This is my personal list for what to take to the hospital. Every hospital is different and every woman is different, as is every birth.
I'm speaking from an induced-labor-and-vaginal-delivery point of view.For myself: I was induced in my last pregnancy and wanted to be VERY comfortable. So I brought my own pillows (2) and a blanket from home. Most hospitals issue those (uber lovely) maternity gowns so there really is no need for underwear while you're in labor since nurses will be in and out checking on your south side every hour or two.
After delivery I wore the hospital issued weird excuse for underwear since my delivery was vaginal and nurses come in often to put ice on your swollen baby-maker. So I didn't actually wear my own underwear until I went home (pack at your leisure; however leave your sexy thongs at home
).
Socks are a must (either with treads or not. If not with treads; maybe you should bring your favorite bunny slippers). I was a fall risk and was helped back and forth to the bathroom; but the slippers helped. Plus, you will be losing blood during childbirth and your body takes warmth and blood directly from your extremities so the socks will help keep you warm. A housecoat is completely up to you; but it is nice to have something to cover yourself with when guests come (and they will ... in swarms).
In this section:
- Pillows
- Blanket
- Underwear
- Socks
- Slippers
- Housecoat/Nightgown
As for personal care, I took one shower (mainly because I was so sore and couldn't stand for long) so just bring travel bottles of shampoo and conditioner. A toothbrush would be a great idea and well appreciated by those within a 3 mile radius of you. I took my favorite lotion and body spray; however if you plan on breastfeeding be sure to keep those away from your baby's food spouts. How would you like someone to lotion down your favorite pizza for you?
Also, if you plan on breastfeeding bring your nursing bra and nursing pads. Even if you do not intend on breastfeeding, the support will be nice for when your milk decides to come in (*see note below).
I also took chapstick with me (two different tubes!). Something about childbirth dries out the lips, even for those of us who did our lamaze breathing only for the time it took to yell for the anesthesiologist. You are certainly becoming dehydrated, but in addition, you won't be given anything to drink during labor and delivery for fear that it will make you nauseous. Something to put your hair back in is probably ideal for the laboring mother (considering my hair was about as long as Crystal Gale's ... untrue, but still).
In this section:
- Travel size shampoo and conditioner
- Toothbrush
- Lotion
- Lip Balm
- Nursing Bra
- Nursing Pads
- Hair Ties
For Your Birthing Coach/Hubby/Partner/BoyfriendMy husband took my induction as a means of sleeping. So of course, he had a blanket and pillows for himself. He usually doesn't carry cash on him; but bringing cash and coins is smart for those sudden snacking urges and trips to the vending machines. Kyle (Hubby) also brought things for him to shower with and shave; as he did not want our daughter to come out and see "Grizzly Adams" on her first peek at the world. My husband is a basic low maintenance sort of person so just give him control of the remote and a recliner (of which most labor rooms have both) and he was set. Besides making you comfortable; he may need to occupy himself with something (for Kyle it was sudoku).
In this section:
- Cash and/or change
- More pillows and blankets
- Shower items
For Your Little Bundle of Joy! (Eek!)
I mostly kept Isabella in the tiny shirts and diapers the hospital provided for us (except for her nursery photos and when we went to go home). If you choose this route as well, do keep something on your baby's feet and head or keep wrapped in a blanket. Most of the baby's heat escapes from the head. We personally chose a pair of feety pajama's for her outfits at the hospital (and we only packed three) considering they were less stressful on us as parents to try and fit a newborn baby into.
Also most newborn outfits come with foldable mittens, so it's one less thing to pack. If you plan on using one, and most hospitals will ask permission, pack a pacifier (hospitals usually issue "Soothie" pacifiers) and a bottle or two of your own choosing. Hospitals also issue bottles and have a specialist assist you on breastfeeding. Burp cloths and bibs may also be necessary for your little one (** see note below).
Diapers (cloth or disposable) may come in handy; then again most hospitals will provide these for you as well. I used Huggies Special Care diapers that had a dip in the front for umbilical cord care. Bring blankets no matter what season your child is born in. Babies always must have a layer or two more than you do; so a blanket serves that purpose.
YOU CANNOT LEAVE THE HOSPITAL WITHOUT A FULLY FUNCTIONING CARSEAT.
Our hospital wanted you to bring it to your room and strap your baby in so they could examine it before escorting you to your car. Some hospitals have nurses who follow you to your car to see if you have installed the carseat correctly. This is a safety precaution and has nothing to do with the nursing staff's disapproval of your reproductive organs. Don't take it personally.
In this section:
- Socks for your baby's tiny feet
- Hats
- Feety Pajama's
- Nursery Photo Outfit [hairbands or bows for little girls]
- Going home outfit
- Pacifiers
- Bottles
- Formula
- Burp Cloths and Bibs
- Diapers
- Blankets (thick or receiving)
- CAR SEAT! CAR SEAT! CAR SEAT!
Did I forget something?
A birth plan is entirely up to you and some hospitals provide a checklist for you upon registering with them. A birth plan allows you to make "Guidelines" for your birth but be aware that if an emergency comes up with your birth; this will be thrown out the window. Check them out online or talk to your gyno about creating one. Included in some birth plans are:
- Music
- Lighting options
- Minimal nurse interference
- Massages
- Jacuzzi
- Minimizing the amount of visitors to your room
- Birthing positioning (such as walking or a birthing ball)
- Your choice on "in-room" baby (you can insist on keeping your baby in your room at all times)
- Umbilical cord preferences (who cuts the cord])
Also do not forget:
- Cell phones
- Cell phone chargers
- Cameras
- Batteries for your camera or charger
- Don't forget to take the LENS OFF your camera
- And make sure your memory card has room on it
For your going home outfit:
Your sweats or your smallest pair for maternity pants will do. My only stop on my way home was the Burger King drive-thru. I wore my sweat pants; a white tank top and a jacket...you will still look at least 4 months pregnant.
Notes:
* When your milk decides to come in; no matter how awesome your partner thinks your breasts look --- they HURT and leak like you would not believe. Double up on your nursing pads or take this opportunity to pump if it is not time to feed your baby. I found myself laying on a towel on my bed ...
** Isabella was born with Acid Reflux and is just now at 9 months, beginning to come out of throwing up CONSTANTLY. We have over 30 bibs and 30 burp cloths so some babies will need them more than others. Isabella was never completely dressed without a bib on.
If your baby throws up constantly and seems to be in pain from it; alert the pediatrician as this could be a sign of Acid Reflux. If your baby projectile vomits; this could be something known as Pyloric Stenosis which is easily cured by surgery.
Happy labor ladies!
Is there anything in particular that you brought to the hospital with you? What are some of your must pack items?
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Comments (22)
I cannot stress enough how important it is to pack your bag EARLY! Yes, when you're 36 weeks along it feels stupid to be putting together a bag ("I can do this later, I've got four weeks!") but that becomes three weeks, then two weeks, then one week, then holy crap I'm in labor, throw some stuff together!
Besides that, there's always the chance of your baby coming early. My daughter was two full weeks early, which was shocking to me because I'd kept meticulous track of my period so it wasn't like I just miscalculated my LMP or anything. I was panicked and in so much pain that I wasn't thinking straight. What did I bring with me to the hospital? Four pairs of panties and a 3-6 mo size outfit.
Pack your bag early! You're not going to want to think about it in the throes of labor!
(I will say that I was in labor for 12 hours at home before packing up to go to the hospital as my mom kept insisting it was just Braxton Hicks, "no way, you're not due for two weeks!" When we got to the hospital, I was already dilated 5cm lol)
I was also induced, and I would have been bored stiff without my laptop! I don't think I could access Xanga while in labor (BOO! Stupid hospital blocked it), but I was definitely on Facebook the entire time posting updates until my water broke and labor picked up on it's own. But I was also SO happy I had my laptop after I gave birth. I didn't realize how much down time we would have in the hospital because we had requested only a few visitors. I spent a lot of my recovery watching dvds of Grey's Anatomy. (The nurses probably thought we were a little weird for watching a hospital drama in the hospital!)
See, I recommend bringing your own undies. I HATED the weird mesh panties the hospital provided. Not to mention, I HATED the pad they provided too! I'm bringing my own next time. Always has these amazing super overnight pads that are practically grown up diapers with wings. Much better. I'm also planning on bringing some scrungy pajama pants that I don't mind if I ruin. I didn't mind the hospital gown, but it was awkward showing so much leg around my brother-in-laws when they came to visit, especially since I was wearing MESH panties. I also recommend bringing all of your normal shampoo, etc. I packed some special travel stuff as a treat, but I was so sensitive to smell after I gave birth that now I can't use that shampoo/conditioner because it smells like labor to me even now (20 months later). I also recommend bringing your boppy pillow if you are going to breastfeed. My first session would have gone MUCH smoother if I had thought to bring that to the hospital.
Other than that, I was surprised by how much I packed but did NOT use. If you deliver naturally, you're only there for two days or so, so you really don't need much. But yes, I do recommend bring a couple of different outfits that are a couple of different sizes for baby. I didn't realize that 0-3 is NOT the same as newborn, and all of the outfits I brought with were monstrous on my 6 pound baby. I was so sad. Burp clothes are also a good idea, cuz colostrum stains HORRIBLY.
Other than that, I think the list is great! Thanks, Mama!
I definitely agree with the sweats-as-going-home-outfit. It seems like everyone feels they should buy a really nice cute outfit to go home in, forgetting they'll still look 6 months pregnant at that point. When it was time to go home, it was just me, my husband, and the baby, and I was still recovering and in a little pain (although I could walk ok) so we were literally JUST GOING HOME. I don't know what I packed nice clothes for but they didn't fit me that great or feel comfortable so I ended up wearing the sweatpants my husband had slept in the night before and we literally drove straight home so it's not like anyone saw me anyway. I found that I really didn't need to bring much of anything to the hospital. They even issued cheap but comfy sock/slippers and disposable underwear that worked fine (and I preferred to use them rather than dirty up my own-I was bleeding so much mine would have been destroyed). They had plenty of diapers and onesies and blankets and a hat for the baby to wear and even pacifiers if we wanted them. So all we had to bring for baby that we actually used was a weather-appropriate outfit to go home in, a car seat (and it was winter so we had a car seat cover in addition to a light blanket) and the baby book so we could get some of those first footprints stamped in it. All I had to bring for me toiletry-wise was toothbrush, deoderant, shampoo/conditioner, hairbrush, razor, and makeup. Everything else including a hair dryer was provided. Clothes-wise I needed a robe, nursing bra and pads, and clothes to go home in. Otherwise I just wore what the hospital offered and when visitors came I stayed in bed anyway because it was kinda painful to walk around. Also brought my boppy pillow to help with nursing. My husband just packed like he would for an ordinary weekend overnight, plus brought the camera, and we brought our laptop because the hospital had internet. I think that's about everything that we actually used (although we brought a lot more because we were inexperienced first time parents
@mevlink@xanga - The "Pads" that the hospital gave me were actually newborn sized diapers cut open along the top, filled with ice, and resealed. They were amazing! I highly recommend this to everyone even if the hospital doesn't offer it because with this arrangement you're able to get the ice really close to where you need it while at the same time offering absorbent protection against the massive bloody mess. The diaper will not only absorb the melting ice but also your own mess much better than a pad would. I have no idea how anyone can use an ice pack THROUGH a pad. How is it cold or effective enough? And if you put the ice pack on top then the pad is pointless because the ice pack will get messy first. I was also able to put the little witch hazel pads and creams and such they prescribed right on top of the diaper-ice-pack. It was the perfect arrangement, and I didn't mind the disposable underwear because it basically just kept the ice pack in place and the whole thing was a little bulky so I wasn't really running around with it anyway and no one saw that area of my body at all except the nurses and occasionally my husband. I felt like I'd been run over by a truck and pretty much stayed in bed with covers over my bottom half other than to get up and go to the bathroom for the first full day or two anyway
@mevlink@xanga - I agree with the laptop. I would've gone INSANE without it.
Other than that, I just threw some things in a bag at the last minute. I would recommend some magazines to read (books take too much concentration) and some snacks. I am always STARVING after giving birth and cannot get enough to eat.
@TheLizarellaProject@xanga - Yeah me too, on the 5 cm part! I was already half way dilated :D Thank the lord. lol.
I think most of that stuff is just too much. All you really need are the basics. Tons of pillows and blankets aren't necessary, and they just make tons of stuff for you to back back home with you.
Bottles, binkies, stuff like that is trivial, too. If you're only going to be there for two days, that is.
The hospital provided me with anything and everything I needed, including food and stuff to feed my baby with (bottles) even though I was breastfeeding. I didn't bother bringing nursing pads, seeing as how it takes days for your milk to come in. By that time, I was already out of the hospital.
Either bring food to eat after your delivery, or bring cash to go buy some food.
NO ONE wants to eat the cold sandwich and jello that the hospital has.
I made my ex at the time get my fried chicken after.
My going home outfit was jeans and a t-shirt. People were looking at me like I was a body snatcher, or something. Like they'd never seen a woman who just gave birth with a flat stomach!
i actually really liked wearing the odd mesh undies from the hospital and found myself continuing to wear them for a few days after getting home. Apparently I'm the odd one though.
I'm with those who say to pack minimally. What I plan to take this time:
For Me:
Clothes to wear home (sweats or warm up pants and nursing tank top with a sweatshirt over it)
Nursing tanks (they cover more than a bra which is nice for when you have visitors.)
Toiletries (really - they had everything there. But it is nice to have your own toothbrush...)
For Husband:
Toiletries
Clean Undies (we're close enough to home that he could easily shower at home - but it's good to have clean undies in case he doesn't leave or if i'm in labor for 3896 hours before giving birth)
Money for food + some snacks
For Baby:
Going Home outfit
Nail clippers
My Brest Friend pillow (for nursing - although the hospital probably has one too)
For big brother:
A couple of books (for when he comes to visit)
gift "from baby"
For the most part ANYTHING you need the hospital has. And for us - we'll be 15 minutes from home so if i really needed something then whoever is watching our older child (one of the grandparents) or my husband could easily go home and get it.
Some lovely thoughts here, it's clear you put a lot of work into this post. What about bringing familiar items from the house that invoke good memories? I've been wondering if connecting certain cherished objects with good memories can help during the birthing process if those items are around?
Gosh it's been years since I had to do this -- but this summer I'll be doing it again! Great post :) And good idea on packing a pillow and blanket for hubby, I'll have to remember that!
I didn't think about packing a pillow and blanket for hubby. I packed one for myself (and asked the nurse to bring hubby the hospital ones). I packed cute gowns. I am not sure why. I didn't need all of that stuff for DS. The hospital provided all of it. The hospital also provided everything I needed, I just preferred having my own stuff. I would say that pillows, a blanket, and a carseat are all you really need to bring.
I honestly don't remember having a bag packed at all. The day I delivered, I wasn't even sure I would be delivering. I wasn't prepared that way (It was also 6 weeks early). Good list, though!
wtf are ya'll talk about?!
I never got ice for my vag. :(
I am not a mom, nor do I plan to ever get preggers and birth one myself (adoption/fostering for me), but seriously, this article was really good. I really enjoyed it! You look like the happiest mom in the world. =)
@onlyFORaLILwhile@xanga - Awh! They jipped you! Maybe you have to ask for it ... :/
Nothing. A hospital is the last place I would have a kid.
wow, this article is really good! helps to prepare one for going to labor =)
I have to say, this was really helpful! I'm kinda there with @a12906@xanga because my ideal birth would be at home where I could labor more calmly and know where everything is...but at the same time...we don't always get to choose that. Sometimes special circumstances change our opinion or something happens to take that choice from us. It's always good to have a bag packed anyway, just in case. And this has been super-helpful (didn't I already say that?). Thanks for the post!
i love all the happy pictures you included
this was really well thought out!
screw the hospital im plannin a home birth and ill drink water or juice whenever i want no drugs for me or my baby!!! If there is an issue one should go to the hospital otherwise why cause unneeded stress on mom and baby???
to the home birth planner, please hire a midwife. you don't know how to deal with emergencies or what the signs are. be close to a hospital.
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