What to Pack? - Natrona Heights,PA

Definitely bring a couple of pairs of BIG jogging sweats that you plan to throw out- they wont be wearable again. trust me, you'll need 'em. Hope thta's helpful . Kath ;)

There's lots of great advice here already about the essentials. I also relied heavily on music and a relaxation book to get me through labor.

Good luck.

Chapstick! Snacks! Even if the hospital will provide snacks, bring along something you actually want to eat. This is especially handy if you give birth right after mealtime and they make you wait until the next meal!! If you're cold-blooded, a sweater or robe. Both hospitals I gave birth in were cold cold cold. Good luck!!

Congrats B.!! I have 2 girls, 5 years old and 6 weeks old. I know the excitement that your talking about!! When it comes to packing for the hospital make sure that you pack an outfit for your little one to come home in. For yourself, pack what you use at home. Having personal items such as showering items makes the stay a little more bearble. When it comes to clothes, pack what you most comfortable in. Do won't about over packing.... wait until you pack your first overnight bag for you and the little one. Your little one will have alot more than you!! Overall, enjoy your time!! D., Denver, PA

I definitely suggest bringing snacks for you and your hubby... breast pads/nursing bra/nursing top/few pairs of undies/change of clothes for your hubby too. Outfit for the little one and don't forget the camera! Even if you don't think you want pictures of your birth, one of the nurses took some of mine and I love having them to look at!
Good luck!

Chapstick is a must. And snacks. They won't give you any if you're in labor, but I was glad I brought some for me & my hubby.

(I know, I know... you'r eNOT supposed to eat, but I was starving so the crackers I packed were perfect.)

Hi B., Congrats to you and your hubby. Besides the normal things like your personal sanitary items and clothes for you and the baby, I took along my own pillow from home. If you're anything like me and 1/2 the other people I know, your own pillow is a must have. Most hospital pillows are little strips of rubber that do absolutely nothing for you. I also took along "thank you" cards to send to everyone that came to visit us at the hospital. It was great for keeping me busy at night after visiting hours and a little note from you, your husband and the baby is a nice way to let people know how grateful you are for their support. Good Luck to you and Happy "Labor" Day.

Hi B.!
Congrats on your baby to be! Its so exciting especially your first one. I had this fan/squirt bottle. it was battery operated when you had the fan running and pulled the trigger to squirt the water you would get this cool mist. its amazing. i got mine at walmart. i also had my hubby pack some snacks for him and something to drink that didnt need to be refridgerated so i could pack it when i packed my hospital bag. the hospital i had my kids in was warm so i just packed a cool nite shirt to wear or some shorts and a tshirt. something cool. they wouldnt allow me to snack so i just had ice chips and that was like pulling teeth to get. a digital/or any kind of camera. being your 1st you'll be snapping pix like crazy! the usual..toothbrush/paste, deoderant, shampoo, soap, i brought body spray so when i felt yucky i could spray that and not feel so yucky. hope this helps. good luck!!

Hi B.,
Congratulations!! This is one of the best times in your life. I brought a shower cap because showering during labor helped a lot with the pain. Bring some chapstick or lipgloss, it seems that the hospital is very dry, Nursing bras, Make-up, hair dryer and some maxipads of your choice so you don't have to wear those huge diaper-like pads they give you. Don't forget clothes to wear home and finally clothes for the baby. Good Luck!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I just had my son in December and was packed 2 months before hand. I made sure I had some scented showergel and lotion...it made me feel so much better to smell nice and flowery instead of using the nasty hospital soap. I also brought a few pair of sweatsocks, sweatpants and an old denim shirt to wear during the day(I had a c-section and couldn't stand anything touching my incision). I also had lip balm a little make-up, so I didn't feel like death warmed over(or look like it for that matter). The best thing I did was the morning after I had my son, I took a shower. It was uncomfortable, but I felt so much better afterwards. Good luck and best wishes!! S.

They always tell you not to bring nice clothes and not to worry about what you look like. The first kid I listened and all my first pictures as a family I am wearing a junky t shirt and no makeup...needless to say I learned my lesson. from the waste down bring something junky or that you don't mind throwing away but for the top bring a nicer looking dark colored shirt or one that won't show if your milk comes in as a matter of fact bring breast pads...a lot of women's milk doesn't come in while they are in the hospital so they don't tell you to bring it...but mine did with all three!! and bring your make-up hair dryer etc...you will have a ton of visitors all packing cameras...be prepared!!

oh and don't forget about hubby...pack snacks (but nothing that smells too much as it might nauseate you during labor), magazines, and handheld games.

And my biggest bit of advice...if you are nauseous during labor and they will let you have a popsicle it REALLY helps!!!

It's easy to OVERpack for the hospital. Everything you need should fit easily into an overnight bag or backpack. But, definitely include slippers/flip flops/slip-ons and robe to wear around the hospital (you might have to walk around to encourage labor, and, then for AFTER Baby is born, too), things you like to use for showering (your favorite shampoo, shower gel, puffy sponge, etc), toothbrush and paste, hairbrush, if you plan to nurse: nursing gown and bra, and, finally, clothing to wear home. I also brought a few "munchies", bottles of water and Diet Coke, and a few magazines.

Good luck!!
C.

Definitely make sure you have GUM and CHAPSTICK!!!

Hi B.,

Congrats!!!!

I brought some comfortable slippers and also a light weight robe. I really didn't want to wear the socks that have traction on the bottom like slippers. The robe was super comfortable and it was mine.

Also I had a long labor so lifesavers were great to suck on while I waited for my bundle of joy!

I too think the Boppy pillow is a must have. It is so awesome for breastfeeding and for just holding the baby. Some really comfy clothing for you (and baby of course) and definitely some flip flops for the shower. Since hospital food isn't so great, some good munchies or maybe something you have been craving but could not eat while pregnant. Congratulations and good luck!

Congratulations--youre almost there. How exciting. Everyone has given you great ideas. A few things that I found helpful was my own pillow and blanket. When youre in the hospital at night its nice to have a little bit of home with you. I remember getting all new robes and pj's for the hospital but the reality is you bleed a lot, at least I did as I had a c-section so bringing the new stuff to the hospital wasn't a good idea. I know that I packed little pads but you will see that you need the big diaper like pads that the hosiptal provides. Just in case you have to have a c-section bring a pair of bottoms that are comfy and big. This way nothing is touching your incision. Flip flops for the shower are a great idea. I brought my own towel and wash cloth too. Try to get some of those big pads and the mesh underwear that they give you too. That was real helpful for when I got home. Good luck!!!

Hi B.. First let me say Congrats on new baby! I am 24 with 2 kids of my own (3 and 1, both boys). The only things I really needed was clothes for me (sweatpants & shirt), an outfit for the new baby to wear home. I actually brought 3 outfits - 1 for the hospital picture, 1 to wear home, and 1 as a backup to wear home incase the first one doesn't fit. I brought the car seat for the baby too. If the baby is born before 38 weeks, then he/she is still considered premie, and they need to test him/her in the seat to make sure it doesn't go into distress. And of course i brought my camera. most of hte hospitals that i know of give you a diaper bag with some cupons, and formula in it. then they tell you to take the creams and diapers/wipes, etc., from the baby's bassinett because they'll be tossing them after your stay, so you might as well take them. diapers/wipes and formula (if you're not breastfeeding) gets pretty expensive.

Well, congrats again and I hope this helps you.

Hi B.!
Congratulations! I know everyone suggests the boppy, but there is a new nursing pillow that is fabulous too, it is called a nuzzle, and it was great for me, I am still using it at 8 months. I am on the larger size and the boppy didn't work for me.

I also brought some colorful pajamas to add some color to my face. No one is really there to see you, but you want to look as good as possible in the pictures.

Lip ointment of some sort is a must-my husband was having to continually give it to me during labor.

Good Luck!
M.

Hi B.-

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone's advice is so great- many of these things helped me during my hospital stay. I would add the Bopie nursing pillow to the list- but not for what you think! I sat on the Bopie after my delivery and it was soooooooooooooooooooo wonderful. I actually had 2 Bopies- one for my tush, one for nursing my daughter.

Also, make sure you bring all the stuff from the hospital home with you- my hospital had these great, big, old maxi pads that had some sort of cooling gel in the middle- ahhhhhhhhh. Also, bring home the squirt bottle- that's another thing I couldn't live without- get some Dermaplast at the grocery store to have there when you get home. My daughter was big (9lbs, 8oz) and my whole bottom was very sore. These were the things that helped me right after I had her.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!

C.

SOX, A FEW PAIRS, INCASE YOUR TOOTSIES GET COLD... A PACI FOR THE BABY IF YOUR DOING THAT AND IF YOU KNOW THE HOSPITAL DOES NOT PROVIDE ONE, LIKE MINE. BABY BOOK, SO THE NURSE CAN IMPRINT BABY'S FEET AND HAND PRINTS ON THAT PAGE., CELL PHONE AND CHARGER.. REMEMBER WITH THE BABY'S GOING HOME OUTFIT, MAKE SURE IT'S PANTS OF SOME SORT, B/C YOU HAVE TO BUCKLE THEM INTO THE CAR SEAT...

I COULD GO ON AND ON..I HAD A C-SECTION, SO I SET UP SHOP IN MY ROOM! 5 DAY STAY AND I TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE OF THAT!

I had a baby boy last November and the only things I really needed were my flannel jammies and slippers, toothpaste and toothbrush, hairbrush and hair ties. You wil be surprised at how little else matters after the baby is born. Nothing else matters from that point forward.

Just bring whatever comforts you need, but truly, you will be more focused on the baby than anything else. Just bring comfy clothes to wear home and appropriate attire for the baby.

Good luck to you!!

B.

If you plan to breastfeed, bring pajamas that button down the front for easy access. If your husband is like mine, he'll be making trips home and back so if you forget anything, he can get it for you, so don't sweat it.

Here is something I didn't see in the mix. Yes pack pj and slippers. But don't get white ones. You have a very heavy period after and the last thing you want to do is walk around with gross slippers. Also, pack breast leakage pads. Whether you breast feed or not your milk is going to come in and they will leak. I breast fed my son and while in the hospital, while I fed him on one side the other side would start to leak. And on that note, if you are going to breast feed, bring a comfortable nursing bra. When your nursing your boobs get really full at first so you need something that gives support and comfort. I totally over packed. Most of the stuff you pack you don't need. I backed pj's and I never wore them, I just wore the robes and gowns they gave me there. I know someone suggested makeup, but people really don't come to see you anyway. Their there to see the baby. I really only ever wore clothes the day I came home, the same with the baby. I also had a c-section, and didn't want anything touching me. I did buy men's boxers and t-shirts for after, when I got home, they aren't binding and they don't push on your belly.

CHAPSTICK...CHAPSTICK......CHAPSTICK!!!!!!!!!
The hospitals are so dry your skin and lips really pay the price. Especially with your hormones going bananas. Also, hand lotion and those little white cotton gloves.

Congrats!! Take your baby book. The hospital I was in stamped my daughters feet prints into her book...it's so cute!! Also, you'll still look 5-6 months pregnant when you leave the hospital so make sure you pack maternity clothes for youself to go home in. Your pre-pregnancy clothes will not fit you. And finally, make sure you take something to do in the hospital. I'm not a big TV watcher, and the baby slept alot so I found myself with some time on my hands. Blessings to you and your little one!

If you are going to breastfeed, bring some Soothies with you. My hospital gave them to me and they are fabulous!!! Soothies are a sort of gel pad that go over your areola and nipple and literally "soothe" and help to heal the area. I was able to find them in Walgreens. They are a bit expensive, but well worth it. You can use the soothies instead of lanolin. You can also put the soothies in the refrigerator to cool them and then apply - feels great when your nipples are sore from starting to breastfeed. Good luck!!