BABY'S DREAM NURSERY BLOG

Packing the Bag: Labor & Delivery Hospital Stay

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A friend of mine is in the last week of her pregnancy and while I was talking with her today, I felt obligated to bring up the Hospital Bag. We're all told to have our bags packed and ready to go a couple weeks before our due date, but no one really tells you what to put in it. All the baby books have lists, and you can find lists online. But, what is really necessary? Here's what I packed in my first hospital bag:

• Clothes to go home in for me and the baby
• A fun book and a pregnancy/childbirth book
• Underwear, socks, shoes, slippers and an underwire nursing bra
• A cooler full of Popsicles/Snacks
• Pillow, blanket, and clothes for the husband
• A cotton nightgown
• My Birth plan
• Toiletries
• Camera

Here's what I actually used: Clothes to go home in and toiletries. I wore the underwire nursing bra the first day, but man was that a bad idea! Why did they put underwire in a nursing bra? Not only can it clog your ducts, it is very uncomfortable to sleep in! The books I never cracked. When my son was sleeping, I was sleeping or eating. My birth plan was never even read, or followed, by anyone.

I did wear my own slippers one day, but after a not so fun incident involving a burst ice pack, they went in the trash. I wore the non-skid socks the hospital provided the rest of the time. The cotton nightgown was a good idea in theory, but there wasn't easy access to nurse. So, I ended up just wearing the hospital gowns the whole time.

Everything the baby will need, diapers, wipes, receiving blanket, hat, etc will all be at the hospital for your use. You can pack a diaper bag with these things in it; just leave it in the car. The hospital food wasn't bad, and I could order as much of it as I wanted. So, the snacks were only used by my husband. Plus, the hospital I delivered at had a fridge stocked full of jell-o and different flavors of pudding just down the hall from my room. The camera we used, but not a lot. While we did take a few pictures, we were more so enjoying the moment.

Here's the list of items I will bring this time around:

• Lanolin (Lansinoh is my favorite)
• Nursing Pads (Medela makes my favorite)
• Sleeping nursing bras
• Toiletries
• Digital camera that also records video
• Gift for my son from the baby (sounds corny, but I've heard it helps. Will probably be a Hot Wheels.)
• Candy for the nurses (Yes, bring a treat for the people who are taking care of you. It's a tough job and they will appreciate the thought.)

As you could see, my priorities have changed. I know for me, the most important thing is to be comfortable while nursing. The hospital will provide basically everything my newborn and I will need. The hospital will have mesh underwear (you either love them or hate them) and gowns. Neither of which will I ever need to wash. If you're not aware, the aftermath of childbirth is messy, so the less stuff you use that belongs to you, the easier time you will have. When you're filling your bag, think about what you use at home. Do I sleep in underwire bras at home? Not at all! So, why did I pack one? Hindsight is 20/20.

When you're packing your hospital bag, ask yourself these questions:

• Will I care if I never see this again? (Clothing, pillow, blanket, etc.)
• How much stuff do I really want to haul out of the hospital? (They give you more stuff to take home too. While I'm on it, you might want to send someone on a trip to your house with all the flowers/balloons that you will have.)
• What will I be most comfortable wearing? (If you've never worn a hospital gown, you'll probably like it. But, the mesh underwear is about 50/50, so you might want to bring some cheap cotton ones just in case. )
• Do I have everything I need to capture the moment? (Video Camera, Photo Camera, even a laptop to share your pictures to family out of town. Do you want to write in a journal everything that happened before you forget?)
• What are the bare necessities I couldn't live without? (Comb, toothbrush, gel?)
• What will the hospital have for me to use? (They typically have birthing balls, so no need to bring your own.) If you don't know, call the hospital you are going to deliver at, or ask during your tour of the facility.

I am sure you will bring more than you need. It is difficult to be truly prepared when you have never done it before, but take the wisdom of those who have. Good luck!!