Hospital Bag Checklist!

[admin]

Hospital Checklist

Things to put in your car in advance:
*Extra bed pillows in case you want / need them at the hospital
*Bags or small bowl / bucket in case you are sick during labor and need it while in route to the hospital.
*Large garbage bag or plasitc sheet to cover your car seat if your water has broken, or breaks in the car in route to the hospital.
*Baby's car seat, properly installed in the backseat. (Be sure to have it checked out at your local fire station!)

Labor / Birthing Bag:
*Pillow from your bed at home (take this when you leave for hospital) It's very comforting to have something with your familiar scent and comfort, the hospital pillows usually suck!
*Snacks for yourself - Hard candy, gum, suckers, whatever you like. Something to keep your mouth moist & fresh during all that breathing! Plus something light, like a granola bar, in case you want a small snack if you've been there a long time!
*Bottled water or gatorade, if you don't want the hospital water that sometimes isn't very tasty!
*Lip balm!
*Massage oil or lotion and massage tools. Be sure to bring something unscented, or only very lightly scented so it doesn't turn your stomach while in labor!
*Thick, comfy socks
*Slippers with non skid bottoms (ones you aren't concerned about ruining if they get wet from fluid or blood!)
*Hair scrunchie or clip, and brush.
*Paper fan, something DH can fan you with when the hot flashes happen.
*Music CDs or MP3 player if you have one.
*Your focal point (wedding pics or pics of your other kids are great!)
*Prioritized phone number list, everyone you need to call and when.
*Cell phone, fully charged & extra battery if you have one.
*Lots of change for vending machines.
*Camera charged & ready, plus extra batteries
*Film (if you have a 35 mm requiring film)
*Camcorder, charged & ready! Extra battery, extra videoo tapes.
*Lamaze book, if you were given one at lamaze class.

Post Partum bag:
*Nursing PJs (way more comfy than hospital gowns) -*Hint*- I bought some cheap ones off Ebay so I wasn't concerned if I bled on them!
*Nursing Bras, in a larger size because you WILL expand!
*Comfy robe!
*Big Maternity undies
*Toiletries (I bought a bunch of sample sizes of everything in advance so I had them all packed in baggies and in my suitcase and ready to go!)
Here's a great list:
Shamppo / Conditioner
Bodywash / Deodorant / Saving cream / Razor / lotions
Toothbrush / toothpaste
Makeup (have it all ready in a makeup bag so you can just grab the bag & go when it's 'time' !
Blowdryer, curling iron.
*YOUR going home outfit - Something cute, but very comfy!
*Baby book and Pen, so you can jot down all those first moments while they are still fresh in your mind and you have the time to do it!
*NOTE* You may want to put the baby book in your Labor bag if it has a place for the baby's first footprints, the hospital nurse may do it for you in the delivery room at the same time they are putting them on the hospital card. If you ask them when they are checking you in, they will put the book in the basinette so it's ready when they are doing everything right after the birth.

Baby's Going home bag:
*Blanket
*Onsie
*Going Home Outfit
*Burp Cloth
*Receiving Blanket to take home to your dogs if you have them
(Take one receiving blanket to the hospital to have in the baby's bassinette, or have the baby sleep in, then after 24 hours, have DH take the balnket home to the dogs so it has the baby's scent on it and the dog's can check it out and get used to that smell.)

[TWWbot]

From a mom that's been there....

Hospital Checklist

*Baby's car seat, properly installed in the backseat. (Be sure to have it checked out at your local fire station!)

You will (probably) need to bring the baby seat into the hospital room when you two are getting discharged. I LOVED the seats that had the bottom part that remained strapped into the car, but with a push of a button came undone so you could easily tote baby without having to unbelt/rebelt the seat everytime.

*Pillow from your bed at home (take this when you leave for hospital) It's very comforting to have something with your familiar scent and comfort, the hospital pillows usually suck!
*Snacks for yourself - Hard candy, gum, suckers, whatever you like. Something to keep your mouth moist & fresh during all that breathing! Plus something light, like a granola bar, in case you want a small snack if you've been there a long time!

Some hospitals/doctors don't like their laboring mothers to eat during labor in case a c-section has to be performed, so plan on eating something light...if you can...BEFORE you go to the hospital because chances are good that you'll be living off of ice chips until the baby is born.

Also take some magazines, a book, crossword puzzles...SOMETHING to keep you occupied, before and after your baby is born.

[booboo]

wanted to add... another thing to bring for baby is a package of disposable wipes (for diapers). The hospital I delivered at only offered cloth wipes, and it was torture trying to clean baby poop (tar ) without a regular wipe!!

[dreamcometrue]

Thanks Ladies - Great list!

[Deneice]

I'm grateful yall have posted this. Definitely a necessity.

[maybebaby105]

great info... thanks!

[zoee]

2 months before my due date i already prepare my things to bring at the hospital.because this is my 1st baby me and my husband is really excited.and now my daughter is 4 year old.

[urwithablish]

thanks ladies.