Not your usual vacay
I’m having some challenges with packing my hospital suitcase. According to Babycenter, it should be ready within two weeks, but I don’t want to take a bunch of things I don’t need or forget critical items at home.
Here’s a list of Babycenter’s suggestions, and what I’m thinking about bringing:
- A picture ID (driver’s license or other ID), your insurance card, and any hospital paperwork you need. My suitcase always has my passport in it, and I’ll make sure Tom has his ID, too.
- Your birth plan, if you have one. I don’t have a birth plan.. do I really need one? All of the things I want to happen during birth are standard protocol for the midwives I’m seeing, plus our doula and Tom know the details of the type of birth we’d like to have. I feel like if I write it down, no one will read it (nurses on staff, attending doctors, etc), and in my superstitious way, makes me feel like writing it down would emphasis the fact that not everything will happen the way I’d like it to, and that’s ok. I have a birth plan in mind, but am ready to roll with whatever needs to happen that day to keep the baby and myself safe.
- Eyeglasses. I definitely need these + contact solution and an extra pair of contacts. The glasses I have are super old D&G ones and I like them, but the frames fall off my face, so maybe this will be good inspiration to get them fixed.
- Toiletries. Brush, dry shampoo, face wash, toothbrush (I’m going to use a regular one and leave the electric at home), toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, coconut oil.
- A bathrobe, a nightgown or two, slippers, and socks. I’m trying to figure out where to find a non-frumpy yet conservative nightgown. All of mine are short, and I feel like I would be more comfortable in a knee-length or so one with a more modest neckline. I have no idea who will be coming to visit in the hospital. Maybe a department store?
I did order two sets of nursing pajamas, and will probably take the black ones with me. [The pink ones are to have at home]
These will be perfect for after the baby is born and I love the soft fabric. The embarrassing thing about them is that I can’t figure out how to use the nursing aspect of the top….
There are two layers of fabric and an internal hole in one of them, but the top doesn’t unsnap or lift up easily. Anyone else own Majamas? Please help me? {watch it be something totally obvious}
- Whatever will help you relax
I’m going to load up the iPod with relaxing, beautiful songs for the labor portion, and maybe some crazy reggaeton or rock music for pushing 😉
Also, I’m planning on bringing my large stability ball if they don’t have them available there, and my lavender linen spray from Bath and Body Works. Anything else that you think would be good for relaxation?
For your partner:
- Toiletries
- Comfortable shoes and a few changes of comfortable clothes
- Snacks and something to read
- Money for parking and change for vending machines
- A bathing suit, in case he wants to get in the shower or the tub with me. Chances are that I’ll be flashing the business, but he won’t need to do the same 😉
After you deliver
- A fresh nightgown, if you prefer to wear your own
- A list of people to call and their phone numbers, your cell phone and charger or, if you’ll be using the hospital phone, a prepaid phone card
- Snacks!
I’m thinking Larabars, Clif shot bloks (if they’ll let me have one during labor), coconut water, trail mix, packs of Sun Warrior and oats (in case I’m there for a couple of days). The good news is that the fam will most likely help us out with the food situation. My post delivery meal request: gluten-free bagel with lots of lox and goat cream cheese. I’m salivating just thinking about it.
- Comfortable nursing bras or regular bras. Done and done.
- Several pairs of maternity underpants. They make maternity undergarments? Interesting…
- A book on newborn care
[I’ll probably bring Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn]
- A notepad or journal and pen or pencil
- A going-home outfit
For your baby
- An installed infant car seat. Got the car seat, just need to install it.
- A going-home outfit. Not sure which one we’ll choose, but it will probably just be something comfy and warm, with legs (instead of a sleep blanket thing) so she’ll be able to ride in the car seat more easily.
- A receiving blanket
What not to bring
- Jewelry
- Lots of cash or other valuables
- Medications, including vitamins
- Diapers
- A breast pump
Techie necessities we’ll need:
-Flip cam
-Camera
-Laptop + charger
So, are there any other things you think I should bring? Anything that I really won’t need? A few websites suggest taking your own pillows, but I don’t really want to get hospital germs on them. Maybe get a couple of inexpensive ones to take with us?
And a couple more:
Do I really need a written out birth plan? and
How the heck do those maternity pajamas work?
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You might want soft snacks, like applesauce, they have squeezable pouches that are great. And maybe something salty for afterwards, my doula instructor brings powdered miso soup for moms to drink after they have the baby. Also drier balls, the spikey ones, are great for massaging, if you just roll them on the top of your thighs, and little combs, like for school picture day, are great for squeezing (it’s an acupressure thing). You might want to bring a rebozo too, for sifting during labor, and then after it supposedly feels nice to gently wrap your middle because stuff will be stretched out and trying to get back into place.
Sooo exciting!!! U are getting so close!!!
PS-this really has nothing to do with this post…but i’m getting side bangs soon and i have to say you have the PERFECT side bangs! I hope mine turn out just like yours in pic #1!
Take pillows. I bought cheap ($5’ish fiber filled numbers from a big box store) pillows just for the hospital. You want pillows for the early days of breastfeeding, and the hospital pillows are crap.
I ended up being in the hospital for 5 days and only put Graham in his own clothes once. You only need a going home outfit for the baby. Also, they will provide diapers while you’re there.
For you… if you end up delivering vaginally, there should be no problem with the nursing PJ’s, but I’d take a couple of nursing gowns, just in case. And a robe. Hospitals are cold, yo.
As far as the birth plan goes, as long as you and Tom know what you want, you don’t need to have it written out. Your being prepared to roll with the punches, is totally awesome, though 🙂
Hi Gina! I brought two things with me that I hold so dearly to this day; 1 12×12 sheet of scrapbook paper to take her first footprint & handprint and impression material for this keepsake kit. You could wait til you get home, but honestly, you are so busy & overwhelmed that its nice to have this part done by the nurses and you can check that off your list on day 1 :).
http://gifts.redenvelope.com/baby/deluxe-baby-keepsake-kit-30000224?ref=REDorganicmsfbrand_red+envelope+%26+new+baby&viewpos=1&trackingpgroup=rbbsl
great idea- thank you!
Those nursing pajamas are really cute from the outside 🙂 Without seeing what the seams look like, I think those holes look like the perfect size for breast pads – which is something I would suggest packing also. Once your milk comes in, if you are still at the hospital, you will need them to keep your clothes dry!
As far as the birth plan is concerned – I felt the same way about it. My midwives all followed the basic plan that I wanted, which is why I chose to have my baby where I did. My place, however, requires that you write one out just in case. I will say that once I was there, in labor and in pain, there were small little things that I forgot about. Most specifically, Hubs and I both forgot about our music, but because I wrote that I wanted it, the midwife was able to see it, mention it and help Hubs set it up for me.
Also, don’t stress too much about having your bag all the way packed before you leave… even if you go into labor early, it is very likely that you will have a lot of time to kill before you are ready to go to the hospital. Best of luck!
Bring extra clothes! I had an emergency C-section for totally unforeseen reasons (fetal distress, turned out to have a short umbilical cord) and I did NOT pack enough to wear. I was in the hospital for four days/three nights and those hospital gowns get old fast. I only brought a nursing bra, comfy pants and tank, and a robe. I needed about triple that.
Nightgowns vs. PJ’s with bottoms…they come in to check you often and the PJ bottoms just get in the way. You will be starving after! Snacks are a must.. Good luck!
Make sure your husband has comfy stuff too! It can get chilly for visitors when mom is hot, so Dad needs a fleece or sweatshirt… and a comfy pillow and blanket 🙂
I didn’t pack until I started feeling contractions and go figure as soon as I was putting the last item in my bag my water broke….good timing! but most likely you won’t be in a position where you need to pack in SECONDS or your husband can’t go home and grab some things, after all you’re in the hospital for HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS and you don’t need a whole lot. As long as you’ve got your phone and phone charger the first day you’ll be good 🙂 haha
Oh you already have so many comments so I don’t know if I should leave one BUT my very good friend is a labor and delivery nurse and she said she appreciates a note card birth “plan.” And not really a plan just desires for example if you don’t want the mirror to watch the baby come out of you, write bullet 1: No mirror. OR EVERY SINGLE nurse will ask you… but detailed birth plans are silly since they don’t have time to read them.
I have those exact same pajamas. Yes, the holes are for a nursing pad. It’ll hold them in place so you don’t have to wear a bra. You should check out Lily Pads… especially if you get to a point where you don’t leak a ton (not great for the first few weeks for sure). But about the pajamas… I loved them… but the first few months my boobs were HUGE and I felt like I was hanging out too much around family or friends, but they were perfect for lounging/sleeping with just me and my hubby. I thought I’d be able to wear them when visitors came at the hospital and the first couple weeks at home, but always ended up sliding a jacket over to cover up a bit. Seriously, I was HUGE when my milk came in and stayed that way for a month or two until I regulated a bit, ha ha ha.
good to know- thank you for the awesome tips! i’m glad to hear you liked them, even though the neckline was a little scandalous 🙂