So, I just packed my bags....

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I agree with several different sizes of going home clothes for both you and the baby. Sage was only a little over 5 lbs, and the outfit I brought for her (having had all my other kids at between 7.5 and nearly 9 lbs) was just ginormous on her. My mom had to run to a store and get a premie outfit, because her little feet kept getting caught on the crotch of the "newborn" sleeper and she was getting mad.

At the hospitals I delivered at, they don't want you to put the baby in your own clothes. Even if you room in, the baby is still probably going to go to the nursery for weighings and a bath, and they have had too many complaints about lost baby clothes. Most hospitals put your baby in a long sleeve TShirt and a diaper and the ID braclet and a security tag. Then wrap the baby in a blanket. Let them know you don't want the baby's hands covered, as many hospitals still use the TShirts with the folding hand covers. It's good for her to be able to feel things. I always would roll the sleeves up and leave a note that my babies hands were not to be covered.

I used to bring;

• Labor stuff (focus points, pictures tennis ball for counter pressure ect)
• a make up bag (really, recovery in womyn, in hospitals is often judged by when she feels well enough to put some make up on. After labor ect, I always felt better after that first shower, brushing my hair, and putting on just a little cover up, and eye liner.)
• two outfits for me (depending on how much I shrunk after the birth)
• two nursing bras
• I wore the mesh panties, as I had sections, and those things are great for keeping a pad both between your crotch AND on pad on your incision. Plus, I usually wear bikini panties, and if you have a section, you won't be wearing bikinis for a while, because that elastic is right where the incision is)
• A few of my own pads, heavy ones. those bricks they give you may or may not be what you want.
• about three diapers for the baby. They will give you diapers while you are there. But, chances are, she will have a HUGE poo right after you put on the "going home clothes." I think my kids always did.
• Two baby outfits, for above reason.
• A baby jacket, just in case it is cool
• A baby bonnet. I love baby girls in bonnets. You can put the little cap under it. Most babies don't mind.
• two of your own recivijng blankets, I like REALLY thin ones, and one thick one for in the car
• some snacks stashed in the bottom of your bag
• What ever you take for headaches, again stashed where they won't find it. (they don't go through you bags, for the most part) it can take them 12 hours to get you a Tylenol, if the doctor doesn't request it before hand. I had a giant bottle of Fiorinal stashed at the bottom of my make up bag.
• Birth announcements. I actually did them with one of my kids while I was in the hospital
• a book, sometimes those babies DO sleep, and I am not all that fond of TV (unless it is something really special, the only thing I watched the entire 4-5 days I was in while I had Sage was the X-Files)
• a copy of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding or tear off sheets from the LLL website
• a couple of pens, some paper, and a few index cards, I used my index cards to put "Do not give baby any bottles, water, glucose water, formula or anything else. Bring baby to mama whenever s/he wakes up. Baby is only breastfed. Thank you! Baby's name ) My first two kids HAD to be taken to the nursery at times, in the bad old days.
• Toothbrush, toothpaste (some places have some, some don't) vaseline (for your lips) any special soap you might want to use
• ASK for lots of nursing pads. Often they will give you a bunch. ASK for pads, and extra mesh panties as well. Most places don't mind.

What to leave behind in the hospital

• Formula "gift bags." Proven fact. Just having formula in your home DECREASES your success rate at breastfeeding. IF there is an emergency, there are all night stores, and someone can go and get some formula then. DO NOT bring any home. Remember: There is no such thing as a "free" diaper bag........

Good luck.

 

The notes are a great idea! The hospital I'll be going to is a big promoter of breastfeeding, and the new doctor I'm seeing encouraged me, at my last appointment, to breastfeed. But, you never know what those nurses will do....
I've tons of stuff I've printed from the LLL site and from other BF sites aswell.

 

i love hearing your excitement! i always brought too much. i'm of the better to have too much than too little kind of folks when it comes to any kind of packing, lol!

kathy

 

Moire NEVER left my side. She was bathed in a little tub on my bed, with Brian and I helping. They also weighed her in-room too. If she doesn't have to leave, don't let her. Otherwise Momma-paranoia might get to you.

 

Oh....hopefully they let her stay with me the whole time, then. I don't know this hospitals policy on that, either. (You can tell I really do my research, huh).

 

You can always refuse. F*ck hospital policy! Shes your baby!

 

be sure your going home pants are loose and comfy. they don't have to be prego pants, but they need to have a bit of 'wiggle room'

 

pack a cd player to chill you out
a book and magazines

A pillow for you cause hospital pillows are horrible LOL good luck x