This post is a bit different than your usual hospital bag post because I will be adding some c-section things to the Hospital Bag list in case you have an emergency c-section like I did! Further down this post I will also share what you can expect from Hospitals, specifically the Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg and what items and services they provide.
Okay! Now on to the Hospital Bags!
Mom's Bag:
- Easy slip on shoes (there's no way you want to/can bend over especially with c-section)
- Headband/hair tie (you don't have to but you don't want your hair distracting you)
- Socks (2-3 pair if c-section stay)
- Underwear (2-3 if c-section stay, high waist so band does not rest on c-section incision)
- Comfy departure outfit (again, think about choosing pants that hit around belly button to avoid pressure on the incision)
- Robe (if you have c-section, you'll want something quick and easy to throw on to walk the halls)
- Travel sized shampoo/conditioner (2-1 is nice)
- Travel size body-wash
- Face wipes/face wash (wipes are a quick and easy bedside freshen up!)
- Toothpaste and toothbrush (pack a new one, you don't want to get there and realize you left it home on the bathroom counter, or you do bring it but leave it at the hospital)
- Makeup (personal preference, you don't have to but there will be a camera crew offering to take newborn pictures of you and your baby!)
- Deodorant
- Kotex Security Maxi Pads (seriously the softest and cushiest, sitting on a pillow, I prefer without wings)
- Chapstick (during labor/delivery you are breathing super hard and your lips will feel it the next day!)
- Chapstick (yes it's on here twice, you don't want to lose it!)
- Lanolin (for nipples but I used it as Chapstick as well because I kept misplacing mine?!)
- Nursing pillow (nice to have, but you can ask for extra pillows if you don't have one)
- Mints (if you're expecting visitors and hugs and kisses!)
- Medea nipple shield (backup if nursing is painful or baby has hard time latching) find at Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, see my breastfeeding essentials post for more info http://britjessop.blogspot.com/2015/01/breastfeeding-essentials-top-10.html
Baby's Bag:
- Baby mittens (those hands go crazy with their new found freedom!)
- Cute blanket for pics (but they do have blankets there)
- Departure outfit (they strongly encourage skin to skin, your baby will more than likely not be dressed a lot while there)
- Car seat (they won't let you and baby leave the hospital without one)
- Newborn diapers (just in case they have stopped providing diapers and wipes since I've been there!)
- Wipes (just in case)
- Bum cream (we like Desitin)
- Binky (this depends on you, if there's a certain style you want or if you don't want your baby to use one at all, the nurses might give one to baby if you don't specify with them first)
Dad's Bag:
- Camera/phone
- Chargers for camera/phone
- Change of clothes (2-3 pairs if staying multiple days for c-section)
- Toothbrush/paste
- Deodorant
What to Expect from Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg, Idaho:
Take note that you can bring more clothes to wear during your stay but honestly the hospital gowns are so convienant because you're constantly nursing and having your baby skin to skin that I didn't find myself wearing much else during my three day stay. Except when some photographers came in, then I did put a shirt on... over my gown haha. Also when walking the halls after surgery (prescribed by the nurses) I found it easier to have slip on shoes (i.e. slippers, crocs, flats, etc) and a robe. The showers are clean at this hospital so no need for shower shoes, unless you still feel wary about it. The showers even have a red heat light which is so nice! The shower also has some soap in it... not sure if it was shampoo, body wash or hand soap? (Might be a good idea to bring your own) Feel free to combine mom and baby's bag or Dad and baby's bag, or whatever gets you there with less bags to carry! (I preferred backpacks because it doesn't require any hands). No need to pack snacks because they have a free Dad's snack bar! I also had my husband snag me some snacks too! Unless of course you have to bring a big bag of dried mangos from Costco... I thought about it. A camera crew will be coming around at some point and offer to take pictures of your newborn, it's kind of nice to get pictures so soon but pretty pricey on the other hand... You've also probably heard about the celebratory meal that the new mom and dad get, it's pretty delicious, I had chicken cordon bleu and chocolate cake! There will be some DVD's about taking baby home that you will be required to watch before you leave. There is a lactation consultant who will visit you, but if you're struggling, demand to see her sooner! If you have an epidural they will place massaging casts over your legs while you are in bed, so as to increase circulation. Last but certainly not least, if you have a c-section, after surgery you will be hooked up to a catheter for the first 24hrs (I had no idea they would be doing this), so as to not strain yourself by getting up to use the bathroom, take advantage of this and drink drink drink.
Now I'll take a few lines to go over what this hospital in particular gives you... This way you can know what not to pack and what you can ask for if they forget to give you something. There are a few things that they won't give you unless you request it and I will list those below as well...
What they give you:
- A pack of newborn diapers
- A few baby wipes
- Halo swaddle wrap (fleece)
- Big water bottle with straw
- Small baby bath bin and sponge/brush
- Disposable underwear
- Pads (there are different pads for c-Section to accommodate the extra bleeding, they are huge!)
- Numbing spray
- Squeeze bottle (to cleanse perineal area with warm water)
Things Upon Request:
- Stool softeners (ask from the get go, you want that first bowel movement to be easy and comfortable down there!)
- Binky/pacifier
- Lanolin (which is a safe hydrating nipple cream)
- Ice pack diapers (diapers filled with ice, they work wonderfully)
- More disposable underwear
- More pads
- Manual hand pump
- Benadryl (if you itch from epidural)
- Extra pillows
- Extra blankets
Specific to C-section, Upon Request:
- Ask for multiple disposable underwear (since you are there longer)
- Extras of those huge underwear pads (on top of the usual post birth bleeding you will get extra blood drainage from the incision)
- Syringe with infant formula *if you need (c-section milk "can tend" to come in a few days late... and baby needs to eat something!)
- Support brace belt (A MUST FOR C-SECTION, prevents you from flexing your abs too much, helps you transition out of bed, etc. Seriously, I challenge you right now to try getting up from laying down in bed without flexing your abs one bit, harder than you think! Also try laughing and sneezing without flexing... Dang you funny husband)
- *** ASK DR/NURSE about a liquid diet for the first 24hrs (trust me, you do not want a bowel movement for as long as possible. I'm forever grateful to my Dr. for prescribing this because not all Dr's do this anymore! Your abs should not be pushing/straining one bit, the stitches are extremely sensitive at this point)***
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