Chirky

I wore one of those nursing tanks from Target for my hospital stay. I only had one and we were there for three days after my son was born, so I suggest at least two. I brought my own robe and wore it over my tank. I don't remember pants. We never dressed the baby while at the hospital, just kept him in the shirts the hospital provided and a diaper. We had so much time sitting around, waiting for them to release us, that I could have written thank you notes and half the baby book.

After I had Annalie I think I wore a t-shirt and yoga pants most of the time I was in the hospital, which was longer than normal because she was born a month early (she had to stay 5 days, and my awesome birthing center let us stay too as long as they didn't need the room for someone else). When we left for the hospital we didn't bring ANYTHING (see: she was born early; we thought it was a false alarm but the doctor wanted me to get checked out), not even a camera. After Annalie was born and we were all okay, Troy made a trip back home to get a clothes for us both, the camera, a book for me, etc. Fortunately the birthing center was only about ten minutes from our house so he just made quick trips home if we realized we needed something else.

In the end, I was glad that I hadn't had time to worry about what to take or make a list or pack a bag. It kinda simplified things nicely. (I'll be the first to admit that I had a relatively easy labor & delivery though. Might be different if it had been longer and harder.)

With Hudson I had a bag bursting with stuff. That I never needed.

With Maddie, all I brought was my toiletries, and some clothes to wear home for myself and the kid. That's it. Well, maybe a camera and a baby book.

I wore flip flops instead of socks, and I never thought about a snack even once. I didn't want to wear anything other than the hospital gown while I was there, the nurses are always up in my business anyway. I never had any weird dripping. And yes, the towels are small, but they give you about 10 of them, and I really didn't want to dry off with one of my fluffy house towels and get it all gross and then carry it back home.

Make sure your pillow from home doesn't have a white/light color pillow case.

I'd say take whatever you want and makes you feel comfortable, but just remember that you'll have to drag it all out of there with the baby, any gifts from visitors, and all the baby paraphernalia they send you home with (and that you steal with wreckless abandon from under the cart).

I can't wait to see this little peanut!

I wore a tank top and yoga pants during my recovery. But the one item I was SO GLAD I BROUGHT was my bathrobe. I loved that it made me feel cozy and comfy in those ... uncomfortable days when my girly bits were large, swollen and in-charge.

My only addition (besides the bathrobe) is to bring a diaper or two and some wipes. There IS the possibility of a poop incident on the way home, and you might not remember to grab one from the infant stand, because you may (no, uh, WILL) be TIIIIIRREED.

I can't comment on what else to go in the bag, but I think the Bumble and Bumble is a great idea. I have hair like your that once washed, requires an insane amount of attention or it gets mad.

I love Bumble and Bumlbe. My hair isn't too hard to handle, but using Bumble producst makes it look and feel so much better.

Oh thank you for the links! "The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy" said to bring your own super absorbency pads because the ones the hospital has suck...I don't know if this is true or not? Also I think that I am going to buy/bring cheap multi-pack panties and socks that I don't care about so I don't get my cool underpants and nice socks all messed up!

In response to staying in the hospital for 48 to 72 hours after the birth: My mom went into labor with me at 10pm, gave birth to me at 1:12 a.m., went home by 12 NOON.
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And I found it hilarious and so Jess like to list your lip balm first and foremost under Toiletries. LOL you are so precious!!

I think I brought my purse, the camera, toiletries and a change of clothes for me and the carseat and going home outfit for the baby. We lived close to the hospital, so anything else I made DH go get, which wasn't much. I wouldn't worry about bringing towels, and unless you really like your pillow I wouldn't worry about bringing it either. They'll give you as many as you want, so eventually they add up to a decent pillow. I agree with getting underwear you won't mind throwing away--you definitely won't want to keep it after you're done with it.

Jenny, in my experience, the hospital's were FAR BETTER than any I had myself. So I wouldn't bother.

Yes to yoga pants and tops, though in my case, as long as we didn't have visitors I went without pants while in bed, it was more comfortable. I like the hospital pad & "underwear" they give you but that may all depend on your own um....personal mess situation :)
Forget the thank you's, you won't use them. Baby book is good though for footprints and having guests sign. Depending on the hospital (I was at Med City Dallas) they don't do the footprints in the nursery for you anymore, but our nurse came to the room and helped us.

If you are planning on nursing, lanolin cream. :)

So many comments already, that I doubt mine will be all that different. Your hospital stay largely depends on the birth and then your insurance. I took what I call lazy clothes, which were yoga pants/pajama pants and comfortable t-shirts. I had more than I needed because I like having choices. I have c-sections, so I do stay in the hospital for three nights. I had all of my bath stuff and makeup--once I was up and walking around, I wanted/needed to feel like myself as soon as possible. It made a huge difference in my mental state. Hospital rooms can be very dull and boring, and feeling good (relatively speaking) about how I looked helped me. The hospital provides some weird mesh type underwear that is great b/c you throw it away when done, and you will want to throw it away b/c it can get messy. Other than a going-home outfit, the baby will have all it needs from the hospital. Ask the nurses to teach you their mad ninja swaddling skills. Otherwise, your list sounds good to me. So exciting!

Girl you crack me up! I have had three kids and total I don't think my list was that long, besides after the first one I realized what a hassle it was to drag it all back home along with all the stuff people bring in and leave for you. I would second the comfy clothing option and nursing tank tops. Target has some really great ones. I would also second not bringing your towels from home, use ten of the hospital towels, trust me! Oh and one more thing bring all of your old undies so you can toss them and buy new ones to have at home when you get there. Can't wait to meet your little one.

I wore nursing tank and sweats (mine were maroon) I only wore socks when in labor, if you have a boppy bring it (they are more firm then hospital pillows), snacks are a great idea, and stuff to do during the day( crossword book, book, etc). I was there 72 hours my DR. liked to keep all new moms the longest their insurance would allow so that they could have so time to rest before going home with no help.

Good gracious... do NOT bring thank-you notes! Save yourself the space in your bag and bring snacks instead (I wish I had). Mmmm, snacks.

there are already 16 comments and I didn't read them, so I apologize if I am repeating things already mentioned...

What you will want to wear....DARK pants (don't want to go into much detail here, but just think of the worst period EVER), nursing tops (i had some nursing p.j. tops from motherhood that i loved), I didn't wear the hospital gown after the birth. I had a cute robe to wear over my nursing p.j's when visitors were there. Houseshoes or something to wear when you walk the halls. You won't need underwear because they give you the most wonderful guaze panties to wear and you will want to wear them so you don't ruin yours

toiletries - great idea on the bumble stuff (i have always wanted to try that stuff), and definitely chapstick/lipgloss. Makeup since you will be in lots of pictures. :)

We had a labor bag all packed and didn't even open it!! I brought books, tennis balls, a labor ball, apple juice, granola bars, crossword books, etc. etc. etc....

If you have a boppy or other nursing pillow, bring that. And don't forget the page from your baby book for handprints/footprints. We forgot ours but my parents went home and got it and our nurse did those for us the next day.

Lastly, leave room for all the free stuff you will bring home (diapers, pads, gauze underwear haha)

Uhhh. Don't hospital instructions/documents recommend you leave valuables at home (note your mention of ipod, and super-dooper cellphone extraordinaire)? Although we don't like to consider that those things happen, I'm all too conscious of Poppy's losses in a nursing home--a very nice nursing home at that! Check with your friends...

I packed so much stuff based on Emily's list, Alpha Mom's list, and my birthing class list. I had a "labor" suitcase and a "recovery" suitcase. I never even opened the labor one and out of all the stuff in the recovery one all I used was the shampoo and toothbrush. I brought maternity jeans to wear home from the hospital but ended up having someone bring me yoga pants because the swelling was too much to cram into jeans. The only other thing I wish I had brought was some sort of folder to contain all my paperwork. I now really need to find the info about how to order my son's birth certificate and no one knows where the paperwork got shoved on our way out.

oh and pillows! We brought two pillows with us and were very thankful for them.