Packing Your Hospital Bag For Labor And Delivery

Getting ready for the big day?  2 big ticket items to take care of in advance:  1) Install the baby car seat and 2) pack your hospital bag.  We looked like bumbling idiots when we walked into the labor ward -- the nurses actually asked us if we were moving in.  Avoid over-packing by using the list below.

1. Health Insurance Card
2. Ipod/Ipod/Iphone Charger - Labor mix
3. Snacks for your partner
4. Camera/video camera/charger
5. Cell Phone/charger
6. Laptop/charger - many hospitals have wifi
7. Books/magazines
8. Folder or Envelope to organize hospital and birth papers
9. Bag to bring home hospital issue blankets, diapers, etc.
10. Gifts for nurses -- they will be so helpful, and you will want to express your gratitude
11. Breast feeding pillow

Toiletries

1. Hair brush
2. Shampoo
3. Face wash
4. Toothbrush
5. Toothpaste
6. Makeup -- you'll want to look nice in your pictures?
7. Deodorant
8. Ponytail holder
9. Contact Lenses
10. Contact Lens Solution
11. Contact Lens Case
12. Glasses
    

Clothes for Mom

1. Socks
2. Slippers
3. Robe
4. Underwear (2) - you will probably wear the hospital issue disposable underwear as you'll bleed for a few days
   
5. Nursing bras (1) - you probably only need it to go home, you'll be in your gown the entire stay
   
6. 1 outfit for hospital, although you will probably wear the hospital gown until you are discharged
7. Going home outfit - comfy loose pants and roomy shirt
8. Nipple ointment - although they will probably have samples at the hospital
9. Breast pads - for going home

Clothes for Baby
Baby will wear hospital issue kimono shirts, hats and swaddle blankets.

1. Going home outfit - zip pj's is probably the best option
2. Babba Cover for car seat in winter
3. Bundle Me for Infant Car seat - you won't need a snow suit if you have this.

Clothes for Partner

1. Slippers - you can't walk around the hospital without shoes
2. Socks
3. 2-3 Underwear
4. Sweater/Jeans/Sweatshirt
5. T-shirts
6. Extra pillow

The hospital will likely issue you disposable diapers for Mom, squirt bottle, disposable underwear, sanitary pads for bed/car/chairs, baby diapers, gauze and vaseline for circumcision dressing, swaddle blankets, hat, kimono shirts.  The hospital may also issue you a bag to take things home, breast shields and tubing, SNS starter kit, formula, and nipples.

Good luck!

Welcome Henry!

On December 31, 2009, at 10:30am on the dot, Henry Guang-Hao Anderson was born.  My doctor induced me exactly 1 week early due to a preeclamptic condition.  The magnesium they administered - to prevent seizures - prolonged my labor and made me lethargic, sweaty, and exhausted.  My poor husband Chris, sister Elaine, and brother Michael stayed up with me all night.  They fed me ice chips and continuously changed the cold towels draped around my face and neck.  They pressed the epidural button once every ten minutes.  It is all a blur, but I remember four things very clearly:  1) Chris dozing off by my bedside and almost grabbing the IV's out of my arm as he caught himself; 2) Elaine, jumping up and down in the background cheering me on as I pushed, "You can do it Joyce, you're almost there!" -- she succeeded in hiding her true thoughts, which were "How is she going to get that baby out of her little body?  This is not happening."; 3) I remember asking Michael as he quietly cheered me on, "Wait, are you watching the birth?"  He replied, "NO.  Of course not, I'm facing the wall"; and 4) I remember our perfect little Henry.

After 22 hours of labor Henry arrived pink and swollen.  There was an initial scare - a half dozen doctors and nurses whisked him away for tests, but all was well in the end.  We spent four nights in the hospital: one night getting induced; one night having surgery to drain a hematoma in my nether region; and two nights recovering.

The first month was physically exhausting.  I have never been so fat.  I had gained 40 pounds during my pregnancy, and my entire body was ridiculously swollen from all the IV fluids and antibiotics.  Let's not forget the stitches to repair the tear and the drained hematoma.  I was a mess, but a happy hot mess.  Thankfully, ten private kickboxing sessions and 9+ months of nursing magically transformed my body into something better than it was before.  My girlfriends are all considering the pregnancy and delivery weight loss plan -- could this be the next fad?  

Many thanks to our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and friends who brought us food, hand-me-downs, advice, love and well wishes.  Without their love and support Henry would probably be sitting in a gutter somewhere eating guppies and bathing in sewage - he would be thrilled.  

Best tip I received for the first month:  Get out of the house with or without the baby.  Thanks E!