What to take to the hospital

 

To make my hospital list, I compiled the lists from many sources online and book sources. I also purchased this book: Baby Lists: What to Do and What to Get to Prepare for Baby. This is a list of pretty much anything anyone has suggested, so you may be able to do without many things on it.

I would suggest finding someone that already gave birth in the hospital you plan to birth in to see what their hospital provided for them.

Many companies will give hospitals samples to use in hopes that you will choose to continue to purchase their products. Because the hospital gets the items for little or no cost, they are often willing to give you extras to take home.

Red items are ones that you can get probably get from the hospital for free and may want to stock up on for a home supply.


For Mom
Body wash/Shampoo - The hospital will probably provide hotel like bottles, but if you really like your soap, you may want to bring it.
Brush - If you have longer hair, you will want this to get the rats nest our of your hair from birthing.
Deoderant - You may or may not need this, depending on how concerned with your hygene you are. I couldn't care less how I looked or smelled after getting birth.
Scrunchies/hair ties - I was very glad that I had something to hold my hair back while giving birth.
Pads/Depends - Some people don't realize this, but even if you have a C-section, you will bleed quite a bit after giving birth and you will need some sort of pad.

I actually really like the hospital pads and "disposable" underware. They were super comfortable and although the pad was bulky, I like it better than anything I found in the stores. I actually think I had a reaction to one of the pads I purchased after my supply ran out.  I would suggest packing your supply away at every nursing shift change and ask for more so you can use them at home. The underware are actually washable.

Due to the reaction I had, I actually ended up using some cloth diaper inserts that I had, so you may even want to consider re-usable pads called "mama cloth". I will talk more about this when we get to the diaper posts.

A friend suggested that I get some depends and they were nice for going out to Dr. Appointments in the days after birth.

Going home clothes
Robe/Clothes for hospital stay - I didn't need one because I was happy with the hospital gowns, but if you are the type of person who likes to be in their own clothes, this may be important to you.
Slippers - I didn't need one, but like going barefoot and never really went that far.
Nursing gown/Nursing Shirt - They have hospital gowns with nursing holes, but again if you like your own clothes you may want to bring these.

Nursing shirts can be expensive and in my experience hard to find used. Although they sell them at maternity stores and babies R us, they are pretty expensive. I found most of mine at Meijer and Walmart and I wore them ALL The time, definately worth the money in my option.
Pump - They will have a pump there for you to use if you need one while there, but if you bring your own, the lactation consultant can show you how to use it.
Boppy - I was glad I had my boppy for learning to nurse.
Nursing Pads - They may have these at your hospital as well, but you may not need them depending on how quickly your milk comes in. They also make washable versions of these and you can make your own. I really liked the organic ones because they held their shape much better than the non organic ones after being washing.
Lanolin  - You may want this for nipple pain if nursing. My hospital had small sample packets of them and were a bit stingy, but again something great to stock up on.
Hydrogel Pads  - I was really surprised that the hospital gave these to me for free because they are quite expensive. Again a great thing to try and stock up on during nursing shift changes.
Lip Balm - The hospital may be dry and you may get chapped lips. This may also be true if you are dehydrated from giving birth.
Toothbrush/paste - I would imagine the hospital may provide these if you asked, but I brought my own.
iPod - You may want this if you think you may need to get "into the zone" when birthing.
Hard candy - Most places don't let you eat while in labor, however I put in my birth plan that I wanted to be able to eat and drink what i wanted. I was nautious and wanted to eat so I could throw something besides bile up.
Back massager/Tennis ball - Incase you have back labor (wasnt a problem for me)
TP - The have hospital stuff there, but you may want softer stuff. I had a lot of swelling, so I didnt wipe for about a month. I just jumped in the tub after I used the bathroom.
Socks
Towel - Theirs are scratchy, but if that doesnt bother you, you dont need them
Swimsuit top/sports bra - If you want to use the big tub. I really didnt care who saw me naked while in labor, most womens modesty goes to the wind from what I understand.
Tube Sock filled with long grain rice - These are nice to microwave for any pain (I didnt use mine so I am not sure if the had one available or not)
Ear Plugs - essential if you are a light sleeper
Dermoplast/Proctofoam - I dont remember what this was recommended for and did not pack or use them
Tucks Pads - They should have these at the hospital and the tub should last you for the whole recovery, they are good for hermoids if you have them and for any swelling you have after the birth
Birth Ball - They have these too, but if you have a yoga ball you like, you may want to bring it as theirs may not be inflated how you want it to.



For Dad
Pop
Snacks
Toiletries
Book
Change of Clothes
Swim Trunks - If they want to get in the tub with you
Coins - For vending machines
Blanket
Razor

For Baby
Receiving blankets - They have these and theirs work much better than the ones in the stores, but you are not supposed to take them home.
Burp Cloths - They have these also and you are also not supposed to take them home.
Clothes- They provide clothes for them to wear while you are in the hospital, but you will need something for them to go home in (you may want to pack a few sizes since small babies need REALLY tiny  (premie or newborn) things and other larger babies may be almost ready to wear size 0-3. I was shocked how huge some of our outfits were on my son.) Most hospitals also take pictures, so you may want something cute for them. Note: The company that took my sons pictures were a bit agressive in making sure they took the pictures and in calling after to try and get us to order them. They even got kinda nasty when I told them we didn't want any.
Pacifier - They have these too, but you may want to bring your own orthodontic ones because some babies wont take anything other that what they had first. The ones they have in the hospital are really hard to find, I think you need to buy them online.
Car Seat - They will probably  inspect the car seat and they have classes on how to use them.
Plaster foot kit/baby book for foot prints - Our hospital had an ink one they give you at the hosptial.
Nail Clippers - They will not cut nails for you!
Mittens- If you don't want to cut their nails and they are long and scratching themselves. The baby gowns they had at our hospital had little cuffs you could put over their hands too.
Diapers - They have these and our hospital was pretty free with giving them away. They even offered us extras when packing to go home.
Wipes - They have these (another think to stockpile and ask for more). They even gave us the plastic container!

Other
Large empty bag for gifts  - Ikea bags are GREAT for this. (I think they are less than a dollar if you live near ikea)
Birth Plan - See last weeks post
Copy of Paperwork - I was annoyed that I was expected to read and sign all the paper work when I arrived at the hospital in labor, so I requested a copy of everything ahead of time so I had time to actually understand what I was signing.
Camera - A must for capturing those first moments.
Video Camera
Batteries/charger
Laptop - I worked from my hospital bed hours after giving birth... You get a rush of energy after you have the baby. It is also great for facebooking pictures of your new little one.
Night Light - Our hospital had little lights everywhere that we could turn on for diaper changes and such.
Folder/Filer for paperwork
Watch with second hand - If you want to time contractions, I didnt worry about that.
Gum
Mints
Cooler

..... And that is my list! Is there anything I am missing that you used in the hospital? How about those of you with home births, what supplies did you need to get?

Next Week: BABY STUFF!!!!

Child Birth Classes

 

There are a lot of ways out there that you can educate yourself on having a baby. What you choose will depend a lot on what type of birth you want to have. Many women are able to have the birth that they wanted without ever cracking a book or taking a class. It all depends on the type of person you are and your expectations.

Books
There are a ton of good books out there about pregnancy and birthing.
 Books that I read :

• The Pregnancy Book: Month-by-Month, Everything You Need to Know From America's Baby Experts - I really liked this book, I felt like it was a good balance between the extremes of everything natural and everything medical.
• The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth (Sears Parenting Library) - I have not read this book, but its is by Dr. Sears and I have liked most of his other advice.
•  The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy - I didn't care for this book because her info is not medically based and in some cases I felt she was just plain wrong. However, I have a friend who loved this book. I think this would be a good book to read if you are interested in a more traditional hospital birth.
• I'm Pregnant! Now What Do I Eat?  - This book has good information, however in my first trimester just looking at most of the recipes made me ill. I think the food was a bit out of my "normal" range and that, combined with nausea killed any interest in new food adventures.
• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth  - A must read for moms who want a natural birth. She was so inspiring, well researched and while she explained possible issues, I didn't feel like I was being scared into not having a baby at the hospital.
• The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth  - This book was informative for someone who would like a natural birth, but I didn't feel like it empowered me for a natural birth like Ina May did. She spoke a lot more about the "dangers" of a hospital birth.
• Husband-Coached Childbirth (Fifth Edition): The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth - This was the first book that I read after I was pregnant. It was a good book with good ideas for a natural birth and displayed well researched ideas that questioned "routine" hospital birth practices.
• *Warning* this book is a bit outdated and a by today's standards some of his statements could be taken as sexist. An example that I can think of right now is, that he referred to a woman's breasts and "sweater ornaments". Outdated terms aside, this book did convince me to seek a Bradley method child birth class.
• Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First - If you feel like you are getting a lot of information that is pro medicated hospital birth, this is a good book to balance your decision out. I would recommend reading this book before you get pregnant because it talks about some scary stuff, but also gives a good starting point on what questions you should ask your OB if anything in the book concerns you.

Other Popular Books

• Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth about Pregnancy and Childbirth 
• What to Expect When You're Expecting: Fourth Edition - I didn't read this book because the author doesn't have any medical background and getting facts was important to me. I know many moms who swear by this book though. I had heard that this book can be a bit "scary" and because I am a worry wart to begin with I though I would stay away and this comment from amazon was enough to put me over the edge.

Websites:

• BabyCenter - I would not credit this a leader in a sound and researched birth information, but it does have some great information for starting points for your own research.

Hospital Classes:

• Most hospitals will hold classes on child birth, they may hold many classes that cover specific topics so that you can pick and choose the classes that interest you. 
• I did end up taking the breastfeeding course offered by our hospital and my husband took the class offered for Dads, but I did not take their birth class.

Private Classes:
Many communities have non-hospital affiliated classes available. 

• One popular example are the Bradley Method classes. Name sound familiar? Yes, he is the "sweater ornament" person, but his method of "Husband Coached Childbirth" is popular and boasts being quite effective.
• For those of you local to Kalamazoo, a popular spinoff of the Bradley Method classes are hosted by Birth Kalamazoo. This class teaches elements of the Bradley method, but also incorporates other methods and ideas of natural child birth.

What did I do?

• I read the books listed above, I borrowed most of them from friends, the library or other (free) resources. 
• I googled any questions I had about different methods, keeping in mind that not everything on the internet is true.
• I took the Best of Natural Child birth class from Birth Kalamazoo, taught by Jessica English.
• I took the Breastfeeding class from our local hospital.
• Dad took a "Daddy boot camp" class through the hospital as well.

What books did you read?
Did you read "What to expect when you're expecting"? Did you like it?
What websites did/do you use?

Next week: The last post in this series "what to pack" and the first post where we really start looking at ways to save money.

Your Birth Experience

 

What type of birth experience you want to have will help you decide where you should have your baby and who should be there to help you.

The hospital is a good place to birth if:

• You have good insurance or are independently wealthy (my bill was about $20,000)
• You want the option to have your pain be managed with drugs such as an epidural
• You like the idea of having the equipment, knowledge and a broad range of skill on hand in case a complication arises.
• You do not need a doctor or midwife with you most of the time you are in labor. Many times the doctor will arrive just in time to deliver your baby
• You would prefer a scheduled C-section if your provider will allow it
• You like the idea of not having to prepare much and trust your provider to do what needs to be done
• You understand that the hospitals goal for your birthing experience is a healthy baby and a healthy mommy and may be quicker to use interventions if they see something that could possibly interfere with that.

At home, with a midwife is a good place to birth if:

• You do not want/need pain management
• You are willing to pay about $1,000-$3,000 out of pocket (insurance rarely covers home birth)
• You like the idea that many home birth midwifes will come to your home for your pre-natal care
• You want the comfort of home while you give birth
• You will be comfortable giving birth at home
• You have the confidence and belief that women have been giving birth since the beginning of time, your body was made to do this and are not concerned about the possibility of complications for you or your baby
• You worry about the fact that hospitals need to protect their interests and are quicker to use interventions
• You are ok with not getting an ultrasound if you choose only home midwife care
• You can handle your peers, family and medical professionals questioning your choice. 
• If you are seeing a hospital OB or midwife in addition to your home midwife pre-natal care, some offices will write you a letter after the birth of your child discontinuing their care of you, some will no longer see you if you tell them you are planning a home birth

An unassisted home birth (free birth) could be an option if:

• You are ok with the fact that most experts, even home birth advocates strongly do not recommend this option
• You want a home birth, but live in an area where a home birth midwife is not available or illegal
• You feel educated (on the topic) and confident enough to be both patient and "doctor" during your labor.

Unfortunately, most of us probably agree with a few bullet points from two or more of the categories and there are some other options to help you find a middle ground.

Birth Centers
If you are lucky enough to live close enough to one of these centers, they can be a great middle ground. They have some medical staff who can do basic medical procedures and are equip to easily transfer patients to a hospital if needed. They tend to focus more on natural childbirth and natural pain management. Epidurals are not available at birth centers. Some insurance companies will reimburse you for your stay and the costs are lower than in hospitals. The American Association of Birth Centers can provide you with more information.

Doulas
Can offer care directly to you. They do not provide medical support, but are there to encourage you and help you through your labor. They can offer new positions to try for pain management and also be there to support your support personnel. Doulas can range in cost anywhere from $0 (a doula in training) to about $1000 dollars. I have not heard of insurance ever paying for a doula. You can find more information on Doulas at DONA International.

In-Tune Professional Care
Finding an OB or midwife that is on board with your birth experience and choosing a hospital that also supports the way you want to labor is a huge factor in getting the birth experience that you want. This can be hard to do because most practices will have many midwifes or OBs on staff that you like, and some that you do not. However, whichever one is on call when your little one decides to make an appearance is who you get. Some OB/Midwife practices will work with you if there is a particular provider that you have a conflict with. I would highly recommend doing so.

A Birth Plan
Having a birth plan is very helpful. It informs and reminds your professional staff of the experience you would like to strive for. It also helps you remember what you wanted to strive for after you have already had 20 hours of labor with more to go. It is suggested that birth plans be one page long or less, but I had a lot of information I wanted on there. I opted to put my "preferred" birth plan on page on and then any "emergency" information on the second sheet, since it would not be needed unless something did indeed go wrong.
Great things to have in the birth plan are:

• If and when you want drugs for pain management. It can be helpful to specify if you do not want pain drugs offered to you. Many women do not think to ask for them, but are eager to take them when offered.
• Who you want in your birth room? Some women like to have the whole extended family with them, others just want to be with one or two trusted family members or friends.
• Emergency plan. If you end up needing a C-section or if there are other complications, who do you want called? Do you want your significant other with you in recovery or with your baby?
• This one was odd, but I had in my birth plan that I wanted to eat and drink during labor and the midwife indicated that since it was in my plan she would allow me to, whereas otherwise they would not.
• Do you want to bank cord blood?
• Do you want to wait to cut the cord to allow the blood to leave the cord?
• Do you want your baby to have Hep B, Vit K shots or eye drops?
• Do you want your baby boy to be circumcised?
• Do you prefer to tear or have an episiotomy?
• Are you ok with an IV?
• Do you want to breastfeed right after birth?
• Can baby have formula or a pacifier?
• Do you want to see a lactation consultant after birth?
• I also included a paragraph on me and my personality to help them understand me, as I think I have a pretty strong personality and not everyone knows how to handle it.

A copy of my birth plan can be found here. I have changed personal information to 0000 or 555-555-5555, so if you see that it means something identifiable was there. Everything above the dotted line is the "main" birth plan that I gave copies of all of my nursing staff. Everything below the dotted line was in my chart in case of emergency and they needed more detail.

Informed Hospital Nurses
When you check-in, let the hospital nurse know how you plan to birth. They can assign you someone who is good with moms birthing naturally or someone good with moms who choose an epidural.

An open mind
Not every birth is going to be exactly what the mom wants it to be. It is important that moms understand that things can go wrong. A successful birth does end with a healthy mom and a healthy baby. (Thanks Jessica)

What did I choose?
I chose to have my baby in the hospital. The hospital where were at seemed more in-tune with natural child birth than most hospitals I have heard about. Overall I was happy with this decision. My placenta ended up not delivering at the end and I needed to go in the OR to have it removed. I was glad I was in a hospital for this, but I don't think I would have died if I need to be transferred.

I do wish I had spent the extra $500 for a doula. I feel like I could have labored longer (they used a vacuum to get my son out), but felt that I was given the option of that or a c-section (the hospital reports indicated otherwise however). By then I was exhausted (4 hours into pushing) and didn't have the breath to argue for more time.

Birth Stories from blogs I stalk follow:

Hospital: 
Baby Mamas Drama Part 1 Part 2
Exploiting My Baby
Our Little Online Corner
Gabbing with Grace
...and Baby Makes 3 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Home:
*Tara - 3 home births + one hospital transfer = 4 girls


*I do know quite a few people who have had home births, so although I do not follow their blogs (or they do not have one) I asked a few of them to share their birth stories as well to get a more rounded list of stories for you. I will link more as they get back to me.

Please feel free to link to your birth experiences in the comments section! As always, I am also very open to corrections or additions as long as they are presented kindly.

Next post: Childbirth education. What options are available in your area? Did you/are you planning to take a childbirth education class?

Preparing for Childbirth Series

 

For a newly pregnant family, actually having the baby can seem like something to worry about later, AFTER all of the cute toys and clothes have been purchased. However, there is a lot involved with preparing for how you will bring your child into the world. If you didn't know that there were many options out there yet, your mom, aunts, cousins, neighbors, the person behind you at the super market and your co-worker's fifth cousin's sister's friend will all be telling you how it should be done shortly.

What does this have to do with saving money? These first few post are not going to be typical for this blog as far as pure cash savings, however not choosing the right option for you can be costly and not knowing what costs are involved in different options and which of those costs that you will be responsible for can have a big impact. Also, if you have a certain birth experience that you want to strive for, this may be a good place to splurge.

This series of posts will consist of the following posts:

1. What type of childbirth experience do you want to have?
2. Childbirth Education options.
3. What do you take to the hospital?

Moms who have had babies, where did you birth?
Would you like to share your birth story? -If so, get it ready for tomorrows comment section or email it to me!

And don't forget the coupon giveaway ends tomorrow. I have had some questions about how to enter. Go to the original giveaway post here. And leave a comment letting me know that you qualify (by living in the continental US, "liking" me on facebook and "following" me on blogger). If you look to the top right of my page, there are buttons to "like" and "follow" me. That's all! :)