Hey everyone! I am 32 weeks pregnant, and I am looking for everyones advice. I am so lost when it comes to what I will need for the hospital. My husband and I want to get it done now because due to some complications and problems there is a big chance I will go early. What do all of you reccomend? What was helpful, and what didn't you need for both you and the baby? Thanks ahead for your help! Happy New Year!!!

YAY! Won't be too long now!!!

Bring:
*comfy maternity clothes - pjs, yoga type outfits, etc.
*simple outfits for baby including hats and socks
*take home outfit for baby
*a few simple snacks for after baby is born and you're in your room - granola bars, crackers, rice cakes, etc.
*personal hygiene items
*phone numbers for friends/family you want to call. You may want to set up a simple call chain - you call both sets of parents and they call siblings who call grandparents and so on.
*camera
*nursing pads/bra
*birth plan
*slippers
*bathrobe

Leave at home:
*movies/books for after baby is born - you'll be holding, feeding, changing baby or sleeping or visiting with friends/family.

Before you go in to the hospital:
*install car seat (nothing like DH doing it at the end of October in the frigid cold as you wait inside the hospital with baby on your lap LOL)
*vaginal delivery? grab Tucks pads, jumbo massive pads, tylenol, dermoblast/pain numbing gel from your dept/grocery store and have them ready at home. I went to Walmart on the way home from the hospital. Maybe that's why I disdain the store so much - bad memories? LOL

Before you leave hospital:
*pack away a stash of the pain numbing products & squirt bottles they give you -- they'll come in handy when you're home.

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~~Amanda~~
Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), FINALLY expecting #2!!! (due around Memorial Day 2009) *adoption has been put on hold*

If you have an item for a focal point during labor make sure you don't forget that. The only thing I have to add is make sure you have extra batteries for the camera just in case. I came home in sweatpants (wouldn't it be great if we automatically fit in pre-pregnancy clothes ). Don't forget the outfit you want baby's picture taken in.

the list up there is great but i do have to add if you like music. bring your mp3 player or cd player because it does get boring after a while watching all of the infomercials. lol! and the snacks is a huge plus. You will be so happy to have put them in your bag when you are sitting around waiting for the bland dinner they serve lol!

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- Chantelle

Mommy to Roly (2000) and Elijah (2005) and expecting #3 due May 7th 2009!


Check out my Blog!

many of the things above, but the most comfy thing I brought was my pillow from home. It felt good to have the pillow I always sleep with that smelled like clean sheets. I also bought two new nightgowns and a thin cotton robe, in my hospital pictures I'm not in a gown or my old pj's.
gossip mags, keeps you and your visitors busy during the first stages of labor and afterwards when you get a moment to zone out.

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Doing my best to raise a GEEK- Genuine Enthusiastic Empowered Kid!

Flygrace did a great job on the list. I usually bring my pillow because I sleep better with my own(not that you get much sleep there.) I also bring a phone card because most hospitals don't' allow cells and if I need to make a call I hate calling collect.

My sister ignored all my advice and bought a brand new outfit(her pre preg size too) which included sneakers to wear home from the hospital. She came home in her clothes she wore there, couldn't get the shoes on because her feet were still swollen and sure as heck didn't have time to look at the bag full of books she brought. Just had to add that.

Your hospital will bill your insurance for the whole package of pads, witch hazel, the baby's diapers, etc, not just what you use so don't be afraid to take the remaining with you. And if you not nursing then ask for a bottle for the trip home. They will usually give you a few extras and these are great for the diaper bags.

Good luck and keep us posted.

ditto on the focal point , and a nightlight. The only light in my room were the fluorescent ones, and that wasn't what I wanted during the 2am feeding. :-/

Congratulations!

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Ami,
mom of 6, 4, & 2

Those are all great tips!!! I like the nightlight one.
I agree with the comfy clothes for yourself to go home in. With my first, it took a while for my stomach to shrink back down to normal.......and I mean normal, not pre-pregnancy!!

I'd check with your hospital. Mine allows cell phones on the OB ward. I'm a reader, so I took a couple of books from home - one I was already reading and the next in the series. (And yes, I did get a chance to read them!) Take your own socks! I have cold feet, so those were a great comfort while in labor. But take two pair. I pitched the ones I wore during labor b/c no matter what you see on TV, labor is MESSY! The brand of pacifier if you will be using one. If you bottle-feed, take one of your own bottles with a nipple. I used playtex nursers w/both my boys and needless to say, those nipples are much different than the standard ones they give you at the hospital. If you have pets, take an extra receiving blanket to place in the isolette w/baby. Have DH take it home the day before you're discharged so the pets get used to the scent of the new baby. This helped tremendously w/both of my boys.

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myspace.com/jessthenurse1980

I always pack chapstick (dry lips from all that heavy breathing) and moisturiser.

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Homeschooling Mom to Daniel (12 Years), Andrew (9 Years), Stephen (7 Years) and Emily (3 Years)

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