Did you over pack your hospital bag?

Question

I am making a list as we speak, and it's really long. So I am wondering what was NOT necessary to bring along. I know the hospital provides a lot, but I don't want the extra charges, so I rather just bring it from home. Thanks!

Answer 1

I brought:

Deodorant

hair brush

makup

kotex pads (the ones at the hospital are like phone books)

extra pillow (the ones at the hospital are flat)

few sets of clothing

socks

slippers

robe

snacks like nuts (when they won't give you food!)

something for helping you p**p (if you end up with a c-section you will need a laxative, take it early!)

camera

toothbrush and toothpaste

underwear

bra

Don't wear your jewelry

Answer 2

I started planning the birth of my baby the very day that I discovered I was pregnant.  I had a very clear idea of how I wanted the birth to be.  I had a whole notebook of checklists and notes, everything I thought I might need at the hospital was listed.  I read articles online and thought I had a comprehensive list for packing for the hospital.  If you run a google search and look for packing lists for labor you will get hundreds of hits so I searched, cross-referenced and thought I had the best packing list that I could possibly have.

When I was about 7 months pregnant I discovered that I would have to have a c-section.  My plan was thrown in the trash, nothing would happen the way that I wanted it to.  I started a new notebook, and began planning for a c-section birth.  I searched all over for a list of what to pack for a c-section and found nothing.  I made my own list, but had no experience and had no idea what to expect so my list didn't work out the way that I wanted it to.  I decided to make a list of the things that I wish I had and things that I didn't need to bring so that other pregnant women can plan ahead when packing for their c-section birth.

- Several sets of pajamas, not nightgowns.  They will be checking your stitches/staples several times a day and it is much easier to check if you are in a shirt and pants/shorts then if you are in a nightgowns.  Make sure the pants are hip-hugger style or you are able to roll them, you won't want anything pressing on your belly for a while.  Bring at least 3 or 4 sets and extra shirts.  Most women stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days after a c-section, your milk will come in by then and when that happens you will want the extra shirts.

- Twice as many pairs of underwear and bras then you will think you need.  You will be bleeding and leaking milk so make sure you don't mind that they may get stained.  The underwear they give you is AWFUL, you will want your own.

- A large flat sheet, preferably an older one, and a pillowcase.  The sheets in the hospital are rough and you will only be able to sleep flat on your back because of the pain.  I ended up with bed sores from the rough sheets.  I wish I had one of my own sheets to lay down on the bed.  I brought my own pillowcase and that makes a difference, the pillowcases are made from the same rough material as the sheets.

- Conditioner and lotion.  Most hospitals provide bath linens, shampoo and body wash or soap, but they don't provide conditioner or lotion.  Being there for almost a week means that you will need those things.  I know at my hospital they also provided a toothbrush and toothpaste, but I know I was glad to have my own of those as well.  I was also glad to have my make-up case.  I know it seems silly, but I did my make-up every morning after my shower, it made me feel more human.  Bring lip balm at the very least.  The hospital air is very dry and it can get rather uncomfortable.  I also brought a razor and shaving cream, but found it pretty much impossible to shave.  I wasn't really able to bend over to get to my legs.  I liked having it to shave my underarms though, especially since most of my pajamas have tank tops.

- This one is a "don't bother to bring" item, a water bottle.  It was on pretty much every list that I read, but I didn't need it, they provided a HUGE plastic cup with a lid and straw when I was admitted.  I have heard from others that they were also given a similar cup (mine held 32 ounces, that seems to be standard from what I've heard from others).  I do have one little bit of advice about the cup though.  I know they give you a straw, but DON'T USE IT.  It will give you gas and that is terribly painful when you have a c-section.  I was told that little tip after about 3 days, I wish I had known it before I went in.

-  Bring something to do.  The first few days you will be tired, but as the days go on you will get more energy and they don't let you do much as far as moving around :-).  I had my thank you notes and my baby announcement envelopes to write and address (just make sure they put your IV line in your non-writing hand!), I also brought movies (my hospital room had a DVD player) and my Nintendo DS.  I wish I had brought a book or a few magazines as well.  There is only so much daytime TV that you can watch and the baby sleeps a lot :-)

- Then there are the standard items:  Camera, socks (lots!), hair ties, hair brush, glasses or contacts and all supplies for those items, and any birth plan that you have (you can have a birth plan with a c-section!).

- They provide everything you need for the baby except for an outfit to go home in.  Pick out something that you love in a tiny size, chances are it will be the only time that they will be able to wear it! Most newborn clothes will only fit up to 10 pounds and many babies are almost 10 pounds when they are born.  I would also bring an outfit or two for pictures unless you are planning on getting pictures taken later.

Answer 3

mine was waaaay overpacked.  they provided everything i needed and more.  do not pack outfits; you won't bother to wear them.  for the first 3 days i didn't wear anything besides the hospital gown.  you should pack only comfortable gowns and robes and maybe a couple of sweat pants and t shirts.  if you're not particular about using your own things you can take out toothbrush and toothpaste, blankets, snack foods, pads, washcloths.  one thing i didn't use was my body wash.  i had a c-section and i didn't want to take a shower at first, let alone care what kind of soap i was using.  my diaper bag was waay overpacked.  the only things i used were the baby book, an outfit for her picture and my camera.  most hospitals have everything the baby needs.  do remember to pack your prenatal vitamins if you're breastfeeding.  basically jusy go through your list and decide what you could do without.  remember you'll be in bed and sleeping a lot.  you do not want an overpacked bag though.  i had my baby 4 weeks ago and my bag is still not completely unpacked.

Answer 4

Nope, I didn't.  Looking back I had time after my water broke.

I had a planned c section so I didn't need much at all.  I had a change of clothes for me and the baby when I went home (the hospital gown and slipper socks were just fine for me). my cell phone and charger, toiletries, and pillow.  That about sums it up.

Answer 5

With my first son I found that I didn't feel like using most of what i took.  I did use my camera, clothes to come home in, outfit for my son for his hospital picture, outfit to bring him home in, clean socks for my feet for the hospital stay, hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, calling card to call family and friends because they charged for the phone calls and the calling card was cheaper, my medicine that i was on.  I also took shampoo and conditioner and body wash but found I didn't feel like standing up in the shower so I waited until I got home for that.  I didn't take diapers or wipes or anything like that because their policy was that you used their diapers and wipes and the other stuff they kept in the "baby basket".  If your insurance doesn't cover that stuff though you may want to see about taking that stuff but if insurance will cover it then it would be worth just using there stuff to save you having to take so much stuff plus it would save you money since you wouldn't take from your supply at home

Answer 6

from talking to other pregnant women you really dont need THAT much

toiletries like your toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, maybe some nice lotion, deoterant

a pillow because hospital ones suck

some underwear...dont take thongs becuase you need to wear pads

a few outfits but take comfy ones like sweats

a camera

some magazines, maybe some music

going home outfit for your baby

you dont need makeup- ha my cousin packed all her makeup becuase she wanted to look "good" for all her pictures. she never even touched it becuase she didnt have time or energy to waste into makeup so dont pack that.

Answer 7

No I didn't. I forgot a robe, something to read, and our camera. You will be going through one of the biggest ordeals in you life, so I say pack away. I also agree that I would not want the extra charges so bring it from home.

Answer 8

i over packed by bringing more clothes than i needed but i did not plan on being induced and having a c-section when i packed my bags. and i had no time to take any thing out cause i went from doc office to hospital and ended up staying at the hospital my hubby brought my bags with him when he came from work. my mom was with me till he got there cause she had taken me to the doc that day so i had my own PJ's but i could not wear them due to all the ivs and the incision but any way i think that you get charged no matter what i do not know cause i had Medicaid

Answer 9

Well after i had my son i stayed in hospital for 8 days... and i actually underpacked.. i think i packed enough for 3 days.. i packed about 7 romper suits, nappies, 8 pairs of pants, 3 bra's, breast pads, big thick sanitary pads.. 3 pairs of jogging pants and 3 basic tops, shampoo, deodorant, hair bands, comb, alice band, face wipes, going home outfit for my son, lots of spare change so i could use their pay phones, pyjamas...its normally very hot in hospitals so pack sets with shorts instead of trousers and make sure they are loose, a hat for the baby, scratch mitts, socks for baby, and a toy that i bought before he was born. Once u have had the baby u will prob want ur family to bring in some fruit and things to snack on.. dried fruit and nuts are good (no nuts if ur Breastfeeding!),  remember u can always ask someone to bring in something for u if u have forgotten it! i ended up leaving with about 3 bags.. one massive holdall, a smaller holdall and a backpack!

Answer 10

I probably under packed, can you believe I forgot my camera!! Just dont worry too much whatever you forget your hubby can bring in later on, thats what I did, I decided that I wanted more pants and this Tshirt and such, sometimes you dont know what your going to want until you get in there, just make sure you have all your toiletries because your going to want them for your first shower to make yourself feel more normal, and some bodysuits for baby, some nappies for baby, some pads for yourself and lots of them I didnt have near enough of them just buy heaps, you go through about 1-2 every 2 hrs for the first day.

Some comfortable clothes for yourself, loose ones and ones that have buttons or that are good for breastfeeding, some breastpads and maternity bras.

Where I had my daughter the hospital provided these horrible pads that didnt stick and were way too thin, and they used cloth nappies but if your using cloth use theirs so yours dont get put in the wash with their stuff, they have little gowns for the babies which were horrible and ugly, so I used all my own things too.