With only 11 days to go until my scheduled c-section, I need to get ready to pack for the hospital. When we had David there were things that I had wanted & forgot to pack, so this time I made a rather extensive list of what to bring with me. I’ll be checking in on Thursday morning at 6am and won’t be discharged until Sunday at some point. Steve will be spenging the nights at the hospital & we plan on breastfeeding so I have a lot of items for both of that outlined on here as well. The other kicker is that food service is only from 7am-7pm, and nursing mom’s should try to eat every few hours, so snacks are a must.
Here’s what I have on my list…
For Me:
- 2 Nursing Nightgowns - I hate the hospital gowns & want to change as soon as I can into something comfortable
- Robe
- Slippers
- 4 Cotton Underwear
- 2-3 Nursing Bras
- Nursing Pads - some hospitals supply these
- 4 Socks
- Pillows - make sure they have a color or pattern so they don’t accidentally get confused with hospital pillows
- Comfy outfit for me to wear home
For Steve:
- Pillows - make sure they have a color or pattern so they don’t accidentally get confused with hospital pillows
- Flannel Sheet
- 3 changes of clothes
- Clothes for sleeping (sweat pants/shorts)
- slippers
Toiletries:
- 2 bath sheets - make sure they have a color or pattern so they don’t accidentally get confused with hospital towels
- poof or wash cloth
- body wash
- shampoo & conditioner
- toothbrush, toothpaste, & mouthwash
- deodorant
- q-tips
- comb & hairbrush
- pony tail holders/headband
- lip balm - hospital air is very dry
- moisturizer - hospital air is very dry
For Baby:
- Coming Home Outfit - NB and 0-3 mos since you won’t know how big the baby is
- Spare outfit/Sleep Sack - in case there is a blow out diaper
- Undershirts - for coming home 2 in each size just in case
- Hat & booties - you won’t need booties if the outfit has feet, and the hospital will give you a hat
- Receiving blanket - for the car ride home or hospital photos
- Infant Car Seat
- Breast Pump & accessories – All hospitals can provide you with a breast pump for during your stay if you need to pump. With a first child your milk could take 3-6 days to come in, but with a second child could come in within 2 days.
- Boppy
Miscellaneous:
- Folder of paperwork – Pediatrician contact info, My medical info, Birth Plan & Postpartum/Newborn Care
- Cash for food (Steve)
- Calling Card - you may not have a cell signal in your room, and this way you can call out of the building easier
- Phone List/Email List
- Baby Book & Pen
- Camera/Video Camera & extra batteries/tapes
- Cell Phone Charger
- Laptop - some hospitals have wireless access, at the very least you can use it to watch movies or listen to music
- Magazine or book
Snacks: This one is up to you. The food at RWJ was pretty good, but the portions were small & I was always hungry. I recommend some snacks that can be served room temp like crackers, granola bars, etc; as well as things that are a little more meal like such as cereal and cup of soup. Find out if your hospital has a pantry in the postpartum ward & what is included. Ours has a microwave, and you can bring stuff from home to reheat & eat once you are allowed to eat real food again.
Since I am not going to go through labor, I don’t have a reason to bring a labor bag this time. When I had my son I needed a few other items to get through labor. I had included: gatorade, popsicles, hard candy, cards, and other items to keep me busy if I was going to be there for a while. If you have a little back massager or aromatherapy stuff you may want to bring that too to help you through the contractions.
I tried to pack everything in 1 suitcase & the diaper bag, plus a bag for snacks. Last time it worked. If you are having a vaginal delivery, you will be sent home from the hospital within 48 hours of delivery (in most cases), so you may not need as much clothing with you. You can also make do without nightgowns, and you can wear the same clothes home as you wore in (as long as your water didn’t break while wearing them). If your partner isn’t staying the whole time, then there is even less to pack. Or you can always pack the necessities, and take them with you and have everything else at home for someone else to bring you if you decide that you need it at some point during your hospital stay.
You will also be coming home with a bit more than you came with (besides the baby). Since you are paying for the diapers, wipes, and all that stuff already, you might as well take it all home with you. Every time they take the baby to the nursery they will refill the bassinet cart. When the baby returns, unload it to bring the stuff home. We walked out with over a weeks worth of diapers this way, as well as wipes, pads, baby bath, and 2 basins!