[juicymom8]

My ob has adviced me to pack a hospital bag in case I go into pre-term labor. What do I need to take???????

[purelegance]

i packed comfy clothes (sweat pants, socks, etc) because i HATE hospital gowns (i changed into them as soon as we moved from L&D to maternity). i also brought my own pads, since hospital ones are thicker than anything i can describe. bikini style underwear, take home outfit for baby, toothbrush & shampoo, etc. we brought a blanket for DD (wish i had packed one for DH). camera, batteries, film (if not bringing a digital camera). cell phone charger. you may want to bring breastpads, you may or may not need them (regardless if you're BF or not). that's all i can think of now. but i can't stress bringing your own panties, pads & comfy clothes. i felt a 20 million times better after changing.

[Tracey with 6]

do they give you a list at hospital? i know I have to take nappies for bub and everything else including wipes : ) check with your hospital .

[sharinielsen]

They will give you everything you need for the baby (diapers, wipes, formula, binkis, onesie, etc.) - although you may want to bring a comfy blanket for the baby. I enjoyed snuggling w/ a big fuzzy one rather than the cotton receiving blankets that they give you. I also could never quite swaddle my newborn the way that the nurses could - they would always wiggle out w/in minutes so this time around I'm bringing one of the Kiddopotamus swaddlers (I got them for the last little one and I LOVED them). Plus they look so cute swaddled in them.

As far as you go - I agree re: bringing your own clothes to change into. I felt a million times better once I was in my own clothes. Bring stuff for diff temps though - I remember being extremely hot and happy I had t-shirts w/ me and then cool at night - my warm robe was key. Bring SOCKS!

Good luck!

[swt1899]

Here's what my hospital book says... we pack most of this, but not all. Some we didn't think we needed...

* your birth plan (several copies)
* A watch for timing contractions
* Relaxing music
* Camera and/or video camera
* massage oils
* Cards, books, other forms of enertainment
* back massager
* Pillows (for you and him)
* extra blanket for your partner since you may keep the room colder
* socks
* comfortable slippers with nonskid soles
* robe
* toiletries (shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
* snacks for your partner
* night gowns for you to wear after
* change of clothes for your partner
* underwear and nursing bras
* list of phone numbers for you to call
* Going home outfit for you (remember you'll still have a bit of a belly)
* going home outfit for your baby (pack 2 - 1 small, 1 a bit larger)
* baby blanket incase it is cold
* baby carrier/car seat
* favorite brand of maxipads (no tampons)

Hope this helps you get an idea. We packed about 90% of this. Some hospitals have DVD/VCR players. Ours does so we packed some movies also.
I also packet my diaper bag. I know we'll get a few supplies from the hospital, but I packed his outfit in there as well as his socks, a couple of diapers, a pacifier, my "Baby on Board" sign for my car, baby mittens, breast pads, and breast cream.
The front hallway in our house looks like we are ready for a vacation, but we think we are ready!
Good luck!

[oweirdo]

I packed almost nothing. Our old hospital would not let you wear your own clothes, expect for undies, and they provided everything else. Other than baby clothes and car seats. They even gave supplies to take home. With Courtney we did not expect to stay, so I took nothing, Mikey went to the house grabbed a change of clothes a piece and that was it. but it was only a 24 hour stay so we did not need anything else.

[DivasMomma]

my hosp provided all the baby needs, also my PP needs such as the pads, breast pads, cream, etc...

I would say slippers--sometimes they want you to walk around and having those on your feet while in labor will make you a tiny bit more comfy
also a bathrobe, my hosp wouldnt let me change into any real clothes for 24 hours because they checked me so often, like bleeding, stitches etc...but my own bathrobe was fine since it opens in the front.
nursing bra whether you are nursing or not--they are just way more comfy for bigger BBs
also having my own pillow there for the PP room was awesome...helped me sleep a bit better
all shower needs...having some good smelling shampoo does wonders after labor
i brought blankets, clothes, hats. car seat, etc for the lil one

camera!!!!

HTH

[ProudMommy77]

Do you have one of those Magic Bags that can be warmed up in the microwave? They are great if you have back labour (like I did). They help take down the pain while you're trying to get through each contraction.

(Everything else I thought of was already mentioned.)

[Nitwit]

I packed Cooper's diaper bag specifically for him, a couple diapers, his coming home outfit, a couple of outfits to wear at the hospital... little things like that along with a couple warm blankets. For myself I packed some pajama pants to come home in and a loose maternity shirt. Some bb pads, some undies, travel shampoo, travel soap, travel toothpaste, travel toothbrush, my bathrobe, slippers, and a nursing gown. An hour after my son was born I was able to take a shower and changed into a new hospital gown before being moved to mother baby unit. Once I was there I had my phone charger, my pillow, and my nursing gown with me. Dh and I were separated at the time of ds birth so he met me at the hospital and left after ds was born and came back for about an hour that night an hour the next day and on the third day took me back ot my moms. The hospital supplied wipes, alcohol wipes, diapers, blankets, and half shirt onsies. They sent me home with all the non linen items. It was pretty cool because I was in such a state that I didn't have ANY wipes lol... I also took my birth plan and gave it to them to put in my chart... All in all it was really disorganized. I hate to think back on how it all went down... things between dh and I were really rough and when it should have been the best time in my life I cried the whole time and was worried he'd take my son away from me. Anyways, thats what I took. I should have brought snacks for myself after ds was born cause I was starving from the horrible hospital food and dieing of thirst!!!!

[purelegance]

Originally Posted by Nitwit

I should have brought snacks for myself after ds was born cause I was starving from the horrible hospital food and dieing of thirst!!!!

i forgot about that! yes bring food and drink for yourself! i was starving! hospital food was awful, and the gift shop was severely over priced. i remember DH ran out and snuck me back wendy's the first night and olive garden the next.