AND I AM SO FRELLING EXCITED!
Anyhoo. She asked me for a bit of advice on what to bring to the hospital. We had a much shorter conversation, but it did give me an idea for a helpful list/advice for the future (maybe for you, maybe for me who knows :) ). I say advice because you can google "hospital baby checklist" as many times as you like, and I can tell you EXACTLY what I brought/would bring in the future---but honestly what you bring is up to you. Here's my strategy:
1. Make a list of all the crap you think you could possibly need at the hospital or for coming home for you, support partner, and baby (really for baby all you need generally is the car seat and outfit).
2. Go on the hospital tour. Bring your list. Cross off everything the hospital provides (every hospital is different!). And unless you REALLY want to use your own; leave your breast pump at home - the hospitals usually have a few roaming ones.
3. Check out the cafeteria. Make note of the hours and prices. If you get a decent meal plan that lets you order extra food for your partner, or if the food is ridiculously good and cheap, forget packing yourself snacks. Some hospitals even have a kitchen in the recovery area with cereal, fruit, etc. Save yourself (or rather your support person) from carrying that extra weight around.
4. Be aware of temperature. Bring clothes you can put on in layers. The nurses can keep you cozy when you are in bed, but when you are walking around tryin to get things moving it's harder to stay warm/cool. I also recommend footwear for walking the halls--the nonslip socks are nice but offer no support!
5. Pack two bags. One for the crap you KNOW you will need (clothes, toiletries, etc.) and one for the stuff you aren't sure about. Leave the second bag in the car--you can always get it later if you need it, and it's one less bag to drag from the maternity ward to the recovery room.
6. Bring comfortable clothes. Seriously, no one cares how stylish you are in the maternity ward (they already know you put out ;) ) and no fashion photographers will be present. And whatever you wear is likely to get covered in poop, blood, spit up, formula, or some other bodily fluid. Make sure to pick a dress in summer or something super stretchy in winter so it isn't right on your belly (if you have a C-section).
7. Bring reusable grocery bags. Go to town collecting everything useful that isn't nailed down (hey you're paying for it)! I recommendnd diapers, any formula, those stretchy undies, maxipads, and most important, the nasal aspirator. NONE of the aspirators in stores have worked as well as that one. Snag two if you can!
8. Pack it all in a single suitcase. That rolls. It'll be much easier than "oh, the other bag".
9. Entertainment. You won't need much of it. Bring an iPhone/iPad and a deck of cards. Once the baby is born, you will not want to entertain yourself. You will want to SLEEP. ALL THE TIME.
And that's the hospital guide according to ME.
9. Entertainment. You won't need much of it. Bring an iPhone/iPad and a deck of cards. Once the baby is born, you will not want to entertain yourself. You will want to SLEEP. ALL THE TIME.
And that's the hospital guide according to ME.
No comments:
Post a Comment