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I guess I need to finally pack my hospital bag! Here are my questions:
1) What did you wear while birthing?
2) What did you wear afterward?
3) Did you take nursing bras? If so, how did you know what size your boobs would be?
I'll be taking a pair of old slippers that I will throw away after. Anything else that you think is super important that isn't included on most checklists? TIA!
Eric and Amanda 9.1.07

Re: Hospital bag questions
1. I wore the hospital gown.
2. I wore the hospital gown.
3. I did not, but wish I had. My size didn't go up a ton - maybe a cup size. I would recommend this bra at first - easy to get your breast in and out of and comfortable.
http://www.target.com/p/Medela-Womens-Sleep-Nursing-Bra-White/-/A-10425461
I don't recall what is on most checklists, but what I used the most was chapstick, our camera, laptop (cords and all that jazz). And a robe to walk around to help in my recovery since I had a c-section so getting moving was hard at first.
Growing Up Olson
1) Hospital gown.
2) Hospital gown. It was messy. I didn't want to get my own stuff all gross.
3) I brought nursing tanks. I knew they would fit as I had been wearing them around the house for a while beforehand.
I ended up packing way more stuff than I needed. I loved having my Boppy though.
1. Hospital gown, socks and slippers. My water had broken or was broken both times and that's a lot of spewage I didn't want to try to get out of MY clothes. I always used two -- one I put on the regular way and the other I used as a robe.
2. Hospital gown mostly with DD. With DS, very comfy drawstring pants ($6 at WM so didn't care if they got trashed by the bleeding), the disposable underwear with gigantic pads and nursing tanks.
3. No, I just brought nursing tanks and that did great. Usually you want to estimate at least 1-2 sizes larger than your normal cup size. I liked the tanks because they were a bit more forgiving. Target has some good ones that aren't expensive.
DD -- 5YO
DS -- 3YO
1) What did you wear while birthing?
nothing
2) What did you wear afterward?
sweat pants, nursing tank, hoodie
3) Did you take nursing bras? If so, how did you know what size your boobs would be?
I took tanks. Much easier to size
~Working Mom~Breastfeeding Mom~Cloth Diapering Mom~BLW Mom~
Blog - No Longer on the DL ~ The Man Cave
Shawn and Larissa
LO #1 - Took 2 years and 2 IVFs ~ DX - severe MFI mild PCOS homozygous MTHFR (a1298c)
LO #2 - TTC 7 months, surprise spontaneous BFP!
1. gown
2. nursing tanks, lounge pants and a robe
3. I just wore the tanks at the hospital.
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Tizzle 10/07 ~ Boppy 7/09 ~ Chicken 1/12
2014 Reading Goal: 85
Hey girl - I'm so excited for you!! (It's Patty)
1 - I wore a sports bra and the hospital robe
2 - I wore the hospital robe at first. We ended up being there for 5 days so I transitioned into sweatpants and my robe as the days went on.
3 - I brought nursing tanks, actually he's almost 10 weeks old and I have yet to buy a nursing bra yet, I just live in the tanks. I'm going to go this weekend I think to buy some for returning to work.
You'll want to bring a pillow for you and DH, he'll also need a blanket. I only had a light robe and wish I had also had a warmer hoodie or robe, sometimes I was hot, other times cold. Bring some snacks, the food can take awhile to get to your room! Oh and bring outdoor slippers or big shoes to wear home, my feet swelled up big time and there's no way I could have worn regular shoes home.
I wore a large pajama/gown thing and sports bra and cami (because the top was also big and too loose) while birthing. I think I will do that a bit differently this time up top, though I am not sure what.
I am having a hard time remembering what I wore after, though I think I did spend some time in the hospital gowns with the holes for BF'ing.
I didn't wear nursing bras and just went free until it was time to change to go home. I would say if you don't want to go free, I would do nursing tanks or even just camis with a shelf bra instead of a bra, they are a little more forgiving in the size department, and you probably won't change that much in size between pre-birth and 1-2 post-birth (they get huge after that!).
I took slippers, chapstick, face moisturizer, a brush for my hair, hair ties/headbands for during and after labor, camera, slippers, clothes to go home in (yoga/sweat pants and a shirt), flip flops and anything else you want for your hygiene/comfort. Don't forget to pack stuff for your DH, including an un-read magazine or two and clothes for him to change into.
my read shelf:
1) What did you wear while birthing? I wore a hospital gown
2) What did you wear afterward? I brought sweats and jammies, but I ended up wearing the gown (It was just easier for access for the docs and for going to the loo, etc.) They also provided anti slip socky thingys, so I wore those on my tootsies.
3) Did you take nursing bras? No
I was glad I had lots of hair ties (I kept losing them) and those face cleansing cloth thingys were nice, and my own lotion and shower products.
Spirit of Power
Eat, Drink, and be Keri
1. Hospital gowns
2. Hospital gowns with N - lounge pants, tank top, button up pajama shirt with E. I was so much more comfortable with what I wore after I had E, I took pants that I didn't care if they got ruined.
3. With N, no just didn't wear a bra. With E, yes, but I already had nursing bras from having N, so I can't really help with sizing.
Holy cow, we're going to have a little sister!!
1. Cheap strapless bra and birthing skirt (brought by my doula), light robe, then nothing.
2. Hospital gown.
3. Don't remember, but I didn't wear anything under the gown. It was easier.
1. I wore the hospital gown. Don't ruin your own because birthing is messy.
2. I wore a pair of stain black pants with a low sitting waist (just in case I ended up with a c-section and had an incision.) and a button down black top.
3. My boobs didn't change size until 4-5 days after birth and then they went from B1/2 to Bowling balls overnight. But while I was in the hospital I didn't need anything different.
I didn't read all the responses so maybe this was already mentioned, but don't bother with your own underpants. They hospital will give you cheep, mesh underwear that is much stretchier and can be thrown away after you mess it up. And when you leave, grab a bunch of those to take home if you can.
I totally agree with this.
I wore the gown both times while giving birth. With DS, I didn't want to get my own stuff messed up and with DD it was quick and I seriously could not have cared less what I was wearing. I was naked for a while because I couldn't focus long enough to get the gown on.
Like everyone else, I wore tanks. I went and got fitted for nursing bras after my milk came in. I don't know where you're giving birth, but the Good Sam Exempla hospital in Lafayette has a nursing nook and probably others do, too. I went there and got some bras--they were super nice and not any more expensive than I saw elsewhere.
I second this. And ask for extra of everything else as well (pads, cream etc.)
In regards to your questions:
1 - I wore the hospital gown and a nursing sleep bra
2 - I wore the hospital gown and sleep bra w/ DS #1 and w/ DS #2 I wore drawstring pants a nursing tank and a hoody. Second time around all the after care stuff was easier and I was comfortable in regular clothes. W/ DS#1 I much prefered to wear the gown.
3 - I would bring tanks or sleep bras
I really liked having my own pillow (I am picky about pillows) in a non white pillow case. I also had a robe which I used a ton.
~Working Mom~Breastfeeding Mom~Cloth Diapering Mom~BLW Mom~
Blog - No Longer on the DL ~ The Man Cave
Shawn and Larissa
LO #1 - Took 2 years and 2 IVFs ~ DX - severe MFI mild PCOS homozygous MTHFR (a1298c)
LO #2 - TTC 7 months, surprise spontaneous BFP!
I wore a short black nightgown and a black robe all day while laboring. The robe came off for birth and I kept the nightgown on. I just didn't want to wear the gown and felt more comfortable in my own clothes.
I had a nursing tank and black sweat pants with the robe to wear afterwards, I just bought nursing bras now that I know what size I will be for the most part. I didn't want to invest before my milk came in.
I wish I would have packed a sweatshirt or blanket, I was freezing during labor and the hospital blankets were terrible.
I'm glad we brought the Boppy, it really helped with positioning the first few times we fed.
1. Jack sh!t.
2. Hospital gown.
3. Nope. I let the girls hang free. It was awesome.