are you a new dad?..... what would you of like to have while you were in hospital with your partner?

Question

Need comments about the things you new dads would have liked if you knew what it was like in hospital with your partner in labour? IE ..... a mother to be has her labour bag... but what about dad to be?
please list as much as you can, things that would have made the day/or night better for you dads to be!

Answer 1

My husband and I have two children, and he was there for the birth of both of them. These are the things we brought for him

books
playing cards
your own pillow (yes, they provide one but your own is always better)
snacks (just in case your there awhile)
cash on hand (to get food or vending munchies since the hospital doesn't offer food)
walkman and headphones (useful when your wife is sleeping/recovering and you'd just like to tune out awhile)

I was in the hospital for four days with both kids, so we were there awhile. A little something to keep him comfortable as well as yourself keeps both of you as stress free as possible while waiting on your new little one!

Answer 2

I am not a new dad, but I recommend that dad brings snacks to eat, some cool drinks and the presence of mind to ignore all pain-induced angry comments from his partner!
Wear comfortable shoes, and don't wear restrictive clothing- you may be there for a while and it can get warm in hospital.
You might want to bring paracetamol too...my partner had a migraine during my labour, but the hospital staff weren't allowed to give him anything for it.

Have your camera ready too!

EDIT: I'm confused. I just everyone else's answers- were new dads allowed to stay in hospital after the birth? My partner was sent away...was that because he was a patient on another ward??? But saying that, even new dads had to stick to the visiting times...I feel really deprived now!

Answer 3

Maybe bottled water and dry snacks (ie apricots, dried fruit mix etc) for you and your partner to nibble on while waiting in the early stages of labour.

Bring a book or magazine for you both...

Do bring a camera would be handy for taking pics of the new arrival. Top up your mobile phone so you can call family and friends to announce the arrival. Take a list of people to phone.

Take relaxing music or something for you both as well... A walkman or ipod for yourself to listen to.

Be supportive and don't ignore her or moan because she'll consider you insentive while she's in agony and in labour!

Be patient and attentive to her as well as her needs. Don't be offended if she yells abuse at you....you would too if you were in her position. :-)

A blanket would be handy too.... although you could always ask the staff for a spare blanket (or just bring a sweater).

Good luck!

Answer 4

my daughter was just born on the eleventh of Feb. and i could have used a toothbrush, a book, and a better blanket. I was told to bring a change of clothes and that was it, but the oh so not fresh mouth taste i could have done without. Mom and the baby got lots of attention and at night the baby was in the nursery, and mom slept, we were only there two and a half days but i sure could have used a book. Now the hospital we were at is a really good hospital but really only if your a patient. So the nurses took good care of my family but i really froze at night, so a blanket from home would have been great!

Answer 5

My fiancee says:

~ a GameBoy or PSP (or other such amusing device)
~ food
~ a deck of cards
~ plenty of cash
~ several changes of clothes (depending on how long the labor & recovery time are)
~ Cell phone
~ a laptop, if you have one

Then again, this is coming from a dad who wasn't able to be too involved. (Not as much as I would have liked ^_^) Because I was hospitalized for a couple days before delivery, and then ended up with a C-section anyway. But it's good to be prepared for all situations. :)

Good luck, and congratulations.

Answer 6

lol, i got a "dad to be bag" packed for my baby's dad. its got food in it, drinks, my dad put ciggies in there (to celebrate..so old fashioned), change of shirt incase its a long one (and hot..may shes due), CD, list of ppl i want him 2 phone when she's born, or b4, his 1st pressies 2 her (chealsea baby boots...on a girl...mmm...) pillow, baby book (las minute cramming) and a little note telling him how proud i am that he's sticking by me thru it all evn tho im sure i'm telling him he's a f**king c**t who suld keep his f***king nob in his bloody trousers. lol...quite an amusing letter really. oh, and the camera's in his bag, with instructions that IF he takes pictures of me in labour, if they are south of my hips he will never be able to have children agn cuz his nuts will b in his throat...so loveing huh? lol

good luck, n congrats.
oh and its really nice 2 hear a dad 2 b on here asking this kinda thing. clearly u dnt wana have 2 run off in the middle of it cuz u need summat u've 4gotten.

oh and lastly, ir the mother 2 b has a birth plan, make sure ur bag has a copy of it, just incase her's goes missing

Answer 7

Hi, here is a short list of things a dad should pack:

Change of clothes
Snacks
Something to drink
Camera and film or memory card
Video camera with batteries charged and any necessary cartridges or tapes
Change for vending machines or phones
Deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste and any other toiletries
A copy of the birth plan

I packed all the above plus a good book for when mommy and baby were sleeping. Plus with all our family out of town I also brought my cell phone and charger.

Now for our second baby we brought out son to stay overnight. If you do this bring change of cloths, toothbrush, comb, soap, washcloth, toys or games to occupy. Plus a good nightime story to read both my boys :)

Answer 8

My fiance and I just had a baby girl three weeks ago, and one thing that he really wished he had was internet service in the labor unit. More than likely, they will keep your wife over night and she will probably sleep and recover from the exhausting labor most of the night, so if you have a laptop you can take it, but make sure the hospital has either wireless or an ethernet you can hook up too. Otherwise, the laptop is useless unless you play games and whatknot. Other than that my fiance didn't really want anything. Most of his work was done on the laptop and we didn't have service in our unit so he missed out while I was there over night. Just think of things you will want to keep you occupied after labor. I'm sure your wife already has a camera and everything packed.

good luck

Answer 9

I always pack a bag for my husband. I generally include toiletries (deoderant, shampoo, razors, etc). We usually have a few puzzle books, cards, travel sized games. I pack a change of clothes for him. And also a few snacks and drinks so h doesn't have to leave my side. (Oh, and don't forget the camera and sd card or film and extra batteries) For the most part he doesn't use what I pack but it is nice to have it there.

Answer 10

my hubby took drinks, snacks, mobile phone, change for phone, spare clothes, pain killers (hosp don't provide those 4 dad).
look in wifes notes, in mine they gave ideas 4 both mum & dads bags,
hope this helps
good luck