I have a feeling that most first-time moms are like me when it came to packing the hospital bag. Secretly hoping my little bean would come early, I had the bag packed (ok, and my husband’s too . . . ) and in the trunk of our car way before necessary. But erring on the side of too early never hurts. It sure beat trying to get everything together while timing contractions. As for the bag itself, however, in hindsight I could have made things easier on myself. So, here are my recommendations when it comes to THE BAG:
• In all honesty, the only things you really need for baby are the car seat (install this a couple weeks beforehand too, to avoid stress) and a cute going-home outfit (Don’t worry though, your baby won’t go home naked if you don’t bring an outfit. The hospital will provide little cotton t-shirt things for your baby to wear during his or her stay, and you’re free to take baby home in this if you’d like). The hospital will provide you with diapers, wipes, and really anything else baby needs while he/she’s there. Live it up.
• Socks were the only clothing item I wanted during my hospital stay. If you feel more comfortable in a nightgown than the hospital gown, you can bring one, but it’s probably going to get nasty. So my advice? Just simplify. Wear the gown, but bring socks to keep your toes toasty. That said, you will want to bring an outfit you can go home in. It’ll probably have to be maternity clothes (sad, I know, but have hope: your pants will fit again soon.) Since you’ll still look 4-6 months preggo.
• Bring a toothbrush and toothpaste for you and your husband and a hair brush. Don’t worry about other toiletry items, since the hospital will have shampoo (it’s not Pantene, but it worked great), soap, and sanitary pads (essential). If you have to have make-up, bring it too.
• The people at a certain mother-related store basically told me that if I did not buy five nursing bras and nursing pads the hospital would kick me out. This was not true. In all likelihood, your milk won’t come in until after you leave the hospital, and even if it does, one or two bras will suffice, and the hospital will provide nursing pads.
• Bring a camera/video camera, and bring your charged cell phones. You’ll be bursting to tell everyone you just had a real live baby.
In the end, as cheesy as it sounds, it’s not what you take with you, but what you take away. As you leave the hospital you won’t be upset that you forgot to upload your “birthing playlist” to your iPod. You’ll be focused on your new beautiful bald, diapered roommate.
-Noelle• In all honesty, the only things you really need for baby are the car seat (install this a couple weeks beforehand too, to avoid stress) and a cute going-home outfit (Don’t worry though, your baby won’t go home naked if you don’t bring an outfit. The hospital will provide little cotton t-shirt things for your baby to wear during his or her stay, and you’re free to take baby home in this if you’d like). The hospital will provide you with diapers, wipes, and really anything else baby needs while he/she’s there. Live it up.
• Socks were the only clothing item I wanted during my hospital stay. If you feel more comfortable in a nightgown than the hospital gown, you can bring one, but it’s probably going to get nasty. So my advice? Just simplify. Wear the gown, but bring socks to keep your toes toasty. That said, you will want to bring an outfit you can go home in. It’ll probably have to be maternity clothes (sad, I know, but have hope: your pants will fit again soon.) Since you’ll still look 4-6 months preggo.
• Bring a toothbrush and toothpaste for you and your husband and a hair brush. Don’t worry about other toiletry items, since the hospital will have shampoo (it’s not Pantene, but it worked great), soap, and sanitary pads (essential). If you have to have make-up, bring it too.
• The people at a certain mother-related store basically told me that if I did not buy five nursing bras and nursing pads the hospital would kick me out. This was not true. In all likelihood, your milk won’t come in until after you leave the hospital, and even if it does, one or two bras will suffice, and the hospital will provide nursing pads.
• Bring a camera/video camera, and bring your charged cell phones. You’ll be bursting to tell everyone you just had a real live baby.
In the end, as cheesy as it sounds, it’s not what you take with you, but what you take away. As you leave the hospital you won’t be upset that you forgot to upload your “birthing playlist” to your iPod. You’ll be focused on your new beautiful bald, diapered roommate.
Great blog!! One thing I have taken to the hospital is my journal, and I have been grateful to take just a minute and record my thoughts and experiences soon after giving birth. You would be amazed at the details you forget even by the time you get home! Now that my kids are getting older they love hearing the story of their birth.
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