[BabyBird]

I found a bunch of sites with lists and made my own by what I think I will need from each of them. BTDT moms is this too much...or not enough? What do you think I don't need or what did I forget? Thanks!!! You are all such a big help!!

· ID and Insurance Card
· Birth Plan (just a small one sheet plan that is specific to my hossy that we got at our childbirth class)
· Nursing bras
· Nursing tops
· Breast pads (only a few in case they hossy provides them I won't use mine)
· Nipple cream (won't use mine if hossy provides it)
· Pump (still debating on whether I will need it...hopefully baby will be on breast and not in the NICU or something where I will need to pump...but then the hossy may let me borrow one. I will probably keep it in the car just in case and have DH go get it if I need it.)
· Boppy
· Camera and batteries
· Cell phones and chargers
· Slippers and shower shoes (I don't like being barefoot in strange showers!)
· Robe
· Massager
· Tennis ball (for massaging during labor...feels great!)
· Birthing ball (my hossy doesn't provide them)
· Comfy pants
· Socks
· Underwear (will probably wear the mesh ones until I go home)
· Snacks (for DH)
· Rice socks (like a heating pad)
· Shampoo, conditioner
· Toothbrush, toothpaste
· Deodorant
· Lotion
· Makeup
· Brush
· Ponytail holders
· Extra Lipsmackers
· Shower soap
· Face soap
· Pillow
· Change for vending machines (for DH)
Scrapbook paper for footprints

For Baby
· Coming home outfit
· Blankets
· Scratch mittens
· Socks
· Extra outfit (onesies)
For DH
· Pillow
· Change of clothes
· Underwear
· Shower soap
· Deodorant
· Toothbrush, toothpaste
· Contact case and solution
· Movies (he thinks he will have time to watch movies!)
· Laptop (for updating JM and emailing friends and family)

· Black Shirt (for pictures)

[LaLaRose3]

Things you may not need and why:

Breast pads
Nipple cream
Birthing ball
Underwear

The hossy supplies the best breast pads and nipple cream. If I were you I would just use theirs and save yours for at home, as those items aren't cheap! They will give you lanolin in little trial size packs, as many as you ask for... save with breast pads.

Check with your hossy about the birthing ball. Mine supplied it, and it was NICE. It had a little back on it to lean on/over and to keep you stable. Plus it saved me the $50+ that i would have spent on it if I hadn't checked.

Also, don't waste your own undies. Please just try the disposables they give you there because they are AWESOME. I seriously took home like 25 pairs of them to use throughout recovery at home... the ones I got were boy-short style, and really soft and thick. I wish I hadn't run out, because they are much more comfy than real undies, and the pads stick to them easier IMO.

Also, I didn't see pads on your list... but I would just use the hossy ones at first... they are thick and kinda uncomfortable but the best to use for that early PP bleeding. Get some overnights for at home though... my faves were Stayfree Ultrathin overnights with wings... ultra absorbent and comfortable, can't really feel them or see them all bulged (is that a word? lol) through clothes.

Remember to put a non-white pillow case on whatever pillows you bring from home, and maybe put your first and last name on the inside of the case just in case it gets left behind. If you bring any of your own towels don't bring white b/c they will get mixed with hossy laundry.

IMO, I wish we would have brought some movies or the laptop w/ us. You may have some downtime with the baby and hubby in your room and want something to watch besides the ten cable channels in the hossy. It may be worth it!

Again- check with your hossy but ours gave us a double bed in the mother/baby room so that DH and I could sleep together... so your DH may want his own pillow if he's picky!

I brought myself magazines and books but never touched them. They just sat in the bag. I also brought PJ pants but didn't wear them once... too much bleeding! I just wore my nursing nightgown and robe.

Also massage oil was AWESOME!

[LaLaRose3]

Adding more...

I also brought a few receiving blankets from home... I rolled them up and used them in her carseat to prop her up... I had a snuzzler in there but it wasn't enough b/c Alice was really little. You can kinda see it here:

[shannaj]

Thanks Lauren...I'm so confused about what to bring though, because as long as all goes well because I have a midwife I will be discharged within about 4 hours of giving birth...I'm not staying the night. Bah...I don't know why I'm having such a hard time with packing my bag! lol

[BabyBird]

Good points Lauren...thank you!!!

Shanna...it won't hurt to take too much! Not that you will need a lot of it but don't worry about taking too much because that is better than forgetting something or wishing you had something that evening that you didn't think you would need.

[Brenda04]

We had a laptop magazines and movies and they were never touched, their is just too much going on to sit and read or watch a movie, also I ditto Lauren on the underwear the ones at the hospital were great and you avoid staining yours.

[NortheastWifey]

This is great! I've been so unsure of what to bring. I'm going to go out and buy some supplies tommorow for my bag. I never have more than one deoderant on hand for some reason so I'd hate to put it in my bag right now.

[BabyBird]

Originally Posted by NortheastWifey

This is great! I've been so unsure of what to bring. I'm going to go out and buy some supplies tommorow for my bag. I never have more than one deoderant on hand for some reason so I'd hate to put it in my bag right now.

Ha Ha! I guess it would be a good idea to keep one deodorant out to use! I think I am going to buy toiletries too to keep in the bag so I don't have to pack those at the last minute.

[MrsMamaS]

Here's my input:

My hospital supplied NO breastfeeding supplies...so I was on my own when it came to lanolin cream and breast pads. Thankfully, I had packed mine.

Take your Boppy! I didn't have mine, and let me tell you, BFing went so much more smoothly once I got home and had mine.

Underwear - yes for me. The disposables are okay, but I wanted my own to wear after a day in the sposies.

I also preferred pants to a gown. They helped keep my pad in place. I wore stretchy yoga pants from two hours after birth until I got dressed to go home.

I know Lauren liked the thin, overnight pads. These are what I bought too, but ended up not using them. I needed more cusion for sitting. I actually went out and bought thick, cushy pads like they give you in the hospital. I guess it depends on your comfort level afterwards, so maybe buy both.

Towels - I used the hospitals - especially when you need one to roll up and stick between your legs to catch bleeding until you dry off and get dressed. Eric also showered in the hospital, and we had no issues with their supply of towels.

Magazines/Movies - we had NO TIME for these. But that was just us.

Toiletries - I bought all new for our bag so there was nothing to throw in at the last minute. (Except my makeup, which we forgot!) When you get home, you just have extras to use.

A side note: In my hasty packing when we were leaving the hospital (I REALLY wanted to go home!), I forgot my peri bottle and dermoplast. BIG MISTAKE. My MIL had to run around to find me dermoplast, and we never did find a peri bottle. I ended up having to use a cup and bulb syringe, which sucked in comparison. Do not forget to take these with you!!

[xanada101]

Originally Posted by BabyBird

Ha Ha! I guess it would be a good idea to keep one deodorant out to use! I think I am going to buy toiletries too to keep in the bag so I don't have to pack those at the last minute.

You can buy travel sizes in any store. That's what I did because I was afraid that I would be in too much of a hurry and forget something. They were like 97cents each.

[LuvMyToriBug]

· ID and Insurance Card - Yes
· Birth Plan - Yes, if you have one....I did not have one and just to clear up any confusion (because I thought that I had to have one) you do not have to have a Birth Plan, some mommies just make sure that they communicate with the doctor and staff what they want.
· Nursing bras - I would say yes if you plan to BF
· Nursing tops - I did not take any and if I had taken some, I probably would not have used them.
· Breast pads - No, hospital provided them
· Nipple cream - No, hospital provided them
· Pump - No, hospital provided a pump to use during the stay.
· Boppy - Yes
· Camera and batteries - Yes
· Cell phones and chargers - Yes
· Slippers - Yes
· Robe - Yes
· Magazines - No, you will be busy enough and you probably will not want to read a magazine if you have down time because you will probably need to rest.
· Massager - No
· Tennis ball - ? don't know what a tennis ball is used for.
· Birthing ball - Check with the hospital to see if they provide one. I did not use a birthing ball. If you have an epi, you probably will not need it anyway.
· Comfy pants - Yes
· Socks - Yes
· Underwear - I wore hospital underwear (because I did not want to mess up my own with all of the PP bleeding) until the day I left, then I showered and put my own on.
· Snacks - I don't think snacks are necessary. You would be able to get most any snacks you ask for
· Rice socks - don't know what rice socks are used for.
· Shampoo, conditioner - Yes
· Toothbrush, toothpaste - Yes
· Deodorant - Yes (I bought travel sizes of all my toiletries, it saved room and kept me from having to pack all of my home stuff).
· Lotion - Probably a good idea, I did not have any and did not really miss it.
· Makeup - I don't think that you will worry too much about how you look, I did take mine, but never put any on.
· Brush - Yes
· Ponytail holders - Probably a good idea, my hair is not long enough to put up.
· Extra Lipsmackers - I don't know what lipsmackers are.
· Shower soap - Yes
· Face soap - Yes
· Towels - No, I used hospital towels, I did not need extra laundry!
· Pillow - I used hospital and they will give you some for DH also. They were just something else I did not have to worry with or remember taking back home. Believe me, you will go home with tons more stuff than you took.
· Change for vending machines - Yes
Scrapbook paper for footprints - Take your baby book if you have a place in there for hand and foot prints, I did not and I wish that I did.

For Baby
· Coming home outfit - Yes, more than one size (I needed preemie size), you will definitely need a newborn size unless you have a 10 or 12 lb. child.
· Blankets - Just a couple, don't overdo it because you will have hospital blankets. I took one blanket and 1 receiving blanket for pictures and going home.
· Snuzzler for carseat - Yes
· Scratch mittens - I did not have any and did not miss them.
· Socks - Yes
· Extra outfit (onesies) - No, not really necessary unless you don't plan on your baby wearing any of the hospital stuff.
For DH
· Pillow - No
· Change of clothes - Yes
· Underwear - Yes
· Shower soap - Yes (my DH and I used the same so that I would not have two sets of stuff to take.)
· Deodorant - Yes
· Toothbrush, toothpaste - Yes
· Contact case and solution - Yes, If needed
· Movies (he thinks he will have time to watch movies!) - Uh, no
· Laptop - Not really necessary

· Black Shirt (for pictures) -

[KCMomma]

This is a great thread. I'm determined to get my bag packed this week!!! I do have one quick question. I plan on BFing but what if I can't or something? HOw many nursing bras/nursing stuff should I buy ahead of time? What about nursing pj's? Did anyone buy or bring this stuff?

[LuvMyToriBug]

No, No and No. I tried nursing but did not have any of that stuff with me, nor did I buy any. I felt it to be very wasteful had I bought all of that stuff and not need it or not be able to BF. I am glad I did not because BF did not work for me and believe me while most mommies really want to BF, sometimes it just does not work out. I was worried for Tori (she had jaundice and had to be supplemented the last day in the hospital) because I was not producing enough and it seemed like she was not really getting anything. She would BF and then drink as much formula necessary, for a full feeding. It was not like she just topped off with a bottle KWIM?

[BabyBird]

Thanks everyone for your input!!!

[MrsMamaS]

Originally Posted by GMerino

This is a great thread. I'm determined to get my bag packed this week!!! I do have one quick question. I plan on BFing but what if I can't or something? HOw many nursing bras/nursing stuff should I buy ahead of time? What about nursing pj's? Did anyone buy or bring this stuff?

I bought two cheap nursing bras at Motherhood Maternity ahead of time - I recommend a sports bra type since you wont know for sure what size you'll need until your milk comes in. Their nice, soft cottony sleep bras are two for $25 and really, you could wear them as sleep bras even if it turns out you can't BF. They just criss cross in the front and you pull the panel down to nurse. I also bought one nursing shirt for the hospital - though any old button down shirt would work just fine.

[KCMomma]

Jamie, I think I actually did buy two of those bras you are talking about and wear them around the house even now!!! I will probably buy maybe one more and then a few nursing type shirts for the hossy. Thanks!

[BabyBird]

Originally Posted by MrsMamaS

I bought two cheap nursing bras at Motherhood Maternity ahead of time - I recommend a sports bra type since you wont know for sure what size you'll need until your milk comes in. Their nice, soft cottony sleep bras are two for $25 and really, you could wear them as sleep bras even if it turns out you can't BF. They just criss cross in the front and you pull the panel down to nurse. I also bought one nursing shirt for the hospital - though any old button down shirt would work just fine.

Oh good idea! I was holding off on buying any nursing bras just yet because I don't know if my bbs are going to get bigger! They are already 2 cup sizes bigger but seem to have stopped for now. I just don't know if they will have another growth spurt or not and of course when milk comes in they will be even bigger!

[BabyBird]

I edited my original list and took some things out and added a few...and supplied reasons for some.

[KCMomma]

A side note: In my hasty packing when we were leaving the hospital (I REALLY wanted to go home!), I forgot my peri bottle and dermoplast. BIG MISTAKE. My MIL had to run around to find me dermoplast, and we never did find a peri bottle. I ended up having to use a cup and bulb syringe, which sucked in comparison. Do not forget to take these with you!!

Jamie - what is a peri bottle or dermoplast?????

[BabyBird]

I know a peri bottle is a little bottle they give you to rinse yourself off with after going potty because it will HURT! Urine will sting and rinsing will help to soothe the area. Not sure about dermoplast...is it what goes in the bottle or do you just use plain water??