*Baby Corner*

[Carolyn 1]

Ok recent Mommies, I'm trying to pack for the hospital (not that I think I'm going into labor imminently, but one woman who is in my August Midwife group showed up at our meeting last night with her new little girl, and I'm feeling like I better get a move on!). I've got a sample list of things to pack from my midwife, and I'm sure there are suggestions in books, but I'd rather hear it from people who have been there:

What did you actually use and/or want in the hospital?

Did you bring your own sleepwear?

Any suggestions for packable food for hubby? (my husband really only likes real food (read: home cooked meals), so this is a challenge--I might have my mom or sister bring him stuff).

What is a good "coming home outfit" for a baby in 90 degree weather?

Thanks in advance,

Carolyn

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

carolyn...

Food wasnt an issue for me...The hospital provided me with FANTASTIC Dinner, then breakfast and lunch the next day...I got to pick anything I wanted...Maybe just make sure he has a few bottles of water or something...

I packed:

Clothes for me to go home in (PJ pants and a tshirt) panties (ones that will allow a two foot maxi pad to fit on) lol and flip flops..everyone told me to pack socks..the hospital gave me a pair of house slipper when I got there

An outfit or two for baby( in case they pee or poop..it tends to be messy the first few days, especially if u have a boy)..I brought something simple..a romper I think, and a hat and thin blanket.

The car seat..

Magazines..I was in labor for a looong boring 10 hours..and the next day there was nothing to do while waiting to get discharged..

travel soap, shampoo, and a toothbrush

PONYTAILS...i have VERY long hair and didnt have one...i sweat soo bad and my hair was in tangles for days from laying on the back of my neck

i brought my robe becuz I knew it would be freezing in the hospital and hospital gowns dont keep ya real warm..

and thats about it...my hospital was very accomidating...I was always soooo worried about packing the diaper back and my bag, but the hospital pretty much gives you EVERYTHING you need

ETA...Carolyn, if you have a vaginal birth, you are definitly gonna wanna just be in your hospital gown overnight...not to frighten you, but the first 24 hours bleeding is quite heavy and it will be MUCH easier for you to use the bathroom in a robe as opposed to pants...I wouldnt worry about any sleepwear

Edited July 31, 2008 by ks71905

[Carolyn 1]

Kelly,

Were you in the hospital for only one night? I suppose it matters what time you deliver (completely out of my control, I know!).

Thanks for the suggestions! I think I'll try to find a new bathrobe today--both of mine are light colored, and one is really short!

[tnh9479 1]

We went for the NT scan yesterday. The babies are doing well. Baby A has a heartbeat of 155 bpm and Baby B has a heart beat of 172 bpm. The perinatologist couldn't determine if they are fraternal or identical. He did say they have separate placentas (yea...no twin to twin transfer issues). He also said that with Baby A I have a slight case of placenta previa (part of the placenta is on the cervix) and that bears watching. Also...he is recommending to my ob that I have a cerclage because of the twins and the medical procedure I had done on the cervix last year. Oh...and did I mention that I had an abnormal pap at my first prenatal appointment. With my history and what the ob saw at the second ob appointment, she is sending me next week to an ob/gyn oncologist to get her opinion (more than likely it is caused by hormones during pregnancy...but she wants me to be safe). So...it has been a little crazy around here.

On the lighter side...during the NT scan, the tech who was performing it at first noticed Baby B wasn't moving. She pushed on my stomach a couple of times. OMG...I thought Hicham and I were going to die of laughter because all of a sudden you see arms and legs flailing everywhere. I told Hicham the baby loves sleeping as much as he does (he could sleep 10+ hours a day if you let him).

I'll put a pic of each below.

Twila

[keltic 1]

We went for the NT scan yesterday. The babies are doing well. Baby A has a heartbeat of 155 bpm and Baby B has a heart beat of 172 bpm.

That is SOOO exciting!! With the difference in heartrates, maybe you will have a boy and a girl. The old wive's tale is that boys have faster heartrates than girls. It will be interesting to see!

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

TNH...Keltic is right...and my OB always said Zaids heartbeat was fast cuz he was a boy....AWWWW a twin boy and girl would be so much fun...!!!! I also had Partial Previa and although you cannot "do the deed" for a while...Its nothing to be worried about..mine was found at week 12 and was gone by week 20

Carolyn...yea, I had Zaid at 3:58pm on a tuesday and was discharged at 5:00pm on wednesday...the only reason you have to wait is cuz they have to do baby tests when he/she is 24 hours old...so once 3:58 hit they took him to do em' we waited for results, and were kicked out! lol..If you feel like you need to stay at the hospital for another day...DO IT..Most insurance companies cover 48 hours for vagi births and 96 hours for csection .I know some women dont have as easy delivarys like i did and are in quite abit of pain for a few days...I never experienced that, so I knew I was ready to go home..Just listen to your body..

Sooo many babies on the way...Eveline, Caroline, and JP....GET LOTS OF REST!! I HOPE YOUR ALL AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE and the next few weeks are smooooth sailing!

[chri'stina 190]

Hi!

Tnh-Aww that's really cool to see your little twins. Praying that your pregnancy will be very smooth and none of those issues will become anything to worry about.

Carolyn-I packed a lot more than I actually used. My robe was the thing I really needed because they had me walk to halls to try to progress a couple times. I had a big comfy long robe, oh and slippers! I was at the hospital from Friday morning til Sunday late at night so I was there a couple nights(I also had been there all day Thurs with contractions and late thurs night and then was sent home again). I didn't read anything or even watch TV. I only changed into my own clothes on Sunday and actually didn't even take a shower(after my labor and then c/s I was too tired and out of it to do anything really). I brought my own menstrual pads, which was good because they were better than what they had at my hospital. The hospital pads had no wings and not even adhesive on the bottom, just loose pads to put on. I also brought my own underwear that I didn't mind ruining. Besides that, I hardly used anything else. You would need basic toiletries. Also we did bring clothes to take Kavi home in and a baby blanket for him. Get packing!!! It could be ANY day!

[tnh9479 1]

TNH...Keltic is right...and my OB always said Zaids heartbeat was fast cuz he was a boy....AWWWW a twin boy and girl would be so much fun...!!!! I also had Partial Previa and although you cannot "do the deed" for a while...Its nothing to be worried about..mine was found at week 12 and was gone by week 20

The perinatologist didn't mention not "doing the deed", but he did say if it did happen to use a prophalytic to avoid have the swimmers carrying bacteria up and causing an infection.

[nannygirl82 0]

We went for the NT scan yesterday. The babies are doing well. Baby A has a heartbeat of 155 bpm and Baby B has a heart beat of 172 bpm. The perinatologist couldn't determine if they are fraternal or identical. He did say they have separate placentas (yea...no twin to twin transfer issues). He also said that with Baby A I have a slight case of placenta previa (part of the placenta is on the cervix) and that bears watching. Also...he is recommending to my ob that I have a cerclage because of the twins and the medical procedure I had done on the cervix last year. Oh...and did I mention that I had an abnormal pap at my first prenatal appointment. With my history and what the ob saw at the second ob appointment, she is sending me next week to an ob/gyn oncologist to get her opinion (more than likely it is caused by hormones during pregnancy...but she wants me to be safe). So...it has been a little crazy around here.

On the lighter side...during the NT scan, the tech who was performing it at first noticed Baby B wasn't moving. She pushed on my stomach a couple of times. OMG...I thought Hicham and I were going to die of laughter because all of a sudden you see arms and legs flailing everywhere. I told Hicham the baby loves sleeping as much as he does (he could sleep 10+ hours a day if you let him).

I'll put a pic of each below.

Twila

how exciting!!! sounds like everything seems to be going good for you i had the placenta thing as well and it went away as she got bigger and also the abnormal pap and that was because of the hormones going crazy so i am sure that is what it is!! always better to be safe!! your babies look sssoo cute!!!

[TracyLuis 0]

All this reading about everyone's pregnancies here, I really miss being pregnant! Which is crazy, because for me, pregnancy was rather difficult and painful. But I LOVED it...

Looking forward to seeing more beautiful baby pics soon!!

[Joanna&Bobby 3]

Hi there all mommies!

I just found this thread...but have been here on vj for a while...

I am 24 weeks pregnant now and found out 4 weeks ago my baby is a boy. We will name him Vittorio- italian version of Victor.

Just wanted to join the thread...Happy to have found you!

[Carolyn 1]

Twila--so exciting about the twins! Aren't ultrasounds amazing?

Welcome Joanna & Bobby (& Vittorio)!

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

TNH...I would call your office and ask...mine Seriously stressed not doing it...he said it could cause the placenta to tear on my cervix or something

[Autumnchik 6]

Welcome Joanna&Bobby

Carolyn - I gave birth on a Thursday and we had to stay until Sunday. After the first day of wearing the hospital gown, I wanted my own pjs (I brought a gown) and felt much more comfortable in that. I too packed too much unneccesary stuff (mostly because I was packing my bag AFTER my water had broken!!! - don't be like me!!!). It was nice to have my own toiletries. I also brought a couple different outfits for the baby to wear, depending on the weather.

One thing we liked a lot when we got home was gowns for the baby to sleep in. At 3 am, after a feeding, it was so much easier just to lift up the gown to change the diaper rather than fumble with buttons and snaps. Just something FYI

[chri'stina 190]

congrats and welcome Joanna&Bobby!

Autumnchik-How is Declan?

Today Kavi is 6 months old! AAh!!! My baby is 6 months old. I can't believe it. And he was born on a Friday too. I'll have to take some cute pictures of him later.

I don't remember if I posted this pic showing his little bottom teeth, sorry if I have but I don't think I did.

Me and him...