Hellobee

Since we had several weeks to plan for the birth of our daughter, I had plenty of time to think about what I wanted to pack for the hospital. After I found out I was having a c-section, I added a few more items (and took a few away!) to make sure that I’d be comfortable and prepared for my 3-4 day hospital stay. In fact, I packed two bags: One for me, and one for Chloe.  I’ll review what I packed based on what I was told I’d need, and what I’d actually used (and what my husband ran home to get!).

My aunt had this bag made for Chloe, and I decided to use it to pack my belongings. It’s smaller than the diaper bag, and is perfect for a few days worth of clothes for the hospital!

In my bag, I packed:

1. Makeup: I might be giving birth, but that doesn’t mean I can’t look my best! Besides, there will be cameras around.  In reality, I maybe put on some makeup (powder & blush) once throughout my entire stay.  It became the absolute least of my worries. 
2. Yoga pants: Since I’ll have a low c-section incision, I decided to pack a few pairs of loose fitting maternity yoga pants.  I camped out in my hospital gown on day 1, then a VERY loose fitting pair of maternity pants on day 2 that I bled through.  Back in the hospital gown I went! 
3. Nursing tops & bra: One nursing top for each day & two nursing bras.  I never wore a bra my entire hospital stay, and preferred nursing tank tops under my hospital gown — that I wore maybe once.
4. Long-sleeved, lightweight shirt: Because I might get cold.  I didn’t.  I was sweating.
5. Granny panties: ‘Nuff said, yo.  The hospital provided mesh underwear and pads, and I’m pretty sure I wore them home, too. 
6. Socks: Enough for 4 days. I DID use these!
7. Slippers: So I can walk in the hospital.  I’m not a slipper person, so I’m not sure what made me think I would be once I was in a hospital.  I planned on walking the hospital hallways, but I never did.  So, these were a total waste of money. 
8. Flip flops: To take a shower in the hospital. Definitely used these in the shower, around my hospital room, and the one time I walked down the hall to get ice.
9. My camera + camera cord: Duh.  Never even took them out of my bag.  We used Mr. Jump Rope’s camera and our cell phones to take photos. 
10. Mousse: There is no way in hell I’ll be blow drying and straightening my hair during my hospital stay. This will at least allow me to look like a human!  I did use this, but put my hair in a pony tail all three days I was in the hospital.  So there was really no point in even bringing it. 
11. Toiletries: Also, duh.  I was very happy to have my own tooth brush, deodorant and toothpaste.  I bought travel sized items from Target that were more than enough for my 3 day stay.

I also packed a pillow from home and a fuzzy blanket. Anything to make you feel “at home,” right?  I used these both and was sooo happy to have them!!

In Chloe’s diaper bag:
1. A few outfits: Her going home outfit, of course, and a few more just so she doesn’t have to wear a hospital onesie. I also packed a swaddler and a few hats + socks.   She ended up being smaller than we’d expected, and size 0-3 swam on her!  Mr. Jump Rope had gone home over the weekend to shower and feed the cats, so he brought back a size newborn outfit.  We let Chloe stay in the hospital provided shirt and blankets throughout her stay, but did dress her in the newborn outfit the day we went home.  Even the hats I’d packed were too big on her! 
2. A blanket: To snuggle her, and to keep her warm on the drive home from the hospital.  Yup, we used this!
3. Breast pads: Okay, these are for me.  My milk never came in (that’s another story), so I never once used a breast pad. 
4. Diaper Wipes: The hospital provides these, but I’m bringing my own.  We ended up using all the ones provided by the hospital, and an entire pack of the ones we brought. 
5. Diapers  The hospital provided these, so we saved what we had to use at home.
6. Bibs We actually used these every day until Mr. Jumper brought burp clothes instead.

And, while it didn’t fit into the diaper bag, we packed the Boppy as well.  It was a lifesaver when trying to breastfeed the first few days (especially since I’d had a section). We quickly learned that Chloe was a very alert baby who liked to see what was going on around her, so we allowed her to “sit” in the Boppy on my hospital bed.  This made for a very happy and peaceful baby, and we got some of the cutest pictures of her in it!

She also spit up quite a bit when we were both getting the hang of breastfeeding, so the bibs came in very handy — except they were so big on her!  Mr. Jumper brought back a few burp cloths on one of his trips home to feed the cats.  We used them instead and they were much more comfortable for Chloe, I think, than having a bib around her neck.  I thought I packed the diaper cream, but Mr. Jumper told me that I’d left it on the dresser in the nursery.  Chloe was a bit red one evening, so a nurse gave us Balmex to use — we still haven’t opened the tube of diaper cream that I left at home!

Did you pack something you thought you’d use, but didn’t?  Did your partner have to run home to grab something you didn’t think you’d need?