Getting Ready for #2: What to Bring to the Hospital

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We're busy getting ready for the second baby's arrival sometime at the end of next month. We moved into our new house over the summer and have been slowly plugging away at project after project. Thanks to the Husband, everything is coming along beautifully. Just this morning he installed a hanging pot rack above the kitchen peninsula, a proper dish towel bar and brought up Peanuts play kitchen from the basement. Next on the long list are still moving some bedroom furniture in both our bedroom and the kid's room to make room for the bassinet and crib, respectively and of course finishing up the basement clean-up to make room for our California guests who will (hopefully) be arriving right in time to help us with the birth. On top of all that, I have lists in multiple rooms now that consist entirely of things to prepare just for the baby: sorting through the baby clothes for gender neutral newborn clothes, sorting and washing cloth diapers and covers, installing the carseat, pulling out my trusty breast pumps (electric and hand)....the lists keep growing.

But most of all the Husband and I have been preparing for the birth. We were denied health insurance coverage for a homebirth midwife, so we decided on the next best thing: hospital based midwives. We changed midwifery groups from our last birth to be closer to their offices and the hospital now that we've got a toddler and because despite the fact that we loved the other midwives we were very very unhappy with the hospital (you can read more about that birth here). Also, as an aspiring midwife myself I wanted to meet and experience another group of midwives. The other night we talked through Peanut's birth and it turns out that a lot of what I remember and what the Husband remembers is very very different. I'm going to attribute this to the fact that I was in hard labor for more than 15 hours that day and while he may have been uncomfortable when I bit him once or twice, he most certainly was not. But what I really wanted to know from his experience and mine, was what do we really need to bring this time? What was totally unnecessary? What did we wish we'd had with us? And what will we do differently now that we have a toddler to think of?

So I've started compiling my list of what to pack and I think that this time we'll be better prepared...

3am: Before the real fun started...

What to Bring to the Hospital (besides your ID & paperwork):

1. A large water bottle with a straw. It's vital to keep hydrated during labor and often the hospital only has ice chips on hand unless your husband or doula can run down to the vending machines or cafeteria during labor (yeah, if he wants his head ripped off...)
2. Lots of coconut water mixed with juice for flavor. Coconut water is nature's Gatoraide. It's loaded with electrolytes and is super good for you. I personally think it tastes a little on the salty side so I like to add a little unsweetened fruit juice to it. 
3. Small snacks for during labor and larger snacks for recovery. If you're hypoglycemic like me you  have to work hard to keep your energy and sugar levels up. Really though only expect to eat tiny bites of whatever you brought because during hard labor no-one really has an appetite. However, I guarantee you will be starving post-birth and depending on what time you give birth you may have limited food options. Bring something a little more filling just in case there's nowhere to order from and the cafeteria is closed. 
4. Your own birthing (exercise) ball. They might have some at the hospital but they may be in use. Or they may not have any at all. Either way it's nice to know you've got your own, clean ball to sit/rock/roll around on. Especially if your water has broken and you happen to be leaking all over it...
5. Clothes to change into post-birth. Last time I labored and birthed in an incredibly soft cream colored shirt-dress that I thought would also be perfect for nursing in. Hah! By the time Peanut was born that thing was covered in all types of body fluids and was quickly thrown out by my husband as soon as they peeled it off of me in the minutes after birth. I hadn't thought to bring another comfortable outfit readily available at the top of my bag so I spent the next 3 hours cold and uncomfortable in a hospital "nursing" gown. This time I have a second outfit and it will be at the very top of the bag where even the Husband can find it. 



And now you can see why that shirt was promptly thrown away.

6. The regular toiletries. You know the standard stuff. Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and a comb. Even though I'm not a big make-up wearing kind of gal, I'll even throw in some blush and mascara just because you know someone is going to want to take those "new baby & mommy" photos and I don't want to look like I'm going to scare the poor kid. Include in here: glasses/contact lens solution. 
7. Flip-flops, for both of you. I don't know how I forgot these the last time, but those showers are a lot like the ones at the gym. Nuf said. And husband/partner will want to shower too right, so make sure they've got a pair too. 
8. Comfortable clothes to lounge in and go home in. Always bring an extra days worth (just in case). I thought we'd be going home after 24 hours, because of course that's what we wanted so the hospital just had to let us, right? Wrong. First the hearing test machine on our floor busted then they threatened that our daughter would have to take formula "if she didn't pee" within their given 24 hour mark. It didn't seem to matter that she'd emptied 9 months worth all over me as soon as she was born, but whatever. We stayed an extra night and I wish I'd had more clothes. Include in here some thick socks and/or slippers. 
9. The nursing pillow.  Bring your own Boppy. They've got lots of pillow at the hospital, but nothing really works like that nice U-shaped pillow for nursing a tiny newborn. 
10. Your own pads. Unless you really like the giant flattened sausage kind, bring your own pads. You'll be wearing them for some time post birth so get some nice ones. You'll be more comfortable, trust me. 
11. A cotton "night" nursing bra and nursing pads (I personally like the wool reusable ones). These are the most forgiving when your milk comes in and you don't want to get stuck trying to push those newly minted DD-cups into your pre-milk C-cups. Ouch. Plus you never know when that milk is going to come down and leak all over the only clean shirt you have left. 
12. A book or magazine. I know you're like "But there's a new baby! He/she'll take all my time!". Except not. Because guess what new babies sleep the majority of the time (between 18 and 22 hours a day in those first few days!!) and since you can only watch so much bad hospital TV I'd recommend something else to do or read. Also, if you're like me and having #2 (or three or four) you can expect that your partner is going to have to leave you alone at the hospital with the (probably sleeping) baby to go look after your older kid(s). 
13. Clothes in multiple sizes for the baby. Really you have no idea how big your baby is going to be so showing up to the hospital with only newborn sized clothes may leave your kid naked. We thought my daughter would be at least 8 lbs or more, and to our surprise was a tiny 6 lbs 9 oz. She was swimming in her going home outfit. And if it's winter make sure to bring blankets to cover the baby once they're in the carseat for the transfer to the car. 
14. A special gift or surprise for the big brother/sister. Our friends told us how their older daughter got all dressed up to go to the hospital to meet her baby brother in sparkly red shoes and a pretty party dress that when she arrived all the staff and nurses made such a fuss over her she thought she was the star of the show. Other people swear by a special small gift "from the baby" for the big sister/brother. Either way, be sure to have something special planned for your tot. 
15. And of course, the carseat. Make sure the base is properly installed (and that your partner knows that it is and shouldn't mess with it). If you've also got a toddler carseat make sure everyone has enough space and there isn't anything heavy (ie dangerous) in the back seat (read about keeping your car safe for kiddies here). 

I'm sure there's probably more that'll go into the bag/car, but at this point I think this is all that's absolutely necessary.