Child Birth - Henrico,VA

Baby
-take home outfit
-wipes(hospital sometimes only has ones you have to wet)
-pacifier
-blanket
-carseat
-diaper bag
-baby book
You
-2/3 pairs of comfy pjs
-socks
-heavy pads for bleeding (hospital has them but i liked mine better
-a good book
-breastfeeding cream
-boppy pillow
-breastfeeding bras
-breastfeeding pads
-numbing spray for private areas
-camera
-trashy magazine
-big yucky underware
-nice outfit to wear home (could have worn 6 monthes preggo)
-numbers of family members

first of all, congrats!
take something to read if you like to read. i do so i had my book with me. there are times of boredom if you don't have any visitors. take a camera! you'll be downloading those first chance you get (or hubby will). other than that, just the basics of what you'll need for overnight essentials.

Hey K.,

The three things that I am glad that I took are snacks, the digital camera, and the laptop. I don't know if you have one, but the hospital that I delivered in had wireless internet. As soon as we took pictures, we downloaded them onto the laptop and sent pictures to anyone and everyone. I really had fun doing that! Just an idea...

One other thing, if you are planning on breatfeeding, buy lanolin for your breasts. I didn't realize how easily your nipples can crack and bleed as your and your baby are trying to learn how to nurse. I bought some when I got home, but wish that I would have had it in the hosital. You can get it at Babies R Us or target.

Hi, K.,

What I packed were an outfit for that first picture and to take her home in,(the hospital usually provides a t-shirt), booties, a hat (hospital may provide one)a bunting, (cause she's a fall baby!) a bottle, snacks for dad (for when you are in labor)and if you have insurance,then no worries, but if you do not, then pack some diapers because the hospital charges per diaper and when my last one was born they charged our insurance $10 per diaper. I wish for you and yours the very best of luck and health!
B.

#1 Always Have Gas In Your Car....and break all spead limits! I think everything else was covered by the previous responses.
Congrats!

this is going to sound like a hippie thing to do, but take your ipod or cd player. i listened to counting crows and sarah mac the whole time i was laboring and thru my epidural. it kept me calm and relaxed. take something you know will comfort you, i just know the music helped me deliver my son ethan three years ago. good luck!

When my daughter was born, I wished that I had had my Boppy pillow and a breast pump. If you're planning on breastfeeding, those are two things that come in very, very handy those first few days. You can probably rent a pump from the hospital if you aren't planning on buying one yourself. Best of luck with the little one!!

take something to read or something to do!!!!! those first few days in the hospital your baby will sleep most of the time, and I got so bored!!!!!!!!

When I had my daughter in December I got a checklist in the mail when I registered online with Similac. So, I packed everything on the list. In reality I didn't use half of the stuff that I brought. I ended up just using hospital gowns instead of PJ's because it can be pretty messy. I really only used stuff to take a shower with/toothbrush, a robe, hair ties/brush, my camera and clothes to go home in. Make sure you pack comftorable clothes!! Also you should bring extra pads. My hospital provided me with a lot of stuff but I'm not sure if all hospitals do that. And for the baby..the hospital had everything for her!! All I used for her was a going home outfit and a blanket..but I packed about a million things!! The hospital gave her a hat and clothes to wear while we stayed there, and diapers and everything she would need they had!! So just to make sure I would call the hospital where you're delivering and ask them what they have to provide!! Hope I helped out!!

Socks and chapstick/lip gloss!!! Those were two of my most prized possessions. They have everything for the baby and most everything for you, but you will want your own socks and chapstick. Good Luck!!!

Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your first child! First off I would first make sure to have the appropriate car seat already installed in the vehicle you will be bringing your baby home in. Pack the diaper bag with diapers, wipes, formula (the hospital may send you home with some), change of clothes, receiving blanket, etc. You will definitely want a change of clothes (don't be surprised if you feel more comfortable in maternity clothes to go home in), toiletries bag (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.).

I hope this helps.

If you are planning on nursing, take your boppy! That's the one thing that I really really wanted while I was at the hospital.

I made the mistake and over packed my bag....I was a little excited. All you will really need is your toothbrush and toothpaste, pads (because the hospital ones are a little uncomfortable, your own night clothes, hair brush, and maybe a little bit of makeup, (there will be a lot of pictures taken with you and the new baby, a woman has to look her best! ;-) And just don't forget your daughter's going home outfit, and somethng for you to go home, I suggest something with an elastic waist band. Hope this helps you and good luck, nothing beats becoming a mommy!

that's my birthday!

you do not need much. i packed way too much and ended up needing a couple of onesies. at the hospital, they will have these t-shirts you can put them in though, but i wanted him in his own clothes. you may also want to bring your own wipes since they provide ones you wet in the sink, not as gentle. pacis if you are using them and that's about it!

also, if you are going to Pitt Memorial Hospital, they have a place with food for the birth partners (for me that was my husband, my friend for a while, then my sister took over for her).
congrats!

I took just the basics! Toothbrush and hairbrush, they have the soap, unless you just want your own. I took a robe for walking down the hall. Camera!! For all those first pics! Don't forget to pack the outfit that she is going to wear home (they usually take their first pic in this outfit), blankets for the little one and a carseat!
Congrats and take care!

Congrats on your pregnancy and soon to be newborn! I took childbirth classes and they gave us a list of what to pack.

For you!
* bring something for enterainment during labor: magazines, music, cards.
*bring snacks for your hubby during labor and for you after to save money. Those vending machines get expensive!
Bathrobe
Slippers
2 Nightgowns (breastfeeding accessible)
Nursing bras
Outfit to go home in
Socks
Make-Up and other bathroom toiletries(you may want to freshen up for visitors)
Underwear (You'll wear hospital net panties after you have the baby with their huge but necessary pads!, but you will probably want a pair to go home in)

Outfits, blankets, and BABY WIPES. They will provide you with diapers, and papertowel like washcloths, but if you want real baby wipes, bring them! Camera and Video Camera of course. Extra batteries, and charger cable, just in case!

I gave my family as list of everyone to contact ahead of time and they did that for me! Email postings were great as well. I was glad I had put that phone and email list together for them to do that. When I got home all my friends already had seen a pic of my cute, so I wasn't rushed to do that!

If you are breastfeeding, bring your nursing pillow and a good pillow for yourself from your bed.

Good Luck!

Hey K.,

When I had my first daughter I followed the checklist, and you get by, but with my second daughter I defin. went in with a heads up, I didn't read all the replies because you got so many but the first few I agree with. Obviously take the basics, a few different things I did was I brought onesies and other clothes with my second daughter because they only have a little shirt that the put on the babies and they kept having to put my first back under the heater to get her temperature up. I also brought my own wipes because the ones that they give you in the hospital are towels that you wet and they are kind of rough. Socks for their hands so they don't scratch their faces too bad, the mittens were always huge! And the one thing I did do with both my girls and I always recommend to all my friends is I bought a new scent of lotion, body wash and spray to use only when I was in the hospital having them, different ones for each, your sense of smell is amamzing with memories and my girls are 6 and 2 1/2, but to this day whenever I smell either one of those scents that is immediatly what I remember!

Good luck!!

Slippers
Old towel
Clothes you don't mind if they get blood on
Shampoo, conditioner, etc
Relaxation aids (music, etc)
Depending on how you feel about breastfeeding and artificial nipples, a sign that says no pacifiers or bottles.
The phone number for your local La Leche League leaders. It took the LC until the next day to come see me and I was having problems with latching.
If you opt for an epidural or induction, magazines and such to keep you preoccupied. It took 8 hours for me to feel a contraction. I wasn't allowed out of the bed. Very boring.

Oh, and I forgot, your birth plan. Don't assume that just because you tell them something at the beginning that they'll remember when it comes time. Also the birth plan will remind you of what's important to you.

Congratulations K.. I think most people have given you good advice on what to bring- the basics for an overnight trip. Two things I would add: some very soft comfortable socks (for walking the halls- walking is great to get your labor going and keep it going. And second, some orange juice and food for yourself for after delivery. Most hospitals won't let you eat or drink anything during labor, so you'll probably be starving when you're done. It will take the hospital a long time to bring you any food (and it probably won't be very good). And Dad isn't going to want to leave the hospital right away to get you some food. I hope all goes well with your birth.

I know you can look online and find lists, but here's some thing you dont want to forget...

-nightgowns for you (if you dont want to wear hospital ones after the baby is born)
-Nightgowns for baby (they just look so much cuter in their own than the hospital things)
-going home outfit for you (just some stretchy pants and a comfy t-shirt)
-going home outfit for baby (bring something for the opposite sex unless you are TOTALLY sure its a girl)
-toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap (you'll want something your used to when they finally let you take a shower), pads (the hospital ones are HORRIBLE), my mom wore make-up when she had my brother so when people came in she would look "nice" (lol), razor (I actually shaved since it was June and I wasn't wearing long pants), scrunchis to pull your hair up out your face during delivery. (my sis-in-law french braided mine and that was a big help), hairbrush, any other bathroom thing you might need...
-nursing pads
-nursing bras (one size bigger than your usual size is what they say)
-phone numbers (to give everyone the good news)

That's all I have off the top of my head, but like I said.. look online and i'm sure you can find a good list somewhere. Good luck! My first was a girl, and now I have a boy too!

Hi K.,

Congratulations!! I agree with everyone else. Remember that you will be in control of the thermostat, so your hubby might want to take a sweatshirt and make him take HIS toiletries to stay the first night. Mine went home with our first one, I made him stay with the second. He got up the next morning and said, "How do they expect you to sleep around here?" He never asked why I was so tired again and he can usually sleep through everything.

Good luck!!

When I deliverd one year ago, I can't stress enough that taking that first shower even at the hospital was the best feeling in the world. And I had wished that I would have packed more travel sized mouth wash. I had plenty of toothpaste, but I needed more mouth wash. You'll be tired, and feel ickey, but I found it a must to take a shower, and feel human again. So that's what I would make sure is that you have your travel sized toilitry's with you, and for the baby, two outfits one for warm weather, and one for cold. Diaper's and stuff are usually in your room, and I would take them when you leave, free is a good thing, since you'll be buying diapers for a while.

I made a master list from several lists which I had gotten from various places. I have stuff for myself, my husband, and our baby. I may have gone a little overboard because we were not expecting to be able to get home easily so we wanted to be prepared. I hope this helps!

FOR MOM:
Bathrobe
Nightgown (1)
Socks (5)
Slippers
Underwear (5) - white
Nursing Bras (2)
Breast Pads
Change of clothes
Toiletries
Medicine
Hair bands
Lip balm
Sanitary napkins (8)
Breath mints and lollipops
Book, magazine
Eyeglass case
Small paper bags (for hyperventilation)
Tennis/Racquet Balls
Music CDs
Cards, games
Exercise Ball
CD Player
Thermacare Back pads
Essential Oil for tissues
Sobakawa pillow
Boppy Pillow
Crossword magazine
Breast Pump

FOR DAD:
Snacks
Labor Guide and other paperwork
Stopwatch
Phone list
Camera
Camcorder
Underwear (5)
Socks (5)
Shorts (1 regular + 1 for sleeping)
Tee shirts (3)
Toiletries
Medicine
$1 bills/change for vending machines
Book, magazine
Cell phone & charger
Swimsuit (to help mom in shower)
Small notebook/pencil

FOR BABY:
Undershirts (2)
Sleeper Gowns (2)
Receiving blanket
Hat
Carseat
Newborn Diapers (3)
Socks
Outfits (2 sizes)
Wipes

I have to agree with the other responses...don't overpack. Just a small overnight case will be enough. Maybe your own nightgown(s) if you don't want to wear the hospital gowns...if you plan to nurse, it's easier to use a nursing gown from home than mess with the hospital gowns, and more discreet when you have visitors and baby needs to eat. Then the usual, brush/comb, soap, shampoo, toothbrush/paste/floss. The hospital will provide diapers for the baby while she is there so you shouldn't have to worry about taking any with you unless you have a specific brand you want to use. Of couse you will need your camera and/or camcorder. Take along your phone list of those you need to call right away after the birth. A "phone chain" may work great...call one person, they call the next on the line, etc...for family or church friends. this will save dad from having to spend all day making phone calls when he needs to spend that time bonding with baby and pampering you. If you are one who wears make up take that too so you can feel more like yourself. You might want to take a pillow from home, some hospital pillows aren't real comfy and you will prob only get one. Remind dad to take a small bag of his own...labor can last a LONG time, he might need some snacks. Even though you won't be able to eat, he needs to keep up his energy for you and he may not want to leave to find a vending machine unless your labor slows down while there. Hope this helps...I'm a mom of 4 so I've been there, believe me, lol! Enjoy the experience...there's nothing like seeing your newborn for the first time!

Try not to over pack. Dipers, wipes, warm blankets, 3 outfits, Bottles if not breast feeding. And the most important a car seat and they will check it for you before you leave the hospital.Good luck on bringing the new one into the world.

Congrats!!! I'm not sure what the hospitals in VA provide for you in the room. But here in NC they provide pads, ice packs, and underwear for you. My advice would be, if they provide you these things, to pack all of what you can in your bag to go home. Press the call button and request some and use one or two and pack the others in your bag for home. Then request more because you're gonna need them for home if you have a vaginal delivery. They also provided me with Dermaplast spray and if they don't get you that then you may want to get some to spray down there because it is very soothing. Be sure to take a house coat and slippers. Pack the baby a diaper bag and bring the baby 2 or 3 different outfits. And make sure one of the outfits is one that you may want them to take their pics in. And one to go home in. Pack extra blankets for the baby and socks. You may want some loose clothes for yourself. And your normally necesities such as toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, shampoo, soap, etc. Hope all goes well and if I htonk of anything else I will respond again. p.s. oh yeah let your husband worry about himself and what he may need because you need to worry about yourself and the baby so that you don't forget anything. Because your husband can leave to get his things or have someone bring them up there but you can't leave so focus on you!!!

Well, I brought 2 changes of clothes for me, 2 changes of clothes for the baby, and I SHOULD HAVE brought a change of clothes for the hubby. I SHOULD HAVE brought a robe with me. Bring a toothbrush and normal toiletries (sp) and a hair brush. Pack some snacks for you and the hubby, for afterwards because hospital food can get boring. I brought a few newborn size diapers because our hospital only had size 1s...go figure. Pacifier, if you are planning on using them on your child, camera and video camera, cell phone charger (so it doesn't go dead while you're bragging about the new miracle to everyone you know lol), blankets and spit rags for the car ride home. I went to babycenter.com and looked at one of their checklists, but I don't know if they still have it since I had my daughter almost 2 years ago. But there are other ones out there, just Google for it. Hope that helps!!

K., Congratulations!! The one item I tell my freinds to pack you may not know about is nail trimmers! My 1st baby scratched his face with his long nails over and over again and I tried to get the nurses to trim his nails, but they said they weren't allowed to! My husband went down to the gift shop and purchased the little mittens, but that just made our new baby mad! He would not stand for the mittens...so..pack your own nail trimmers! And God Bless you with a smooth, healthful delivery of your beautiful new baby!

Congrats!! I echo many of what the others have said...especially a pillow and blanket from home, your own nursing gowns and most of all the nipple ointment!! Something that I forgot to pack and had my husband bring to me was the boppy nursing pillow. Looking back now I wished I had a cuter outfit to wear going home for pictures but at the time I just wanted to get the heck outta there! Good luck!!