- Two or three going home outfits that are different sizes so you can choose the one that fits best. Also, depending on the season, you might want a variety in warmth.
- A special toy, book, or blanket. We had the book How Do I Love You which I read to Natalie once or twice a day.
What to bring for you:
- Your insurance card
- Copy of your birth plan if you've made one, even though we never used ours.
- Several outfits of comfy clothes, like sweats or pjs. We stayed extra time so my husband had to go home for extra clothes.
- A few sets of breast pads in case your milk comes in before you leave the hospital.
- A few maxi pads. I recommend the Always Infinity over nights. They were insanely absorbent without feeling like wearing a diaper. You might need these if you stay more than two days, and you definitely want them waiting at home.
- One or two nursing bras
- A nursing pillow. For some reason I talked myself out of bring mine, and I wished later I had so I could start out with it.
- Camera with extra batteries
- Cell phone charger
- Baby book. I left mine at home and wished I'd had it to work on during some of my down time when I couldn't sleep.
- Snacks. I was always hungry in the middle of the night when up nursing. Also, make sure they are stuff you really like. I had brought only healthy stuff, but when we had to stay extra time, I had my husband bring the things I was really craving from home.
- Book or other entertainment in case you have down time and can't sleep.
- Toiletries. You mostly need the basics to stay clean, but you night want to spruce up a bit more for the homecoming.
- Anything you plan to use during the labor - like massager, hot water bottle, music, etc.
- Anything that makes you more comfortable / relaxed for sleeping away from home. I brought my Snuffles Bear, but lots of people need their own pillow.
- Extra plastic or canvas bags. The hospital will give you a lot of free stuff and you might get gifts from visitors. Packing extra bags can make packing to go home a little easier. Also, you might want a plastic bag to segregate any really dirty clothes (spit up, various labor fluids, baby pee, etc) from your other belongings.
What to bring for your spouse / helpers:
- Several outfits. The last day, Mike had to wear one of my over-sized pj t-shirts because he was out of clean clothes and Natalie spit up all over him.
- Book or other entertainment for any down time not occupied by sleeping.
- Snacks
- Toiletries
- Phone numbers for the people you want to contact.
- Medicine, like pain relievers or stomach calmers since, the hospital can only give medicine to mom and baby.
- Cash for buying food.
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