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What do I pack for Hospital
It pays to have your bags packed for Hospital as early as 6 Months.
From that time on you can go at a momoents notice and there may be not time for running around grabing the things you need.
- Some hard candy
- Socks & Slippers
- Comfy Panites (ones that you can use a pad with)
- Comfy Bra
- Maxi Pads (I always brought my own… Stayfree Overnight Thin… they are the best!)
- Some nursing pads (even if not breastfeeding you will need this)
- Comfy PJ’s & Going Home Outfit (make sure to take bigger than your pre pregnancy size.. you want to be comfy)
- Small shampoo / soap / toothpaste / toothbrush / lotion (hospital will give you this, but you would rather have your own)
- Few choices of clothes for baby’s going home (you may not like the way 1 looks, take at least 2 )
- Baby name book if you don’t have a name yet
- A pillow from home (or 2)
The biggest thing I wish I had the first time around was a thing of chapstick! I was so dehydrated from labor and I wasn’t allowed to have anything to eat or drink since my son was showing signs of going into distress and I was almost to the point of needing an emergency c-section. Vaseline is nasty tasting!
First thing to do is call your labor and delivery ward and find out what they provide for you and baby. Our local hospital provides, ointment and diapers but no diaper wipes!
Trust me while newborn’s skin is hyper sensitive it’s better to have wipes to get that first meconium poop off their skin and then rinse with a wet cloth then trying to scrub it off with only water!
Bring your personal hair and skin products. You will want a shower even if you have a c-section. The hormones following birth means you will be sweaty, worse then any workout. LOL I even had hot flashes the first few days following birth.
Toothbrush and paste, mouthwash.
Outfits for you and baby to go in.
Depending on what happens you’ll likely want something that has a drawstring that you can wear at 40 weeks gestation. I was actually more swollen after delivery then I was before birth!
Make sure you have a decent weight blanket to cover baby in even with it being summer. Babies cannot regulate their internal tempature well and can become chilled even when it’s warm out. Remember you’ll likely be driving home wiht the AC on as well if it’s hot out.
Personally I didn’t use any of the clothing that I had packed the first time around. It’s better to use hospital gowns while there since you will be bleeding heavily following birth and there’s no sense in ruining your own clothing.
Most hospitals have a mesh disposable panty you can wear to keep the kotex in place. Bring your own heavy flow kotex for when you leave. the hospital ones generally don’t have wings.
As for timing on packing it doesn’t hurt to start now especially if you’re having the urge to do it! You may be picking up on signals that baby may come early.
However don’t feel bad if you don’t have a bag packed at all. The hospital staff are very understanding and generally L&D nurses are very helpful.
Don’t be afraid to ask for anything you might need. Also if baby absolutely won’t let you rest at the hospital do not be afraid to request they take baby to the nursery for a few hours! I ended up having to do that becuase I developed a spinal headache following my c-section.
The only way to fix that is to have a bit of blood removed from your arm and then injected into the same spot your epidural was placed and lay flat on your back for a minimum of 45 minutes.
Just remember if you are breastfeeding to insist they don’t give baby a bottle/binkie. They can cup feed some formula if baby needs some while your sleeping.