Packing List
Friday, March 16, 2007
I've been thinking a lot about 2 things:
Baby names, and what things we need to bring to the birth.
The baby's name is still unsettled. But I finished a pretty extensive list of things we need to bring to the birth center when I go into labor. I guess it would be a good idea to pack as much of this stuff as we can pretty soon, just in case.
Things to Pack for the Birth
+++++++++++++++++++
IN THE CAR:
Birth Kit
Bradley Handbook
Car Seat
Pillows (3 or 4)
2 towels
blanket
big metal bowl*
rubber gloves
chux pads*
FOR BABY:
1 Gown
2 Newborn undershirts
5 Receiving blankets
1 thicker blanket
1 pack newborn diapers
Outfit to wear home
Hat
Booties
Mitts
Baby book & ink for footprints*
FOR ME:
Old big blue nightshirt
New green gown
Light robe*
Heavy robe
Slippers
2 nursing bras
2 pairs socks
3 pairs underwear
chapstick
toothbrush
toothpaste
travel size shampoo*
travel size soap*
postpartum care kit (Thanks, Wendy!!!)
Clothes to wear home
Hair clips
Pack of maxi pads
Bible
Book/Magazines*
Phone
Phone charger
Nursing pillow
bathing suit top*
Nursing book
FOR DH:
Laptop
Video camera/tape
Digital Camera
Batteries for both*
USB camera cord
Swim trunks for the pool
clean clothes
toothbrush
CDs
CD player
Phone
Phone charger
chapstick
Watch for timing contractions
Tennis Balls for massaging me*
Lotion/Oil for massaging me
2 washcloths
OTHER:
Ice Chest
Ice*
Gallon of OJ*
4 protein smoothies*
4 apples*
whole grain crackers*
bottled water*
4 Kashi frozen dinners*
other snacks*
straws*
energy drinks for DH?*
Our list of potential baby names
Extra copies of birth plan
* indicates things we still need to buy
So yeah, I know it seems like we're packing way too much for just a couple days, but I'd much rather have too much stuff than leave something behind that I wish I would've brought. The birth center is an hour and 45 minutes away. Besides, I got most of my ideas for the list straight out of the Bradley Childbirth handbook....so if it's too excessive, it's their fault. I feel a little silly packing as though I'm going to give birth in the car (that's what the metal bowl is for, in case you were wondering..... to catch the placenta), but the book told me to do it.
I bought the perfect little summer gown to labor in. (Okay, it's not "little" - it's a huge tent) It's light, sleeveless, and it buttons halfway down the front for easy nursing. I'm sure the gown will come off at some point - especially since I plan on laboring some in the pool, but it'll be nice to walk around the birth center in something comfy and convenient for occasional vaginal checks and whatnot.
DH is going to be able to use his fancy phone as a modem, so we'll be able to update my blog from his laptop while we're there. I'm sure we'll be a bit preoccupied, and I'm not sure how detailed the updates will be, but I'd like to at least attempt to keep y'all informed through the process.
I'd love to have someone other than DH take photos and videotape, but we don't want any family or friends there, so that's out. Our childbirth class instructor is invited to the birth. I don't want to make her feel obligated to be our photographer, since she will be supporting us and sort of filling the role of a doula.....but I might let her know if she has a few moments here and there to pick up the camera, then that would be great. If not, that's fine too.
DH may have stuff he wants to add to the list. I posted it on the fridge, so we can start working on it soon.
Baby names, and what things we need to bring to the birth.
The baby's name is still unsettled. But I finished a pretty extensive list of things we need to bring to the birth center when I go into labor. I guess it would be a good idea to pack as much of this stuff as we can pretty soon, just in case.
Things to Pack for the Birth
+++++++++++++++++++
IN THE CAR:
Birth Kit
Bradley Handbook
Car Seat
Pillows (3 or 4)
2 towels
blanket
big metal bowl*
rubber gloves
chux pads*
FOR BABY:
1 Gown
2 Newborn undershirts
5 Receiving blankets
1 thicker blanket
1 pack newborn diapers
Outfit to wear home
Hat
Booties
Mitts
Baby book & ink for footprints*
FOR ME:
Old big blue nightshirt
New green gown
Light robe*
Heavy robe
Slippers
2 nursing bras
2 pairs socks
3 pairs underwear
chapstick
toothbrush
toothpaste
travel size shampoo*
travel size soap*
postpartum care kit (Thanks, Wendy!!!)
Clothes to wear home
Hair clips
Pack of maxi pads
Bible
Book/Magazines*
Phone
Phone charger
Nursing pillow
bathing suit top*
Nursing book
FOR DH:
Laptop
Video camera/tape
Digital Camera
Batteries for both*
USB camera cord
Swim trunks for the pool
clean clothes
toothbrush
CDs
CD player
Phone
Phone charger
chapstick
Watch for timing contractions
Tennis Balls for massaging me*
Lotion/Oil for massaging me
2 washcloths
OTHER:
Ice Chest
Ice*
Gallon of OJ*
4 protein smoothies*
4 apples*
whole grain crackers*
bottled water*
4 Kashi frozen dinners*
other snacks*
straws*
energy drinks for DH?*
Our list of potential baby names
Extra copies of birth plan
* indicates things we still need to buy
So yeah, I know it seems like we're packing way too much for just a couple days, but I'd much rather have too much stuff than leave something behind that I wish I would've brought. The birth center is an hour and 45 minutes away. Besides, I got most of my ideas for the list straight out of the Bradley Childbirth handbook....so if it's too excessive, it's their fault. I feel a little silly packing as though I'm going to give birth in the car (that's what the metal bowl is for, in case you were wondering..... to catch the placenta), but the book told me to do it.
I bought the perfect little summer gown to labor in. (Okay, it's not "little" - it's a huge tent) It's light, sleeveless, and it buttons halfway down the front for easy nursing. I'm sure the gown will come off at some point - especially since I plan on laboring some in the pool, but it'll be nice to walk around the birth center in something comfy and convenient for occasional vaginal checks and whatnot.
DH is going to be able to use his fancy phone as a modem, so we'll be able to update my blog from his laptop while we're there. I'm sure we'll be a bit preoccupied, and I'm not sure how detailed the updates will be, but I'd like to at least attempt to keep y'all informed through the process.
I'd love to have someone other than DH take photos and videotape, but we don't want any family or friends there, so that's out. Our childbirth class instructor is invited to the birth. I don't want to make her feel obligated to be our photographer, since she will be supporting us and sort of filling the role of a doula.....but I might let her know if she has a few moments here and there to pick up the camera, then that would be great. If not, that's fine too.
DH may have stuff he wants to add to the list. I posted it on the fridge, so we can start working on it soon.
Labels: baby names, labor/birth, pregnancy milestones
posted by Unkempt Mommy at 3:58 PM
12 Comments:
Just a couple things you could add if you see fit.
*wipes or washcloths for baby (do they provide that? not sure since you listed diapers which hospitals do provide)
*Lansinoh or other cream for breasts
*breast pads to keep the lansinoh off your bras
*baby nail clippers...they can come out with sharp nails!
*more underwear for you! They will get stained and you don't want to have to wash them out!
Ok, that's all I can think of now...if I think of more I'll let you know.
Ooh! Good ideas! See, that's why I have a blog.
Keep 'em comin', mommas.
My one piece of assvice is that you should ask your doula to take pictures. My husband didn't touch the camera till after the baby was born, and I am so, so grateful that our midwife took photos of the birth (we had to transfer to the hospital, so she basically became our doula).
Also, just a funny story: we forgot to bring our list of possible names (emergency transfer - we didn't bring much of ANYTHING) and wound up having to stay for two days. The name we chose for our son was never on the list, but it is the PERFECT name for him.
Wow, sounds like you have to bring a lot more stuff than for a hospital birth! Funny because I panicked the other day and "kind of" packed my bag (i.e. threw random things in with no plan in mind) so my goal for this weekend is to write a decent packing list and redo it.
Yeah, I guess the list is pretty long. But I think aside from the birth kit, the car "emergency stuff", and the snacks, I'd probably bring all the other things on the list to a hospital. Maybe I'm just a freak like that.
Why do you have to supply your own birth kit and gloves and bowl and stuff? What all does the cost for the midwife cover? Do you pay an extra cost for the birthing center and what all does that entail? I guess I just thought, your midwife and birth center would have a lot of this stuff included in their price. School me, momma!
ANOTHER idea is to have a pretty basket lined with a baby blanket for ALL of your labor supplies. The problem, for me, having all my stuff in one suit case was that it was impossible to FIND items when we really needed them.
Some of the items in my labor basket-- gum, mints, CDs, chapstick, massage oil, essential oils, lolly pops, tennis balls-- all that kind of stuff.
And even though your list is long-- who cares!? Better to have too much than be without! GOOD LUCK!
Not long to go now! :) :)
Good question, Danielle. Actually, the big metal bowl and towels and whatnot were just suggestions I read in our childbirth class handbook, in case we would have to deliver the baby in the car on the way there (which, I imagine is highly unlikely). I guess it doesn't hurt to be prepared, but I don't know that I want to go as far as getting a metal basin and extra chux pads for that purpose. The birth center, of course, has something to catch the placenta in and towels and things like that.
My midwife has her clients order their own birth kits for a couple different reasons. For one thing, most of the births she attends are homebirths, so it stands to reason that everything needed for the birth be present at momma's home during the last few weeks, just in case. Also, I'm sure if she has to get to a birth in a hurry, it is good to have all the supplies there waiting for her.
In my case, even though we are going to the birth center, I think she feels it is still practical to have the birth kit on hand....just in case there is some reason why I wouldn't be able to make it to the birth center. I'm sure the birth center has a certain amount of supplies they keep stocked, but each individual momma supplies her own kit. Afterall, the use of the birth center is only $200, so paying $57 for the kit didn't bother me. (I'm sure I'd be paying for those supplies somewhere, kwim?) Of course, we have to pay the midwife for her services (prenatal care, attending the birth, and several postpartum mom/baby check-ups))on top of that. All in all, I think the entire birth (including 2 appts with my backup doc and labwork) is costing about $3500.
The Lansinoh is also good for chapped lips!
I agree with meowmix--more underwear. The postpartum mama can never have to many pairs of granny panties!
I'll third the extra underwear, I took with me a pack of 10 disposable underwear which was great - wear 'em and chuck 'em.
Also I'd include more socks - I was in hospital for longer than I'd bargained and although I had slippers I spent most of the time just in socks.
Oooh, things to do with leftover Lansinoh: rub it on your heels and cover with warm socks and so you have soft feet for baby chasing in sandals!
Cool! Now I don't have to make a list... you did if for me. Thanks!
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