You would think that after hours of Pinterest searching and google, I would have had the perfect hospital bag packed but apparently, whoever those ladies were, led me astray and I found myself wearing the same outfit almost the whole time I was at the hospital (read: the same outfit I came into the hospital wearing 9 months pregnant- nothing like making a girl feel pretty). Of course, I had everything I needed and more for Kennedy but for myself? Not so much... kind of a theme when it came to childbirth. So, here's my list of the things I (wish I had) packed for myself....
Toiletries and make up (don't worry I did pack these... I was trying to make friends and not scare people off.)
4-5 pairs of black underwear... in a large size to fit that horrible pad/ice pack, some that I wouldn't mind throwing away (who knows what I was thinking with the underwear I brought...)
1-2 nursing bras that I would feel comfortable wearing ALL day and ALL night. The Cake Rock Candy bra or the Bella Materna Anytime bra would have been lifesavers but instead I had some crappy bras I had ordered online that weren't comfortable and that I didn't want to wear.
Thin and comfortable nursing pads like the Bamboobies nursing pads but instead I had some cheap pads that I ordered from Amazon that were thick and uncomfortable.
If my milk had come in while I was there I would have loved some Bamboobies Therapy Pillows...
Black or other dark colored pants that I could wear 24/7 and that weren't tight AT ALL like the Cake Chocolate Vanilla Lounge Pants but instead I had brought LIGHT blue Jcrew pajamas-- SO silly. Trust me... black is your friend.
An insanely comfortable nursing tank top like the Bamboobies nursing tank top... I didn't even know nursing tank tops that were this soft existed.
Pajamas that were soft and comfortable like the Cake Chocolate Vanilla Nursing Camisole and shorts or pants but instead I had button down pajamas that were insanely unrealistic when you were trying to nurse 24/7.
A really comfortable sweatshirt, that zippered cardigan or robe. I wore my robe the entire time I was in the hospital...
Socks... lots of socks. Trust me.
Flip flops or other slip on shoes (I love my sperry's) to wear around the hospital... I actually saw one woman (who clearly had read one of the hospital bag lists) in a tiny nightgown, matching robe and ridiculous slippers walking around the hospital-- I felt sorry for her... you don't want to be that girl.
Boppy... it was hard enough to nurse those first few days, make it easier on yourself and bring your nursing pillow.
Cell phone charger
Hard candy... I bought orange lifesavers and they were amazing
Chapstick
For the baby, the hospital will give you wipes and diapers (take any extras home!) so you really just need clothes and swaddle blankets. Here's a list of the things I packed for K and loved...
Newborn sized footed pajamas... I heard over and over that you wouldn't need newborn sized clothes, K was in them for two months so I was REALLY glad I didn't listen. I would bring a few pairs of these..
A swaddle blanket
A cute hat (unless you're okay with the hospital hat that they provide)
A Bundleme for the car seat to take the baby home in (granted K was a February baby so if you're having a summer baby you can skip this one).
One last thing I wish I had done was rented the hospital grade pump right then because they'll give you the flanges and other parts that you have to buy if you rent it elsewhere.... it's worth the money in milk gold to have one of these while you're establishing milk supply ;)
In all honesty, I kind of loved being at the hospital. The nurses take the baby when you need a few hours of sleep, you get room service and someone else is cleaning up the bathroom (#winning). So, pack yourself a bag and get ready for the ride of a lifetime... it's pretty amazing.
Toiletries and make up (don't worry I did pack these... I was trying to make friends and not scare people off.)
4-5 pairs of black underwear... in a large size to fit that horrible pad/ice pack, some that I wouldn't mind throwing away (who knows what I was thinking with the underwear I brought...)
1-2 nursing bras that I would feel comfortable wearing ALL day and ALL night. The Cake Rock Candy bra or the Bella Materna Anytime bra would have been lifesavers but instead I had some crappy bras I had ordered online that weren't comfortable and that I didn't want to wear.
Thin and comfortable nursing pads like the Bamboobies nursing pads but instead I had some cheap pads that I ordered from Amazon that were thick and uncomfortable.
If my milk had come in while I was there I would have loved some Bamboobies Therapy Pillows...
Black or other dark colored pants that I could wear 24/7 and that weren't tight AT ALL like the Cake Chocolate Vanilla Lounge Pants but instead I had brought LIGHT blue Jcrew pajamas-- SO silly. Trust me... black is your friend.
An insanely comfortable nursing tank top like the Bamboobies nursing tank top... I didn't even know nursing tank tops that were this soft existed.
Pajamas that were soft and comfortable like the Cake Chocolate Vanilla Nursing Camisole and shorts or pants but instead I had button down pajamas that were insanely unrealistic when you were trying to nurse 24/7.
A really comfortable sweatshirt, that zippered cardigan or robe. I wore my robe the entire time I was in the hospital...
Socks... lots of socks. Trust me.
Flip flops or other slip on shoes (I love my sperry's) to wear around the hospital... I actually saw one woman (who clearly had read one of the hospital bag lists) in a tiny nightgown, matching robe and ridiculous slippers walking around the hospital-- I felt sorry for her... you don't want to be that girl.
Boppy... it was hard enough to nurse those first few days, make it easier on yourself and bring your nursing pillow.
Cell phone charger
Hard candy... I bought orange lifesavers and they were amazing
Chapstick
For the baby, the hospital will give you wipes and diapers (take any extras home!) so you really just need clothes and swaddle blankets. Here's a list of the things I packed for K and loved...
Newborn sized footed pajamas... I heard over and over that you wouldn't need newborn sized clothes, K was in them for two months so I was REALLY glad I didn't listen. I would bring a few pairs of these..
A swaddle blanket
A cute hat (unless you're okay with the hospital hat that they provide)
A Bundleme for the car seat to take the baby home in (granted K was a February baby so if you're having a summer baby you can skip this one).
One last thing I wish I had done was rented the hospital grade pump right then because they'll give you the flanges and other parts that you have to buy if you rent it elsewhere.... it's worth the money in milk gold to have one of these while you're establishing milk supply ;)
In all honesty, I kind of loved being at the hospital. The nurses take the baby when you need a few hours of sleep, you get room service and someone else is cleaning up the bathroom (#winning). So, pack yourself a bag and get ready for the ride of a lifetime... it's pretty amazing.
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