re: Hospital Bag!

My hubby has requested that I keep severral of those 5 hour energy shot things in my bag and my 1st needed mittens because she came out with long fingernails and kept scratching herself. But the big things that no one told me to get were things I should have had waiting at home when we left the hospital. Those being: Stool softeners (if you have an episiotomy or section), extra strength Tylenol, tight sports bras (if you are not nursing), nursing pads, lanolyn, and cabbage. I didn't breastfeed so the last four are fantastic for breast pain and leakage. The cabbage will help dry up your milk and reduce swelling and pain. Just keep in in the fridge and when your breasts get painful, ball the leaves up being careful not to tear but just wrinle, and place them on your bare breasts. The hospital told me to do this when I went home with my 1st.

At the hospitals around here they do not even provide you with bath products for the baby. No shampoo, lotion, soap, nothing. No more then ONE diaper, no whipes, no more then ONE maxi pad, no onesie, no blankets, nothing.

And this is NOT some ghetto hospital either its a MASSIVE one in the heart of our huge city and they have almost 10,000 babies born there each year!

So ladies who are planning on the hospital providing everything make sure you call and find out for sure.

Ma Belle,

It's because we're Canadians though, right? Government pays for it all... I wouldn't REALLY expect them to be paying for a couple of days of pads and diapers for us as well!

Sucks though!

Quoting Flag:" Ma Belle, It's because we're Canadians though, right? Government pays for it all... I wouldn't REALLY ... [snip!] ... it all... I wouldn't REALLY expect them to be paying for a couple of days of pads and diapers for us as well! Sucks though!"

Yeah it doesn't bother me that they don't provide it since i will have zero medical bills at the end of this whole ordeal - but its definitely good to know! I would have assumed that they at least had formula or a diaper for him but im glad I know!

With my first two I didn't need half of those things,
-a robe
- handful of baby outfits (neutral colors no matter what sonogram said)
-going home outfit
-books or magazines some form of entertainment
-Personal toiletries
- recieving blankets

The hospital provided gowns, new slipper socks that you got to keep, an outfit with the hospital name for baby along with booties, mittens, and hat, diapers, wipes, pads, and a new diaper bag they filled with starter items like diapers and wipes to take home.

Quoting itSz Ah GRl!_April08:" Damn im 18 havin ma 1st an really aint thnk i wud need all that! I guess i dnt kno muc bt Maxi Pads, ... [snip!] ... dats clever. That list jus helped me a whole lot! lol. Thnx! Im gonna go copy an paste dat an send it to ma email now! lol."

You pretty much have your period for 5 weeks after you have your baby

Quoting LaceyDiane♥:" Don't be like my sister and forget the car seat!"

Absolutely priceless!!

Quoting Gretchen Weiners:" What to pack? What not to pack? Here is a simple guideline, feel free to add to it if you have experience ... [snip!] ... and 2 videotapes. A small cooler packed with a sandwich and other snacks. A comfortable pillow in an old pillowcase."

I packed 4 outfits, 4 pjs, underwear, bras, socks, sandals, toiletries, pillow and blanket

and for the baby, i packed a diaper bag without the diapers and wipes because the hospital provided us with it. I packed my breast pump with bottle so daddy can feed her too, pjs, outfits, receiving blankets, burp cloths, and hair bows  

,Hi it's very useful post cause when I was pregnant I didn't know what to pack to the hospital, my husband later brought me some useful things, so I also found interesting article https://saymommy.com/mom_963_baby-items-pack-hospital-bag.html, may be it'll help you too! Good luck!!!

Quoting Melanie's Mommy:" ok now im really scared. i'm 16 and being a first time mom is freaking me out. so far i'm doing really ... [snip!] ... thing that scares me. why pads? robe? night gowns? so much stuff. what if i forget something?"

hey im 16 too and yeah the concept is scary :s message me ??

The reason you need pads is because some hospitals don't provide them...after you have your baby your uterus goes back down to normal size over the next month or so(varies woman to woman) and during that time the lining of your uterus that has cushioned your baby throughout pregnancy is shed...pretty much you have your period from right after you deliver til around 6wks (again varies woman to woman) my daughter I only bled for like 2-3wks. Robe and night gowns are more of a convience than a neccessity they will give you a hospital gown to wear...you can generally ask for a second to put on like a robe so your bum isn't hanging out in the back...lol The reason for the baby clothes is obviously for the baby I found very useful the side snap shirts I think I got Gerber ones and they are wonderful for newborns...they go on like a button up shirt so you can change baby's clothes easier. I found a lot of comfort with them because I hadn't really handled a newborn like that until my daughter was born and I didn't have to maneuver her as much with these. Also, the "going home outfit" is a tradition basically find a favorite outfit that should fit baby immediately. Generally size newborn will fit fine as a coming home outfit. Some people want it to be a dressier outfit, but remember to factor in the season and comfort for your baby.

Yes don't stress yourself with worrying about everything you think you need and really don't. Just make sure you have those things at home lol. My last two deliveries I took nothing but outfit to take my kids pictures in. An outfit for them to go Home. Plus one for myself of course. My house shoes can't live without them socks. An one of my own PJs. And don't forget baby carseat. The rest they provide you know. Drinks (pops an juices) and than food. So why a cooler?

Quoting xxleggyladyxx:" Im confused why a tennis ball?"

For massage.

I am 35 Weeks and three days, I packed my bag already the only thing I packed was one pair of Pjs, one pair of socks just in case I get cold while I'm in the hospital, and a camera to take pictures, I'm going be in the hospital for 3 days cause I have a schuled C-section on the 28th, I am having a boy and I already packed his diaper bag and what I pack was three onsis with matching hates, a take home outfit a few diaper and wipes and pacifier.

I am also 35 weeks and packed my bags a few days ago only to find out today that I am almost all the way thinned out! He could be here any day I am so happy I packed early. I have to sit down the next five days, though....until 36 weeks. *sigh*