When preparing for the delivery of your baby, it’s crucial to pack thoughtfully. Here’s a list of things that were useful for me, along with some that turned out to be unnecessary.
1. Pumping Bra: Unfortunately, after delivering my baby boy, he was taken to the NICU where he stayed for 9 days. I wasn’t able to have skin-to-skin contact or breastfeed him for 5 days. A pumping bra was very useful in this situation. You don’t need to bring your pump; the hospital provides one. However, I recommend having a pumping bra just in case of an emergency like mine. I’m grateful to our family friends who bought it and brought it when I needed it.
2. Bath Necessities: Bring soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and a hairbrush. The hospital only provides tiny sample sizes of baby shampoo. Also, bring towels for yourself and your partner if they’re staying with you. We only had one small towel, which was uncomfortable.
3. Comfortable Labor/Nursing Nightgown: I got mine on Amazon https://amzn.to/3XtYR8c
It was soft, comfortable, and had easy access for breastfeeding. You will receive a gown for delivery and can stay in it, but I felt much better after showering and changing into my own sleepwear.
4. Snacks and Water: Hospital snacks are limited, and the water is provided in a small cup that you have to refill, often on a different floor. Staying almost three days in the hospital, my appetite was bigger post-delivery, and I wanted snacks between meals.
5. Electronics:Although space is limited, having a laptop could be useful to watch something during downtime.
Things to Skip:
1. **Frida Mom C-Section Silicone Strips:** Since I had a planned C-section due to my baby being breech, I bought these strips to help the scar heal faster, but they were unnecessary. My scar healed well on its own.
2. **Extra Pillow:** My doctor recommended bringing a pillow, but the hospital pillows were fine. I didn’t use mine.
3. **Maxi Pads:** The hospital provides plenty of these, so there’s no need to bring your own.
4. **Diapers and Pacifiers:** The hospital gave us a bag of diapers and pacifiers for the baby, so no need to pack these.
5. **Non-Slip Socks:** The hospital provides non-slip socks, which were sufficient for walking around the room, making slippers unnecessary.
**Additional Tips:**
For those parents who can bring their baby home after two nights, you will need an outfit with a hat for your baby and a stroller with a car seat. We used a Doona stroller, which converts into a car seat. It was one of the best purchases we made. It’s lightweight, compact, and easy to use, but consider that it keeps the baby in a half-sitting position and has no storage space underneath. It’s perfect for us since we live in Miami and are always driving somewhere.
Lastly, make sure to prepare your bag well in advance. I made the mistake of not having my bag ready when I had an emergency C-section. My doctor recommended having it packed at least a few weeks before the due date, but I thought I had more time. Don’t be like me; don’t repeat my mistakes.
I hope my story helps you prepare for your delivery. There are many checklists online, but after my experience, I can confidently say that half of the suggested items are unnecessary. So, don’t overpack.
I wish every mama an easy delivery and a quick return home with your baby.