Hospital Bag Packing List

[sleepymonkey]

The randoms got me thinking that we should have a thread where we discuss things to pack for the hospital. I know I completely overpacked last time but there were still some things that I forgot. And it's been over 3 years so my memory is a little fuzzy on what I might need.

[hpnegirl]

I have a list and am slowly piling it up:

- my own toiletries (shampoo/conditioner/etc)
- my preferred brand of pads.. I hate the giant ones offered by the hospital
- multiple pairs of underwear and my own clothes
- phone chargers
- extension cord
- compression socks
- hair brush (something so stupid that I often forget to pack)
- spare contacts

For baby
- pacifiers
- clothing for coming home
- swaddles that we know how to use. Those receiving blankets were too small to get an effective swaddle

Bring a spare bag for freebies

[BabyStandish]

I still have my list from DS so I've been adding/removing from it. What I did with him was pre-pack some stuff and then have a post-it note on the fridge with the remaining things we need since a lot of it is stuff that I use everyday.

Camera
Chargers
Take home outfit-onesie and pants?
2x nursing cami, comfy pants, 2-3 pairs underwear
PJs for H
toiletries (hair brush/tooth brush/paste/deodorant)
SNACKS
nipple cream
nursing pads
warm socks
change of clothes for me and H
hair ties
Diaper bag
scratch mits (DS came out with long fingernails)

I may bring my own birthing ball, but I'm undecided on this

[BabyStandish]

hpnegirl I forgot hairties with DS and it was the worst. Thankfully my mom brought some for me.

[txcatlady]

I have heard bringing a nursing pillow is helpful. Any thoughts or will it just be another thing to carry in and out?

[sleepymonkey]

My essentials are:
Fuzzy socks with treads, at least 2 pairs
Phone charger
Hair brush
Moisturizer
Body wash
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Carmex (my lips got really chapped the day after, which is common)
Pillow (I wanted a piece of "my bed" in the hospital)
1 or 2 sleepers for baby (I liked them for when everyone was visiting and baby is being passed around)
Nursing nightgown and robe (I did not like getting up and walking around in the hospital gown after birth)
Comfy pants and t-shirt to wear home
Going home outfit for baby

[sleepymonkey]

hpnegirl , yes to the pads! I came across some this weekend that I brought home from the hospital with DD and I just looked at them and thought "hell no." I'm trying to figure out the best kind to get this time. I don't know if I will bleed quite as much as last time since I'm going straight for the c-section.
And yes to an extra bag for freebies - I came home with so much stuff.

[jmcbick]

Mar 7, 2017 14:17:52 GMT -5 txcatlady said:

I have heard bringing a nursing pillow is helpful. Any thoughts or will it just be another thing to carry in and out?

I definitely found it helpful, but I left it in the car initially and had DH go get it after DS was born and we had moved over to postpartum. No need to drag it into L&D with you, especially since you don't know how long you'll be there for!

[BabyStandish]

txcatlady it could probably help make things a little easier. I didn't bring one with DS and won't with this one either, but they had a lot of pillows so I was able to maneuver them however I liked without any issues.

[hpnegirl]

Mar 7, 2017 14:29:41 GMT -5 sleepymonkey said:

hpnegirl , yes to the pads! I came across some this weekend that I brought home from the hospital with DD and I just looked at them and thought "hell no." I'm trying to figure out the best kind to get this time. I don't know if I will bleed quite as much as last time since I'm going straight for the c-section.
And yes to an extra bag for freebies - I came home with so much stuff.

I used the always thin overnight for a few days before moving to the thin ones with a green wrapper. I don't do thick pads in general so they're my go to

[sleepymonkey]

Also make sure your SO packs a bag as well if they're going to stay overnight with you. H stayed with me every night and probably will this time too so he needed to have his own bag as well.

[jmcbick]

My list:

-Toiletries and small amount of makeup (really just face cream, chapstick, eyeliner and mascara so I felt human enough for pictures after)
-Hair brush/hair ties/ wide headband for labor
- nursing tank x 2
- nursing bra x 2
- flowy sweater for over tanks x 2
- comfy pants x 2 (I used maternity leggings/yoga pants)
- my own towel because hospital towels are so tiny
- flip flops for the shower
- slippers
- Boppy
-nipple cream (recommend this one www.amazon.com/Earth-Mama-Angel-Baby-Natural/dp/B000JVCBBG but it's usually more like $5 on Amazon so I wouldn't buy at current $11 price!!)
- phone, iPad and charger
-camera and charger
- SNACKS (especially important for night 2 when DS went on a crazy mission to get my milk to come in and nursed basically every 20 min hahaha. At least he was successful)
- my own pads for going home (I used Always infinity overnights), I used the hospital ones up until leaving

Baby stuff:
Going home outfit in NB and 3m
Scratch mitts
Really that's it haha. The rest I took home with me (extra diapers, wipes etc)

[jmcbick]

Mar 7, 2017 14:49:04 GMT -5 sleepymonkey said:

Also make sure your SO packs a bag as well if they're going to stay overnight with you. H stayed with me every night and probably will this time too so he needed to have his own bag as well.

DH is on his own haha! He probably won't stay this time around though, as long as baby and I are both good. I'd rather him stay home with DS if possible.

[PirateCat]

Do most newborns fit into NB size clothing? What if they come out tiny or huge? Or do you bring multiple sizes? Or do you actually have a decent idea of how large they might be as you get closer to the end?

[PirateCat]

And thanks for starting this thread!

[jennyelf]

I'm planning to birth at a center which discharges after 8-12 hours, but I should probably pack for 2 nights just in case I'm turfed to the hospital.

*socks with treads
*hairbrush and ties
*toiletries (shampoo, soap, conditioner, chapstick, toothbrush/toothpaste)
*nursing bras
*laboring & post partum dresses
*towel
*swim top (there are tubs)
*lanolin
*phone/charger/battery etc.
*snacks and post partum comfort food

Baby stuff
*going home outfit
*car seat (though that ought to be installed)

Bag will probably be living in my car in case I go from work directly to the hospital.

[hpnegirl]

PirateCat depends on the baby and brand. I would bring NB and 3m to be safe. I know newborns that went straight to 3m clothing at birth.

Note: gerber brand is notorious for running small

[PirateCat]

Mar 7, 2017 15:04:42 GMT -5 hpnegirl said:

PirateCat depends on the baby and brand. I would bring NB and 3m to be safe. I know newborns that went straight to 3m clothing at birth.

Note: gerber brand is notorious for running small

Stupid question. Does the hospital clothe the baby??

[jennyelf]

Mar 7, 2017 15:07:42 GMT -5 PirateCat said:

Mar 7, 2017 15:04:42 GMT -5 hpnegirl said:

PirateCat depends on the baby and brand. I would bring NB and 3m to be safe. I know newborns that went straight to 3m clothing at birth.

Note: gerber brand is notorious for running small

Stupid question. Does the hospital clothe the baby??

Would depend on the hospital. Mine will provide a shirt, blanket, and diapers. Good question to ask on your hospital tour. 

[sagen]

I pack:
contact holder
contact solution
glasses
toothbrush/paste
my own pads (after the first day I ditch the mesh panties)
a few underwear
outfit to go home
a couple pajamas
make up
hair stuff
nursing bra
baby's to go home outfit
binkis
swaddle blankets (I like my own better)
diaper bag


Our hospital uses their own night gowns for the babies. The ones with the mittens and you just lift the nightgown bottom up to change.You can't keep them, but that's what they like to put them in so I don't pack any clothes other than the going home outfit

[jmcbick]

Mar 7, 2017 14:57:28 GMT -5 PirateCat said:

Do most newborns fit into NB size clothing? What if they come out tiny or huge? Or do you bring multiple sizes? Or do you actually have a decent idea of how large they might be as you get closer to the end?

DS was in newborn for about 2 weeks (Carters and baby gap, agree with Gerber running small he was 0-3 in that). For reference he was born at 8 lb 6 oz and 21"

I brought NB and 3 m outfits just in case

[sagen]

All my babies only fit newborn, 0-3 month was huge. My biggest was 7lbs 15 oz and newborn fit the best, my littlest 6lbs 6 oz actually fit a premie outfit I had my husband go out and buy since NB was running big. My friend's baby wore 0-3 at birth, but was 10lbs 22inches. I think for the most part 0-3 is too big unless you have big babies. You could always bring one, or send your H home to get the right size.

[jmcbick]

Mar 7, 2017 15:07:42 GMT -5 PirateCat said:

Mar 7, 2017 15:04:42 GMT -5 hpnegirl said:

PirateCat depends on the baby and brand. I would bring NB and 3m to be safe. I know newborns that went straight to 3m clothing at birth.

Note: gerber brand is notorious for running small

Stupid question. Does the hospital clothe the baby??

Hospital dependent but ours provided hats, kimono shirts, diapers and blankets

[tortor4]

Mar 7, 2017 15:19:20 GMT -5 jmcbick said:

Mar 7, 2017 15:07:42 GMT -5 PirateCat said:

Stupid question. Does the hospital clothe the baby??

Hospital dependent but ours provided hats, kimono shirts, diapers and blankets

Same. And they told us we could take everything home with us besides the linens and shirts.

[sleepymonkey]

Mar 7, 2017 14:54:01 GMT -5 jmcbick said:

Mar 7, 2017 14:49:04 GMT -5 sleepymonkey said:

Also make sure your SO packs a bag as well if they're going to stay overnight with you. H stayed with me every night and probably will this time too so he needed to have his own bag as well.

DH is on his own haha! He probably won't stay this time around though, as long as baby and I are both good. I'd rather him stay home with DS if possible.

Since I'm having a RCS, I need H to stay with me since it will be hard to get up and down with baby a lot. But if I weren't, I would have H stay with DD. I want things to be as "normal" as possible for her while I'm in the hospital.

[sleepymonkey]

Our hospital didn't provide any clothes. They only provided diapers, blankets and hats. The hospital is freezing and trying to keep baby covered with the blanket was hard so we put a sleeper on her.

[katie0919]

Mar 7, 2017 15:18:30 GMT -5 jmcbick said:

Mar 7, 2017 14:57:28 GMT -5 PirateCat said:

Do most newborns fit into NB size clothing? What if they come out tiny or huge? Or do you bring multiple sizes? Or do you actually have a decent idea of how large they might be as you get closer to the end?

DS was in newborn for about 2 weeks (Carters and baby gap, agree with Gerber running small he was 0-3 in that). For reference he was born at 8 lb 6 oz and 21"

I brought NB and 3 m outfits just in case

Agreed, both my boys were in newborn clothes for a couple weeks and they were both over 21 inches long and both over 9 lbs when born (one was 9lbs 7oz and one was 9lbs 1 oz) so I definitely am doing newborn stuff again for a couple weeks. I only bring a coming home outfit to the hospital and leave them in the kimono shirt the hospital provides. They come and check on baby a lot so to me, it's just easier to do shirt and diaper only with swaddle blanket!

[jmcbick]

Mar 7, 2017 16:09:35 GMT -5 sleepymonkey said:

Mar 7, 2017 14:54:01 GMT -5 jmcbick said:

DH is on his own haha! He probably won't stay this time around though, as long as baby and I are both good. I'd rather him stay home with DS if possible.

Since I'm having a RCS, I need H to stay with me since it will be hard to get up and down with baby a lot. But if I weren't, I would have H stay with DD. I want things to be as "normal" as possible for her while I'm in the hospital.

Yes definitely if i end up with a CS this time you bet he's staying! Hopefully it goes like last time and I will be ok without him but not counting anything out!

[icedtea]

Keeping an eye on this thread. Thanks for starting it!

[rosesquared]

Yes, thanks so much for starting this thread! I'll definitely be coming back to it! ☺️