My hospital bag

So, since Layla is our first baby, packing a bag for the hospital seemed to be a challenge for us. We packed 3 HUGE bags full of stuff and most of it was never even used. But, listed below are somethings I found useful and some things I wish we had thought of. 

A boppy (and a slip cover): I had my boppy in the car and didn't realize it was out there until we left! I was so bummed because for 2 days, I had regular bed pillows shoved up around me on each side trying to support a heavy 8 pound baby while I laid in bed sleepily trying to nurse. Also, bring a cover for your boppy. You'll thank yourself later after your baby leaks milk all over it! I got mine on Etsy and it's super cute :).

A breast feeding bra: I never even THOUGHT to bring a breast feeding bra. I so wish I had. I found myself having several conversations with my nipple hanging out of my johnny (yes, I wore the hospital johnny's in lieu of clothes. I was WAY to uncomfortable to wear my own clothes, let alone put them on. My recovery was terrible! Plus, standing up for too long to put new clothes on wasn't possible for me for the first few days). So yeah, bring a breast feeding bra and make sure it provides plenty of support. 

Breast pads: Along with the breast feeding bra, bring a big box of breast pads. You'll leak for a LONG time (even after switching to formula for a week now, I still have very little that will leak out). I also recommend bringing (and buying) Milkies. You get ONE giant silicone cup to put inside your bra and it catches your let down as you nurse on the opposite side (just don't bend over!). During my peak (when I was pumping up to 2 oz an hour), I was finding about 1 oz of letdown during each nursing/pumping session. Not a TON, but if you have a stronger supply, you may be able to get more during each session. You're not wasting that precious white gold, and you're able to get "extra" milk effortlessly! Breast pads are good during non-nursing sessions just to keep everything dry and healthy. You certainly don't need to get any kind of infection while trying to give your baby food!

Money/Snacks: it's no secret that during delivery, you can't eat. However, your husband/wife/coach CAN eat! We tried not to neglect Matt and I think I did an ok job at it. Although he did tell me the other day he wished we had brought snacks from home. The best part of our hospital was that they provided a voucher for Matt to go down to the cafe and get himself some dinner. It only lasted about a day and a half and then we had to resort to using our own cash. It wasn't a big deal because the hospital food is super cheap (and really not bad) and we had prepared for such an event. 

Socks: I didn't bring socks and guess what? During labor, my feet were FREEZING! I was covered in about 3 warm blankets. The good news is that, while delivering, I forgot all about my cold feet for the rest of the time I was in the hospital recovering!

Toiletries: The number one thing I was dead set on, was bringing our own shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, tooth paste and tooth brushes. The hospital will provide all of it for you if you're not prepared but it felt AMAZING to have our own. When I was finally able to brush my teeth and take a shower, I felt a million times better smelling like my own self instead of some foreign hospital soap. I know, I'm weird but I can't help it. I love my own soap. And brushing my teeth? OMG...better than sex.

Hair ties: I specifically recommend a scrunchie. You know, those super tacky hair ties from the 90's? They still sell them. I have 4 and wear them EVERY day. First of all, they do less damage to your hair and second of all, they don't hurt when you take them out. Having unruly curly hair, regular hair ties can really hurt when I put them in and when I take them out. I happened to be wearing a scrunchie when we left and I never took it out (except to shower). It was so comfortable when I was laying in bed for 3 days. 

2 coming home outfits for your baby: one in Newborn size and one in 0-3 months size. I didn't bring two different sizes. I knew that Layla would be a pipsqueek and she was. She was 7lbs 15oz when she was born and lost about 10oz before we left. So she was just over 7 pounds and fit newborn size PERFECTLY. But, there are circumstances where you just don't know what size your baby will be. So, it's best to be prepared. Also, make sure you have some "in hospital" clothes. I had a few outfits and, because she never spit up or pooped on her clothes, it was the perfect amount. 

A coming home outfit for you: something comfy. It doesn't have to be anything special. Just COMFY. I also recommend having some sort of flip flop or sandal with you. All I had were the shoes I threw on when we left for the hospital and I so wish I had sandals. Penny loafers and sweat pants aren't the best look.

A Camera (and possibly a charger): My camera was fully charged and has a very long battery life. I grabbed it before we left and was totally set for photos. I didn't take a TON of photos. I was too busy recovering and too busy taking care of Layla to take a bunch of photos but the ones I did take, I love.

An iTouch: Something to do while nursing at 3am is really all you need. I found peace in facebook on my iTouch. Plus, I was able to take a quick photo on instagram of my girl to announce her arrival. And don't forget a charger! I was able to pick up a USB port that plugs directly into an outlet for $8 at Walgreens and that thing saved my life many times!

Any prescriptions you've been given during pregnancy: I wasn't prescribed to take Feosol but I was told to take it twice a day because I was slightly anemic during pregnancy. Good thing I mentioned it because, after losing 1.5L of blood, I was even MORE anemic. Even though I was told NOT to take Feosol while in the hospital (they gave me a stronger iron supplement to take), I was glad I brought it up and glad I brought it with me. 

Something for your husband/wife/coach to do while you labor: I labored for 7.5 hours. Although it was mostly in the middle of the night and he was able to sleep, there were periods of time where he was awake and bored out of his skull. He brought a book (The Hobbit. He's read it a million times but, I guess it never gets old), but they keep the labor and delivery room pretty dark so he had a hard time seeing what he was reading. 

A pillow (or two): Matt's biggest complaint about the hospital stay? The chair/bed they gave him to sleep on. It's a chair that folds out into a bed. He had to use a hospital pillow and blanket and was EXTREMELY uncomfortable. So much so that, one night, he actually went home to sleep (and by "sleep" I mean, he missed Layla and I too much to sleep at all!). Although he probably wouldn't have been as comfortable as I was in bed, having his own pillow would have made him a bit more comfortable.

A Cell phone: While I was in the hospital, I had to make a few important phone calls. Thanks to the beauty of facebook, I didn't have to call any relatives to announce Layla's arrival however, I did have to make a few calls to my work (HR) and insurance company. It was great to have the cell phone handy so I wasn't rushing around trying to make phone calls with other peoples cell phones. Also, don't forget the charger!

A nursing shirt to wear home: I can't even describe how great it feels to go home. Make sure, when you bring your "comfy" clothes, you include a nursing shirt. Even if it's just a nursing tank, be sure to wear it. It feels GREAT and makes the nursing process that much easier once you get home.

And of course, there are the obvious things: a car seat (and accessories if you are having a winter/early spring baby!), big grannie panties (the hospital supplied some for me that were SUPER comfortable. I actually wore them home but was glad to have back up, just in case!), at least one hat for your babe, hand mittens for the babe, socks for the babe (you won't need shoes. I brought some but, even after 3 weeks, she doesn't fit into even her smallest pair of shoes yet, and they are fricken TINY!).

Some less obvious items that I found myself needing: a pen, a date book/calendar (it's so easy to forget what day it is. Especially if you labor at night! We went in on a Saturday night and she was born on a Sunday but all day Sunday, I thought it was Saturday!), extra bags to carry everything home in. Our hospital was AMAZING and supplied a lot of stuff to bring home with Layla. A zip up sleep swaddle, blankets, books, even a diaper bag. I also left with several items to help me with the healing process (including a very large and awkward sitz bath) The problem was, we had NOTHING to carry it all home with and poor Matt had to make several trips from the car once we got home. And finally, maternity pants. When I say to bring something comfy, you should really bring maternity pants. I still had quite a belly while I was in the hospital (although it's completely gone now) and really needed the support. I was left with extra skin (that I'm working on tightening now that I'm mostly healed.) and it felt all smooshy and gross. Definitely bring your favorite maternity pants that you wore during your first or second trimester (depending on how big you were). 

and things I brought but didn't need or use: baby body wash, baby wipes, newborn size diapers (or any diapers for that matter...unless you want to start off in cloth. That was my preference but again, her bum is still so tiny that only one or two of her cloth diapers fit her!), nail clippers (you can't cut their nails for 2 weeks), diaper cream (she didn't get her first diaper rash until she was about a week old. Desitin cleared it right up in a couple of days!), blankets (I brought 3 baby blankets. I'm not sure what I was thinking!).

And that's it. That's my list of "hospital essentials". You can feel free to add or take away from your own hospital bag but, this is what I found to be most helpful. Next time, I have a feeling we'll be leaving home with only ONE diaper bag instead of two!