What to pack for the hospital?/Open forum

[hopefulmommie]

Hi I will be 34 weeks pregnant tomorrow, and I'm trying to get everything ready(like a mad lady lol) I was just wondering what to bring to the hospital. Really I wanted to know what to bring for my son. I know all hospitals are different but do I bring clothes for him for however long I will be there for just for bringing him home. I plan to bring an outfit to bring him home in, a blanket,hat,socks,and mittens for his hands but do I bring a couple extra onezies for when he's there? Also do I have to wear the hospital gown the whole time? I think I would feel much more comfy in my own clothes(of course after he is born) Any advice is helpful.
And please feel free to use as an open forum, I hate to take space because I know there are more important issues than mine.....

[Canadian_Gal]

Yah, all hospitals are different. Mine told me to bring sleepers, oneies, 4 blankets, hat, booties, mittens, DIAPERS (and wipes)! don't forget the diapers. Appartently they supply the 1st one and that's it after that. I'm sure they have all the important things, just incase you do forget something. So I wouldn't worry that much.    As for myself, I'm wearing hospital gown until after the birth, then I'll bring my baggie comfty clothes to wear after. I think I'll bring something loose just incase I have a c-section for whatever reason, so it doesn't rub. oh, and also some old underwear and pads. I've been told your pretty .... ya know... down there after.  Not looking forward to that :O(

[jifnif]

i agree w/ old panties and your own pads!!!  Also, my room was freezing so i would definitely say a blanket and your own pillow.  I left my lil guy in the stuff they had him in which were long sleeve lil t-shirts that cover their hands so they have access to the baby's belly button and nothing irritates it.  The only extra thing we had to borrow was a blanket cuz the room was soooooo cold.  I didnt even bring my lil man home in a special outfit b/c it was soooo hot outside!!!  Oooooh, how exciting.  good luck.  

[jenstam]

This is a good question. I have one to add. For those of you who have recently had a baby, what pads worked best? I haven't used pads for years. I don't know what to bring. I know I'll need them, but what kind?

I plan on bringing my rice pack with aroma oils for relaxation and put it in the microwave for my neck or back or even forehead. The oils will be good for massage also, as will a few massage tools we have. Soothing music, word find, cards, dice, nice fuzzy socks for labor because my feet always get cold especially during transition, my robe and slippers but also some comfy clothes to wear. For baby, two onesies and his coming home outfit, two blankets, a hat, mittens and socks and of course the camera and basic necessities like shower items and things. I'm going to have to go out and buy some panties because I still wear all of my thong panties! I know at the hospital I had all of my girls at they provided a netted pair that you could put a pad in. I don't know if this one does or not.

[nermineagain]

go to www.modernmom.com there is a check list to pack for the hospital. i packed socks, night gown, nursing bras and pads, camera, my own stuff as shampoo and conditionner, toothbrush toothpaste, deodorants, and outfit to go home for you it has to be maternity because you will look as 5 months pregannt, and for your baby, blankets, diapper and wipes, onesies.... go to google and type what to pack for the hospital you will find a lot of website to help you. good luck.

[jd1419]

Bring more than one pair of socks for yourself--that you don't mind throwing away.  I always wore the slipper socks with grips on the bottom--felt more comfortable-you will probably throw the 1st pair out the 1st time you stand up--at least I did.  Bring your own jammies, underwear(old ones)  I brought my robe, anything special you may want--I did not bring diapers my hospital gives two pakcages while there and supplies pads for the moms also--I did bring a few that I am used to (kotex)--you will want a supply of tucks pads also if you rip--they are wonderful

[peekawho]

You don't need to bring pads to the hospital.  Plus, they'll usually send you home with a couple packs of them.  You might have to ask.  Anything labeled "super absorbancy" is what you need for the first week.  Our hospital supplies the disposable panties too, which are great.  Ask for all you can get your hands on.

[anxiousmomtobe?]

I think the best pads are incontinence ones.  They are super absorbant and cottony soft.

[rubyolivia]

I probably went a little overboard with packing for my baby! lol I packed him a onesie, booties and hat set (gift from Daddy), a smaller size onesie outfit that I love, and a sweater vest, polo and jeans for pictures. I also packed a blanky and a pair of slippers. (The slippers are for picture purposes only lol My uncle and Aunt just had a baby and insisted on putting bunny slippers on her. So we are getting a picture of my guy wearing his lizard slippers lol) That's pretty much it. I did throw in a diaper and some wipes b/c we will be stopping to show him off to dh's grandmother who recently broke her knee cap and won't be walking by the time we have him.

As for me....I had this great list typed up but apparently I didn't save it to the computer. I was going to copy and paste it for you....I'll keep looking! :)

[rubyolivia]

I am in the same boat as you where the panties are concerned! I hate normal ones...I don't know how I'll ever transition back to them! lol Sounds stupid...but hey!! lol

[tomel]

Pack as much as you can including all the baby stuff and  the nightime pads they will charge you alot for these things.
My friend was in the hospital recently and was charged $102 for a warm blanket.
You do end up paying for those things on your deductable.

[taysmommy]

my aunt brought me the best gift to the hospital, a bag of snacks, pretzels, pop tarts, red vines, sour candies, (all for after labor of course) and a bunch of other things for  breakfast and such,

bring change for the soda/juice machines in case your in the waiting room for a bit (i was in hard labor for about 30 min in the waiting room)

a bobby saved my life! another gift my gma brought, i didnt think i would need one, but i was so weak after labor, and i still had my IV in, so i just put baby on the bobby and let her nurse, i still use it 16 months later (not to nurse, but its dds favorite pillow to sit in, also great for when their learning to sit up)

a brush and a hair tie, and make up if youd like, i know i looked like a monster after i gave birth, so it was nice that i brought stuff to clean up a bit before people started showing up

bring something you wore when you were about 5-6 months prego (i dont know if someone mentioned this already) that you dont mind getting messy

[lovethebops]

I brought my own jammies to wear, but ended up wearing a hospital gown the whole time, because I was bleeding so much, and didn't want to stain my own clothes. I did wear my own slippers, but not socks..I stayed in bed the whole time I was there, and only got up a few times, hence the slippers. I took advantage of all my hospital had to offer..pads, disposible underwear, diapers, and those pads w/ the cooling stuff in the middle, they feel so good after giving birth, it helps w/ the swelling and stitches if you tear! However, we (well, tell the nurses if we didn't ask first) had to keep track of all the stuff we used, as it went on our tab..(when you recieve a bill for the hospital, even when ins. pays, they list all the costs of things from the hospital, and sure enough, I used hundreds of dollars in disposible medical supplies/meds, etc.)..But every hospital is different. The most helpful things I brought was my own tolietries, deoderant,face wash, make up (which I was glad I did, I burst vessels in my face from pushing so hard, I had to hide the red splotches for pics.!) Your doc should give you a list of things in which things to bring to the hospital, or the hospital may give you a list when you go in to register ahead of time.

[pixijal]

I guess I need to buy some underpants too!  I have 4 pairs that I used pp w/my last one.  I am still wearing my thongs, and stretching them out!  I'm about due for a new panties wardrobe anyway, so if I just ruin all of these, I'll have to get more PP!  Ha!

[hopefulmommie]

oh wow! thanks for all the suggestions you ladies are so smart! I didn't even think about diapers and wipes...lol I guess I assumed they would be provided.
I'm going on a tour of the hospital at my childbirth class in two weeks so I guess I can ask them if they supply some of the things mentioned.I just don't want to forget anything. thanks again for all the replies

[jenstam]

I actually still love my thongs! I have the lower ones that go below my belly and they're not uncomfortable. I am using the thong pantyliners though, for that lovely moisture and discharge (tmi) we get with pregnancy, but I'm going to hate reverting to big panties! I'm pretty sure the thongs and liners won't cut it after baby is born! I LOVED the netted panties they had at the last hospital I gave birth at. I hope they have those. If not, I really have no idea what kind to even buy anymore! LOL...

[tiredbuthappy]

should i call my insurance company and find out if they cover all of those disposable medical supplies, pads, diapers, etc... or if i'll end up paying for them?

[rubyolivia]

I just did the unthinkable and bought normal panties from Wal Mart. I dread the thought of wearing them. I pulled them out to wash and just groaned. I understand the need for them in this situation but I'd rather have a little but of fabric from my thong up my crack (lol) than the whole back "panel" of these things riding up! Oh well.......I guess I'll deal! :)

[pixijal]

lol!  That is my thinking too.....panties are gonna ride up your a$$ anyway, so we may as well minimize the 'panel'.  Let me know how those Walmart underpants are.....maybe the big pad will keep them outta our cracks!
Ha!  

[jenstam]

HAHA!! Funny you say that! I just bought some tonight after our discussion, too. I got mine at Motherhood because I had a gift certificate I had to use there. These seem decent and stretchy, but still not thongs! I bought my pads, and a few other things, too. I think I am nesting...

[rubyolivia]

I think I am nesting too. I am washing every single piece of baby laundry and folding and sorting it by size for the 3rd time in 2 days! (3rd time sorting...not washing!) Bad thing is we don't even have our nursery done yet.......don't even have the dresser here for the clothes! So I sort them and put them in his clothes hamper! lol

The Wal Mart panties are "OK". I got cute patterned ones so I feel trendy with them on.....but they aren't exactly getting an A in the comfort department! I washed them once, but I think they need about 100 more washes to maybe reach comfortable!

[Crritter]

The hospital here includes pads and they provide you with disposable mesh panties.  They are included in the room, but do not show up separately on the bill.  The pads I got seemed freakishly big, but they were way better than any pad you can buy otc.  I bled a lot and you don't want to be leaking.  They also don't warn you that you may have issues with a pad irritating your stitches if it rubs in the wrong place, so it's better to go with the big ones.  You may also deal with incontinence, which is way common.  I also wore the hospital gown till I left because I did not want to ruin mine.  I did pack my own but I soaked through a few gowns after delivery, literally soaked them.  As for baby, they provided everything till you take them home, then you need an outfit, blanket, car seat, hat.  I brought diapers too but they give you lots of stuff and you don't need to use yours.