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Radios & Rattles – Pack this, buy that, steal everything else

 

Labor came early so my bags were half packed. For anyone headed to the hospital for labor and delivery, here’s some great tips I found (or learned the hard way) on what you should bring from home, purchase or flat out steal from the hospital. No really…it’s not a hotel, there are items they just throw away so you may as well take it with you!

Biggest suggestion: Once you hit about 6 or 7 months PACK YOUR BAG! Not that I’m saying all babies are early, we were almost certain our would be late due to the fact both hubby and I were late, but I had my suitcase packed…only halfway. I had an nice little print out of all the rest of the things I wanted to bring…but hadn’t got around to it. I’m clearly a procrastinator.

First and foremost I went with a suitcase.

It was much easier to wheel out of the hospital when I was discharged than lugging around a duffel bag. Although, at our hospital they give you a cart to haul all your what-nots, and I’m sure my husband would have turned into a pack mule for me considering I was given strict instructions not to lift anything heavier than about 5-10lbs. But still, much easier to find things in a carry on sized suitcase.

You’ll need to pack 3 categories of items: Stuff for you, stuff for your partner and stuff for baby.

 

 

Here’s my list…with comments because hindsight is 20/20!

  • Bathing suit for water birth (didn’t use it)
  • Comfy/fuzzy socks (yes! I felt freezing during labor and walked a lot  but I felt warm during recovery)
  • Hair ties
  • Phone charger
  • MP3 player/speakers (I forgot this but my phone was sufficient for music to get me through labor)
  • Waterbottle (This is the one I have, it came in super handy!)
  • High protein snacks (We ending up stopping on the way for granola bars…I don’t recommend that)
  • Gatorade
  • Comfortable clothes/pajamas (bring a few, I ended up staying nearly a week!)
  • Boppy/nursing pillow (they have plenty of pillows you can use but if love your nursing pillow, bring it)
  • Bathtowel (a nurse told me to bring my own because their towels were small and scratchy…yes..they were!)
  • Make up (It felt good to just throw some mascara on and feel human the day after)
  • Robe (Didn’t pack it, wished I did)
  • Flip flips for the shower (didn’t pack it, didn’t miss it)
  • Lanolin cream (pass, the hospital provide some!)
  • toiletries (they had some all laid out like a hotel but it was nice to have my own)
  • Hair dryer (I forgot this, along with a comb! I got by just fine though)
  • Going home outfit

For partner:

  • Snacks
  • cash for snack machine (our hospital had a stocked kitchenette, fruit, yogurt, coffee…the works!)
  • Blanket and pillow (Leave it at home…they gave my husband these in the delivery room and recovery)
  • Comfy clothes (he only packed a couple outfits, most of which baby spit up on and he needed someone to bring him more clothes)
  • Pajamas (I’m pretty sure my husband forgot his)
  • Toiletries (Day 2 my husband says ‘um…did you pack my___’ razor, shampoo, soap etc…yes…I did)

For baby:

  • Swaddle blanket (you can pass on this, the blankets they have there make excellent swaddles, the nurses will even give you a lesson!)
  • Nail clippers/mittens (I brought these but didn’t end up using them. Although some babies are born needing a serious manicure!)
  • Hat, onesie, bottles/socks (I packed all these things but she was a tiny little peanut and many lovely people brought us preemie sized items, thankfully. It’s nice for them to have their own clothes, something cute for that ‘we’re going home’ photo op)
  • Blanket (this was great to tuck in over her legs in the carseat was it was pretty chilly)
  • Carseat (seems obvious but had I not installed that in my car 3 days prior, we’d probably forget it)
  • Pedestrian’s info (find a doc for your little and have that info with you! They want to relay all of your little one’s info from your stay to make the transition and first appt that much more easier and smoother)

This is a fairly basic list, not really minimalist by any means but there were plenty of things on other lists I found online that I didn’t need because the hospital (at least most of them) provide the items for you. Like ‘aftercare’ items (those super sexy disposal undergarments you’ve heard about…) they have those there for you. Prenatal vitamins, Tylenol etc…they have that.   Diapers, wipes, burp cloths, nose snot sucker thingy, got it, got it they’ve got all of that.

There’s also a bunch of things you should STEAL! Well…not really steal…they kind of expect you to take them, it’s not a hotel. Those striped blankets? If you’re little one is already swaddled in it on the way home, who cares! They won’t snatch it from you at the door. Products you used while you’re there. There’s not going to take back a half used tube of cream, it’ll get chucked so take it. Most of the items I’m talking about are things that were opened for you, are no longer sterile and can’t be used on someone else. I hate seeing things thrown out and go to waste. And ask! They let me take home a few items I wasn’t sure about taking like some Medela containers which have come incredibly handy for measuring breastmilk and formula for bottles at home.

Need something a little more in-depth? Feel like something is missing? Here’s where I got my ideas for my ‘go bag’ pack list:

https://britstrawbridge.com/hospital-bag-guide-checklist/

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