With both Vito and Elizabeth, I packed a hospital bag, pretty late in the game. And I still wound up forgetting things when the time came. This time around I am determined to pack everything I need and potentially a few things I may want. A lot of it is practical (at least, I feel like it is anyway)
1. Pj’s/Labor gown
The number one thing I hate having to wear in the hospital, its the hospital gowns. This time around, I’m bringing a labor gown (although with my son I just pushed in my birthday suit due to feeling extremely hot and sweaty) I still want one available in the off chance, this labor is just that drastically different.
2. Breast Pump
I’ve been asking the Facebook group of other pregnant moms weather or not they are bringing their pump. To say the least its a wide variety of answers I am getting. Some hospitals forbid you to use your own pump while your a patient, while other hospitals don’t mind at all. I figure I’ll bring mine just to be on the safe side. My bag is plenty big enough to bring it “just in case”
3. Swaddle
I’ve never actually used a swaddle for my kids, but I’ve always wanted to, to see if it makes any kind of a difference. And for this baby, my husband wanted her theme to be cow print (he loves baby animals, and he finds baby cows just the cutest, and well, we make cute babies) . So I got a cow print swaddle and hat set that I’ll be bringing to the hospital. I feel like its much better to bring too much and not need it rather than bring to little and need it.
4. Hair Brush/Hygiene Items
Yes, yes, the hospital really does provide you with all that you need when you deliver a baby. But when I had my other two, I really missed “my” hairbrush and “my” toothbrush ect. So I just plan on bringing mine to be more comfortable. I have a tendency to have long, thick hair, so I want to ensure I have what I need to pull it back how I like it. The Hygiene items I’m typically more ‘lax’ on, but plan on bringing anyway.
5. Going home outfit (for mom)
Nothing too crazy, but I’ll be packing a comfortable going home outfit for myself. More than likely just a comfortable t-shirt and sweatpants.
6. Going Home outfit (baby)
Now, this one I’ve been going back and fourth over. With my older kids, I just threw a random onesie in the hospital bag, thinking “well were just going home” but this time around, I’m going to pack something cute. It’s going to be December, so I am keeping that in mind, but she’s going to look cute for her going home pictures none the less.
7. Snacks!
When I had my other two kids, I didn’t pack any snacks because I knew I couldn’t eat while I was in active labor. But this time around, I know that there’s the entire time after labor that I’ll be hungry. And the last two times, I just did not get enough food to keep me full until the next meal. So I’ll be packing some snacks in my bag for when I get hungry in between. And then I wont have to use the vending machine as much (which can get pricey!)
8. Pads
I was never a huge fan of the pads that the hospital provides you after labor, so with my son, and now this lil girl, I’ll be bringing my own to wear after the first shower.
9. Tablet
I also plan on bringing my tablet. With my other two, I was exhausted, but there was never anything to watch on tv, so I’ll bring my tablet for games husband and I can play on the sleepless first night when your still fueled by adrenaline and can’t sleep even if you wanted to. My husband has a tablet he’ll be bringing too, and we have a couple games we often play together.
10. Blankets (for baby)
The hospital provides basic blankets for baby. With my daughter, it was a blue, pink and white striped blanket, similar to the ones my husband and I got when we were both babies. With my son, it was a white blanket with orange elephants all over it. I packed two blankets with two different textures. One, which could double as a burp cloth if needed, and another smoother, warmer fuzzier texture being that its going to be December when we have her.
11. Robe and Slippers/Socks
From what I can remember, hospitals are cold. So The robes (mine and Daniels) will be one of the last things to get packed. Its more of a precautionary than anything else really, but I don’t want to be wrapped up in a blanket the entire time I’m there, so a robe would be perfect. And honestly, who knows where Daniel will sleep (with Elizabeth he slept in a chair, with Vito they gave me a room with an extra bed) so I feel like packing his robe would be good for him too. I’ll also either bring a pair of socks, or my slippers too. The room is cold like I said, and that certainly includes the floors.
