All My Bags Are Packed

Posted: December 22, 2010 at 11:50 am

I’m ready to go. I’m standing here outside your door. I hate to wake you up to say goodbye. But I’m leaving…on a jet plane…don’t know when I’ll be back again.

Well, none of the above is actually true. I’m not going anywhere…especially not on a jet plane at 9 months pregnant. And my bags aren’t packed. But I do need to start packing my bags for the hospital. Last night, while writing out a list, that song and scene from Armageddon got stuck in my head. Would you believe me if I told you Armageddon is one of my favorite movies?And that I used to find Steven Tyler sexy? Truth. Up until I scored front row (non-floor) seats to an Aerosmith concert in college and realized he is a little creepy looking.

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Enough about all of that, though. My hospital bag. Why do they tell you to bring so much crap that you will never use to the hospital? Then, leave out things you actually would like to have? I learned my lesson last time. So, here’s what will…and will not…be coming with me. In order of importance. I’m not joking.

Distractions. My labor with Makenzie only lasted 5 hours thanks to being induced. but this one could very well go longer. Plus, after baby arrives you do still find yourself with some downtime having to sit in bed all. day. long. So these distractions will come with us to the hospital.

The netbook because the internet is the easiest way to share the news and photos with everyone easily. And yes, I will share updates on the blog too. That’s where I plan for the masses of family and friends to get their info and photos in fact.

The camera because, well duh, we will want pictures.

Games for Peter (like Sudoku & handheld Yahtzee) and perhaps some magazines for me. You think I’m kidding when I say distractions come in handy at times. You want anything to help pass labor more quickly.

A set of Friends DVDs because I love them. Once again, to help pass labor more quickly. And because I will poke my eyes out if Peter uses the entire 48 hours or so we will be there to get his History Channel fix.

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Toiletries – because the shower after birth is the best feeling, even if most painful, shower you will ever take.

Barely any clothes. This is important! I packed a few comfy outfits for post-delivery with Makenzie. HA! You don’t use them! Hospital gowns are comfortable and EASY. Plus, you have all sorts of gunk all over that you don’t want getting on your own stuff. This year, I will only be bringing fuzzy socks for my cold feet, a nursing bra to hold the nipple pads, and a robe for when visitors come.

Bring on the provided hospital gowns and disposable mesh panties! I don’t think the ice-diapers for the hooha would even fit in my normal panties. Ice diapers for the hooha you ask? Why yes. And they are amazing. But that’s for another post.

Other randomocity. Like paperwork and insurance cards. No birth plan. I don’t believe in those things. You can’t plan for how the birth will go.

Some cash for Peter to eat because they don’t feed the husbands. SNACKS because you may want to eat off your arm after delivery. Trail mix = a god send!

Changes of clothes for the husband and the going-home outfits for myself and baby B. He gets to look all cute in a little number like this…

…I get to go home wearing stretchy pants, a sweatshirt, a still pregnant looking belly, and a look of frantic exhaustion. And perhaps some porno boobs on top of it all. There’s no point packing to look cute. Keep that in mind for when your time comes. You. will. not. look. cute. You will look like a new mother, which is beautiful…but not cute by any means. Good thing there’s an adorable new baby so no one notices anyways. Look at the tiny M!

Question of the Day – What is one thing you think you would HAVE to have when staying in the hospital for 2-3 days?

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61 Comments to “All My Bags Are Packed”
  1. Jess says:

    I am so excited for you, Tina!! I really hope and pray your labor comes sooner than your due date and that things go very smoothly. You are all ready to go, I love it! I can’t wait to “meet” the little one 🙂

  2. Favorite line of this post?

    You will not look cute….you will look like a new mother, which is BEAUTIFUL!

    So true and so real. I love it! I can’t believe your time is so fastly approaching! So wild.

  3. Ice diapers!! That is scary. You are so strong 🙂

    If I ever had to stay in the hospital, I’d pack books! My favorite distraction.

  4. So close so close!!! I think I’d have to have the fuzzy socks too – and a book.

  5. When I went in to deliver my son, I was 5.5 weeks early, and had no idea I was in labor. So, I never packed a bag. In my fake attempt to pack (there was no way I was in labor!), I threw a pair of underwear and my contact case/solution + glasses in a bag. Ok, so turns out I needed all the eye stuff, but the underwear never left the bag. Here’s what I sent home for…cordblood kit, phone charger, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, pants (it was summer and I was in cropped pants – its freezing in the hospital!), a sweatshirt, nursing bra/tank, and snacks…I was starving after labor! Never needed activities bc my son ended up in the NICU as per protocol so I had to keep running back and forth to nurse him. Anyway, sounds like you are totally set! Good luck with everything!

  6. Rachel says:

    Friends DVDs sounds like a lifesaver! And I would like to have every current trashy magazine available, please.

  7. Ilana says:

    …aaaand I think talk of ice diapers just scared me off of having kids. I’m so bad at handling pain. Oy. Anyway at your FRIENDS dvd mention I was thinking about the episode when Rachel goes into labor…FRIENDS is so classic!!

    Also…I too think Steven Tyler is sexy if a little creepy looking.

  8. this is actually exactly what my friends took to the hospital when they had their kiddos! i love the addition of the friends DVD though…AWESOME way to pass time!

  9. Morgan says:

    I would not have been able to survive my maternity stay without lip balm, hand and body lotion and my nalgene!

  10. Yay tina! can’t wait to see all the pictures!

    and I used to think Stephen Tyler was cute too. There’s gotta be something sexy about him..

  11. Elaine says:

    Your bag is ready to go with all the essentials! And I LOVE B’s coming home outfit. Can’t wait to see that little nugget (via blog of course) 🙂

    Enjoy your holidays!
    xo

  12. Robyn says:

    I have spent some time in the Hospital over the last 3 years. My must haves include books and magazines to read/ comfortable clothes and my tooth brush.

  13. BIOCHEMISTA says:

    Ohhh I can’t wait to see pics of the baby boy!!! The countdown is on 🙂 I’m sure you’re more than ready 😉

    I would imagine I’d want comfy socks, slippers, my robe, personal shampoo/cond/etc. and a bottle of champagne 🙂 My mom always says during labor she always looked forward to the glass she was allowed to have because after pushing so long, the glass “warmed her whole body”. Did you have a celebratory glass after your little girl?

    • Tina says:

      I didn’t have a celebratory glass after her…until I got home. I do foresee celebratory sushi in the hospital though. LOL

  14. Love this rundown! I would definitely need warm socks, a comfy robe or sweatshirt and my Kindle. Oh and Chapstick!

  15. after the delivery…i would have to have comfy nursing bras and nipple cream. Just keepin it real. 🙂

    Love the pic of your netbook and that it works for you! Great info!

  16. Cindy says:

    CHAPSTICK!! And I never liked the mesh underwear, I bought some HUGE granny panties that I wore, and promptly threw away. For my first, I brought SO much stuff (clothes, boppy, hair dryer & curling iron, diaper bag filled with crap, even toys!). With the second, I knew better and packed one small bag of essentials.

    Don’t forget your phone and camera chargers, though, and the cord to tether your camera to your computer.

    Most everything else they give you at the hospital, as you know. Pack an EXTRA empty bag for all the goodies….diapers, wipes, pads, Lanisoh, squeeze bottle, Tucks pads, etc.

  17. Camille says:

    I think a camera is #1 most important. Aside from that, I would want a bunch of movies. Distractions would be necessary!

  18. lindsay says:

    I can’t believe you are packing your bags! Its so close! eek! I love the friends DVD, nver gets old. 🙂
    LC

  19. That song makes me cry. My dad used to sing it to me when he was on call and wouldn’t be around all weekend, but he’d sub in the words for wherever he’d be. It was adorable. And then the song I had my first kiss to was “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing.” Armageddon brings back good memories 🙂

  20. I love Stephen Tyler. Haha!!! 😉
    Looks like you have everything you need! Your a pro.

  21. Oh this is great info! I wish I would have known all this last week when my BFF had her baby. I think she packed a lot of clothes and didn’t wear any of them 🙂 haha

    Love lil baby M!

  22. An important item for me was my ipod and ipod player so I could play my music. I brought a ton of DVDs but we didn’t end up watching any of them. Weird.

  23. Angela says:

    I LOVE that you’re bringing your computer because we WILL want to know when Baby B arrives!! If I was going to the hospital I’d take mine with me too, as well as magazines (I have plenty since I can never seem to catch up), lipgloss (OC Bigelow or Kiehls to be precise), and some of my favourite movies.

  24. Heather says:

    I would have to have my iPhone. Can’t leave home without it! 🙂
    That picture of Baby M is perfect. Hospital pictures really are the BEST………….

  25. I love your blog because it gives me insight that I am sure I will put to use in my future!

    I would have to have my laptop! And my camera!

  26. Oooooh, SO exciting!!!!

    And– ice diapers? Yikes.

  27. Shelley Tully says:

    Maybe bring an ipod?!?! (ipod mini in my case). I zoned out and rocked out during my last labour. Amazing how much faster it seemed?!?1 Good luck 😀 😀

  28. Can I bring my mom? Does she count as my one*? 🙂

  29. The DVDs are a great idea! I’ll have to share this with my BFF who just found out she’s preggers. (So. Excited.)

    Speaking of… If you have any good ideas about what I could get the mommy-to-be for Christmas, I’d love to hear it! She’s just at the end of her 1st trimester.

  30. chelsey says:

    This is such a fun post – I need to bookmark it and save it fr the years when it will actually matter to me! I will definitely have to pack allll my own food!

  31. Ice diapers?!?! Ok you MUST explain this one!!! This is an exciting (and scary!) look into the not so far future…. and thank you for sharing!

  32. Sarah says:

    Oh, I’m so excited for you!
    I’d definitely have to pack snacks- I’ve heard terrible things about hospital food (and I tend to be picky), some sort of stress ball, and maybe a movie. I like your ideas:-).

  33. I love hearing these “insider” tips about pregnancy! No one talks about the less glamorous stuff, but that’s what you need to be prepared for!

  34. Ryan M. says:

    I love that you call it the hooha!! That is what I say and my friends just stare….

  35. I would have to have a book (I carry a book with my EVERYWHERE in my purse at all times) and my netbook.

    I love Armageddon too. SO many people think it so dumb and cheesy but I love the love story, I think it’s such a great movie. I cry every time!

  36. I am definitely filing this post away somewhere very safe so I can refer back to it when my time comes!! I can’t wait to meet the new little one, and I am beyond excited for you! I would probably have to have my computer or iphone so I can share all of the good news and definitely my own body wash so i can get clean!!

  37. carlee says:

    wow! i had no idea baby was so soon! I’m so excited for you!!!!
    Makenzie is going to be a big sister! How cute!
    I have no idea what i would breing to a hospital. But i agree with you: why bring you own clothes? Just to have nasties get all over them! hehe

  38. Nicole says:

    There is nothing wrong with find Steve Tyler sexy…he was and still is sexy! The songs just do something to you…and “I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing” is one of the best!!

    • Tina says:

      When he sings? Still sexy! Something about him half stumbling around the stage when not in performance mode was a little off-putting though. 😉

  39. I love that movie too but it has been YEARS since I have seen it! I think I would have to have my greek yogurt! I just don’t think I could go that long without it 🙂

  40. I brought my pillow from home. It seemed so comforting to have the smell of home. I also brought books and gossip magazines.

    A few things I brought that was kind of dumb was the pump and breast pads. You don’t really need that right off the bat.

  41. I think an e-book reader loaded up with several books I want to read would be helpful!

  42. Ameena says:

    I brought a bunch of books and magazines as well…I was able to finish an entire 350 page book during my 12 hour labor! It was fantastic.

    I also brought a set of patience…dealing with Ali was almost worse than labor. LOL

  43. I never got ice diapers!!! I did however, have that huge pad in a netting type biker pant. SO.un.comfortable! They gave me this spray to spray down there, oddly it worked. And, I made the mistake of packing pre pregnancy clothes with the first one thinking that my stomach would be as flat as it was before being pregnant. I had to go home in my hubs clothes!

    And my iphone pretty much occupied me between visitors and feedings and trying to fit in some naps… I didn’t need much! I think my mom got me a magazine that I barely opened..

    • Tina says:

      Well, we had this one nurse who showed us the ice diaper trick and I never went back to those funky pad things. Basically, it was taking one of the diapers for the baby, cutting a slit down the middle, and stuffing it full of ice from the vending machine. It stayed cold to help the area for so much longer. And was more comfortable.

  44. Well . . . I was stuck on the mesh panties until I read about the ice diapers. That seems like a very considerate thing for them to give you. Although its a little scary sounding at the same time.

  45. Lee says:

    Little B is almost here. So exciting!

    I think I would bring my computer and an ipod.

  46. I think that this was the scariest post you’ve ever posted as far as labor/pregnancy goes. I don’t know why, but I just went…wow that’s a lot to take in.

  47. Amanda says:

    The arrival of a new little one is always so exciting! I don’t know what I’d take to the hospital…well, except for books and that’s just be because I don’t get much time to read at home, LOL, but I think you’ll be a bit too busy for that!

    One thing to have at home, though, that I learned with my 2nd son was to get incontinence panty liners to take the place of pads. They’re more absorbent than any feminine napkins, even the ultra ones, and they are AWESOME during the first week.

    Just delete this if it’s TMI for the blog — I hope it’s not, but I won’t be offended if it is 🙂

    • Tina says:

      I think with all I share this is not even close to TMI. I’m all for the TMI type of stuff because its real. And come to think of it, I think I did the normal panty liners over the menstrual ones last time too. They are more absorbent.

  48. Tatianna says:

    Sounds like your doing it right this time around 😉 Not too many people think far enough ahead to have Friends at their disposal. Nice one!

    What would I need? Probably a good book and my laptop. I go nuts without either 😛

  49. ” Ice diapers for the hooha you ask?”

    Oh my goodness, I’m giggling and frightened simultaneously! 🙂

  50. I’m totally laughing at the ice diapers comment. Those are the absolutely best! I got to take tons of extras home with my first because of some unfortunate “stuff” but man they’re great.

    I took my iPod and headphones b/c music puts me in a good place. I listened to Blink by Plumb. If you don’t have that CD I HIGHLY recommend it. It’s like Christian Lullabys but not too kiddie that mama can’t enjoy. It helped me to focus on the blessing yet to come. My daughter still listens to it for her night night music.

    I also brought my boppy pillow for breastfeeding.

    On a different note, you may actually have a shorter labor since this is number two and your body knows what its doing. I had a much shorter labor and a lot less pushing. It helps because you know what you are doing the second time around too. Just remember every labor and delivery is different just like every child is different. You just never know.

    On a completely diff note: You asked about the Big loser outcome and I never answered. I didn’t really care who won. I wasn’t as invested in this season. I just love to see the transformations.

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