Conference moira::parenting_v3

    If you don't want to invest in nighties, go for the hospital gowns.  They
    lack quite a bit in style, but are useful and you won't have to worry
    about soiling them.  If you wear them backwards (ties in front) they're
    also good for nursing.  The recommended list suggest one gown a day
    because there will be bleeding, and wouldn't want to hang around in
    stained nightclothes.
    
    Bring a light robe/kimono.  It'll cover the lackluster hospital garb
    when you're up and around or even just awake.  I brought a ankle-length, 
    short sleeved cotton robe (that opened in the front) both times and found 
    it extremely useful.  
    
    If you're planning on nursing, make sure you have nightclothes and a
    robe that facilitate it, i.e. -- they open in front.
    
    I don't know what hospital has you staying for 4 days/nights with a
    normal delivery.  My hospital (and John Hancock) threw me out after 2
    nights.  
    
    Good luck!
    LZP
    

    I agree with .1 -  go for the hospital gowns, no sense in wasting
    (staining) brand-new, pretty nightgowns.   I usually wore two hospital
    gowns, one backwards, one forwards, because I didn't like hanging
    out  :-).    I also sweat like a pig after delivery (combination of
    hormones adjusting and the plastic sheets they use on hospital beds,
    I think) and changed gowns several times a day, so having an endless
    supply of clean hospital gowns was a godsend.    I did bring one nice 
    gown and a bathrobe that I wore during visiting hours.
    
    Carol

    They probably told her 4 days because of the possibility of an
    unplanned c-section--your stay after a c-section is 4-5 days. I packed
    for a regular delivery stay when expecting my son, (Undies and bedclothes 
    for two days) and had to ask my Mom to bring me in some more "stuff" when 
    I ended up having that unplanned c-section. 
    
    I have a different take on the nighties tho'. I think they're worth
    buying for a couple reasons. First, yes you can wear the hospital
    jonnies, but be aware that you will hang out the back when you get up
    and will hang out the front while nursing. And if you do double them as 
    was suggested, (one on front, one backwards) it is a real pain  to
    get access to your breast to nurse.  Also, if you need an IV for any
    reason after delivery (I did for 2 days) getting in and out of two
    jonnies with the IV is also a logistical nightmare!
    
    Another point, like the base noter, my sister never wore nighties--also
    slept in the nude. But she found that after the birth of each child,
    it was a bit more practical to wear a night gown, especially as she was
    nursing and was wearing her nursing bra to bed anyway. You get up a lot
    in the night, etc...
    
    But..I spent half the month of July in the hospital due to complications
    with this second pregnacy and the thought of anything to do with
    hospitals (eg. those @#$ jonnies for example!) is still a bad memory.
    
    Sandy         

I just used the hospital's gowns while I was there (2 nights), but ended up
getting several nursing nighties afterwards (I had always slept in hubby's
t-shirts before).  You might find that you sweat alot afterwards, especially
if you nurse.  In fact, I had to toss out the sleeveless nighties and the
silky ones for short-sleeved, cotton ones.  I just couldn't believe how much
I could sweat!!!!!!!!!!!  (Also, you might find yourself having to wear a bra
during the last several months of your pregnancy, and while nursing - you can
get awfully LARGE and SORE!)

How about buying one or two and not removing the tags?  Then if you find you
don't use them, return them later?

Good luck, and hopes that you don't have to stay 4 days!!!!!

Kristen

    I was lucky in that I was very mobile after I delivered and had
    very little bleeding.  I spent 90% of the time wearing sweat pants
    and t-shirts. I also don't sleep with clothes, but I nursed - so 
    what I did was to wear underwear (nursing bra and panties) and a big
    t-shirt to sleep and when I got up, I just pulled  on a pair of sweat
    pants.  I had 2 nursing nightgowns with me, but I found them uncomfort-
    able when I slept because they'd bunch up.  I also found that I was
    fairly sweaty (like another noter mentioned) and sleeping with just
    a t-shirt and underwear seemed to not as confining and hot.
    
    - Kathryn
    

    I had a c-section and was in the hospital for 5 nights.  I brought one
    nightie and matching robe with me and only wore it the last night I was in 
    the hospital.  I wore the hospital gowns the whole time I was there
    (with my own robe if I had to get up) because I bled a lot and didn't want 
    to soil my nice new nightie.  The hospital gowns that they had in the 
    maternity ward were different than the other ones.  They had snaps at the 
    shoulders so they were easy to get on and off over the i.v. tubes and they 
    were a lot easier to use for breast feeding.
    
    I would suggest just bringing a robe to wear over a hospital gown if
    you really don't want to invest in nighties that will never be worn
    again.  Also, unless you buy nighties that are open in the front, you
    will have a difficult time if you are going to breast feed.  I ended up
    wearing just my button down the front robe and a nursing bra to bed
    when I came home from the hospital because it was the easiest way for
    me.
    
    Other things that you might want to bring with you (besides the
    nightie and robe) are:
    
    a nursing bra
    nursing pads
    sanitary napkins (they give you these in the hospital, but they're the
    kind that have to be worn with a belt)
    a comb/brush
    shampoo (they don't usually supply this)
    a toothbrush/toothpast (they usually supply these)
    slippers (unless you want to wear those god awful ones they supply)
    a pair of underwear to wear home
    a change of clothes to wear home (unless you can wear the clothes you
    came to the hospital in.  My water broke before going to the hospital,
    so I had to have a different pair of pants to wear home)
    something for the baby to wear home
    
    You really don't need much.  Also, don't worry about having this stuff
    packed before you go to the hospital, your main concern is getting
    there on time.  Someone can always bring you the things you need after
    the baby is born.  You won't need half of these things until the day
    you go home anyway.
    
    Congratulations and good luck!
    
    Lori B. 
    
    

    If keeping costs down is a factor for you, this is certainly an
    area where you can economize with only minimal discomfort.  A robe
    over the hospital johnny will take care of the hanging-out
    problem. 
    
    I found a large man's cotton flannel shirt (in my case, one that
    my father-in-law refused to wear) worked very well as a nightgown. 
    It's easy to get open, absorbs a lot of sweat, is easy to change
    and easy to wash, and keeps you pretty well covered.  If you can
    borrow some from your spouse or whatever, that would give you
    something reasonable to wear without having to cost you.
    
    If you do decide to buy nightgowns, leave it until very late in
    your pregnancy.  I bought too soon with Steven, and by the time he
    was born I couldn't fit into them any more -- mostly my breasts,
    but also my hips, where the bones expanded quite a bit from labor.
    And you won't lose all the weight overnight.
    
    --bonnie

    So what did you bring to the hospital...???
    
    I have five weeks to go before my due date...so I am about ready
    to pull out my overnight bag and fill it up.  So far I have:
    
    * Shampoo
    * Conditioner
    * toothbrush
    * toothpaste
    * hair brush
    * lip baum
    * deoderant
    * make-up
    * lotion
    
    * button down pajama top and matching bottoms
    
    and for the baby...
    
    * tee shirts
    * drawstring bottom outfit
    * receiving blanket
    * handmade blanket
    * socks
    
    
    I have a few more things I need to pick up...(If I do not receive at
    the shower on the 18th) Such as a warm cover/snowcoat for he babies
    ride home.
    
    Please let me know what you brought...and found helpful...or suggestions
    of things you wished you had and did not bring.
    
    Suzanne

    Keep it simple.  I ended up bringing a lot more than I needed and
    than had too much to carry when I was leaving.  I definately would
    not bring pajamas, but rather a night gown and robe.  You will probably
    bleed a lot, and your pajamas will get ruined.  If you're uncomfortable
    in night gowns, then just bring the pajama top and you can wear
    one of the hospital jonnies backwards (so it ties in the front)
    as a robe for when you get up and walk around.  You'll want to bring
    your own slippers or else you'll be wearing those awful sponge slippers
    they give you.  They also give you toothpaste and a toothbrush,
    mouthwash and powder, so unless you really have a favorite toothbrush 
    and a particular type of toothpaste, you really don't need to bring
    these things either.  You might want to bring some nursing pads
    because they don't supply you with these and you'll need them, oh,
    and bring a tight bra (a nursing one if you plan on breast feeding).
    They'll give you sanitary napkins, but they're the kind that require
    a belt, so if you can't stand those kind, bring your own.
    
    You really don't need to bring all the things you mentioned for the
    baby.  They dress the babies in the hospital.  I brought my own onesie
    and socks and they ended up in the hospital laundry because the nurses 
    didn't realize they belonged to me and not the hospital.  Also they supply
    you with receiving blankets.  On the day that you are leaving the
    hospital, have whomever is picking you up bring clothes to dress
    the baby in to take  him/her home (or this can be done the night
    before).
    
    Definately bring your own shampoo and conditioner or you'll be chasing
    down nurses to get them to bring some for you.
    
    But most importantly, bring only what you feel is necessary or,
    like I said, you'll be carrying an awful lot home with you.  Don't
    worry about it before hand, chances are you won't need anything
    the first day you're there and someone can bring you whatever you
    need afterwards.
    
    Good luck and take care,
    Lori B.   

    A bottle of champagne!!!
    
    
    P.S.  This is discussed somewhere else in either V2 or V3...

    A list of who you'll want to call with the news, their phone numbers, 
    and a telephone charge card.
    
    Good Luck!

    Seven weeks to go and I forgot all about this....
    
    With my first, I ended up having an unplanned C-section so I did not
    have enough underwear etc., with me for the extended stay. Since this is 
    always a possibility, you don't necessarily have to pack a few extra days 
    stuff, but may want to have the items left on top of your bureau at home 
    so your husband/mother/friend can easily find them---bring the items you
    pre-picked.                              
    
    Depending on hair style/vanity, you may want your hair dryer/curling
    iron (especially for a longer stay).
    
    BTW--the hospital my son was born at did NOT supply clothing and did
    NOT supply blankets for the baby to go home in, but did cloth him while 
    he was a "resident".
    
    Good luck--I envy you the two less weeks of waiting!!!!
    
    Sandy

    re: .4
    
    Maybe you missunderstood me.  The hospital where my son was born
    also did not supply clothes and blankets for him to go home in,
    just for him to where while he was there.
    
    Lori B.

    my wife says:
    
    Bring socks....feet can get cold (for you, that is)
    Bring some new magazines, and/or a new book.
    
    The hospital she was at did supply nursing pads, BTW.
    
    -dave--

I (the daddy) felt more useful when I could bring things on my twice-a-day 
visits to the hospital.  So don't feel obliged to think of _everything_.

And along the lines of .3, you could pack a list of names and addresses of 
people you want to send announcements to.  In fact, if you don't care whether 
they say "it's a ___" (or you already know), you could even buy them ahead of 
time, and pre-address the envelopes if you really want to be prepared.  Then, 
in the hospital, you could fill in the specifics and write notes.

Clay

    That's what I was thinking, Clay.  Have a hubby or s.o. bring what you
    forgot.  I betcha he's more than thrilled to be able to do something
    for mom!
    
    Hmmm, now I wonder if I'd get the "beige summer robe," instead of the
    "red winter robe..." - if you know what I mean.  The suggestion made by
    another noter to set things aside separately that you *might* need, is
    a good one!

    
    I think it unfeeling to suggest that a mom-to-be ought not obsess on
    what will be needed at the hospital.  Deprived of that, she'll find
    something worse, such as obsessing on everything that can go wrong! 
    But it would be artful to leave key items at home, so dad-to-be can
    easily make himself useful.  And it might be reassuring to remember
    occasionally that it doesn't make any difference if she gets the list
    somewhat wrong.
    
    		- Bruce
    

    My daughter was born with the longest fingernails in history!  (or so
    it seemed).  I wish I'd brought along a set of baby nail clippers, as
    the nurses refused to clip her nails for me. (probably liability or
    something...) I couldn't wait to get her home and clip them before 
    she scratched herself.
    
    Jeanne

    This reminds me of one of those gems-of-wisdom, this one passed on
    to me by my brother, father of two: The best way to cut little babies'
    fingernails is to *bite* them off. This way you can carefully regulate
    the amount of pressure and exact location of the "clippers"
    (choppers?). I did it for my son -- it worked well until he got
    older and his nails got tougher. 
    
    Lucy

    Nothing wrong with manicure scissors which have reached full maturity--
    just use them when the infant is asleep.
    
    (Of course, *I* think clippers are unwieldy and inexact even when used
    by and on adults!)
    
    Leslie

    I'll never forget the first time I tried to use the baby nail clippers
    on Shane, I cut the poor baby's finger.  He didn't even cry, but
    I'll tell ya, I shed enough tears for the two of us.
    
    Lori B.

    I just peeled Eric's off.  If I waited long enough, they'd peel and
    fall off themselves.  I wanted the nurse to cut his but I was also
    told no.
    
    Oh well.
    
    Donna
    

    For a winter baby, remember that hospitals are kept *warm*.  I made the
    mistake of taking along my comfy new wool-lined slippers, and I couldn't
    stand to wear them in the hospital - way too hot.  Fortunately, I hadn't
    brought my flannel pajamas...

				cheryl

    Cutting fingernails is legally considered surgery in most states
    and the nurses are forbidden by law to cut fingernails. 
    
    --bonnie

    Thank you all for the great suggestions!
    
    Little by little I have been throwing things in my bag.  Here is a
    complete list of things I have so far (things I started with in 396.8
    and the suggested items.)
    
    
    * Shampoo
    * Conditioner
    * toothbrush
    * toothpaste
    * hair brush
    * lip baum
    * deoderant
    * make-up
    * lotion
    
    * nursing bra and pads  (need to get another one store only had one in
                             my size at the time)
    
    * bathrobe
    * pajama top and bottom (I think I am going to wear the hospital
                             clothes and my robe most of the time and
                             have my own as a back up for visitors)
    * socks for laboring in
    * Light weight slippers (I was going to bring my wool slippers until
                             I read the note about the hopital being warm)
    For Labor:
    
    * tennis balls for massaging
    * focal point object
    * new unread magazines
    * popsicles (they are in the freeze now...have to write a note not to
                forget them!)
    
    and for the baby:
    
    * Onesie
    * drawstring outfit and matching hat
    * receiving blanket
    * handmade blanket
    * socks
    * Down winter cover 
    
    As for clipping the wee ones nails...I think I will opt for biting
    them off.  I have heard this is the easiest.  Esp. with such tiny
    little fingers.
    
    More suggestions welcome!  I feel good about what I have packed so far but
    have that feeling that I am forgetting something...
    
    Suzanne

    Don't forget your telephone list!  You'll want to call everybody!!

    Camera and film.

    And you *do* have a car seat for the baby to come home in, right?  You
    might want to figure out how it works now (how to adjust the straps,
    how to attach it in the car).  You will probably find that you don't
    need all that stuff (snowsuit, receiving blanket, and heavy blanket, was
    it?) to bring the baby home.  In fact, I don't think the baby will fit
    in the carseat with all that!  When I took my winter baby home, my
    husband warmed up the car for several minutes and then drove right up to
    the hospital's front door, so the baby really didn't need a lot of
    insulation for the trip home (we have an attached garage, also).  We just
    wrapped David up in a crib-size wool blanket, over a medium-weight
    jumpsuit.  But it doesn't hurt to have plenty of options available.

								cheryl

    After three pregnancies, I vote for selfishness.  Only worry about
    the things you'll need for labor and delivery and immediately
    after.  Let your partner handle the phone list, camera, and so on,
    and bring in any stuff you need for the rest of the stay.  
    
    --bonnie

    One thing I brought, out of tradition, was a "coming home" outfit for
    the  baby.  I'm glad I did, since the hospital offered new born
    pictures.  I had a cute outfit to dress him in for his very first
    professional photos.
    

    Some other things you might consider (although some are probably
    out of the ordinary)....
    
    - Maybe the book 'What to expect the 1st Year', and/or a book on
      breastfeeding (if that's you're choice) for after the birth
    - A Notebook (a friend of my wrote up her 'labor and delivery' story
      and keeps it with her 'baby's 1st year' book)
    - Our childbirth class instructor suggested a swimsuit for Dad (in
      case you labor in the shower- then he can help better)
    - Snacks for Dad during the long labor process- I'd opt for
      pre-packaged.
    - Did you mention a going-home outfit for yourself?
    - A small bottle of bubbly to celebrate? 
    
    That's all I can think of for now.

    About the going home outfit:  bear in mind that you will not be back to
    your pre-birth size before you leave the hospital.  I wore my maternity
    cloths home after my first baby because the pants I packed still didn't
    fit.

    The only thing I packed from all "the recommended lists" was sox - and
    was glad I did. They say that pregnant and nursing mothers are warm and
    toasty while women in labor are freezing. It was true for me!
    

    RE your going home outfit:  Each time I invested in a good sweatsuit to
    come home in.  Was I glad--it was the only thing I could fit into for a
    while!
    
    
    T.

   The comment about blankets and getting the new born into the car, brought
   this to mind. Bear in Mind, that the head is the major source of body heat
   loss, particular in newborns. I was shocked the other day, when I saw a
   girl walking down the road carrying a baby that couldn't have been more
   than a month old, in a 20 degree windchill weather, without any covering on
   its head. 
   
   q
   

    Here was my point of frustration, those darn Pram suits without a hole
    cut out for the car seat strap that goes between the legs!  I finally
    had my mother-inlaw cut and reinforce a hole inthe quilted one, and
    carefully make and sew carefully the one in the knitted one.  It ends
    up being a huge hole, since the buckle is usually cumbersome!
    
    How about the "sour" lolipops to suck on during labor?  Do they still
    make those?  I think the brand was "Charms".
    
    Lyn

    Well my bags are packed and are in the car!  I have two weeks till my 
    due date...I am 1cm dilated, 100% effaced and the babys head is engaged 
    between 0 and +1 station...so I guess I could go anytime from now till 
    my due date!  Here is a complete list of what I have packed...based on 
    all the great advise I got in this file and from reading.
    
    * Shampoo
    * Conditioner
    * hair brush
    * toothpaste
    * toothbrush
    * lip baum
    * barrettes
    * deoderant
    * baby powder (reduces friction when massaging)
    * make-up 
    * Maxi-pads (night time protection...most hospitals have the belted
      versions)
    * lotion
    * Nipple cream
    * 3 nursing bras and pads 
    * bathrobe
    * pajama top and bottom
    * underwear (maturnity and ones I wore at 5 months preg. I'll
                 have to see which ones fit after birth)
    * socks 
    * Light weight slippers 
    * Oversized T-shirt for laboring in
    * Bathing suit for husband to help with showers
    * Outfit to wear home
    * 2 tennis balls 
    * focal point object
    * 2 new unread magazines
    * Books ("What to Expect When You are Expecting" and The Good
      Housekeeping book on pregnancy and child care...great book is mostly
      photographs)
    * popsicles (they are in the freeze now...have to write a note not to
                forget them!)
    * list of phone numbers

    for the baby:
    
    * Onesie
    * Outfit  
    * cotton hat
    * receiving blanket
    * handmade blanket
    * socks
    * Down winter cover 
    ( It will depend on the weather on what the baby actually wears...most
      likely not all of the above)
    * Camera and film

    I hope this list will be helpful for all those preparing for "the big
    event" themselves!
    
    Suzanne

    Something that I took to the hospital but not on your list:
    
    My baby book - meaning I keep a keepsake book on each of my children
    and in them it has a page for "foot/hand prints" and the nurses were
    delighted to sign their names and make a extra set of prints for my
    book.  A lot of the books that I looked at had these pages!

    You may not need the nursing pads.  My milk didn't come in till
    4 or so days later.  But then again, my hospital stay was only
    the typical 2 days.
    
    If you don't have a book to put the baby's hand/foot prints in,
    bring a sturdy piece of paper and ask the nurses to do it on there.
    We brought our Lamaze certificate and had Eric's foot prints "stamped"
    on the back.  I keep that in his baby book.
    
    Donna
    

    	I have had many, many hospital stays for surgery and I would opt to
    bring things that will make *you* comfortable. I brought tapes to
    listen to, light fragrance (remember you might have a room mate so
    NOTHING heavy, my very important healing bunny (stuffed animal, but
    this may not be appropriate for maternity, I would bring it) and
    perhaps the most indispensable thing that I packed was a small
    flashlight that I had tied to a shoelace and then draped around the
    bed bars. It was great for looking up the time, finding the Chap stick
    etc without turning on the overhead light. (actually the last time I
    taped the chap stick to the flashlight string so that I could easily
    find it, I'm one of those people that uses chap stick about 100 times a
    day)
    
    	Also bring a small journal with a few pens, not only is this great
    for recording thoughts (I write at every chance), it is also great for
    jotting down questions that you want to ask the Doctor. When my Doctor
    would visit, we would go down the daily list, item by item.

    	Another thing that I have learned is that I almost always pack too
    much, there are always bags of stuff that needs to be taken home, my
    personal philosophy on this?...who cares, if it makes you more
    comfortable then go for it.
    
    			Wendy

    hi all!
    
    Well I had a baby boy on December 29th. He weighed 8 lbs 8 oz and
    was 22" tall.  His name is Timothy Evan Saarinen.
    
    I must tell you all that I did not use 1/3 of the stuff I brought
    to the hospital!
    
    Focal point...what focal point...I had my eyes shut most of the
    time!  ( I found it easier to focus that way)
    
    The things I did use where:
    
    *toothbrush (After 2 hours of laboring at the hospital all I wanted
    to do was brush my teeth! All that breathing gave me dragon breath.)
    
    *shampoo
    *conditioner
    *bathrobe
    *pajama's for visiting with visitors
    *camera
    *baby's clothes for going home
    
    The rest stayed in the bag!
    
    I had a really fast labor...so I did not have time for massage with
    tennis balls...powder or oils!
    
    I must say I am glad to have all the things I packed...it kept me
    busy pulling the items together those lasts few weeks before the big
    event.  
    
    i am no longer with Digital...so send mail to my
    husband...rt3::SAARINEN.
    
    I will miss the notesfiles...they where alot of fun and very
    informative!
    
    good luck to all the expecting!
    
    Suzanne