I'm starting to collect items for my L&D/recovery bag, but I'm kind of at a loss for what to bring. I've looked at a lot of lists online, but they're really overwhelming and seem excessive. And a lot of lists are written by FTMs, so its like the blind leading the blind. What was in your bag? anything you wish you brought but didnt? Stuff to definitely leave at home? HELP ME!
Post by mommytutu on Sept 14, 2014 16:26:24 GMT -5
After 3 I learned less is more. I brought leggings and a nursing top for the way home. Maxi or fold over skirt would work too in the warmer weather. Chargers, cameras, and phones. Face stuff, soap, lotions for myself. Change iof clothes for DH. Pjs and slipper socks for me. Of course toothbrushes. A nicer pillow forme to sleep on.
Post by Booze Raccoon on Sept 14, 2014 16:29:49 GMT -5
I brought a pair of $1 Old Navy flip flops to wear in the shower. I brought everything I'd take overnight anywhere else with an outfit for the baby to come home in.
Post by thebreakfastclub on Sept 14, 2014 16:31:08 GMT -5
Less is more. I had a c/s and didn't care about changing out of the gown or really doing much of anything. The room was very warm so I only wore socks or my robe a couple of times.
i really loved having sleepshirts (2) to wear because they were comfy and gave access. i brought leggings for when i got up. i wore yoga pants & a t-shirt home.
not a need but having my own pillow was awesome. i liked having a nalgene to fill up as well.
you also need: -toiletries -chapstick (hospitals are SO dry) -sweater or hoodie (my hospital was chilly) -your paperwork -flip flops -electronics & chargers -an empty bag to fill up with stuff you ransack from the room. take it all! -granny panties to wear home
a sleeper and a boppy is all the baby really needs.
i don't remember what all i took the first time, but i'm certain i didn't use most of it.
this time, i'm pretty much taking: - toiletries for me (typical wash-n-go stuff + make-up) - a comfy going home outfit (fold-over yoga pants, oversized sweater, sports bra, granny panties, flip flops) - going home outfit for baby - tech stuff - computer - camera - ipad - phone - chargers for all - boppy pillow - a regular head pillow from our bed
i won't bother packing anything for H unless he asks, because he'll likely go back to the house at least once after the baby is born.
oh - and i didn't bother at all with something to "wear" in the hospital. i wore their gowns, their socks, and their ice-filled mesh underwear the whole time.
chapstick is a good call-out, but it's in my travel kit anyway.
if memory serves, my hospital gave out those massive plastic mugs that they kept filling with ice and water. we pitched it when we got home, but it was nice at the time.
Post by Kristinmo on Sept 14, 2014 16:35:59 GMT -5
I wore the hospital gown until the last day both times. During my stay I used:
Robe (to cover when we had guests) Fuzzy socks Nursing bras Chargers for phone and camera Limited toiletries (shampoo, lotion, hairbrush, deodorant, toothbrush) Pacifiers (my hospital didn't provide them)
The I brought yoga pants, tank and sweatshirt for me to wear home and a going home outfit for baby.
We also lived 5 minutes from the hospital so I knew I could send DH for anything else I needed.
At the risk of getting flamed, I put together two little gift baskets of individually wrapped snacks with a thank-you note for the L&D and recovery nurses, similar to this:
I LOVED my nurses I had when I delivered my first gal, and I'd wished I'd thanked them somehow. So I planned ahead for my second gal, and thankfully, I had great nurses then, too
That may not be your kind of thing, though, so don't stress if it's not!
I'm delivering in November (fingers crossed M stays put til then) in Texas. This is my list, please feel free to edit it
1. Toiletries: body wash, loofah, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrush, maxi pads, nursing pads 2: Hair Stuff: Brush/comb, hair ties, bobby pins 3: Make up: BB cream, powder, concealer, mascara, eye liner, capstick, UD basics palette. 4: PJs: 2 pants, nursing tanks, college zip front hoodie 5: Going home outfit: leggings, long tank, long sweater, boots 6: Underwear: big black panties, 2 nursing bras 7: Tech: laptop, cell phone, camera, and all chargers 8: For baby: Going home outfit in NB and 0-3, socks, hat, carseat
ETA: slippers, flip flops for the shower, a towel from home, a pillow from home.
Post by chickenlittle on Sept 14, 2014 16:42:22 GMT -5
Things I would've been lost without: Chapstick, hair ties, my own pillow, white noise on my iPhone, iPhone charger, yoga pants, and nursing tops. DH also really appreciated the stock pile of snacks I had for him in my bag. Oh, and my own shampoo and conditioner helped me feel human again.
Post by UnderProtest on Sept 14, 2014 16:52:26 GMT -5
DEFINITELY bring your own pillow. The hospital ones suck. Your make up list seems a bit excessive....I barely did eyeliner (my absolute basic) when I was there, but it doesn't take a ton of room, so its no big deal if you don't end up using it. I took a robe and flip flops and all kinds of crazy stuff I didn't end up using.
After 3 I learned less is more. I brought leggings and a nursing top for the way home. Maxi or fold over skirt would work too in the warmer weather. Chargers, cameras, and phones. Face stuff, soap, lotions for myself. Change iof clothes for DH. Pjs and slipper socks for me. Of course toothbrushes. A nicer pillow forme to sleep on.
This was what I brought and was content with. I also planned to bring an ipod or laptop with music, but since I didn't actually have time to really pack a bag properly, that didn't happen. I ended up playing some on pandora on my phone, though, and that was fine.
Oh and a towel. Our hospital warned us that their pillows suck and their towels are more like hand towels -- idk if that's true across the board or not.
Post by copperboom on Sept 14, 2014 17:04:49 GMT -5
You don't need to bring maxi pads or nursing pads. I'd bring a nightgown in case you want wear something other than the hospital gown, and a robe. They come in and check your vag constantly, and repeatedly taking my pants off got irritating.
Post by muppetinma on Sept 14, 2014 17:24:13 GMT -5
Two things that I sent my husband to get - a small bottle of hand sanitizer and a power strip. I had a c-section, so I was trapped in the bed for a while and couldn't get up. I'd feel all gross after eating and didn't want to handle the baby like that, so it was nice to have the hand sanitizer until I could get up and wash my hands myself. The power strip was nice because it allowed me to plug in multiple things within my reach. Again, since I was trapped in my bed, it was nice to have.
Post by fluffydamn on Sept 14, 2014 17:46:58 GMT -5
I work on mother baby unit. Here is what I'd bring. Your own pillow (ours are flat and suck) Shampoo,body wash , toothbrush, toothpaste Slippers for the room and flip flops for shower A robe Yoga pants and loose fitting old shirts If you want to use your own baby clothes, then multiple outfits. (I would use hospitals shirt for baby. Less to wash) Bring baby wipes too. Not sure if your hospital went "going green" like ours did. We have dry wipes you wet with water. They are horrible and rough. Nail file for baby. Those suckers are long sometimes. Socks are better at staying on their hands than the mittens. Some of your favorite snacks for after when the kitchen closes.
If you're going to breastfeed i would leave the boppy at home. Lots of pillows are best when you and baby are learning. Boppy later when a good latch and such are established. Tell people to not bring or send flowers. They're messy and tip over in your car creating a mess. We have moms leave beautiful flower arrangements because they don't want to have to hold them all on the way home. If you tear, ice diapers are awesome and last longer than the ice packs there they give you. You can also make a heating pack with diapers too.
Less is more. H way overpacked and we took up every spare inch of space in the recovery room. I was there for 4 days and hardly used anything. Socks, shampoo and conditioner, soap, moisturizer and Chapstick, and a nursing tank, robe and pants.
I had two outfits for baby but I think I only ended up using the pants and socks. She was in a hospital provided wrap top and the special care nursery gave us a beautiful knitted sweater and matching hat. Wrap tops are better than onesies until the cord stump falls off, IMO.