back when Clara Jane was brand new! |
teeny tiny wrinkly feet! |
Fave 3 items:
1. lots of regular full coverage underwear...lots. (I had to go buy this type of underwear in advance as I don't wear those kinds normally - is that too much info? sorry.)
2. comfy/stretchy pants to go home in (no jeans were going on my body for a long time!)
3. a towel from home - hospital towels are teeny tiny and not soft...I loved having one of my big fluffy towels.
3 Things I didn't Need:
1. pretty pajamas...with the nurses and doctors constantly "checking things out below" the hospital gowns were comfortable and ridiculously convenient. I never wore the pair I brought.
2. "things to do" - I slept whenever I could (as in..no need for my computer, cell or magazines....haha... other women I know did enjoy having these things!).
3. A birth plan - I honestly read more about "birth plans" on other people's blogs than any doctor or nurse discussed with us. For a hot minute I thought that Tommy and I should create one. But really, with the one goal of having a healthy baby, whatever it took to get there was what needed to be done. We just rolled with it - and not having a "plan" didn't affect us one bit.
3 Things I wish I Had
1. a place for my husband to comfortably sleep at the hospital too :-) no such luck. He crashed on the chair next to my bed (poor dude)
2. an outfit for our little one in NEWBORN size so it would fit her - I didn't know there was such a thing as newborn size (see... I was clueless... I thought size 0 - 3 months would be fine...nope) and her outfit hung on her like a pillowcase.
3. a better attitude about having my picture taken - I felt awful and swollen and was in pain and dodged most of the picture ops...I wish I had just gotten over myself and smiled for the camera.
*bonus: a razor - many hospitals don't provide/carry those in stock anymore due to patient safety...be sure to bring one if you are a daily shaver like me!
What on God's green earth is a "birth plan" and how can you plan it?
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised about there being no bed for Tommy. I know so many people who had birthing rooms in hospitals that provided that. I thought it had become standard.
I agree with all of these! I would add that it was really nice to have pillows from home, my own toiletries, and food and coffee from the outside! Great post :)
ReplyDeletethanks for these tips! your blog is so helpful. I am going to take notes for when I am pregnant! :)
ReplyDeletesuper helpful list!! I love these. Thats funny, now that I think about it you probably don't need a whole lot "to do" except spend time with your adorable new baby. But I would be an overpacker- I know it... computer, magazines, food, music...etc...Thanks!!
ReplyDeletealso.... thank you for mentioning the pictures. I know I need to bookmark this post, and refer back to it later. That is me. I hate pictures of me at all times... and especially when I have a bloated face- and thats without a babe growing inside me.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about the full coverage underwear and stretchy pants!
ReplyDeleteI love having a nursing nightgown w/ me - for practical purposes, plus they're pretty!
Your "things to do" comment made me laugh. The only two things I wanted to do after giving birth were rest and stare at my baby's sweet face (way better than any magazine or book!).
Also - you're so right about the pictures! I'm slowly learning to just let go and let photos be taken...even if I don't feel my prettiest. It's a digital era, after all - I can always delete them later!
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net