The more you pack, the more you have to carry into the hospital and not to mention out of the hospital. Who wants to be worried about 17 bags when you have a precious new baby to get to the car?!? Not this Mamma! So I have compiled a list of things I learned the first time are essential and threw in a couple "nice to have" items as well. My list will probably look somewhat similar to most but I thought I would share it for those of you who might find it helpful!
The list -
- Insurance info - Now, I don't have to worry about taking this because I have pre registered at the hospital already. If you have this option (most places it's required) take advantage of it! That way when you get up to labor and delivery you don't have to fill out tons of paper work and they have everything they need from you to get you checked in. When you're in labor and having contractions every 3 minutes, signing papers and remembering names and addresses may be harder than you think :)
-Birth Plan if you have one. I personally didn't have a birth plan written out with Gabe and don't have one written this time either. Tim and I (as well as my doctor and I) have talked about different scenarios just in case and he knows how I want things to run and I trust him. I also have full trust in my doctor which is oh so important!
For me personally, having a written plan made me feel like if I didn't stick to it I had in someway failed and I want to keep an open mind to things because you never know what is going to happen when delivering a baby. Keeping baby and mommy safe is number one for Tim and I when it comes to decision making time.
- 2-3 days worth of clothes. Most hospitals you will be there at least one day after the baby is born and to be in your own clothing makes things much more comfortable. If you have to have a Cesarean you will be there for about 3 days so it's always safe to have enough just in case.
Glasses - I think that most hospitals won't allow you to wear your contacts while in delivery so if you want to be able to see, haha, you may want to bring your glasses.
Breast feeding needs
- Maternity/nursing bra if you plan to breast feed.
- Nursing pads - these are nice to have if you are leaking at all after you start breast feeding to keep your breasts from sticking to your bra.
- Lanolin - I personally loved the medela brand of this stuff. It was a life saver with Gabe. No one tells you how painful those first days of breastfeeding can be and the lanolin helps to soothe sore or cracked nipples.
(cracked nipples?? I know, my thoughts exactly :)
- nursing cover
Toiletries
The hospital will have your essentials, but if you are picky you should plan on bringing your own preferred products from home.
- Shampoo and Conditioner
-Tooth Brush and Tooth Paste
-Hair brush
-Deodorant
-Razor
-Lotion
-Make up - this isn't a must have, but it has become very popular for hospitals to have photographers on site to come and take pictures for you after your baby is born and you may want to have on some make up for those pictures. You may also feel better after delivery if you can throw on some mascara and powder for all of the snap shots that will be taken by family and friends.
-Pads - The hospital will also have some of these but once again... if you're picky you may want to bring your own.
Nice to haves
-Hair ties or head band - You may want your hair out of your face while you're pushing and bobby pins or clips may become uncomfortable after a while so these are nice things to have just in case.
-Hair dryer - kind of like your makeup... just something to have if you don't want the air dry look ;)
-Chap stick- sometimes the hospital can be very dry and it's nice to have some chap stick or lip balm to keep your lips from drying out.
-Bath Towel- The hospital should have one for you, but it will probably be a small, thin towel and it's nice to have some comforts from home.
-Computer/tablet and charger - We will be taking our tablet for Tim to have (and Gabe when he visits) to avoid going crazy while sitting there. It can get rather boring for your husband or partner in the first several hours of labor. Also, Tim is not good with blood or me being in pain so it's a good distraction for him.
-Camera - This is a must have on my list, but that may not be the case for some of you :) If you do take your camera make sure that you have the battery charger/extra batteries and PLENTY of space on your memory card. You don't want to have to think about deleting pictures when you're in the moment of having that new baby in your arms.
- Slippers/skid free socks- Most hospitals will provide socks, but if not you will want to have something to wear.
-Thank you cards - I saw this on another list and I think it could be a very good idea! If you're like me, writing thank you cards has not happened yet, sigh...There will be some down time after all of the excitement and if you're not holding your baby what a great time to whip out some thank you cards for all of those precious gifts you've gotten at baby showers.
-Snacks for your hubby/partner and after delivery - You'll be surprised how hungry you may be after delivery depending on the last time you ate and if you deliver at 2 a.m you may be hard pressed to find something to eat!
Baby List
-Carseat (duh) haha
-Going home outfit
-PJ's to keep baby warm in the hospital
-Blankets for the ride home
Things you don't need!
-Diapers and wipes - the hospital provides all of the diapers and wipes you will need while you are there.
-Breast Pump - Most places don't want you to pump if you are going to breast feed, but just in case you have to, the hospital will have a pump you can use during your stay. One less thing you have to carry with you!
I hope this list is helpful to some other soon to be mommy's out there.Try not to worry too much and if there is something you forget I'm sure that someone can run and get something for you or the hospital will have a spare :)
Hopefully we'll be having a baby girl soon and I can follow up with my hospital stay and some do's and don'ts for you guys!
xo,
-Melissa-
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