Bag by Amy Butler
This list is for me, because I have a hard time remembering from baby to baby. I’ve seen a lot of lists out there that try to think of everything, and most of it is a waste of space and requires multiple bags. This is exactly what I use and nothing more.
Slipper Socks–For walking the hall to encourage early labor to progress. The hospital will provide these for you if you don’t have any. I’d prefer to be barefoot, but hospitals frown on this. I’ve started wearing the hospital socks during labor and saving my clean ones for after. I tend to be very cold for awhile after giving birth.
Flocked Inflatable Bath Pillow (For labor in the whirl pool tub).
Small Battery Operated Fan (For labor–I tend to get really hot during a contraction and really cold in between.) Dh holds this for me when I signal him.
Snacks for Dad–This is when Darren gets all the treats I generally don’t buy, such as Nutter Butters, and chocolate dipped wafer bars. I also take zinc losenges to help keep him from getting sick with all the treats, lol.
Camera and Vado mini-video camera
List of people to call after the birth (prepaid long distance card if necessary)
2 nursing nightgowns (with nursing bras if they aren’t built in.)
5 pairs of old underpants (Actually, Depends style disposeable underwear are fantastic for this time. The hospital often provides disposeable mesh panties but if your pads leak, the mesh allows it to get all over your nightgown and sheets. Depends catch any leaks and keep your pretty nighty clean. Just put your pad right in your Depends. You can change the pad out and reuse the same pair of Depends until they get dirty.
Nursing cover–for nursing when visitors come
2 receiving blankets (for going home–I use the hospital’s while we are there.)
2 Infant gowns–the hospital will provide a t-shirt, receiving blankets, a crude cap, and small bag of diapers for your baby while you are there. If you want something more for your baby to wear during the hospital stay, you must bring it.
1 going home outfit for baby
1 going home outfit for mom, including a nursing bra and underpants. This doesn’t have to be fancy–no one will see you, since you should head home and go to bed. It should be very comfortable and something that fit you when you were 30 weeks pregnant.
Nursing pads, nursing bras, and Lansinoh nipple cream.
Orthodontic pacifiers. (My favorite is Mam.) I know the experts say not to use these within the first 2 weeks of delivery, but there is a time for them. Many babies are born not knowing how to eat! They have poor latches and tend to push everything out of their mouth with their tongue. The first thing to try in this instance is holding an orthodontic pacifier in the newborn’s mouth until they accept it and learn to suck, then immediately trade the pacifier for the breast while the tongue is still rounded correctly. It may have to be done several times before baby learns to eat, but he will learn. If he is not learning as quickly as you thing he should, please ask the doctor to check your infant for a tied tongue. This is a common problem which requires minor surgery to correct. Please don’t leave the hospital until baby is nursing well and don’t be afraid to ask for the onstaff lactation consultant to come as often as you need her to.
Cosmetics and toiletries (such as toothbrush, shower gel, hair stuff etc.) You will feel so much better if you can get up, clean up and fix up!
Belly Binder–For helping the uterus to contract and to start to repair your stretched out muscles.
Book to read, or other activity (Such as a soaker to knit–grin). There is a TV there and you may have visitors to talk to. Plus it’s important to sleep as much as you can. But baby also sleeps a lot and you may want something to do to stave off boredom.
Milk Thistle Tea bags and stevia to sweeten–Drinking milk thistle tea will help your milk come in quickly and well, and help your body flush excess fluid retention, strengthen your liver and fat burning capabilities, and keep your bowls moving well. Milk thistle tea tastes like paper and never gets very dark. Stevia helps a lot.
“book to read or other activity” made me smile – last time I was in the hospital post baby, dh brought the laptop along and we spent every spare minute trying to figure out a name for baby before the hospital kicked us out 😉
So true about the tongue tie, my oldest did not latch well, I had blood blisters, and we ended pumping for a year – that was a lot of bottles to wash!!! But I had never heard of tongue tie and when it was discovered there were a lot of appointments, as she did not drink well from a bottle either, then the anesthetic and surgery, lots of stress. Now she is fine, and healthy – thank you for getting the word out, maybe this will help someone. Also great list. I like it.
Congratulations on baby Grant.
I was just wondering about your nightgown pattern; is it as fitted as it looks or does it drape?
Thanks!! Love your blog!
Hi Brandi, The nightgown is very fitted through the bust and then drapes under the bust. The camisole is very fitted all over–more like shapewear and will work as that if you use a layer of power net in the midriff part. The nightgown and cami have separate midriff pieces to allow for the different fits. If you prefer a looser cami, you can shorten the skirt part of the nightgown to use instead.