US ladies- What's in your hospital bag?

[HopingFor2v1]

Hey Ladies,

Just checking to see what you have or will put in your hospital bags. With this being my first time, I'm not quite sure what I need vs. what a US hospital provides. For example, do you bring a gown to wear while in labor? Maternity pads? Diapers/wipes for baby?

I'll most likely have the baby at a military (USAF) hospital, so if any other military mama's out there have any insight on what military hospitals provide, I'd love to hear what you guys are bringing with you too!

I know I still have time, but these are the types of things that I think about while I'm trying to get to sleep at night

Thanks Ladies!

 

[RThomasUCF]

When I went on the hospital tour they told me to leave the nursing pads, maternity pads, diapers, wipes and so on at home because they will provide all of that. They told me to bring personal care items like body wash, hair shampoo ect. Also to bring a couple outfits for baby, gowns to wear, socks, slippers, and basically just things I wanted to wear. They told me most people pack way too much and never end up needing it all. My hospital said there are a lot of samples they will be giving me even like lanolin and breast pads.

 

[Wantingbbbump]

I am a huge over packer but I don't need to bring anything for the baby or myself because the hospital will provide anything we need. I am going to be bringing clothes and a few different outfits, gowns and sleep and plays in preemie and newborn size for the baby. I am also bringing a white t shirt with snaps for them to put on her after she is born because I want her to only wear her own clothing. I love to play dress up with my babies so like I said I am sure I over packed.pretty much just bring things that you want and don't forget the baby book if you want the feet prints to be put in it.

 

[lauren loo]

I over packed as well.Hospitals provide you with pretty much every thing. Diapers/wipes(however the ones they have are dry wipes that you add water too yuck)/clothes/blankets/pillows/pads/formula/a lot more.

In my bag is going
*3 outfits(wasnt sure what size shell be) you need one for them to come home in.
*Hats
*Bows
*Shoes
*Nipple cream
*Pjs for me(hospital provides you with a gown)
*Tooth brush w/ paste
*hair brush
*hair ties
*slippers
*phone charger
*some snacks(the hospital provides you food but if you dont like it your stuck)
*underwear(no thongs bc youll be in a huge pad)
*camera

And some pillows and my blankets

 

[scaredmmy2b]

I am not sure what i will need cause this is my first time ...i live in us and i know they provide a lot.
i believe from what i have heard is they provide diapers wipes and maternity pads. They also will put baby in a onsie hat and blanket.
i am taking diapers and wipes in baby diaper bag anyway but just a few for the way home just in case and baby nail kit cause i know most hospitals wont cut babys nails and they will scratch themsselves. Also hospital will provide formula while you are there.

I am taking several gowns because i dont want to wear hospitals. Esp not after birth. Also taking black jogging pants and a t shirt. And baby at least 2 sleepers some socks and the going home outfit a blanket and mittens and hat. And toothbrush. Shower gel unscented bar soap and lotion. And phone charger. Camera.

 

[Audraia]

I'm not taking much at all. I have a gym bag that I'm using that I have all my toiletries in, so I won't have to pack those when time. I have a baby bag packed with just a couple outfits and a receiving blanket. Otherwise I'll back undies and cloths for when I go home. I'm going to wear the hospitals stuff while I'm there since things will get messy and I'm not going to ruin my cloths/PJs. All my stuff I plan on packing I will do when I go into labor haha. I'm a last minute kinda girl!

 

[DaisyBee]

Im going to pack:

Toothbrush and toothpaste
Brush and Pony tail holders
Contacts stuff, glasses
Deoderant
Maybe a small thing of shampoo, soap, lotion etc but my hospital provides as this as well
Slipper socks for during labor
A sports bra for during labor... And hopefully they let me wear it!
Tennis ball or something for dh to roll on my back for back pain during labor
comfy and baggy clothes to go home in
Flip-flops for going home in if my feet are swollen from induction like last time
A couple pairs of pjs or sweats for stay in the hospital
Slippers or socks for stay in hospital
Nursing bras for stay in hospital and wearing home
Camera, phone, chargers
Baby sleeper for going home
A couple of burp rags
Baby book for footprints
Nail clippers for baby
Food and drinks for dh for during labor. ( after he can go to the vending or cafeteria) so money for that as well
Present from baby for big sister
My normal everyday makeup that I don't leave the house without wearing ( foundation, eyeliner)
Flushable wipes for me

I won't be bringing any diapers, wipes for baby, pads, underwear for me ( I liked there mesh undies vs my own as it was easier I thought, no music, no laptop. They provided plenty of diapers, wipes, and pads and gave me some to take home. My baby will be wearing what they provide while in the hospital as it's easier I think. Plenty of time for dressing her up at home. I haven't decided if I'm bringing my pillow this time or not... I did last time but still didn't sleep well. hospital also provided a thermometer, nose sucker thing, and blankets for baby.

Oh and my hospital makes you wear their gowns during labor... And you can wear whatever you want after baby is born.

 

[lauren loo]

Be careful cutting the babys nails.If not done right it can cut there little hands. I just bite my sons off his hands,that way i wont nip the skin.And then put the hand gloves on the hands at night.

 

[DaisyBee]

Megan pediatrician specifically told us NOT to bite their nails so we used nail clippers from day one with Megan. We never had an issue

 

[addie140910]

This is what we have in our baby's hospital bag so far. (It is all packed, aside from lotion and hand sanatizer.) (I think)

https://www.babyandbump.com/pregnancy-third-trimester/851172-our-babys-hospital-bag-so-far.html

As for my hospital bag... Not packed yet as I use all of my items I am packing on a daily basis. I am taking...

-Toothbrush
-Tooth paste
-Shampoo
-Conditioner
-Brush
-Hair Ties
-Deodorant
-Soap
-Lotion
-Depends (those paper undies, you can never be too safe right?)

-5 pairs of pajamas
-1 pair black sweats (to go home in)
-10 pairs of socks
-10 pairs of panties
-3 outfits for husband (including socks and underwear, as he will probably only change 1x a day.)
-Slippers

We will also be in hotel for a week or more prior to her birth unless she comes early so I will also have...

-I phone and charger
-Laptop and charger
-DS XL and charger

Will probably also pack snacks although really I probably will not eat them, and after she is born just send hubby to the food court to get some food.

I am having baby in a military hospital too (however I am in Korea) We tried to see what they provide, and from the looks of it it did not look like much and so I am going to be prepared as I can be.

 

[Stormynights]

I'm bringing the minimum... I've got LO's diaper bag - diapers (for ride home ) travel wipes, a couple outfits, blanket, and baby book. Then I'm bringing my boppy, a camera, nipple cream, and slippers.

 

[HopingFor2v1]

Ladies, thank you SO much! This has helped immensely There were certainly some things I haven't thought about!

Keep the lists coming as I'm still trying to figure out what I'm bringing!

 

[tucker07]

could you get a list from hospital? i got one when i got a tour and had class

 

[HopingFor2v1]

could you get a list from hospital? i got one when i got a tour and had class

I'm going to ask when I do a walk-thru. Hopefully they will provide me with one, it would be a big help! With having the baby at military hospital your stay could go one of two ways: either they give you more than you need or they give you nothing...it will be interesting!!

 

[rory83coyotes]

Toothpaste
toothbrush
hair brush
hair holders (ponies)
shampoo/conditioner (big bottles)
leave in conditioner
panties, (entire pack)
socks, (entire Pack)
flip flops
extra clothes
my own sanitary pads ( my hospitals suck)
phone chargeer
camera/charger
snacks (i was on hospital bedrest last time)
laundry soap (again hospital bedrest)
razors,
laptop/charger
lotion
deodarant
my own pillow (or two)
cute baby outfit for hospital pics,
soft baby blanket for ride home,
socks for baby,
glasses, contact stuff

I would wear there gown for labor and at least one day after. You tend to get 'messy" and there is no reason to ruin your clothes. I say use the free stuff. They should provide you with diapers, wipes, formula if you choose, t shirst for baby while there, blankets for baby, nose sucker, thermometer, baby soap, pacifier, and even a little hat.

 

[_jellybean_]

This thread is great, and even though I have been packed for weeks (mostly packed, lol), and have three suitcases (a nice new set that dear husband bought me ) there are still things that I just added. Love all of you!

My bag:

---A hospital gown (cute one I already regret buying, since it's not that comfy)
---slippers
---flannel pajamas (two pairs since I get cold quickly)
---bras
---underwear (big ones, lol)
---overnight pads (a bunch of them)
---flip flops to wear in the shower to avoid athlete's foot

---shampoo
---makeup (not a ton though)
---a toothbrush holder
---toothbrush
---toothpaste
---body wash
---bar soap
---tylenol and Excedrin (I get migraines and I'm hoping they'll let me take Excedrin since I can't take it while pregnant)
---Panty Liners (why, I have no idea, lol)


---a separate bag filled with yummy snacks and bottled water and juices
---a change purse filled with quarters for vending machine
---iPod with music
---laptop computer with internet connection
---kindle
---lots of magazines/books for reading

---Full bottle of sanitizer
---Clorox sanitizing cleaning Wipes to wipe down everything, lol
---Wet Ones wipes Antibacterial Hand Wipes (the red colored package)

---a thermos for my coffee in the morning. I figure that DH can fill it at night, and I'll have a hot cup when I wake up
---paper cups (??Why???

This is just off the top of my head...I know there's more I forgot.

Husband:

He packed his own bag, lol, and I'm fine with that, but I'll sneak a couple extra outfits for him in mine.

Baby:

---Wipes
---Outfits
---Hand mitts for scratching
---Burp Cloths
---Baby Book to put footprints in

Can't think of what else, lol. I'll get up and look and then edit later.

Thanks again. Great thread!

 

[mrsthomas623]

The hospital provides most of what you need while you are there- a few things I liked of mine better were:

Newborn diapers- The provide size 1's for full term babies, which are fine but as a first time mom (and will do as 2nd time mom) its kind of a pain to have to roll the diaper down to avoid the umbilical stump. We use the Huggies Snugglers because they have a good low cut out for the stump. (We just 'pocket' the size 1's with hospital permission!)

Sensitive wipes- Our hospital provides dry wipes that you have to dip in water- which suck with merconium poops! Wipes were much easier to use.

Sweat pants and a nursing top- much more comfortable that the gown. Also provides some more modesty while people are constantly poking and prodding you with uterine checks and breastfeeding.

Thats all I can think of besides the "normal stuff"

 

[DaisyBee]

The hospital provides most of what you need while you are there- a few things I liked of mine better were:

Newborn diapers- The provide size 1's for full term babies, which are fine but as a first time mom (and will do as 2nd time mom) its kind of a pain to have to roll the diaper down to avoid the umbilical stump. We use the Huggies Snugglers because they have a good low cut out for the stump. (We just 'pocket' the size 1's with hospital permission!)

Sensitive wipes- Our hospital provides dry wipes that you have to dip in water- which suck with merconium poops! Wipes were much easier to use.

Sweat pants and a nursing top- much more comfortable that the gown. Also provides some more modesty while people are constantly poking and prodding you with uterine checks and breastfeeding.

Thats all I can think of besides the "normal stuff"

Thats something to maybe ask the hospital that you go to then... If you don't want to overpack.. Mine provided newborn diapers as well as size 1 ( a pack of each ) and sensitive wipes as well as the ones you have to get wet. We used the dry ones more as towels to clean her up vs meconium poops. I agree... Those dry type wipes aren't great for diapers... So bring your own wipes if that's all they provide

 

[HopingFor2v1]

So many great tips that I didn't even think about! Thank you!!

You ladies have inspired me to start getting my butt in gear....slowly, haha! I've got a few things for baby set out on a bag and I've got a list of things to bring written down for me and DH

For the ladies bringing underwear, did you go out and buy some dark colored "granny panties" or did you bring what you already have? I don't know if I want to bring my own underwear (mostly because I doubt I'll fit in them with the maternity pads ), so I might go buy some underwear and toss them after all the gorey/bloodiness goes away.