What Moms Want To Know

What You Don't Need At The Hospital

I was incredibly over-prepared prepared for my hospital stay the last time I gave birth.  I had everything I could possibly need in my suitcase.... and used about one fourth of it.  (It really looked like we were moving in to Labor and Delivery; I just have a thing about being under-prepared when away from home.)

So, from the lessons I learned last time around, here are my suggestions for some things that are not worth worrying about taking with you to the hospital.

1) Lots of Baby Clothes
One picture outfit and a going home outfit are the only infant clothes I am taking with me this time.   My son stayed in the little hospital T and swaddled in the hospital blankets the entire time we were there.  I was too exhausted to even think about changing his clothes and there was no reason to anyway.

2) Baby Blankets
I will bring one for pictures but otherwise I'm going to let him stay in the hospital-provided blankets.  Out of all the blankets that I bought and were given to me, those were honestly my favorites for my son's first few months.  They were the perfect size for swaddling and very soft.  

3) Makeup
I wore none the entire time I was in the hospital.  Sure, I might have scared some people, but I was too exhausted from giving birth and excited about my son to even think about applying makeup.  That being said, it might just be too much to handle to actually leave it at home, even knowing I will probably not use it.

4) Books
I'm going to bring some magazines (that I probably will not even read) but I know there is absolutley no use in bringing a book, even for a book addict such as myself.  One, I will be too tired to read. Two, I will not have time to read. Three, I will have no interest in reading.  

5) A Nice Robe
I definitely recommend taking a robe, but I recommend taking an old ratty one.  If you plan on breastfeeding, you will probably use lanolin cream, which stains and will ruin your clothes.  I found this out after I ruined the brand new robe I bought just for the hospital.

Packing For The Hospital

As I gear up for the birth of my second child (and try to stop those nasty thoughts of what were you thinking.....2 babies under 2 years???????) I realize that I need to start thinking about what to take to the hospital.  I certainly don't want to go into labor and have my husband try to figure out what I need at the hospital, so in the next couple of weeks I plan on getting everything ready.  I learned a few things with the birth of my first son, so here are some things I plan on taking with me and some things you might want to consider packing for yourself....beyond the ordinary clothes, slippers, etc.

1) Pillow
When you are sleeping in a strange place in a strange bed (especially when that place is a hospital) your own pillow can really offer you a little comfort.  I will definitely be taking my pillow with me; I did last time and was glad I had it.

2) Laptop
I'm taking it so I can send out emails and pictures to our friends and family. 

3) DVDs
These will be for my husband, not me.  If you're in labor for awhile they can be a good distraction.  I had no interest in watching television while I was in labor, but I think they helped distract my husband and made the time pass a little more quickly.   

4) Snacks
I plan on bringing a few of my favorite snacks for when I'm in the hospital after Labor & Delivery.  The hospital food was not too bad, but I hate snacking from vending machines and I was absolutely ravenous for several days after giving birth.

5) Gift From The New Little Brother
I am hoping my older son will be able to come see us in the hospital and I want to have a gift waiting on him from his new baby brother.

6) Light Reading Material
With an emphasis on the word light.  I brought some magazines last time and never opened them, but I think I'm going to bring some this time too, just in case.  If my labor does go long I might be gIad to have them.  No use in not being prepared! 

7) Slipper Socks
I don't want to walk around the hospital barefoot, but neither do I want to bring home all the germs that can be found in hospitals on the soles of my feet, so I think that slipper socks are the way to go.  They're warm and easy to wash.