hospital bag necessities

Some of you may remember how I did an episode of  ‘What’s in your…?’ on That’s What we Said and I did it for the contents of my hospital bag. Now the time has come to reveal what I actually found handy to have with me.

• The flip flops for the shower were a must. Things are pretty nasty in the first couple of showers. It was comforting to know that my feet would stay clean from the shower floor.
• Bedroom slippers were great for walking the halls while I was recovering. I stayed in the room during labor. It was impossible to move around when you’re hooked up to so many monitors and IV’s!
• Light weight robe was nice to slip on when people came by to visit.
• Two button down pj’s from Victoria’s Secret. They were essential for breastfeeding and it was nice to not be in the hospital gown. I didn’t wear the bottoms because I was afraid of getting them stained.
• Nursing tops also came in handy.
• Nursing pads were essential. I just used the washable kind while in the hospital since you aren’t leaking yet, since it’s just the collostrum. You mainly just need them so that you don’t stain your shirts with the lanolin nipple cream.
• Of course, the going home outfit is essential. You want to feel cute when you head out to the car!

• A camera was essential to catching the video and photos. The time goes by so quickly, you hardly have time to soak it in. It’s nice now to go back and revisit the memories.
• It was nice that my husband brought his laptop so he could upload photos of our new family member, but having mine wasn’t necessary. I could do everything I needed (internet wise) with my iPhone.
• The snack assortments were nice to have in the recovery room during the wee hours of the night. You could only order food from 7am-7pm, so when you’re up feeding the little one all throughout the night, you’ll be wanting to eat!
• Having my make-up, shower essentials (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razor), blow dryer, straightener, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, and deodorant were nice to make me feel like a human again.
• I had my mom bring in the cookies I had made for the delivery nurses. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go in the labor/delivery part of the hospital to give them to them personally, but I hope they got them and enjoyed them!
• I also brought a heating pad, which was nice to put directly on my stomach for some extra relief and comfort.
• Pillows from home were a nice comfort too. And bring two pillow cases if you plan on having your pillow in the delivery room as well as the recovery room. It’ll get nasty in the delivery room.

• I never wore any sweat pants or pajama bottoms. I was too afraid I’d stain them. I just wore the disposable underwear and pads, which were all I wanted getting remotely close to ‘down there’.
• I never used the sleep mask or ear plugs. I had so many visitors during the day that there was no time to nap (as much as I wish I could have).
• I never used the nursing bra that I bought before hand, except just to wear going home.
• I didn’t need any sort of entertainment like the nook or iPod. My labor was very quick and not relaxing what-so-ever. Also, the recovery time was spent entertaining guests, feeding Liam, and napping.
• Again, since my labor was so quick, I didn’t need any mints. I just got loads of popsicles to suck on since I was starving and thirsty! No food and water while you’re working your butt off pushing out a baby!
• Also, it was unnecessary to bring water bottles either. The hospital gives you PLENTY of water and the best ice chips!
• I didn’t use any of the pads I brought. They provided me with all of the essentials for my health and recovery including:
  • disposable underwear
  • giant pads
  • squirt bottle
  • witch hazel pads
  • spray anesthetic
  • nipple cream
  • pain medications
• The only baby related things I needed to bring were a going away outfit and cute outfit for the in-hospital photoshoot that we had done. All the rest could have been left at home.

So, here’s the my official list of what to pack in a hospital bag:

1. Going away outfit for you and the baby
2. Receiving blanket to tuck baby into the car seat on the trip home
3. Cosmetics and shower essentials
4. Bedroom slippers
5. Light weight robe
6. Nursing tank tops
7. Sleep nursing bras or these bras
8. Socks
9. Nursing pads: Washable for the hospital because they are soft and comfortable when your nipples will be most sore and not leaking yet,  Disposable for home when your nipples get tougher and your milk comes in.
10. PJ button down tops (bottoms if you’d like, but I never used mine)
11. Shower shoes
12. Midnight snacks (granola bars were my favorite)
13. Camera
14. Laptop (if you’re crazy and want to upload photos to the internet)
15. Phone (with a baby log app to start keeping track of how often you feed, change, etc)
16. Pillow and 2 pillow cases
17. File folder for all the paper work and a pen
18. Clothes for daddy
19. (optional) An extra bag to carry home the womanly essentials, diapers, and goodies the hospital gives you.

Have anything to add???