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Pack the All Important Hospital Bag

 


While you might be tempted to bring everything under the sun and think more about baby's needs, the hospital bag needs more items for mommy than baby. Many of the supplies needed for baby are given during the hospital stay...

Packing ahead allows you to be ready to go and think ahead about what you consider important to take or leave behind.

                  Mom:

¨  PJs/bathrobe with socks (2 each). Button down, if nursing

¨  Underwear: (4ish or more) Hospital may provide mesh undies

¨  Flipflops for shower or just to wear

¨  Bras (1- 4) depending on if you wear with pjs or just ride home

¨  Bigger shirt, loosest jeans (maternity jeans) or sweatpants, underwear, bra, socks, to go home in

¨  Bathroom Essentials: toothpaste, toothbrush, brush, ponytail holders, Q-tips, shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, deodorant, 2 sets of towels/washcloth (if you don’t want to use theirs), Chapstick, shaver

¨  1 pk thickest and longest pads. Others use Depends or puppy pads folded. Hospital may provide

¨  Buy and pack Witch Hazel pads, stool softener pills, pain reliever, nipple cream, nursing pads, CVS Vitamin C cream (great for belly). Hospital may have witch hazel, stool softener and pain reliever

¨  Nursing cover, boppy pillow

¨  Pillow/blanket, if preferred

¨  Healthy snacks/drinks for both mom and partner

¨  Camera with battery, memory, card, charger

¨  Phone, laptop with chargers

¨  Insurance cards, ID, and important numbers

¨  Information of name and number of pediatrician/doctor for baby

¨  Two extra bags for extras hospital gives and dirty clothes

                   Baby:

¨  Take home outfit: Shirt, pants, hat, hand mitts, socks, thick blanket. May want a size 0 – 3 months outfit in case too big for newborn.

¨  Vaseline, for first poo. Apply to help take off easier.

¨  Burp Clothes – several. Bibs

¨  Outfits/socks/mitts during hospital stay, hospital generally has onesies. Pack some 0-3 onesies, if you plan to dress him, just in case.

¨  Cloth diapers, if cloth diapering and diapering from the beginning

¨  Diaper bag. Can be left in car. Diapers, wipes, changing pad, lotion, ointment, bibs, burp clothes. Extra set of warm clothes, socks, mitts and thick blanket.

¨  Hospital may provide all this for baby: receiving blankets, lotion, diapers, wipes, ointment, bath essentials/ baby brush for baby, nose plunger. Bring what you prefer.

¨  Car Seat installed

Take these home:

Don’t hesitate to request more, they will just bill insurance:

¨  Diapers, wipes, ointment, bath essentials, nose plunger, bathtub basin. If you are running low on diapers and wipes, just tell them you want another pack.

Just ask, they will let you know what you can take

¨  Hospital hat. Ask for baby receiving blanket, onesies

¨  Your pads and mesh panties. DO ASK for another pack and mesh panties, if you liked them

¨  Your water bottle hospital they may give.

¨  Anything they specifically give you

¨  Sitz bath and peri bottle. YOU WILL NEED!

¨  Request a bottle and nipple each time, even if you breastfeed. Ask for extras to leave with. These are the best nipples, so gather as much as possible.

¨  Request extra pacis as baby usually likes the hospitals since it’s the first pacis

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