First Time Parents - Labor & Delivery Room Items

[Mom_Rides]

Congrats on the pending arrival of your new little one! I packed after the doctor told me at my 41 week appointment to be back within 2 hours

I packed 2 pairs of cozy PJs (stretchy shorts and a button top)
Robe
Slippers
A nursing bra
Nursing bra pads
Going home outfit for baby
Receiving blanket for baby
Hats for baby
Going home outfit for me (maternity shorts & DH's tshirt)
1 pair of panties (I used the hospital mesh panties for the rest of the time)
Toiletries (travel shampoo & conditioner, lotion, body wash, comb, brush, etc)

DH went home a couple of times a day to let our dogs out so he would change into cozy shorts and a tshirt in the later evening and then change when he went home in the morning to shower and such for the day. He did have his slide sandals with him at the hospital for runs to the ice machine and snack bar for me. Our hospital had birthing suites so we stayed in the same room from the time we got admitted until the day we went home (5 days!). Our room had its own bathroom, TV and DVD player, mini fridge and there was fold out couch for DH to sleep on. Anything else I needed, DH brought from home for me. The nurse when we checked out told me to load up the room because they pitch it and we paid for it so I did and what I didn't take, she packed for me!

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

As a first time mom, due mid August, my DH and I started to pack our hospital bag last night.

We heard that it is a good idea to pack 2 bags - one for the Labor & Delivery Room and another bag for the hospital room.

Any suggestions for the L&D bag? So far, socks, ipod & speakers, cameras & chapstick. Anything that we are leaving out?

Any ideas for the hospital room bag?

The hospital gives you SO MUCH STUFF so don't overpack. There is really no need for two bags IMHO. the room I was induced in was the room I delivered in and I didn't move until about and hour after i delivered. Now I might be jaded because I lives 5 minutes from where I delivered and I was induced so I knew 10 days ahead when I was going in plus DH was able to go home and come back if I needed something. Don't bring underwear though. You are going to bleed A LOT. My hospital had these awesome spandex boy shorts. Because you have to wear a pad it's best just to use there's so you don't stain yours. Yes, you will stain, trust me.

I found tanks and yoga pants to be really comfortable during my stay also sports bras. One Vera large duffel will last your entire stay.

Mini bottle of champagne
Phone charger if you have an extra.
TV was awful and I was glad I bought my laptop and had some DVDs for the afternoon. If I were delivering today I would bring an ipad and load a few movies onto it.
Outfit for baby to come home in
CAR SEAT!

I didn't bring anything nice that could get stained. Nurses will also be coming in to check on you so the loser your clothing the less likely they are to wake you up while you are sleeping.

 

[aimlyles]

My youngest is only 3 and I can't recall what I packed LOL

I know I had a going home outfit for baby and myself,
camera
phone numbers
toiletries (boy that first shower afterwards was nice)
I just used the hospital gowns, mesh undies (until it was time to go home). The hospital provided diapers, wipes, hats, receiving blankets.

I didn't pack any "laboring" things, I try to labor at home as long as possible. In the case of my 2nd son, maybe too long; he arrived about 15 minutes after I got to the hospital. My first son took a bit longer, 30-45 minutes.

 

[mickeyluvr004]

I second the suckers.. I know they came in handy when i was in labor for a very long time and having nothing to eat the sugar in the pops was a nice relief.. its a change from ice pops.. and have lots of snacks and reading material for dad as it could take awhile and can be kinda boring for him.. good luck and congrats

 

[tinker&belle]

My favorite thing during labor was sort of strange...we brought a rolling pin (someone had suggested this to us). It felt SO GOOD being rolled up and down my back and gave DH something a little easier to do than to keep rubbing it. I had a long labor with my first so this was comforting to me and him.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

one thing I can think of is a travel size thing of Tylenol/Advil... not for you but for your DH

You and your DH may be awake for many many hours, which can/will lead to headaches.

Many hospitals will only dispense medications to patients only, and since your DH will not be the patient, they most likely will say no, they can't give him anything, even if it's as simple as a headache

This has happend 2x to DH, poor thing

And I know as silly as this sounds, but don't leave the bag in the car, take it with you when you go in. We thought we'd have enough time for DH to check me in, get settled and return to the car for the bag, well with DS2, there was no way come H*ll or high water he was leaving my side for even 20 minutes to run back and get the bag.

We thought we'd have plenty of time, considering my previous labors were 22 and 38 hours, DS2 was born 2 hours after my water broke at home, we were at the hospital maybe an hour til he was born

 

[momto2js]

I packed and would suggest that you bring your favorite pad in the "overnight" version. I know the hospital will have them but after giving birth is not the time to be uncomfortable with a 1970's locker room sanitary napkin!! (and that is what the hospital I delivered in had)

I found a heating pad was great for the post delivery contractions, I also had pillows I think I brought 2 or 3 from home. Again, it is not the time to be uncomfortable.

Just a note about the mom's going home outfit. Don't bring anything that doesn't fit when you go to the hospital. I was actually bigger when I went home that when I went in from all of the fluid. With my second, I wasn't too swollen so I wore the same tennis shoes the whole pregnancy, I took those shoes to the hospital and went home in hospital slippers because there was no way I could get my shoes on. So Big tee shirts a strechy pants may still needed for a few more days!!

I didn't labor with eithor kid so I don't have any labor suggestions.

 

[delmar411]

bring as little as possible. You'll have to move all that stuff from L&D up to postpartum so pack lightly. The only things that I ever used:

pillow from home (colored pillowcase)
basic toiletries
a pair of sweats/maternity pants
maternity top (a couple if you are swollen since you'll sweat all that extra fluid out)
nursing bra
extra pairs of underwear
socks for L&D and in the hospital (I threw them away afterward since I wore them pretty much non-stop)
bottle of tylenol (they limit how much you can have so bring your own)
any drinks that you like as they will have water only

plus camera, extra batteries, etc.

These days you could also bring Ipods,laptops and whatever entertainment electronics you think you might need. My last L&D and postpartum room had computers and TVs w/ DVD players already in them.

we didn't bring the carseat until it was time to go home, same with the baby's outfit.

Everything else was provided, right down to tucks and lanolin. And you end up taking home more stuff than you brought. I've never left the hospital w/o a big bag of stuff that the nurses give you to tide you over.

 

[afeld111781]

All good...the one thing I wanted (i had two c sections so I couldnt shower right away) was moist face wipes. I had a long labor before I had a c section the first time and I felt so sweaty and dirty and wanted a nice soothing face cleansing.