IT’S CRUNCH TIME – MUST HAVES FOR THE BIG DAY

With Dannica, I didn’t have time to pack anything because she decided to make her debut a month early. Everyone told me that your first comes late and that labor takes forever. So I just let the weeks go by and went on with life thinking I had more than enough time to prepare for labor and delivery. Then my water broke unexpectedly and I was rushed to the hospital with nothing packed…and BOY did I pay for that one. I vowed to never make the same mistake again. SO–here is a list of MUST HAVES to bring to the hospital. Small and basic items that will go a long, long way in a cold, sterile and unfamiliar environment.

FOR MOM

~Clothing~

1. Comfy robe
2. Granny underwear–the grannier the better because you will be wearing a glorified diaper for the first two days or so!!
3. Nursing bra–I actually love the ones from Gap Maternity (very affordable, just be sure to size up!!)
4. Nursing pad–I LOVE the ones by Bamboobies which you can purchase here. I swear by them over any of the disposable ones because they are so much more absorbent and soft. And that softness will matter more and more as you nurse.
5. DARK MATERNITY sweatpants or leggings and shirts–your pregnant belly will still look pregnant right after birth, so maternity pants all the way! You will also find yourself very…”leaky,” so anything dark is the way to go 🙂
6. Thick socks to lounge in
7. Flip flops–for showers, etc
8. Sneakers to go home in
9. It’s really ALL about comfort after labor and delivery. You will not care about anything else but being comfortable so that you can zero in all your energy (the very little that you have) on baby and sleep.

~Toiletries~

1. I am packing my regular sized shampoo, conditioner, body wash and face wash vs. the travel sized minis. There is something strangely comforting about using the same thing that you do at home in unfamiliar settings, and for me that is bath products. I just feel more me…before, during, and after. I was also at the hospital for over a week with Dannica, so the travel sized toiletries would have been useless.
2. LIP BALM–for all the breathing exercises and laboring you will do
3. Lotion–gets very dry in hospitals
4. Massage oils–have your birthing partner massage your feet to help with labor
5. Essential oils–highly recommend lavender scented ones to soothe and relax you
6. Nipple cream–I LOVE the ones by MotherLove which you can get here. I’ve tried several different brands, and I just find this one head and shoulders better than the rest out there.
7. Maxi pads–thick overnight ones!
8. HAIR TIES!! Lots and lots. Nothing more annoying than having your hair be in the way when you’re laboring or trying to do skin to skin with your precious newborn baby!

~MISC~

1. Cell and charger
2. Breast pump and parts–the lactation consultants can show you how to use your own pump and how to clean them! I’m using the Medela and LOVE it. Be sure to apply for one through insurance because most insurance covers breast pumps, and you can get one for FREE!

FOR BABY

Onsie, going home outfit, bonnet, mittens, booties, swaddle, blanket and pacifier.

FOR BIG SISTER

And for those of you who already have a little one at home, and thinking of presenting a small gift to her from their new sibling, I made a little gift bundle for Dannica that I wanted to share with you in case you were looking for ideas as well. My friend told me that she read that the emotional distress a child feels when watching his/her mother love another baby is worse than when a woman finds her significant other with another lover! That really put things in perspective, and made me more compassionate and understanding for all the times that Dannica got upset when I held another baby.

I also read that when your child first walks into the hospital room, that it is huge if someone else besides the mom is holding the baby. So for the first meeting, I plan on having my husband hold our baby so that I can hug and give all my love and attention to Dannica first. Then once she’s settled in and feels safe, I will have my husband bring our baby to her for their introduction. This is when we will probably give the gift basket to her “from baby brother,” and ask her if she wants to “hold him.” I read that this order is also important…that the older sibling holds the baby before the mom. This is all in theory and who knows how it will go down in real life. It might go exactly as planned, or it might just be complete and utter mayhem/zoo (the latter is what I’m expecting). But, it was still informative to read so that my husband and I can try to be as prepared as possible (expecting that things WILL of course go wrong hahaha).

For now, we gathered a few items here and there to help ease the transition and to help Dannica feel like a proud and loving sister.

1. Book–Little Big Girl by Claire Keane
2. Book–Little Miss, Big Sis by Amy Rosenthal
3. Cuddle + Kind Doll–we are giving her the smaller Noah
4. Solly Dolly Wrap–to “wear” Noah as her baby so she can twin with me when I use my Solly wrap
5. Mabo PJs–matching/coordinating PJs because Dannica LOVES twinning with me and her Hazel Village dolls (so hopefully this will help her bond with baby brother)…and also Mabo just has amazing organic pajamas and you can never have to many PJs!

I hope this was somewhat helpful to all the mamas out there! We are all on this crazy, wild, magnificent and magical journey together–and I found it most helpful by just listening and talking to other moms about their real life experiences, and so I wanted to do the same. Wishing all the expectant moms out there a safe and smooth labor and delivery, and sending you all a whole lot of love and positive vibes!