please help with hospital bag...BTDT moms

Ok, so Ive read a lot of posts about this. I feel like some people over pack and bring things that really are not needed...can someone please give me the basics that i absolutely need. TIA

Re: please help with hospital bag...BTDT moms

-underwear, a few comfy ones.
some you may need to toss. (esp after a vaginal birth)

-sweatpants/tanks (if going to breastfeed)
or comfy pajamas

-shampoo/conditioner
-soap
-toothbrush/toothpaste
-contact fluid (if u wear contacts)
-baby going home outfit/s
-extra pads (again vag birth) but hospital supplies a lot of those necessary things
-a boppy (helps in breastfeeding if you are)
-a blowdryer

Honestly, that was all I needed.

ETA: Slippers, YES forgot that one

Message edited 6/3/2009 1:56:20 PM.

Re: please help with hospital bag...BTDT moms

Yes you're right, I brought a lot of crap I didn't need. Next time I will be much better prepapred. I was absolutely STARVING all day after the csection and NO ONE would give me a thing to eat. SO if you're a food o holic like me I would pack snacks!!! A cheese sandwich (es) fruit, candy whatever you like to eat. Thank Goodness I had a bag of chewy mints or I would've gone berserk on the hospital staff. lol
You will need a nice comfy robe and slippers, your toiletries (I had a csection so I showered on day 2)
Ipod is nice to have. A change of clothes when you leave the hospital. But mainy Is ay bring lots of snacks!! lol

Re: please help with hospital bag...BTDT moms

underwear
sweatpants/tanks/t-shirts
bra
socks
shampoo/conditioner
soap
towel
toothbrush/toothpaste
razor
deoderant
ear plugs
baby going home outfit + onesie + blanket (if cold out)
extra pads-the hospitals were too bulky
2 pillows-best thing ever for giving birth and afterward
brush and hair ties
slippers
robe
camera and video camera
cell phone
makeup-makes you feel human again

I seriously overpacked, and next time this is all I will bring. I slept in the hospital's nightgown, but would change into clothes during the day.

Re: please help with hospital bag...BTDT moms

I used everything I brought -

EVEN if you are planning to have a vaginal birth (like I was) you MAY wind up with a c/s (like I did) and I planned for that by bringing big huge granny underwear that would go up over an incision. I'm glad I did.

I also packed pj pants - I wore them under the robe
Yoga pants and t-shirts
flip flops for the shower
books, magazines, ipod
I brought pads but wound up using the ones they had and they were awesome (I stole a few packages of them for home, and they were great for the first few postpartum AFs )

And don't forget- you aren't in the woods - you will have DH and family to get you anything you forget....

Re: please help with hospital bag...BTDT moms

I brought a lot of stuff that I end up not needing ie my ipod, i was in no mood to listen to music

here's what I am thankful I brought with me...

old lady underwear - I bought Hanes, and tossed after wearing, as i had a vaginal birth and was bleeding like mad. Hospital will give you disposable ones, they were crap.

overnight maxi pad with wings - yes the hospital does provide this for you, but they are too narrow, and to me didn't absorb well. Bring what you usually use and comfortable with.

maternity gown/stretchy 1 piece dress - I brought sweats and never wore because again bleeding a lot and didn't want to get it on my pants.. dress was so much easier. I got a super comfy one from Target maternity section.

robe, fuzzy slippers, flip flop for shower, toiletries, makeup(I was pale as a ghost, make up made me look human again), Camera, Camcorder.
I also brought gum, but didn't even remember to chew them. I later asked DH if I had bad breathe during delivery when i was breathing on everyone, he said yes oh well, that was the last thing I worried about.

I may of forgot something else, but I am sure other moms will have on their lists.

ETA: Towels! Hospital ones were dingy and very thin. I was soooo happy to have my own big soft towels

Message edited 6/3/2009 2:08:21 PM.

Re: please help with hospital bag...BTDT moms

I totally overpacked the one thing I HIGHLY suggest you bring....................PILLOWS!!! I know it sounds weird but the hospital pillows were awful, plastic, pieces of cr@p! I was SO happy to have my own set of pillows with me. It really helped.

Other than that, pack basic toiletries, HUGE granny panties to fit those giant pads into , PJ's, camera, some magazines, and that's about it. Maybe a few snacks too. Like everyone said, DH or family can always run and bring you back things you may need after the fact.

Re: please help with hospital bag...BTDT moms

Having gone through it twice now, other than the basics previously mentioned, I really appreciated having flip flops for the community shower - right before I went in, someone left their bloody stuff all over and the nurses cleaned and disinfected, but I still was VERY happy to not have to put my bare feet on the floor!

I also loved having my own towels and pillow (make sure you use a colored pillow case so they don't take yours by mistake). And my personal favorite that I didn't use for my first but thought of right before my second was earplugs - it allowed me to get a better sleep when I tried to.

I was also very dehydrated after delivery so I used a lot of lotion, lip stuff and lanisoh.

Truth be told, they have everything that you NEED at the hospital - the rest is just for your convenience and comfort

Re: please help with hospital bag...BTDT moms

Re: please help with hospital bag...BTDT moms

slippers- i brought but didnt need... they put me in slipper socks in L&D and they were comfy that I stuck with them.

Underwear- I did use after the first day of mesh...

tank top & lounge pants are great...

small size shampoo & soap, toothpaste/brush

baby going home outfit.

pads for when you switch to your underwear

I believe we had a blowdryer in our rooms bathroom

Re: please help with hospital bag...BTDT moms

I broke my water three weeks early so I packed my bag on the fly .... I pretty much threw in everything I thought I might need.

Things that I packed that I didn't need b/c I used what the hospital provided:

slippers (sock slippers)
soap/shampo (very gentle)
underwear (disposable)
pajamas/robe
toothpaste/toothbrush
maxi pads

What you need:

A change of clothes to go home in and an outfit for baby

eyewear (contact lenses, solution, glasses)

one pajama set for visitors (I had a c-section and wore the hospital gown/robe until it was time to leave the hospital

flipflops for the shower

brush/hair clips

books/cell phone/magazines/camera



Pack light -- your husband can always go home and pick things up for you