What to Bring to the Hospital?

Brina,

I took a maternity t-shirt to wear over my hospital gown to help keep it closed up in the back. The first time I delivered I brought a bathrobe and never even used it! I also brought my toiletries. No make up though. I usually only wear make up when I am going out. Magazines are nice to read depending on how the labor goes you might get a chanc eto read them.

M.

If you're a reader, bring a few books. Movies are also a nice way to pass the time. I had a C-section and my hubby was at work all day for the 4 days I was in the hospital. And because new borns sleep ALL THE TIME!!!, it got a bit boring! You may also want to bring a journal to write down your emotions and hopes and dreams while you're in the hospital. I found that I just had too much going on once I got home to really relay my first birthing experience and the real emotions and thoughts I had about my son. But, You'll have plenty of time in the hospital! Also, a comfy nightgown or something to wear besides the hospital gown is good. After a while, the green gets old! Enjoy these last few months and even moreso your new little one!

I was two weeks early with my son, and my husband packed my bag while I was taking a shower to make contractions more comfortable. As a guy, he did pretty well! Basic toiletries - I liked to have my own. Definitely a good nursing bra. Don't forget your brush! There's a good chance your hair is going to be quite nasty after delivery & you're going to want to be able to brush it out / put it back. I didn't take the robe, slippers, or my own pj's, but looking back, that may have been pretty nice. The one thing to remember is that after you have the baby, you will still have a tummy, so whatever you bring to wear home -- make sure it's maternity so it will fit. I chose sweatpants & a tshirt & was super comfy. Also, bring movies, books, music etc. Our room had a dvd player so we got to watch whatever we brought (of course a bunch of dvd's made it in the hospital bag!) A friend of mine brought her baby book & had the baby's feet stamped right in the hospital. I thought that was a great idea! I also had my own pillow and loved having it! Congratulations to you on your first baby! It'll bring you more joy than you ever could have imagined!

I work as a mother/baby nurse and I see people over pack ALL THE TIME! Save your husbands back and just bring the necessities:
1. Going home outfit for your newborn (and one for pics)
2. Outfit for you - including bra and underwear (remember, you will more than likely still have a belly on you :(
3. Sandals/flip flops - your feet tend to get more swollen after delivery from all the IV fluids you get
4. Camera, video camera and film
5. Makeup bag, deodorant and hairbrush
6. Hat and receiving blanket for your newborn
7. Some snacks for your hubby and/or $ for the vending machine or cafeteria.
8. Your car seat (the base can stay in the car)
9. MP3 player or whatever you are using to help you through labor.
Remember - toiletries are provided by the hospital (unless you are picky about that stuff)

Seriously, that's it! The amount of time you spend in the hospital is minimal now a days - so pack lightly. All this should fit nicely in a duffel bag (ok, minus the car seat). Hospitals give out a diaper bag with diapers and wipes - so you won't need your own. More than likely your visitors will be bringing you flowers and presents so your poor hubby will have to carry all that too! Best of luck!

I agree with NJ's response. Basically anything that you would pack for an overnight stay at a hotel. I also packed a robe, so I could wear it when we had visitors as I kept the hospital gown on so I wouldn't get mine own clothes bloody. You don't need tons of stuff, and your husband can stop at home and get what you need if you forget it. Chances are he will be going home to shower anyway (depending on your hospital policy for him). Oh, and bring same lansinoh cream if you plan on breastfeeding. I used it religiously from day one to avoid any painful, dry skin. Ask your nurse for some, and they will give you the handy little tubes- I'd keep those and put them in your diaper bag for when you are out and your need to breastfeed. Use your big tube in the hospital. Another thing you may want to bring is a pacifier. The hospital where we were at (Good Shepard 2 years ago) had pacifiers, but I like to use the Gerber Nuk brand pacifier with my kids. But, if you use one brand, it is often times hard to switch. So, if you think you may want to try to use a pacifier, bring one brand that you like as they may not use that brand in the hospital. Finally, if you have one you may want to bring their baby book as it has a page in there for handprints and footprints. You can have them do this at the same time they do the official one for the baby. You can also do it later at home, but since they have they baby inked up anyway....

You've gotten some great advice so far. I went straight to the hospital from a doctor's appointment and had a c-section, so I didn't have a bag and had no need for special items during labor. The hospital supplied toiletries, hospital gowns - two at a time - one to use as a robe, slippers, underwear (a gauze material - very comfy), pads. The hospital gowns were comfy and I didn't have to worry about laundry afterwards. My husband grabbed the camera on his way to the hospital, but otherwise we didn't have anything. Later my husband brought my comb, deodorant, nursing bra, and a going-home outfit (nightgown and robe). Friends brought magazines, but I didn't have much time for reading. Our daughter stayed in the hospital for a month, so we didn't need anything for her, but my husband could have picked up her going home outfit, blanket, and carseat the morning we took her home - he stopped at home every day and then came back to spend the night. The hospital provided tons of stuff for her - bottles, an entire package of diapers, pacifiers, formula, etc. And they would have let us take home a hospital undershirt and blanket if we wanted. Don't worry too much about it - the hospital mostly has everything you'll need and your husband (or other relative/friend) can run home to grab anything you might want.

Everyone had such great ideas so I only have a few to add...

1) cell phone / camera chargers...my cell phone ran out of
battery but luckily my husband had his fully charged by
chance
2) several pairs of comfy/fuzzy socks...I brought only one
pair and they were disposed of by the end of the first
evening due to the previously mentioned staining issue
3) clothing for your husband if he is staying overnight...my
husband did an excellent job packing the hospital bag
since my water broke a month early and did not have a
bag packed yet (hint...hint...pack early if possible)
but he completely forgot his clothing (poor guy)
4) name of your pediatrician
5) a little something personal from home to make you "feel at
home" in the hospital...a pillow, robe, slippers, photo
of the family, etc...something that can't be supplied by
the hospital
6) take everything you can from your hospital room...I felt
guilty at first but my nurse insisted that I take it...
diapers/formula/nipples/aspirator/thermometer/pacifiers,
and don't be afraid to ask for more samples
Congrats on the expectation of your first!

Not nearly a much as all of the list say to. I would recommend you bring baby clothes that button or snap instead of something that goes over their head. A baby blanket would be good too - since it might be cool out in October. For you, I did not use anything I brought except for clothes to wear home. The hospital provides night gowns, sock, underwear, pads etc. You will want to use all of their stuff because you will be bleeding and you do not want to ruin your clothes. The only thing that might be nice to have is a robe (if you need to walk around before the baby comes or if you have a c-section and are stuck at the hospital for 4 days). For the trip home, I would also bring some pads that are not a thick as a football!

Good Luck and Congratulations!

Jenn

With my first baby, I wished I had my own nightgown the whole time I was in the hospital, so the second time I bought two nursing nightgowns/robes and brought them with me to wear in the hospital. I was much more comfortable in them than the hospital gowns. I also made sure I had slippers to slip on if I had to get out of bed. Make sure you have a very comfortable outift to go home in (think sweat pants.) I thought my maternity jeans would be fine to wear home, and boy, did I regret that one.

I did bring everything, including the kitchen sink! So now for my second, I know better and will not be so overly prepared. Bring the number of nighties that you will be in the hospital (2 for 2 days, 3 for 3, etc) and make sure they unbutton for breastfeeding, if you're doing it, and nursing bras. A comfy bathrobe, socks, slippers, comfy undies (nothing too nice because they may get ruined), what you're wearing home and the outfit for your baby's picture. Don't worry too much about toiletries. I wore makeup for my c-section if that tells you anything about me (wanted to look halfway decent in the pictures) but wound up using nothing but face wash and moisturizer for the time I was there so just pack what you really feel is going to be essential. They will supply you with a toothbrush and toothpaste so you don't even have to pack them (they also supply deoderant, shampoo, soap, etc). I brought my own pillow and my Boppy, liked having both of those. One big thing for me was bringing my own pads. This was a suggestion that was given to me and I'm glad I did. The ones given to you by the hospital are very generic. You won't use them at first because you'll be laying on something the size of a small matress (you will be amazed at how much you bleed at first) but when you're able to switch to regular sized pads, you may want to use your prefered brand. Hope this helps!

I had my own body soap, shampoo, brushes and combs something to tie your hair back.Lotion.
Socks, I brought about 4 pair as they did tend to get a little blood stained.(sorry)
Your pillow. I forgot it and my husband went home the next morning to get mine. I really wish I had it with me the whole time.
Camera and/or camcorder.
I had a magazine or two.
Snacks for you husband, nothing too good of course because you will want it for yourself. Granola bars, trial mix. Or money for vending.
I didn't room in with my baby, so I brought ear plugs as hospitals can get noisy at night.

Any comfort objects you may want.

Comfy clothes to go home in.
Comfy going home outfit for the baby.

Good luck to you!

Well, I had an emergency C and did not have any bag packed. Whatever we grabbed at that two minute interval before we left was pretty useless. My husband went home every day to get me stuff -- and I was there from Tuesday night to Saturday so I needed more stuff than if the delivery were to have been a vaginal delivery... Here's what I will NOT be forgetting this time around...
Carmex/chapstick -- my lips were burning they became so chapped after the first night.
Digital camera and battery charger.
Laptop including plug -- and adapter for your digital camera. My hospital had free wifi and I found it better to e-mail than to talk on the phone to people. PLus, I sent pics the next morning!!
Fluffy socks, slippers and a big fat sweatshirt. This was great because other than that I wore my hospital gown (and just made sure nothing was hanging out when I walked the hall).
Only necessary toiletries and some hair accessories - I wasn't big on makeup or anything because it was hard enough to walk around and take a shower for me. I just tied my hair up and kept comfortable.
Other than that the basics of clothes to go home in, carseat etc that people have already mentioned are definite musts. Good luck!!

Okay, I just had my 4th on 8/7, and here is what I brought: a going home outfit for me and the baby, toiletries so I could shower and put on makeup before going home, and a couple of receiving blankets in case it was cooler. That was it,and I didn't need anything else. If you bring your own nightgowns and underwear, plan on stains, and remember that you will still look about 5 months pg after you give birth. Good luck!

Hi Brina,

I don't have any additional great words of wisdom for what to bring to the hospital as everyone seems to have it covered, but I want to add that we also waited to find out the sex of our little one and what a fabulous moment that was to hear 'It's a boy!'!!!! It was very cool. I will say however that for most of my pregnancy I kind of thought I was having a boy and was getting excited and used to that fact and then in about my 8th month I realized it could be a girl and had the sinking feeling that I might be very disappointed if that was the case. So it was good for me to mull that over and realize it could be either. Obviously I would have been thrilled to peices to have a boy or a girl as long as they were healthy!!!

Praying for a healthy little one for you!!

Don't know if folks said it before, but check your batteries. I had to send my husband out that morning to get new batteries. Yikes!

Congratulations on your new little bundle of joy!
J.