Just got back from a Mexican restaurant! I ordered enchiladas and the waitress asked me if I wanted green, red or sour cream sauce.
Huge Watermelon-resembling pregnant woman: Which one is the spiciest?
Bewildered young blonde waitress: Green! Definitely! (Nodding, big smile)
Watermelon farm with a head and two legs somewhat resembling a person: (Without batting an eye) Let's go with GREEN. And lots of it.
Sadly, I couldn't even finish my meal. Arg. No room for food in this belly! However, I did manage to find some room for gelato. Mohito gelato. Just because I couldn't have a margarita and virgin margaritas suck. Trust me on that one!
So now I am back home and just in case I pop tonight, I figured I should post my hospital bag list... Just in case anyone wants to know! I poured over books and Google for days to put together what quite possibly is the BEST HOSPITAL BAG LIST EVER. In my humble opinion.
So, FWIW, here is my list, in random order (retyped since my version is in Excel, because sometimes I'm kind of a dork):
- Laptop with iTunes, complete with DH-created baby playlists (Also: charger! laptop bag!)
- DVDs to watch on laptop
- Magazines (US, People) and easy reading books ("Lipstick Jungle")
- Baby Name Books ("Beyond Ava & Aiden," "Cool Names for Babies")
- "Breastfeeding Made Simple" & "What to Expect" books
- Pen & notebook to write stuff down on
- Baby book with sheets for the baby's footprint (hospital told us to bring)
- Camera & charger
- Video camera & charger
- Cell phones & chargers
- Printed out Birth Plan with extra copies
- List of numbers to call after birth: Insurance to add the baby, HR number to start maternity benefits, pediatrician number to make sure they check out baby; photographers to book newborn session asap...
- Printed out call list: Who to call when we head to hospital; Who to call right after
- E-mail lists have already been created and saved so DH can send out the news afterward
- Snacks for DH (and me after labor): Water, granola bars, cereal, nuts, chocolate, popcorn (there is a kitchen with microwave and fridge we can use)
- Snacks for me during labor: Popsicles, caramel candy (my Dr said OK)
- Hot/cold packs (right now they are stored in freezer)
- Electric heating pad
- Hot water bottle
- 2 wooden massage things
- Tennis balls
- Exercise ball
- Lip balm
- Hair ties
- My own pillow(s) in bright red pillow cases so hospital won't take mine (not white pillowcases)
- Socks that I don't mind getting yucky, think ones with rubber on bottom
- House shoes to walk around the halls in
- Phone card to call my sister in Spain
- Kleenex so I'll have the soft kind because DH is a crier. Heck, we all might cry...
- DH has a stopwatch on his iPhone
- Our wallets with health insurance cards & keys (this is on the list so we don't run out with our heads cut off and forget)
- Directions to the hospital (already saved as a "favorite" on our car's GPS system!)
- Chicken Out Menu (it's close to the hospital)
- Toiletries: toothbrush/paste; yummy Aveda shampoo/cond; razer; soap; lotion; hair brush; hand lotion; face lotion; body lotion (unscented); make-up; q-tips; hair dryer
- My own bath and hand towel (hospital ones are thin and yucky) & bath robe
- Plastic flip-flops for shower (lots of yucky stuff have been in those showers!)
- Nursing bra (from Motherhood Maternity)
- Sleep bra (from Motherhood Maternity)
- Nursing gown & robe OR Nursing top, with pj pants & robe (from Motherhood Maternity)
- Boppy nursing pillow (already washed slipcover)
- Lanolin, nursing pads, maxi pads (just in case I don't like the hospital brand stuff)
- Granny panties (I actually really like the Medala ones...)
- Comfy clothes to wear home (black yoga pants, black nursing top: theory is that black makes you look thin... And baby's outfit is all white)
- Baby outfit to wear home: kimono top, matching pants, hat, blanket, mitts (Margery Ellen -- already washed)
- Swaddle blanket & receiving blanket (already washed)
- Pacifier & clip (optional)
- Burp cloths (already washed)
- Diaper bag & some extra diapers, wipes, etc.
- Car seat (already installed in car)
- Neck pillow for car seat (or use swaddle blankets, which is actually what the car seat police told us to do)
- Mirror in car to see baby (installed)
- Sunshade in car next to car seat (installed)
- DH bag (he should bring his own towel too, and pillow and change of clothes...)
I love how organized you are. Did it take you a long time to collect all those items and pack your bag?
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this! I'm going to copy and paste for future reference!
ReplyDeleteI started making a list a while back (30 weeks?) and kept adding to it when I saw something in a book or online. Then I Googled a bunch of lists and took what I wanted from each. I started "packing" by setting aside things in a pile. At the grocery store or out on the town, I'd pick up a few things... Travel-size shampoo, maxi pads, etc. Two weekends ago I actually started putting things into bags. But I have my list because I'll need to grab a few other things that are in use and pack them when the time comes... DH packed his bag last night in 5 minutes flat.
ReplyDeleteWay.too.much. You won't need half of that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the list. I've printed it out and will be using it to help me pack my bags when that time comes. Good luck and best wishes for a fast and easy labor and delivery!
ReplyDeleteOne more thing...I'd love a follow up to let us know what you actually needed and used while you were in the hospital!
ReplyDeleteWow, I hope your DH put all this in a rolling suitcase. Seriously over packed. There is a reason it is called hospital 'bag'.
ReplyDeletewow! That is a lot of STUFF. I would say I look forward to a post that discusses what you actually used, but I figure you will probably want to prove the naysayers wrong and will just tell us you used it all.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your comments. A few points to add:
ReplyDelete1) Packing my "bag" was more about me feeling emotionally ready than actually having what I need down to a science... I've never had a baby. How do I know what I'll need?! And every woman is different and will need different things, so what may seem like a lot or a little to one person, may be perfect for another. For me, making a list and putting this together helped me FEEL ready. And that's really what is most important, right? Who cares if I end up taking something to the hospital that I don't use... It doesn't hurt anyone.
2) Some of the items are "packed" but will either be left at home or in the car... Like the breast pads, maxi pads, etc. If I like what the hospital give me, then I don't need them. But if I don't like what the hospital gives me, then it's easier for me to ask DH to run to the car/home and grab my bag with that stuff than it would be to ask him to go and actually FIND the items. He's a guy. He doesn't know where things are kept. Having it all together in a bag will help him out. Just thinking ahead here...
3) The reason for several different bags is that they are organized into what I need for labor (one bag); what I need for after labor (my black carry-on); and what I need for baby (baby bag). Again... Thinking ahead and, yes, I am super organized... Just me tho.
4) If I have time after baby arrives to report back on what I used/needed at the hospital, I will. And I'll be honest, no reason not to be? The whole reason I posed this list in the first place was to help folks out. However, like I said, what works for me might not work for everyone. You have to make your own choices and know what is best for yourself. Which leads me to my final point...
5) This is my baby and I'm going to do what I want! Including packing whatever I want! So while I appreciate all of you "anonymous" posters for taking the time to chime in and post about my bag, a more constructive way to add to the conversation might be sharing with us all what YOU plan to take to the hospital, or what you took to the hospital and what you used... Seriously, a lot of us are figuring this out as new moms. Any insight you have would be much appreciated. So please share!
Well said Politisaur! You are READY the way YOU need to be and that's all that matters. FWIW, I will most likely pack similarly...IMHO it's always better to have too much than not enough when it comes to creature comforts. Sending you tons of happy labor dust!
ReplyDeletePolitisaur, I was just about to reply to the anon posters with basically the same points you just made.
ReplyDeletePreparing yourself for birth mentally and emotionally is very important, even though it's freakin difficult to prepare onself for an event that has never been experienced AND can be incredibly unpredictable.
So what if you don't use half the stuff you take with you to hospital. It's nice to know that it IS there if you need/want it.
My memory is a little faded but I'm pretty sure there was quite a few items I packed that I didn't even touch while I was in hospital.
To the Anons, you are definitely entitled to your opinion but I'm curious as to why you didn't post a name. Own your opinions, whether they be negative OR positive, y'know?