Friday, November 2, 2012

Hospital Bag Packing List

I'm a first time mom and I'm sure you experienced birth-ers are going to laugh at my list.  That's okay.  Once your done laughing, I'd love your input! And I'm not just saying that!  Please let me know if I'm missing something - or if you think something is totally unneeded!  We googled several lists and editing/adding we came up with this (so far):

Clothing for Mom:
  • Nursing Tank x2
  • Robe
  • Nursing Bra
  • Sleeping Bra (what I plan to labor in)
  • Socks x3
  • Loose (cotton) maternity Capri pants
  • Maternity (cotton) pants to wear going home
  • Flip Flops
  • Cheap (potential toss) panties x3
  • Nightgown x2 (picked two $8 ones at walmart, in case they need to be trashed)

Clothing for Dad:
  • Jeans
  • Shirt x3
  • Underwear x3
  • Socks x3
  • Bathing suit (if I want him in the shower with me while laboring)
  • Pajamas

Toiletries:
  • Mini Shampoo/Conditioner/Soaps
  • The Husband's glasses
  • Face Wash
  • Hairbrush
  • Headband
  • Hair ties
  • Toothbrushes
  • Chapstick
  • Deodorant x2

Items for Labor:
  • Exercise/Birthing Ball
  • Sock with tennis balls (for massage)
  • Bradley Method "cheat sheet" (mainly for The Husband)
  • A pillow with a brightly colored case

Items for The Baby:
  • Boppy
  • Newborn sized sleeper (going home option)
  • 0-3 month sized sleeper (going home option, if she's huge)
  • Headband
  • Hat
  • Hand Mittens (to avoid scratching her face up)
  • Blanket (to cover her in the car seat)
  • Baby Book (to get her footprints, and make notes in)
  • Receiving Blanket (to give to our dog with her scent on day #2)

Entertainment:
  • Iphones x2
  • Iphone chargers x2
  • Ipad
  • Camera
  • Camera Memory Card
  • Camera Battery Charger
  • Video Camera
  • The Husband's work laptop
  • Ina May's Breastfeeding Book (for reference)
  • Snack Bag 
    • granola bars
    • jolly ranchers
    • water bottles 
    • mini snickers 

Random Important Items:
  • Photo I.Ds x2
  • Insurance Card
  • Copy of our pre-registration paperwork
  • Pediatrician's info and phone number (to call after delivery to set up 2 day old appt)
  • Newborn Photographers info and phone number (to call after delivery to set up photo shoot date)
  • Pen and Paper to jot down notes/questions/etc.
  • Our friends cell numbers to call when we leave for the hospital so they can pick up the dog and keep him for a few days. 

For the Car:

  • Trash bags x2 (one to put under me (and under a towel) if my water breaks in the car on the way to the hospital, and one as a 'barf bag'... just in case)
  • Towels x2 (birth can be messy, and The Husband loves his car)


We broke things down into 4 bags (I know, I know... at least they're all pretty small/portable).  In addition, there will be a labor ball, pillow and a car seat in the backseat.  
  1. A small (carry-on sized) rolling suitcase - holds The Husband and my clothing items + toiletries
  2. Baby's diaper bag - has all of baby's stuff
  3. Camera Bag - has all of our camera equipment, lenses, and video camera
  4. Extra Random Bag - has things like the snack bag, water bottles, and will eventually hold all of the 'last minute items' (cell phone chargers, etc...) that we'll be using at home, until we go to the hospital.
I packed the majority of this the weekend that I turned 35 weeks.  The things like our phone charges, ipad, laptop, toothpaste, glasses case, and camera are written onto a small piece of paper and secured to our bags to remind us to grab those things and add them to that "Extra Random Bag".  Because I want to labor at home as long as possible... the birthing ball, massage items, etc will also be packed last minute.

Everything is sitting in our master bedroom, just waiting for little miss to make her arrival.  We're down to 28 days until her estimated due date!