Okay I know I am not pregnant (yet) but I came across this today while at work **cough** and I wanted to keep it. You know how much I love list.. I got it from Stick Baby!
At least one month before due date
*Install car seat
*Keep Hospital Bags in the car you will use or by the door you will be leaving from.
*Have a neighbor or designated person to watch the house/pets/ or other children.
*2 pillows with garbage bags over the pillow like a pillowcase, then w/ pillowcase
*barf bag or two, since people in labor may throw up
*towels
*A list of last minute packing items (ID, license, fruit, frozen items, etc…)
In General
*Your Birth Plan
*Your insurance card and any hospital papers you will
*Pediatrician info
*folder for new paperwork
*cell phone
For Labor*Warm socks
*Lip balm – All that puffing and panting and also dehydration, lip balm is a must)
*Loose underwear (did not use, the mesh underwear the hospital gives you are a godsend, ask for extras to take home)
*Snacks (fruit, nuts, popsicles, etc….) (did not use)
*Sour Suckers (sour ones curb thirst where the sweet ones will make it worse)(did not use)
*Hair band or tie (unless you want sweaty matted hair stuck to your forehead) (did not use but should have)
*Video/still camera (for your lovely shots of labor)
*Pillow (From home with not so good pillow case……..fluids…enough said)
*Pen and paper (if you are in the early stages, you are a list maker, journal writing, or well anyways, just in case) (did not use, too much going on)
*Ipod or music (did not use, too much going on)
*Roll of toilet paper (hospital paper is cheap and scratchy)
*Slippers (non-slip and once again take them off when things start to get nasty)*toiletries
*talismans (picture of someone or something you love, anything you find reassuring) (did not use)
For your partner/coach
*Change of clothes (especially if they plan on staying the night) (did not use, DH just wore the clothes he came in, we were only there for a day and a half).
*Pillow/blanket (check with the hospital first – however, your own will be more comfortable) (did not use our blanket, the hospital had plenty to spare)
*watch with a second hand for contractions (did not use, the monitor tracks your contractions anyway)*mints/gum/mouthwash (sometimes the birth partner needs to be really close during labor)(did not use)
*remember your partner can leave the hospital...pack light
For after delivery
*Fresh nightgown (with openings in front if you plan on breastfeeding)
*Nursing bra (if planning to breastfeed)
*Nursing pads (even if you plan to bottle feed as you may still leak)
*A going home outfit for mom (did not use, I just wore my pj's home)
*Lanolin cream (if you plan on breastfeeding)
*Bathrobe (for the trips to the nursery)
*Baby Book (for all the vitals and getting the feet and hands stamped)
*Boppy nursing pillow
*Dermoplast/Proctofoam: for numbing your sensitive parts (did not TAKE, the nurse gave me dermoplast, definately used though)
*Spare nightgowns (you will leak) (I just wore one nursing top that came with my nursing pj's, you won't want to mess up your nice gowns or pants, blanket cover your bottom half the entire time anyway)
*Nursing Tank (did not use, see above, just wore pj top)
For Baby
*Going home outfit for baby (we actually had JR in his own clothes the entire time)
*hat/cap (babies lose so much heat thru their heads…even in the summer)
*receiving blanket (Once again, check with hospital first, bring a heavy one if weather is cold)*sock/booties*sleeper
*CAR SEAT!!!!!!!
*You may want to bring an extra cute outfit for the pictureExtras or Activities (usually non-essentials)
*Make-up (No one looks good after, but you can pretend) (did not use, planned on using, but just didn't care)
*Towels (Dark towels….most hospital towels are scratchy) (did not use, theirs are good enough, you're not going to want to rub anything against you sensitive areas no matter how soft or scratchy)
Extra tips
*Bring your baby book…and let the nurse know you have it and they will stamp it for you
*You may want to bring an extra empty bag just in case you get gifts at the hospital
*Some hospitals charge for parking...beware
*Hospitals usually will take pictures of your newborn….bring some extra cash for these (did not use, at our hospital, we wouldn't have paid for pics at the time anyway)
*You can usually wear the same clothes home you came to the hospital in.
*Some Hospitals will give you a pre-labor tour of the nursing center,take it.
*Get a list of things the hospital will provide.
*Wash the baby clothes you’ll bring to the hospital
*Remember gowns = easy access
*Make sure your labor shirt is short sleeved (They will check your blood pressure a lot and those pesky i-v’s.
*Fill out the forms during your last trimester…makes admittance so much quicker.
*Most important* Your baby MUST travel home in an infant car seat. Have it installed in plenty of time*
For a Caesarean make sure your partner knows where the extra maternity pads are.
* Cell phone & Charger
* Lap top
* Video to watch
What Not to Bring
*Jewelry (unless it’s a religion symbol)
*Lots of cash, credit cards, or any other valuables
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