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M.R. asks from Churchville, NY on February 19, 2011

Hospital Bag--what You WISH You Had Packed...

...or were VERY glad you did.

I'm expecting my third so it's been 2 1/2 years since I've had to stay in with a baby. I also was just informed that I tested positive for Group B Strep so will have an automatic 48 hour stay with the baby (I've never stayed longer than 24 hours after birth before). I have all my basics packed or planned (wearable, comfy clothes for coming home, baby clothes for coming home, nursing camis and lounge pants, although I usually wear the hospital robe, basic toiletries, nursing pads, etc.). My mother-in-law suggested I look on the bright side and see it as an extra day to just rest while my husband and family are playing with my other two boys, so I'm thinking of treating myself to a magazine to bring and maybe a few paperbacks. I'm not concerned about bringing things for my husband (snacks, change of clothes, etc.) since he will be mobile and we live close to the hospital. He also doesn't sleep over since he can't sleep in the hospital chairs and I would rather send him home to rest up so I can sleep, too.

So...what other things did you wish you had for your stay? What were you really, really glad you brought? I'm pretty low-maintenance and for all I know will spend half the time nursing and the other half conked out in bed, but I'd rather slightly overpack since there's room in the suitcase. :)

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So What Happened?™

Thanks for the ideas so far. I especially need to remember Lanolin cream!! I know they gave me some at the hospital with my first so I failed to pack it with my second, but there wasn't a sample there and I really wished I'd had some. I will be adding that to my grocery list! :)

I see a pattern with music here, and recall that I wished I'd had music with earphones last time, too, since I hate "sharing" what I'm listening to or might want to nod off with it on. I also love the idea of earplugs, but with the baby rooming in I'll probably want to be able to hear every little breath once he's here. :) I DID pack a razor and shaving cream, even though I hate shaving. I think I shaved a lot after my first two just because it made me feel more human than if I didn't. Phone charger and camera battery charger are also EXCELLENT ideas! :)

Featured Answers

M.S. answers from Philadelphia on February 20, 2011

I wish I packed a scrambler for the free high-speed internet and cable they had in the hospital room. My husband literally did nothing but play on the computer and watch TV the whole hospital stay... Ha ha. I was so bummed I sent him home the day I was supposed to be discharged...

Hopefully for the 2nd kid he'll know better....

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J.L. answers from Los Angeles on February 20, 2011

All I packed was my makeup bag, an outfit for the baby, and my camera.
Needless to say I was unprepared, wasn't thinking, and just grabbed whatever. LOL.
So I wish I had a lot of things!
The biggest things my BF brought to me were...clothes, phone chrager, my own body wash. That was heaven right there!
Cograts and good Luck!

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J.M. answers from Boston on February 20, 2011

I really wish that I had packed my own towel, even just a little one. Rubbing those industrial-cleaned-might-as-well-be-sandpaper towels on my sore body was like torture.

Good luck with your delivery!

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M.M. answers from Chicago on February 20, 2011

Ear plugs and home made "Do not disturb" sign to put on the door.

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M.S. answers from Philadelphia on February 20, 2011

I wish I packed a scrambler for the free high-speed internet and cable they had in the hospital room. My husband literally did nothing but play on the computer and watch TV the whole hospital stay... Ha ha. I was so bummed I sent him home the day I was supposed to be discharged...

Hopefully for the 2nd kid he'll know better....

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H.D. answers from Chicago on February 19, 2011

I wish I had taken my I-Pod so I could've drowned out the hall noise at night (but listen low enough if the baby stays in the rm like mine did) also my own slippers not the slipper socks they give you and my own pads instead of the loaf of bread sized pad they gave me. I guess magazines are fun although I didn't remember enough time to read anything...a laptop would've been handy to post pix.

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M.P. answers from Lafayette on February 20, 2011

so i'm a little late, but when i went to the hospital i didn't have a bag packed at all. i was 10 weeks early. but the thing i wanted the most that i forgot that first day was the charger for my cell phone. i used it as my camera and everything. and well, i had a 5 day stay before i delivered so i did a lot of phone time because i had a lot of stuff to figure out. lol. i also wish i had music too, and my computer. but that's it

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A.C. answers from Savannah on February 20, 2011

First time around, thing I was really proud that we brought: a small bag for my husband (shaving kit, brush, deodorant, toothbrush/toothpaste, breath mints, quarters for snack machine), but more importantly: HE brought his swimsuit, on his own. He changed into his swimsuit so he could help me with my first shower after delivery. I was always very independent, and this was a real bonding time because he was so helpful and I really needed him. It was strange, but sweet.
2nd time around, I brought "our CD" (because we were oldschool and didn't have an ipod yet) with really good, relaxing, but happy songs, for recovery time and the 2 days after the baby was born. Every single nurse commented on that CD because the music is greatness, some asked for the playlist. This came in handy because my husband was busy with our oldest boy and I had spaces in time that could have been kinda lonely (baby sleeping, me alone, couldn't keep a 3 year old at the hospital all day).

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E.A. answers from Pittsburgh on February 19, 2011

Dont forget a camera!

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K.M. answers from Chicago on February 19, 2011

more socks, chapstick, my make up bag

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K.L. answers from Redding on February 20, 2011

Don't forget the camera, extra battery, and memory card. You'll be there a bit longer and need to take more photos, so maybe even the charger pack or cord. Have a happy baby! (o:

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A.J. answers from Williamsport on February 20, 2011

Prune Juice! Large water! With constipation post pregnancy hormones and hospital food, and busy nurses who don't always run to refill your water right away, I brought a large bottle of prune juice for babies 2 and 3! And some healthy snacks. A recovering mama cannot live on wonder burger buns, iceberg lettuce, florescent dressing, and jello alone!

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L.J. answers from Chicago on February 20, 2011

Magazines for sure! Also with my third baby, I brought my iPod and a docking station, so I could play music whenever I wanted. I was sooo glad I did that, because daytime TV stinks and music helped me relax, etc. And my own pillow! I loved hagin my own pillow :)

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A.M. answers from San Diego on February 19, 2011

comfortable pillows definately and my own comfy blanket, my camara. congrats and good luck.

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M.F. answers from Phoenix on February 19, 2011

Snacks for you! I was so glad friends brought a snack basket that first day. Also, travel-sized toiletries, your usual brands if possible, that you can just toss when it's time to leave. Oh, and don't forget the lanolin cream! Good luck!

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A.S. answers from Clarksville on February 20, 2011

A razor and shaving cream.

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R.Y. answers from New York on February 19, 2011

I always over pack for everything but I brought my body pillow and a boppy. Croc shoes are great for the hospital--very comfy and totally washable when you get home. I am a bookworm so I brought a paperback or 2.

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J.L. answers from Los Angeles on February 20, 2011

All I packed was my makeup bag, an outfit for the baby, and my camera.
Needless to say I was unprepared, wasn't thinking, and just grabbed whatever. LOL.
So I wish I had a lot of things!
The biggest things my BF brought to me were...clothes, phone chrager, my own body wash. That was heaven right there!
Cograts and good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful

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E.M. answers from Honolulu on February 19, 2011

All that stuff and yarn...I am a big knitter enough and get lots of stuff done while sitting in "recovery"

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A.H. answers from San Francisco on February 20, 2011

I was really glad I brought my cellphone - but wish I had packed the charger! (using the phone in my room was crazy expensive)

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D.R. answers from Tucson on February 19, 2011

I was SO glad I brought: my own pads, my own underwear (something like boy shorts keeps the pads snug against your body and you dont feel like you're gushing everywhere, yuck), my own pajama pants (hated the hospital gown, I even tried to rip it off while I was pushing, haha).

I wish I had brought face wipes. A shower was nice but half-way through the night a little refreshing wipe down of the face and hands would have made me feel better. Gets the "hospital ick" feeling off.

Hard candies would have been nice.

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M.B. answers from St. Louis on February 19, 2011

Cleansing wipes for your face or where ever. I wasnt able to get up and shower for a day, so being able to wipe myself down made me fee better until I could shower. Robe, your own pillow, dvds, baby book, books to read.

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