My Bags Are Packed, I’m Ready to Go…

I found that I didn’t use a lot of things from my bags. I did take early (24 hour) discharges with my first and third babies, so I wasn’t there too long. Clothes, camera, and toiletries are the biggies, beyond that you can wing it. We did take a lap top this last time so we could post the birth on Facebook. Yay for W-fi!

Best wishes Tabitha!
.-= Kristy´s last blog ..Health =-.

WOW you’re prepared! I just finished a Greg Iles book a couple days ago, but not that one. I didn’t end up using much from my bags, either, even though I was in the hospital for 3 days postpartum with each of mine (complications with the babies, not me). My essential list included a big book, my camera, basic toiletries, and my own pillow (with a brightly colored pillowcase to keep it from getting mixed up with hospital linens). I just wore my maternity clothes home because those were the ones that still fit.

Good call on the Twizzlers – after both my deliveries I wanted juice in a bad way. I even made my husband buy a fresh pineapple, peel and core it and bring it to the hospital for me after my daughter was born (in Germany in November, so it wasn’t easy to come by).

Good luck – can’t wait to see pictures!
.-= Heather @critter chronicles´s last blog ..Torn =-.

Best of luck, you look mighty prepared to me.

.-= Carolina Baker´s last blog ..Kicking Butt is Allowed =-.

Great preparation! I totally agree on bringing your own pads (get the biggest one available – overnights I think) just because they are more comfortable. Also, this is a pain but here bringing your own towels for shower is advised since the hospital ones tend to be scratchy and thin. Hard candies are also good to suck on besides having ice pops. Music might be helpful to relax you during labor as well (check if the hospital has a CD player in the room). Good luck, relax and enjoy the birth!

Wow, you are totally organized!! You should come to my house and help me org…..nevermind. ;^D You’ll be busy.

I’m so glad your baby is going to be born in February!! That’s when my nieces were born. So I’m partial.

Thinking good thoughts for you!

Take a pillow for the CPA in case it’s a long labor–he might want to get some sleep. (I was the labor & del coach for my aunt when the father bailed, so I’ve done this before, as an observer.)

You’ll rock!!! Hugs,

Jules
.-= sparkly jules´s last blog ..‘Cause I’m Proud of Him =-.

Wow! I can’t believe it’s already time for you to give birth! It doesn’t seem that long ago when I first came across your blog because you were posting about TTC!

It looks to me like you’re really prepared! I suppose if you really forget something then the CPA could run home and get it! Don’t forget the car seat!!! You’ll need to get the little guy home!

Can’t wait to hear the news that he’s here!
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..Flashback Friday — Otis’ homecoming =-.

Great work, Tabitha! I think you’ve covered all your bases. Baby 411 was hands down, the best baby book I read. And believe me, I read a LOT of books! This was the most helpful.
I took my own bath and body works hand soap to stick in my bathroom. It was a luxury, but a nice one. And it made my room smell nice – since I was using the bathroom a lot. And I had to stay several days, so it was just one more thing to make me comfortable.
God bless you during this exciting time! I’m almost jealous and wishing I was doing it again… but that thought doesn’t last long. I hope the Lord is giving me a little more time for round 2.
.-= Amber´s last blog .. =-.

I found that I used almost nothing from my duffel – but that’s because my labor was very fast. I didn’t have time to put my ice pops in the freezer, much less nibble on them lol.

The only other thing I can think of that you might want to consider would be some gel soothies. Lanolin is great, but if you’re still in alot of pain, gel soothies (like Playtex Gel Pads, available at Target, or Medela Hydrogels, available at Babies R Us) can go a long way. I hear that cabbage leaves are a good substitute, but they didn’t really work as well for me. A lactation consultant suggested them to me and I honestly wish someone had told me earlier. Since I was in so much pain, I caved and gave Charlotte formula once her first night. Sometimes I wonder if I’d known about the soothies if it would have been different. Not that there’s anything wrong with formula, but it was important to me to nurse and I beat myself up about it for a month, convinced that I’d somehow compromised her chance at a good start lol.

Postpartum hormones are so weird.

Anyway, that’s it, now just sit back and relax until the big day! All that’s left is delivering your sweet boy! YAY!
.-= Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com´s last blog ..Here. =-.

Add me to the list of those who packed a lot and used almost none of it! Definitely some old socks will get lots of use though. Do they have your birthing room stocked with stuff like those exercise balls to sit on? If not, I’d bring one. It was the single most comfortable place for me to sit in the early stages of labor, so long as you don’t need to be on a bunch of monitoring equipment.

Enjoy Baby 411–awesome book and so much less intimidating than the ‘What to Expect…’ books. When the time comes, pick up Toddler 411 as well!

Hi Tabitha, Congrats on the upcoming birth of your little baby boy You definitely should have thank you notes,for any gifts you will receive while in the hospital. I wrote notes as soon as I could, and it makes life a whole lot easier once you get home with the baby. Take care and will be thinking of you and your husband.

Hi Tabitha,
You are so prepared! Definitely second the advice on the gel soothies–they are an absolute lifesaver for a new nursing mom. I’m not sure what size clothes you packed for your little guy but make sure you pack at least one outfit that is specifically sized “newborn”. I didn’t know to do that with my first son and he was only 5 1/2 lbs by the time we left the hospital–needless to say, none of the 0-3 month clothes I packed fit him. Good luck to you and your hubby, I hope you have a beautiful, peaceful and joyful birth. Your family is just beginning…

You are well-prepared!
.-= Eryn´s last blog ..The most beautiful wedding I have ever seen. =-.

Looks like you’ve got everything all set. You’re always so well prepared and I’m go glad it’s almost time for the little guy to arrive. You included all the things you will need and some of the suggestions from others sound really great to include too.

Can’t wait to be there with you and look forward to getting you the ice, pops to suck on, lotion to rub your back and legs, walking with you up and down the halls and anything else you may need from your Mom. It’s such an exciting time having your first child and one you’ll always treasure.

I do suggest a small notebook to write down your feelings and particulars you want to include in the little guys babybook. You think you won’t forget any details of his birth but trust me, you just don’t remember every specific detail. And having pen and paper ready to write down your feelings as you’re experiencing this is the best ever.

See you in a couple of days and can’t wait to celebrate your little guys birthday – it’s going to be a wonderful day for you and the CPA!!! Love you, M

Both times I felt it was time to pack my bags I went in to labor soon after! Good Luck!

Awesome list and execution of the list! I love making lists too so this really appeals to me (http://ughsome.blogspot.com/2009/05/world-is-not-necessarily-kind-place-to.html).
Choc for the staff who help you is a really thoughtful idea too.
All the best!!
.-= SRT´s last blog ..Lazy spud supper =-.

Oooh this is so exciting!!! Loved reading about the things you have packed and to compare them to my own list of things to pack when it’s getting closer to due date. I’ll be bringing many similar things, but also including chocolates and crisps, as over here in Europe women are encouraged to eat during labour to keep up the energy. And since I haven’t been allowed any sweets or snacks during pregnancy I promised myself to eat as many as I wanted during labour Jippeeee!

Best of luck now! Will be thinking of you and your family over the next few weeks!

BRING IT ON!!!
.-= Heidi´s last blog ..At least when voice mail piles up it doesn’t collect dust. =-.

Oh wait- I brought a cd I made (classical mostly) and a little cd player for the birth. Believe it or not i did remember the music, heard it through all the laboring- and remember the song playing the first time I saw/held my son. And that is a powerful memory (adagio for strings, LE SIGH) and I put that birth cd into his baby book for him to listen to. A nice little extra. And I brought my own soap, no candles allowed sadly *but* i brought a little reed diffuser thing for my bed side to bring some coziness to the hospital room. And I was super resourceful and even got 3-4 menus from local restaurants near the hospital since we all know hospital food is nasty. It made ordering food quick and easy:) And yes- bring your own bath sheet size fuzzy towel. The towels there were tiny and always uncomfy.

Thank you so much for the posts as they are profoundly thoughtful. We love the way you are able to breathe more fire into whatever you write about and it all is right from your hear t. I have bookmarked your site long ago and keep on coming back to it time and time again.