I'm going into hospital this afternoon to have my baby by c/section tomorrow.
Any ideas of what I might need to take?
Were there any items that you thought of afterwards that would have been useful if you'd thought of them sooner? i.e One friend suggested I take some paracetamol with me.
All suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
2007-10-31 22:51:12 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
anything that will make you the most comfortable. and if your nursing dont forget your nuring bras! good luck! ^_^
2007-10-31 23:16:12 · answer #1 · answered by AnGeL.SlayeR 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't bring much stuff, you won't really need anything that the hospital doesn't have! Plus, you will probably be spending all of your time holding the baby or looking at the baby and being occupied by visitors! Also, the best part (sarcasm!) is that nurses will be coming in every 2 hours for the first day to check all of your vitals and then another nurse to check all the baby's vitals! On top of them coming in, the people who bring food will be in to drop off and pick up the trays, so that's 6 times a day, and there are visits from your doctor and the baby's doctor! It's non stop! You will have a hard time even sleeping! It's so chaotic! Maybe just make sure you have some baby clothes that are preemie sized........my daughter was a week late and had to wear preemie size clothes until she was 3 weeks old and was a totally normal size in reality, same for everyone I've talked to! Newborn size clothes didn't fit my daughter until she was 10 lbs!
2007-11-01 02:31:09 · answer #2 · answered by Dorie 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
my best friend had an emergency c-section and I got the call at 1am to get some large high-waisted knickers that went over her scar.
So that is something you may not have yet! You will need something stronger than the paracetamol as well so I wouldn't bother with it. All you have to do is ask and they will give you meds for pain anyway.
Also the thing I thought was clever were bike pants or bike shorts (don't know what they are called out of Aus) which you can get at target. They are like boy leg undies just a little longer. Anyway I wore them over my knickers to make sure I didn't leak on any of my clothes by holding the pad and undies firmly in place. And I just felt safer and more comfortable this way.
Don't forget the camera, money for cafeteria and book or magazine because it can get boring when bubs is sleeping, no visitors and you're wired because of the adrenalin rush!!
best of luck!
2007-10-31 23:18:30 · answer #3 · answered by Cindy; mum to 3 monkeys! 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I wish I would have taken more sweatpants. I only had 2 pair and they got stained and all I had was silky PJ pants, which I thought would be comfortable, but weren't. If you have a Boppy pillow take it! Of course, tolitries. And if you have a certain kind of pad you like(Always overnight) take those b/c the hospital ones suck. I brought pillows from home but I forgot a blanket. Just take things that would make you feel more at home. I had a c-section also and was in there for 4 days.
Oh yeah, next time I'm taking ear plugs for the hundreds of family members that gave their "loving" advice about how I should be holding the baby, how I should be swaddeling the baby, (and the list goes on)
I am a total girly girl so I had to take my make up and flat iron. It probably sounds silly but after the birth it is nice to pamper yourself and make yourself feel pretty.
Take some duct tape for your annoying mother-in-law too!! (just kidding!)
2007-11-01 01:55:43 · answer #4 · answered by Maddy 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Food!
Seriously, we brought in a cooler of groceries (incl milk, juice, wine and beer) even though we weren't there for very long, and we would've starved without it. Hospital kitchens have not got the message that new nursing mothers would like a LOT, please, OFTEN. The number of the nearest pizza parlour would not have gone amiss if we hadn't had the cooler.
Other than that, ear plugs and maybe an eye mask (one of those things that blocks out light).
Everything else is pretty standard 'pack like you would for a weekend away' stuff save for a few baby items. (Baby items we brought were limited to clothes -- and diapers, because Pampers smell awful...)
Do not forget your nerve, though. Be prepared to put a firm foot down in case you run into anything you thought they didn't do in hospitals anymore; don't let anybody "help" you and your baby by taking your baby away from you and off to be isolated in a nursery, feel free to insist on people knocking and waiting before entering, and while the hospital may have "rules" about fathers having to go home, they are there to be broken.
2007-10-31 23:08:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Congrats on having your baby tomorrow. I bet you are super excited. I would suggest of course a take home outfit for your little one, big comfortable clothes for you but maybe something a little nicer than pjs for the second day in case anybody from hubbys work or anything like that wants to stop by. Cell phone if you have one. Pads, and nursing pads. I would take some stoole softners. Start taking them tonight, even though you aren't having a vaginal birth you still are not going to be wanting to strain to go to the bathroom. Take your pillow as hospital pillows are always too flat for me, and maybe a blanket from home that you like to lounge around with. Good luck to you and congrats again.
2007-10-31 23:35:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure you should take paracetamol with you as the hospital will prescribe painkillers to you and if you take your own meds this will interfere with the timing of the painkillers the hospital give you.
When I was in after an emergency c-section - so lucky you that you can prepare yourself! - I was SO thirsty that evening, so got through gallons of nasty hospital water. Next day my husband brought me a bottle of cordial to make it taste better, so that may be worth taking with you. Other than that, big knickers, big sanitary pads, some antibacterial handwash or wipes for you and your visitors, a little hand-held travel fan with batteries because it's usually SO hot in hospital. Oh, and lip balm and tissues and one of those little face sprays of evian or something like that to freshen you up.
Good luck!
2007-10-31 23:11:37 · answer #7 · answered by spanner the stig 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi and good luck! take plenty of coins and a list of peoples numbers when the baby arrives . Reading material just in case you get a chance! Plenty of snacks if you're allowed and drinks. Then just the obvious stuff like muslin cloths baby gro's etc, dummies, nipple cream if you're breast feeding,wash cloths for yourself and something to make you feel pampered, after all you have done a fantastic job and deserve a pamper! All the best X
2007-10-31 23:42:07 · answer #8 · answered by floss 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, get some antibacterial surface wipes - they come in a small pack from any supermarket. then you can wipe down any surface you don't like the look of - I wished I had taken these as the bed, crib, taps, sink and toilet seat all looked like they could do with it. This especially as you will probably have to share a bathroom in the post natal ward.
Some dried prunes - this might be what you need to get things going afterwards.
Breast pads also not mentioned yet
Good luck....
2007-11-01 03:10:05 · answer #9 · answered by Jessica E 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
comfy clothes for you and your significant other, at least 2 outfits, extra underwear, and socks. also, it seems silly, but for DD #2 i brought a special outfit for the new baby (everyone takes pictures, and the hospital outfits are not so cute).
also pack lots of snacks, fruit, water, juice boxes...you get really hungry/ thirsty when you are recovering and i didn't want to keep bothering the nurses. plus the hospital food is usually awful and only comes at specific times.
video cameras and digital cameras. your own pacifier (sterlized at home in boiling water for 10 minutes). we like Nuk brand.
good luck and congrats!!!
2007-11-01 07:35:10 · answer #10 · answered by matt k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My only suggestion would be that if you are in there for some time ,try tracking down or get some one to get you a hygiene pack for washing hands for you, visitors and nurses , all that come in contact with you..
My only fear would be c-diff, mrsa these days..
dont forget of corse a change of cloths, dummy, and a caring husband..
Good luck ; )
2007-10-31 22:59:54 · answer #11 · answered by Hunter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋