Ok Ladies, so last night, DH and I completed the 4 week birthing class, took the tour of labor and delivery, completed the "manual", and even received a certificate of completion to show our little one, "we tried". :lol:

Now that I'm equipped with a world of knowledge and "prepared" for next steps, why do I feel so scared and unprepared? We still don't have a name picked out.

I'm treasuring every second of this pregnancy and looking forward to holding my long awaited daughter in my arms for the first time but am feeling overwhelmed and scared by "too much" information now.
Oblivian is bliss!

What do you suggest I really need for baby while we are in the hospital?
Being a first timer, I really don't want to overpack.

Please HELP.

For baby.....a blanket to go home with, carseat, carseat base installed in car, sleeper to go home in, a soft infant hat--make sure has legs so you can use the carseat! (not much really needed for the kiddo! hospital provides diapers, formula if needed, wipes, and mandatory nightshirts and swaddle blankets that must be used in the hospital, and a cap/hat)

For you....a comfy pair of PJ's you can nurse easily with, your toiletries, slippers, a robe, camera, clothes to leave in....don't believe them when they say 3 month clothes size!! Just bring the pants you are wearing now with an all elastic waist and a shirt...something to tie your hair up with if you have longer hair.

I'm just a few weeks ahead of you...and I really need to get my bag packed!!! Some of it depends on what your hospital/birthing center offers. My hospital supplies all diapers and wipes you need while there, as well as a little onsie for the baby to wear, and keep as a souvenier while there (ours has the hospital logo and a stork in blue or pink depending on what you have!). They also supplied formula if needed, not sure though if you are breastfeeding.

So...I am packing my small diaper bag with the following:
A few diapers
Wipes - got a really cute Pooh wipe holder at the dollar store this week for $1! Just the right size!!!
Burp cloth
Outfit & blanket for hospital pics and to "go home in" as the tradition is
A couple of onsies - just in case

That's about all, as I am planning on breastfeeding at least for the first few month, and figure if that doesn't work out, the baby will be fed right before we leave hospital and won't need anything on the drive home.

Good luck!!! I'm sure you are just as excited as me to hold your little one! It's only a few short weeks away for both of us!

We were told we didn't have to bring anything other than the picture/going home outfit. Fortunately, I packed several gowns for him. The only clothing the hospital provided wer long sleeve shirts. I was happy that I had the gowns to put him in. They worked wonderful.

Something I have needed every time and forgotten each time... CHAPSTICK!!!! My lips got so dry during labor and delivery that I really needed a good moisturizing chapstick. My lips were horrible and took a week or two to get better because I forgot it.

Phone book to call friends and family.
Hair thingies
camera or what-have-you
baby book for babies footprints
Change of clothes for you (I couldn't WAIT to get out of that hospital gown!!) I took button up shirts because I was nursing.
Nursing bra (if you're nursing)
nursing pads (if you're nursing again)
Mens. Pads- unless your hospital provides them which most do.
nipple cream

I forgot my toiletries once too!!! Deoderant, toothpaste, mouthwash, make up, the lot! Miserable!

The only other thing we brought that wasn't mentioned by the other ladies were snacks (especially for DH), change for the vending machines and reading material. Blessings to you! ~Kerri

If the water is gross where you live, a case of bottled water. I seriously can't stand unfiltered tap. We run ours through a brita at home, so raw tap water is gross and we had to get bottled when I was going through labor with katherine b/c i refused to drink out of the hospital tap. Yeah, i'm a spoiled brat LOL. but the water really is gross.

Personally I needed more underwear! my lochia would mess it up, and i'd have to change my underwear because the pads were not handling the extremely heavy flow I had the first day. The nurse said I could use this ridiculous elastic string thing with a pad, but frankly it was NOT comfortable and was totally weird and i hated it - this time around I am going to be bringing a lot more changes of underwear (like 10 pairs. I really can't stand being gross.) We had to spend an extra day at the hospital though.

And for all that, a laundry bag so you can take it home to wash it!

The hospital we are going to provides cloth diapers and clothes and wipes for the baby, so we only need enough to get home with.

You might want to bring a thin pillow or something if you have a long ride. My bum was pretty bruised and we had an hour and a half drive home.

Arrangements for calling friends/family if needed - the delivery wing is right next to the heart place in the hospital so they don't let you have computers/cell phones in there because it could potentially mess up somebody's heart or lung machines, so if you need to use a payphone be prepared for that, ask the hospital if there are charges for using the phone in your room or what the rules for that are.

house slippers - i was walking around the hospital in socks last time because i forgot. Oh, I wish i had more socks last time too.

someone mentioned chapstick...yes, but make sure it is NOT petroleum based, like carmex!! ...or other brands....this is a no/no because if they have to give you oxygen, it's flamable!!

Most everything has been mentioned. However I woud definatley suggest bringing your own pads. The ones at the hospital are usually huge and uncomfortable as well a very prone to leaking. Don't forget the baby book and a camera. A few CD's and DVD's if your room has them.Don't worry, if you forget something for the baby you'll have time to get it before he/she goes home.

I have to say that I didn't have any issues with the hospital pads. I used that stretchy underwear thing they give you and I actually liked it. I was up and walking back and forth from the NICU the whole time I was in the hospital, so maybe being up and around made me not leak. Our hospital gave me pads that ranged from HUGE for the first day to regular size ones. By the time we left, I was using the regular sized ones. I even asked if I could take some of the stretchy underwear home, but by the time Noah passed away and we did all the stuff with him, they forgot to get them and all I wanted to do was go home.

I second the snacks. They don't feed Dh. The hospital where we had Noah had these box lunches after 3pm, and I would share my meals with Dh and then share one of the box lunches with him. We also had oodles of snacks left over from our labor "party" so we ate that stuff too. Your appetite is HUGE after having a baby because you now have all this room to fill in your stomach. :-D

That's all I can help you with. We had DD at home so we didn't have to pack a bag for that, and our situation with Noah was very different than normal, so I don't know what they do with you if you just have a baby that's healthy. I can say that the stay was good though. And ask for pain meds if you need them....they are in abudance in the hospital, but they send you home with Advil.... :roll:

I am excited that you are getting so close. It's so awesome to have your baby placed in your arms. There is nothing like it in the world!! :D

Blessings,
Amber

Oh, I remembered something. Shoes that are comfortable to go home in. I bought a cheap pair of slip ons to wear around the hospital and home. Thank goodness I did. My feet swelled so bad after labor I could hardly fit in those. There's no way I would have fit in my normal shoes.

All are good suggestions here. Some things that I brought that were great were; a change of clothing for myself for the way home, change for pay phones, phone numbers, extra cash for my dh to eat from the cafeteria and I'll tell you the BEST thing of all I brought - MY OWN PILLOW! We affectionately call them the hospital 'crunchy' pillows as they are kind of plasticy. It was definitely the best thing!! While I was at the hospital I had my dh bring in my nursing pillow and even my own PJ's and housecoat/robe, slippers was also GREAT. My own deodorant, shampoo, hair brush, tooth brush, tooth paste, etc. Our hospital provided pads and also changes for the baby, we brought an outfit to bring them home in, car seat, etc. I also suggest snacks of your own and also my own tubes of Lanisoh cream (for breastfeeding) as they only give you small little amounts of it.

I didn't get to read all the posts, but I was really glad that we brought snacks...especially dried fruit and things that help you go #2 after delivery. I also brought my hairdryer and make up to help me feel "peppy" the day following delivery. We brought handheld games too - solitaire, yahtzee etc. I used them when I was tired and didn't need to feed ds but wasn't tired enough to need to sleep and was bored of TV. Hope this helps!!

oh yeah, bring blankets/pillows for dh if he's going to stay in the hospital with you.