It's Go Time

Water breaking in the middle of the night, waking Special K to tell him "It's go time," racing to the hospital with our emergency lights on, wheeling me straight to delivery...No, none of those things happened to me.  Overall, heading to the hospital when I started having contractions was not the fire drill I imagined.   We waited throughout the day for them to get stronger and more frequent.  We picked up dry cleaning, had lunch at Central Market, cleaned the house, and just waited.  My hospital bag was ready to go for weeks prior, but in reality, I could have packed it that very day.

Regardless of when you pack your "go time" bag, it is always a good idea to have an idea of what to bring.  I have asked 4 moms there advice on what to bring...here is the list we compiled. 

Must Pack

1. Your ID/Insurance Card
2. Comfy Socks (a few pair)
3. Boppy Pillow (or whatever you will be using for nursing)
4. Camera and Cell Phone with chargers
5. Button Front Pajamas (I bought these...they are super comfy and have so many patterns)
6. Your favorite toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, tooth brush, tooth paste, face soap, etc...)
7. Lanolin
8. Tank Bra or Comfy Sleep Bra
9. Snacks
10. Baby "go home" outfit (bring 2 in case an accident occurs)

Items to consider

1. Laptop (obviously not mandatory, but it was nice to have there)
2. Your own personal pillow from home for you and your husband
3. Baby Book (or at least the pages pertaining to those first few days)
4. Baby Blankets (the hospital provides some, but in case you want your own)
5. Baby Outfit for first photos (some hospitals offer newborn photography)

One I will expand on...Snacks!  Remember that you are the patient, not your husband.  You get meals (not the best, but at least it is food) and he doesn't.  We didn't think to grab snacks and Special K was starving to death.  He didn't want to leave the hospital very often, so he was ravenous most of the hospital stay.

Suggestions - If you are going to visit a friend at the hospital that just had a baby, offer to bring some non-hospital food.  I promise they will appreciate it!

What did you pack in your hospital bag?