What To Pack For The Hospital:
1. Car Seat- It's always a good idea to make sure your car seat is properly installed into the car. There are expiration dates on every car seat that need to be checked, which is extremely important when purchasing one off of the internet or at a garage sale since you can now get fined $50 for having an expired car seat.
2. Nursing Pillow- My nursing pillow is such a savior for those middle of the night feedings when I'm stumbling around still half asleep [although that could easily been me at ANY time of the day right now]. Hospital pillows are so limp and uncomfortable and it can be hard trying to hold your little one for every feeding, so give yourself a break and bring this along.
3. Clothes- It depends on whether your having a c-section or vaginal birth [i know sometimes c-sections are planned and sometimes their not], but generally your hospital stay only lasts a mere day or two with a vaginal birth and can be anywhere up to a week with a c-section so try to plan accordingly if you can.
You don't really want to bring any of your favorite clothing with you [aside from the baby's clothes and hubby's] since we all know things aren't so pretty down below for a while so why ruin all of your nice things. That doesn't mean by any means that you are forced to slum it in your raggedy hand me downs. Just choose wisely and comfortably [trust me, you'll thank me later!].
As for your little bundle of joy, make sure to bring a special outfit that you want their picture to be taken in, an outfit you want them to come home in, and then possibly just one other outfit. You don't want to go over board and the hospital always gives you shirts while your there so you don't have to constantly change them into the few outfits you brought along.
4. Baby Blanket- Whether you plan on snuggling your little one into one after you've placed them in their car seat to head home or you just want too wrap them up in one while your all lounging around in your room. & a few burp cloths, swaddles wouldn't be such a bad idea to bring along also.
5. Big Sister/Brother Bag- For those that have a big brother or sister waiting anxiously at home, I think it's such a sweet idea to bring along a little gift to present to them once they arrive at the hospital to help remind them just how special they are to you.
6. Toiletry Items- Your hospital should always have these type of items for you, but in case you'd like to bring along your own it would be a nice idea to snatch up a bunch of those sample sized items you can always find in walmart and just pitch at the end of your stay. The few things you might not find are a hair dryer, straightener/curler, hair brush, bathrobe, tooth brush, deodorant, and razor.
7. Nipple Cream- If your going to be a first time mama and you are planning on breastfeeding, I would definitely suggest bringing along a tube of nipple cream [I stuck with Lanolin the first time around and thankfully didn't need any this time] since they can potentially crack and even bleed in some cases.
8. Camera, Cell Phone, Video Camera- Whichever form of technology you plan on using to take pictures, make sure it has a fresh memory card and a fully charged battery read to rock n' roll.
9. Baby Book- If you plan on using one of these, make sure to have it out and ready to give to the nurses so they can put your little one's footprints inside.
What To Leave At Home:
1. Gown- In my own personal opinion, don't bother bringing your own "hospital gown". The first time around, I brought one that had been sent to me to review and I ended up having to take it off and put on one of the hospitals when it came time for me to get an epidural [but if you can find one that gives them complete access to your back then by all means bring it along].
2. Magazines, Books, Laptop- You really REALLY won't have time for that once your in active labor and those contractions keep coming along with a very short moment of relief and I'm sure you'll be way too busy oogling that cute little baby of yours afterwards to still need any of these things.
3. Nursing/Sanitary Pads- Nursing Pads aren't necessarily needed unless your milk has already come in and it usually takes a few good days after birth for that to happen. & there is definitely no need to bring your own sanitary pads because you will thank the hospital in the end for having those incredibly large pads all ready for you.
4. Diapers/Baby Toiletry- These are all things that the hospital is definitely NOT lacking, so save yourself the trouble and use the items they supply you with. Besides, with the price of diapers why waste your own?!
[This is all from my own personal experience, so if you happen to have something you'd like to add to either list feel free to share!!!!]
