OK, on the 19th of this month we will have one month to go before our due date. I am slowly getting things ready and packed for the hospital stay- just in case this little man decides to bust out early. I have packed the diaper bag and I am wondering if I remembered everything that will come in handy at the hospital. Here's what I got- tell me if I missed something.1.) a couple outfits
2.) diapers & wipes
3.) socks
4.) burp rags
5.) thermometer
6.) mini bottles of Desitin, lotion, shampoo, etc
7.) binkies
8.) gas drops
9.) blankets
Anything else I should bring for the baby? We have the car seat- we'll remember that. I am also wondering what all I should bring for myself. I am going to bring my Boppy Pillow and my hooter hider (just in case we have visitors while I am feeding him- or attempting to feed him). I am wondering if I need to bring a nursing bra- cause if it takes 2-4 days to get your milk supply then how do I know how big my chest is going to get? Of course I will bring some comfy clothes for myself and hygiene products, but what else?? OH- and the diaper bag at the top is my diaper bag! (pic. from website) It's super cute and what my sister got me for my baby shower in Idaho. The company makes lots of cute diaper bags and you should all check out their website here. LOVE THEM.
Don't bother with a nursing bra - the hospital may have them (for a price, of course, but they can actually fit you... other than that, you might try a bigger sports bra or a "nighttime" nursing bra - more flexible, size-wise), and you probably won't be wearing a bra until you're getting ready to go home, anyway. :-)
ReplyDeleteAlso on the hospital note, use their burp rags & clothes for Baby until you leave - less laundry!!!
Little bottles of your own shampoo & stuff for when you take a shower - it's soothing :-).
A lot of people bring music or movies, but Hubby & I were WAY too tired to watch/listen to any of that. It's busy, learning how to diaper, feed, etc. a newborn! Aside from that,... just clothes that fit you mid-maternity-ish and that are washable.
Oh, and a camera, for sure (although I'm pretty sure you two, of all people, won't forget yours!) - we left ours in our luggage, not realizing we wouldn't have a chance to go get it before Kiddo's birth, so we missed the "new new" pics for Kiddo.
Great preparing! :-)
The only thing I brought for baby was an outfit and the car seat. Binkies are a good idea, though. We were carrying so much stuff out by the time we left, it was nice to have not brought so much to begin with. Our hospital allowed us to take a bunch of stuff home for the baby (including two gift diaper bags full of stuff). They also provided diapers and wipes, etc.
ReplyDeleteI didn't wear a bra the whole time I was there (besides coming and going). Sorry if that's too much information :)
Yes, bring some personal shampoos and lotions. Anything to help you feel more comfortable. Some couples like to bring music for the delivery.
Make sure you bring underwear that you don't care too much about!
We didn't bring anything for the baby besides an outfit to take her home in. They do give you gift diaper bags and even though you have your own, take it! Take anything that isn't nailed down. The box of tissues, the plastic water pitcher, the diapers and wipes that they use. Believe me, at the rate of your hospital bill you deserve a few things for free.
ReplyDeleteI agree...take all the diapers, tissues, wipes etc. that you can get your hands on! I brought our portable DVD player and played cd's during labor. Tatem was born with Brooks and Dunn Greatest Hits playing in the background..it helped me to relax and at least I could control the music if nothing else! One thing that was a must was facial cleasing clothes, dove I think, it was nice to be able to get my face nice and clean without having to get out of bed ;)
ReplyDeleteCute bag! I didn't bring anything for baby except the going home outfit. The hospital has everything, even binkies. Ask for whatever you can get and take it home. Use their diapers while you can because those newborn ones are so dang expensive. I wouldn't worry about a nursing bra, you probably won't even get dressed while your there.
ReplyDeleteWe always bring way too much stuff. for the baby you need 1 going home outfit (most hospitals don't let you dress your baby in regular clothes untill you leave) and the carseat, and a Boppy is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteThis might be unwanted advice so take it or leave it, but I was always told to not give your baby a bottle or Binkie for 4 weeks to establish good greastfeeding habits(if your breastfeeding)for your self we brought movies and games. Anything you would normally use to get dresseed in the morning, plus undies. A good rule of thumb for nursing Bras is to go one cup size up. (buy a cheap one untill you know for sure)
some fun things to bring might be sparkling apple juice to celebrate! You can also go to Babies R us they have a check list on their website for what you should bring. Ditto for what Jill said: take everything home with you, diapers, water jug, ect They charge you for it on your bill weather you take it or leave it.
I read through your comments and they pretty much summed upi what I was going to say. Your diaper babg sounds ready and perfect....leave it at home and ready for your first outting after the hospital. We never got any of our kids dressed in our clothes until we left. They are always needed to check the baby and they take off the clothes anyway. We did bring one blanket to take the baby home in, but all my kids were born in the winter and you live in Arizona so I think you will be ok. You actually should focus less on the baby and more on you guys. We tended to have too much stuff for baby and nothing for us. Chapstick! That is something I always wish I would have brought. Leave your purse in the car or at home though. And we brought snacks for Ryan. It depends on how picky your hospital is, but sometimes they practically watch you eat your food to make sure no one else does. The hospital food in the cafeteria is outrageously expensive. Remember though, he can bring in outside food i.e. Subway or pizza. It tends to be a lot cheaper than buying it at the hospital.
ReplyDeleteIs that enough? Do you feel well informed now by everyone's advice. Good luck, you'll do great!!!!
I agree with everyone else. And my top two items I brought to the hospital were my own pillow (hospital pillows are the pits) and some slippers to walk around in. If you forget anything, Jon can always go home and get things for you. Good luck with everything.
ReplyDeletethat was not aaron that made the last comment (my bad)
ReplyDeletei agree with erica on the slippers and your own pillow. i would bring a binkie for the baby because some hospitals don't have them. and i don't necessarily agree with the waiting 4 weeks for the binkie/bottle. anyway, just don't have jon lock his keys in the car. and make sure you buy yourself a nice big package of maxi pads. you won't need them in the hospital, but you'll need them once you get home. and if you don't have a breast pump, make sure you make arrangements to at least rent one as you leave the hospital. make sure you have nursing pads for when you go home, and i think bringing a nursing bra to the hospital is helpful. just don't buy one with underwire for the first couple weeks. and definitely bring comfy clothes for you for going home. and don't think you can wear those jeans you wore when you were 6 months pregnant. i made that mistake with seth and suddenly realized that i had gained weight in my thighs that i didn't realize i had gained. i brought comfy clothes with ella. good luck.
ReplyDeleteok Heather...heres my input. (i havent been on the internet for a while so thats why Im late responding).
ReplyDeletejust take one pacifier. forget about the thermometer, gas drops, Desitin, diapers + wipes. you and Jon will hate lugging so much crap that youll never touch at the hospital. leave the burp rags home, I doubt youll need any blankets - too hot for drive home in AZ.
for you? grap the chapstick and a pair of socks. Just wear the same outfit home as the one you wear to the hospital. Seriously, like cumfy jogging bottoms (youll be size 5 month) + t-shirt.
take those face wipes that TerrieBeth told you about, I took a bunch and LOVED it!!! works great for face, neck, armpits... Hairblower,if you want, brush...
forget about taking nursing pads, youll get some at hospital. Like Tiff said, just take one big a*s suitcase and youll be set. I remember being soooo nervous w/ Val (& still am with this guy) that I packed my bag in the 7th month, BUT PACKED TOO MUCH FREAKING CRAP.
Oh ya, Id forget about taking the boppy, again, another thing to lug. the pillows and receiving blankets there will do the trick.