinine how much they charged for those medications! I'll have to look more into what our hospital does so that I can plan ahead, DNW to be overpaying for something I can get at the local Walgreens or Rite Aid.

housecarder that's good to know, when I had my surgery in December I was given a prescription for Colace so I wasn't sure! It'll be easier to buy a bottle now though and just have it waiting for me when we get home, so I'll definitely run out and get some.

Hmm I've never heard of them doing a prescription so that's probably just a preference per place. You can get a giant bottle at Walmart or target for super cheap though. My $4 bottle has lasted this entire pregnancy.

[harlowjune1984]

mcktymck, yeah it is crazy. The tablet that they induced me with, cost the hospital under 50 cents (per tablet), but when I got my hospital bill, the hospital charges $500 for the pill. EEK! Talk about a price increase! You are delivering in OR, correct? I delivered my first in WA at a hospital that had a contract with my insurance (Kaiser), and this one.....I am going to be delivering in Hillsboro at an actual Kaiser hospital. I am curious to see what the difference is in cost between the two, and how the billings department is. The first hospital, I had amazing care, but their billings department was AWFUL (it was the thing that everyone I know who delivered there, complained about).

[housecarder]

Jun 3, 2016 12:25:24 GMT -5 lostinfaith225 said:

Also, ask for an extra peri bottle! I kept one downstairs and upstairs.

I took the peri bottle home even though I had a c section. I liked being able to rinse off because there is So. Much. Blood.

[housecarder]

Jun 3, 2016 12:01:51 GMT -5 harlowjune1984 said:

Jun 3, 2016 11:01:41 GMT -5 mcktymck said:

Question for you more experienced ladies: I plan on getting Depends and stool softener for after delivery. Are those things I should bring with me, or just leave them at home? Should I even bother with stool softeners or will they give me a prescription at the hospital?

I agree that the mesh panties are awesome when you have just had a baby because you get sweaty. I would totally leave the Depends at home and deal with them when you are discharged. When it comes to the medications, they are going to give you medications at the hospital, but they are going to charge an arm and a leg for them. Like last time I went in, they had the "postpartum kit" and it was a bag of tool softeners, ibuprofen, and gas pills. They were regular sized bottles, and the nurse mentioned that a lot of people ask what pills they are going to get so they can bring in their own, but they have to mention that they have them before the nurse opens that bag. As soon as they open the bag, they have to charge the patient for them. But the nurse told me that you can get a bottle of stool softeners for like $5 at Walgreens, and the hospital charges over $50 for the same bottle. The ibuprofen bottle was around $100 and the gas pills were around $50-$60. Insurance will of course cover some of the cost, but you still cover the difference. I am actually going to ask my OB at my next appointment what ones are used (if they have added any since last time), and pick up my own. Because even after insurance, I think I paid like $100 for the kit, for something I could get for like $15 at Walgreens. 

ETA: The hospital where I delivered did allow you to bring the three bottles home, since I owned them once they opened the bag. The bottles were kept in my room, and they would come in and give them to be from my bottles..... unlike the other local hospital where my friend delivered, they would just come in during the day with each pill in a little pill cup and give it to her, so she left with zero pills. 

I would also check your hospital's policies. Some will not allow you to bring in your own meds since they can't confirm what they are and you could take too many and cause complications while there which is a liability on them. Not saying you can't still bring them and skip the hospital price tag, just know ahead of time what they allow and hide anything they don't.

[mcktymck]

harlowjune1984 I'm delivering in Tualatin! My OBs office is attached to it and I haven't had any issues with their billing department, so I'm hoping it's the same for the hospital. I can't remember, are you being induced? Or are you going to be making the drive from Vancouver to Hillsboro in the middle of labor? Because that does not sound like fun haha

[madamewaffles]

Jun 3, 2016 12:01:51 GMT -5 harlowjune1984 said:

Jun 3, 2016 11:01:41 GMT -5 mcktymck said:

Question for you more experienced ladies: I plan on getting Depends and stool softener for after delivery. Are those things I should bring with me, or just leave them at home? Should I even bother with stool softeners or will they give me a prescription at the hospital?

I agree that the mesh panties are awesome when you have just had a baby because you get sweaty. I would totally leave the Depends at home and deal with them when you are discharged. When it comes to the medications, they are going to give you medications at the hospital, but they are going to charge an arm and a leg for them. Like last time I went in, they had the "postpartum kit" and it was a bag of tool softeners, ibuprofen, and gas pills. They were regular sized bottles, and the nurse mentioned that a lot of people ask what pills they are going to get so they can bring in their own, but they have to mention that they have them before the nurse opens that bag. As soon as they open the bag, they have to charge the patient for them. But the nurse told me that you can get a bottle of stool softeners for like $5 at Walgreens, and the hospital charges over $50 for the same bottle. The ibuprofen bottle was around $100 and the gas pills were around $50-$60. Insurance will of course cover some of the cost, but you still cover the difference. I am actually going to ask my OB at my next appointment what ones are used (if they have added any since last time), and pick up my own. Because even after insurance, I think I paid like $100 for the kit, for something I could get for like $15 at Walgreens. 

ETA: The hospital where I delivered did allow you to bring the three bottles home, since I owned them once they opened the bag. The bottles were kept in my room, and they would come in and give them to be from my bottles..... unlike the other local hospital where my friend delivered, they would just come in during the day with each pill in a little pill cup and give it to her, so she left with zero pills. 

Re: meds in hospital--yes, you get ridiculously upcharged for any meds dispensed, but keep in mind some hospitals do not allow you to bring in outside meds as they must be dispensed from the pharmacy and charted accordingly for nurses/medical staff.

ETA: And housecarder covered it. Damn I am a slow typist.

[comicSans]

Jun 3, 2016 12:58:11 GMT -5 madamewaffles said:

Jun 3, 2016 12:01:51 GMT -5 harlowjune1984 said:

I agree that the mesh panties are awesome when you have just had a baby because you get sweaty. I would totally leave the Depends at home and deal with them when you are discharged. When it comes to the medications, they are going to give you medications at the hospital, but they are going to charge an arm and a leg for them. Like last time I went in, they had the "postpartum kit" and it was a bag of tool softeners, ibuprofen, and gas pills. They were regular sized bottles, and the nurse mentioned that a lot of people ask what pills they are going to get so they can bring in their own, but they have to mention that they have them before the nurse opens that bag. As soon as they open the bag, they have to charge the patient for them. But the nurse told me that you can get a bottle of stool softeners for like $5 at Walgreens, and the hospital charges over $50 for the same bottle. The ibuprofen bottle was around $100 and the gas pills were around $50-$60. Insurance will of course cover some of the cost, but you still cover the difference. I am actually going to ask my OB at my next appointment what ones are used (if they have added any since last time), and pick up my own. Because even after insurance, I think I paid like $100 for the kit, for something I could get for like $15 at Walgreens. 

ETA: The hospital where I delivered did allow you to bring the three bottles home, since I owned them once they opened the bag. The bottles were kept in my room, and they would come in and give them to be from my bottles..... unlike the other local hospital where my friend delivered, they would just come in during the day with each pill in a little pill cup and give it to her, so she left with zero pills. 

Re: meds in hospital--yes, you get ridiculously upcharged for any meds dispensed, but keep in mind some hospitals do not allow you to bring in outside meds as they must be dispensed from the pharmacy and charted accordingly for nurses/medical staff.

ETA: And housecarder covered it. Damn I am a slow typist.

And if you have a csection, have someone help you keep track of when you had what. It was one of my biggest annoyances in the hospital - I could have one med every 4 hours and one every 6, but I had to ask for them and I would have rather had them on a schedule to stay ahead of the pain, but it was hard for me to keep track and understand when I could have what.