3rd tri/L&D/PP Talk!

[babyzebra]

3rd tri/L&D/PP Talk!

[babyzebra]

Anyone want to talk hospital bags yet? Too soon?

[titania]

oh yes! Please tell me everything I should know that I don't know I should know! Like witch hazel pads? Is there a special kind I should get? I've never heard of them.

[pbandj714]

What about bringing a robe vs just wearing the hospital gown? I feel like I'd be more comfortable in a robe/nightgown of my choosing, but it's hard finding something longer that isn't fuzzy.

I've been eyeing this: www.kohls.com/product/prd-2175809/womens-miss-elaine-essentials-short-knit-zip-duster-robe.jsp?color=Pink_Medallion

Cute? Too grandma? I can't decide.

[Flair Underwood]

pbandj714 - i had a longer style swing hoodie without a zipper which I liked having. I liked having it for the early stages/after induction and for as soon as I could get showered and dressed. I liked having my own something comfy to put on over nursing tanks.

Also - don't take the diaper bag or much of anything for the baby. I've known moms to take the fully stocked diaper bag - you don't need anything when you're in the hospital for them except a take-home outfit. I will pack a NB size and a o-3 size, one with pants and long sleeves and one with short sleeves since it'll be summer time.

[mladerri]

Pack comfy clothes for after baby. I was fine using hospital gown pbandj714. I used the bath, got an epidural and was almost nude by the time baby came along. If you'd be more comfortable in your own robe then bring one. Big thing is bring what will make you comfortable.
- pillow from home
- warm socks
- hair ties/headband
- food for dh (snack food)
- take home outfit for baby
- glasses/contacts
- hair brush
- makeup/ toiletries (that first shower feels sooooo good)
- nursing tank top/bras
- granny panties
- phone charger

I know others will add more

[Flair Underwood]

Pack your own soap/shampoo/lotion if you want (the stuff at my hospital was crap). And COMFY pants... if you end up with a c-section, the pants that had a fold-down waist band (like yoga pants) that I could fold up and over felt lovely.

And my number one suggestion: SNACKS. Unless you have instant and constant access to food, take your own. Graham crackers, fruit - healthy things to help with that first trip to the bathroom.

[shoogars]

The first time I over packed. The 2nd time I did much better. My hospital provides everything you need to take care of a baby. I only pack camera/phone/kindle and cords for entertainment during labor. Shampoo/conditioner and whatever things I need to feel human. A going home outfit for baby. I do not worry about snacks, they have those in the ward.

I stay in the hospital robe until baby is out...usually shower the next morning, then put on comfy clothes or jammies.

I also must bring my own pillow and a blanket for DH. He gets to make trips home, so he doesn't bring anything.

At home I have prepared an extra pack of witch hazel pads (target brand, pads and Dermoplast). Ask the nurses for extra of everything! A peri bottle is amazing I still use mine all the time for many different purposes.

I actually enjoy the PP time at the hospital, you only have to think about baby. Once you get home, there are more responsibilities and more kids!

[amiet79]

Everyone has given great advice so far. When I had DS1, I brought way too much stuff to the hospital. When I had DD, I brought way less and it was easier to pack up everything. I didn't bring a robe. I was fine just wearing the hospital gowns. This way if I got blood all over it, I didn't have to bring it home and wash it.
Slippers are nice to have, too. And socks. We brought a laptop with some movies on it, otherwise we would've had to pay to watch the tv there. I agree that bringing snacks is a good idea. I didn't bring any diapers for the baby or pads for myself. I just stocked up while I was there. I'll have to think about it some more, but I'm sure I'll have more to add.

[soultrane]

Yes to all of the above!

My other PP advice is to try to stay ahead of the pain. I only had to take Motrin for a few days but if I was late taking it, I definitely felt it. If I took it every 6 hours (4 hours? whatever Motrin recommends) then I felt fine.

Something else that I didn't know to expect was that the cramps in the few days immediately after giving birth can be pretty intense. They're normal and help your uterus come back down to its regular size, but I didn't know to expect them and thought something was wrong at first.

[athn64]

I agree with everyone. You don't need a lot. I stayed in the gown. So I really only needed clothes to go home in and toiletries for me. Same for DH. Also food for him. Hospital policy ony allows him one free meal during the stay. For baby, we really only needed an outfit to go home in. The hospital even gave her a pacifier. Check your hospital policies though. I know "baby friendly" ones are anti-pacis and some are anti-formula. So if you plan to FF you may need to bring that yourself.

[Flair Underwood]

Good point, @cheeze, with the husband bag!!!

[nitecheese]

Lip balm! I'd also bring a few changes of clothes. I sweat like a mad woman so extra clothes were nice to have.

I'd also suggest bringing a contact list for DH to text about baby's arrival so he's not fielding a million messages.

[greysonsmom]

Flip flops for the shower

I used the hospital gown, I didn't want my stuff getting gross. After baby arrived black yoga pants.

[madamewaffles]

If you are planning on BFing: My lactation consultant told me that most nursing hospital gowns are not conducive to nursing at all--apparently the holes are nowhere near the boobs--and to pack a few nursing tanks to wear instead.

[soultrane]

I agree with bringing clothing that you think you'll be comfortable wearing. For me, I couldn't wait to get into real clothes and out of the hospital gown so I spent most of my stay in yoga pants and nursing tanks. For others, the hospital gown is more comfortable. Whatever you decide on, make sure that it's easy enough to pull back for when the nurses do their checks.

[vivela]

What brand of nursing tanks do you guys like? (It would also help to know if your favorite brands work well for the large-breasted ladies like me!)

[babyzebra]

What I'm planning on bringing in my hospital bag:

Cell phone and charger
Tooth brush and toothpaste
Hairbrush and hair ties
1-2 pairs of soft pants and t shirts to wear after delivery
Sandals
Snacks

For baby:
2 outfits for coming home
Formula

DH can figure out what he needs and pack his own bag.

I'm going to bring this all in a semi-big bag so that I have plenty of room to take home diapers, pads, receiving blankets, etc from the hospital.

[shoogars]

Mar 23, 2016 17:11:53 GMT -5 vivela said:

What brand of nursing tanks do you guys like? (It would also help to know if your favorite brands work well for the large-breasted ladies like me!)

I've only ever used the ones from Target, which work fine. I still wear a nursing bra...big boobs full of milk need lots of support:) I've heard good things about the ones from H&M so I'm probably going to get a couple of those. I wear them every day, so I can't have too many.

[athn64]

Mar 23, 2016 19:05:05 GMT -5 Dreaming said:

Mar 23, 2016 16:42:08 GMT -5 madamewaffles said:

If you are planning on BFing: My lactation consultant told me that most nursing hospital gowns are not conducive to nursing at all--apparently the holes are nowhere near the boobs--and to pack a few nursing tanks to wear instead.

I don't remember this. I must have just spent a lot of time in my room naked (except for the mesh undies).

I just went topless. no way would a nursing tank have been comfy just then. And I was so tired I didn't care.

[manybellsdown]

I'm liking everything--everyone has such good advice!

[packerfan4life]

Dors anyone else find the fact that we're in a place to start this thread kind of terrifying?

I have put about zero thought into this until now. When does one pack a hospital bag?

[woodengirl07]

Mar 23, 2016 20:57:53 GMT -5 packerfan4life said:

Dors anyone else find the fact that we're in a place to start this thread kind of terrifying?

I have put about zero thought into this until now. When does one pack a hospital bag?

Omg, yes. This is the first moment any of this ever occurred to me.

[athn64]

Mar 23, 2016 20:57:53 GMT -5 packerfan4life said:

Dors anyone else find the fact that we're in a place to start this thread kind of terrifying?

I have put about zero thought into this until now. When does one pack a hospital bag?

I think I packed mine around 36 weeks. But only because my mom went early in both pregnancies and I was sure that I was going to repeat. I still think that's a decent time to do it if all is progressing normally. That's when they stop trying to halt labor if you come in. 

You can pack your bad as early as you want. Having mine ready made me feel better about the whole thing.

[shan]

Mar 23, 2016 20:57:53 GMT -5 packerfan4life said:

When does one pack a hospital bag?

I made a list around 36 weeks but pack a bag until 38 weeks. Even when I went into labor at 39w6d, I had plenty of time to add things to my bag as needed.

Also, I used a robe last time in the hospital.
I delivered in a gown, eventually showered and got into a robe. Later changed to yoga pants and a nursing tank, and that's what I went home in.

[txmommy14]

I think everyone is different in what they need or find is helpful to have. I wore the hospital gown for the first 24 hours or so, then changed into some pajamas that buttoned down the front. I'll do the same this time.

I really appreciated having my own body wash and shampoo there. It made me feel extra clean and homey. I'm not sure if they even provided it? I'm sure they would have, I just didn't use it.

I was really happy I brought my baby book-they stamped his foot and handprints into it when I asked them to. For him, I also brought a bunch of stuff I didn't need (seriously do NOT pack diapers or ANYTHING like that!) I brought a few outfits and a blanket, and more things but that's all I used.

I was over prepared and had snacks, cash, slippers, yada yada yada. I barely used any of it. However, we did have so many friends and family members bringing us food-the hospital staff laughed at us because we didn't eat any hospital food. I'm guessing we'll have less visitors and eat the hospital food this time.

I second everything soultrane said. I wasn't expecting the painful cramps the days following (and right after birth when they have to massage your uterus-ouch!) Nothing unbearable, I just hadn't heard about it before so I was surprised! Nursing makes your uterus contract/shrink those first few days also, so it was weird how nursing him would give me cramps.

I packed too early, around 34 weeks. I was way too prepared! I'll probably pack it a month early or so this time also, but in all reality you'll likely have time to throw a few things in a bag. Also, depending how far you live from the hospital, you could easily have someone bring your stuff to you. And for me, Target is literally down the street. I am OCD about being organized so these are things I need to remind myself, because I'll probably be telling myself that then compulsively packing a month early.

The BEST NURSING BRA EVER (seriously I wore it for a year and wore this thing out and just bought a new one):

www.motherhood.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=959550120&Mastercategory_Id=MC13

I got this the day before DS was born as I was walking around the mall trying to send myself into labor....ended up being my favorite thing ever! I didn't wear nursing tanks much but I do have a few target ones. I mostly wore nursing bra with loose tshirts etc. I went from from the hospital in a loose vneck shirt and maternity yoga pants. I remember thinking I felt so skinny and not pregnant, and looking back, I still looked more pregnant than I look now, ha!

Sorry for this long post!

[babyzebra]

I'll probably actually pack my bag around 36-38 weeks, but I want to have my list ready way before then. If I were to go into preterm labor, there would not be a functioning brain cell in my head to figure out what I need to bring. Except snacks- I don't think I would ever forget snacks!

[Kevinmac]

This thread is so helpful. I am clueless as to what to bring or really even what to expect!

[packerfan4life]

Do you buy nursing bras ahead of time? How do you know what size to get. And where can you find them in big boob friendly sizes (if I wore bras that fit right now I'm probably a 32whatever comes after DDD/34DDD). I was thinking of waiting until after baby is born but then I have no idea what I'll wear home from the hospital

[shoogars]

I hate to tell you STM but the uterus contractions are even worse the second time around...at least they were for me and I think that's the norm. I can't wait to see what it's like after the third one.