Comments on: The Ultimate Hospital Bag List

By: Sammie

Sammie — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:14:38 +0000

Just a few suggestions from my experience with my first. I’m going in tomorrow for induction so I’m prepared.
Bring your old period panties and super absorbant pads.
Hospital pads are the equivalent of diapers!
Bring your own shampoo, conditioner, razor(trust me, they dont have any), ad especially makeup wipes(for those pictures after, clean it off then reapply)
I wouldn’t bring any diapers or receiving blankets. They provide you with those in the hospital. All the women I know, financially sound or not take all the hospital provides and take them home. If you have insurance, it pays for it all. The hospital is not hurting if you take all the diapers, swaddles, receiving blankets and whatever else is in the bassinet the baby comes to your room in.
All I can say otherwise is good luck and it will not be as bad as you might think. In fact its a wonderful experience that you will never forget(especially the pain).
Oh, also, get an epidural. Definitely get it!!!

By: abby

abby — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:47:40 +0000

If they have already brought the stuff into your room, they can’t use it for another pt and have already charged you for it. So it’s already yours. Not stealing and not wrong.

By: Leigh

Leigh — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:25:41 +0000

The list is great but I’m pretty shocked about the “stealing” comments. Being a Canadian ER nurse, I am well aware of the cost of these items and that the supplies some out of each wards’s budget. I’d hate to add to the cause of decreased supplies for other moms and babies in the future!

By: Kristal

Kristal — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:16:24 +0000

All this sounds very helpful, I’m bout to give birth in one week and have my bag packed already. I’m starting to wonder if I have overpacked…since everyone was saying less is more and they say that the hospital will give you everything that you need for the baby. Now I just need the hubby to pack a lite bag. lol

By: apple

apple — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:49:49 +0000

Wow, that’s a long list! You definitely want to leave a lot of that behind, as having more things can be of a nuisance (our postpartum room the first time was a wreck, and we could barely find the things we really did need in it). You definitely want to leave the wipes, lanolin, diapers behind because the hospital will provide it. You will also want to leave behind the hooter hider, as breastfeeding is hard to get the hang of at first, and you’ll probably find that clothing and hiders only get in the way. Plus, the nurses/midwives/ etc will want to see how you and the baby are breastfeeding.

Two things that I would recommend: 1) have your hubby pack his bag well AHEAD of time. Mine didn’t, and was just a tad distracted in the hours before we went to the hospital, and forgot his pajamas, shaving kit, and clean socks! 2) a good book for your husband to read to you. I’m not a TV person, and during down moments (you will do a lot of waiting), the sound of him reading to me was very relaxing.

By: Kayla

Kayla — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:26:11 +0000

Echoing what several other people have said, that’s a really long list and you probably won’t use most of it! Since I had an emergency c-section 6 weeks early I thought I was really unprepared but I actually had everything I needed.

They might be ugly, but the hospital gowns are really useful. You can bleed and leak all over them and they’ll bring you a new one and take the old one away for washing. You don’t ruin any of your own clothes or do any laundry. I was going to bring my own nightgowns but I’m glad I didn’t. Same with towels.

The hospital provides SO MUCH STUFF. The mesh underwear is wonderful (again with the no laundry), they gave me breast pads, lansinoh, pads, and all kinds of other stuff to take home with Wes (diapers, wipes, etc).

I don’t know about labor (kinda skipped that part), but for afterward, just make sure you’ve got your own pillow, a couple books to read, stuff to keep your hair off your face, a bathrobe for when you’re out wandering around, and something for you and baby to wear home. Ok, and I also used my eyelash curler and mascara every day, but that’s me.

If you need something else, you can always have someone bring it to you from home (unless you live like, hours away from the hospital). But I was surprised by how little I needed.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:17:18 +0000

Oh that is good advice. I brought some expensive but sample size shampoos and conditioners and some yummy smelling soap. The first shower AFTER birth is heaven and the hospital showers will be the longest ones you will take in the next several months. Pricey nice shampoo will feel like a complete luxury.

I had a weird reaction to the mesh underwear. It made my skin very itchy and it hurt to sit on it. Definitely bring some cotton maternity underwear.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:39:05 +0000

That diaper bag is so chic! I bought a small tube of nipple cream today…thinking of YOU! LOL.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:38:57 +0000

For the diaper bag, I always like to have a bib and burp cloth and a thin receiving blanket.

For the hospital bag, less is more! Seriously, you won’t use half that stuff! All you really need is shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, ponytail holder, socks, and an outfit to come home for you and the baby, a comfy outfit for you, nothing that rubs your crotch area cause it will be sore! loose clothing is best!

By: Karrie

Karrie — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:31:00 +0000

Great advice. I’m working on my bag right now. This is very helpful!