Hospital Bag Packing List

Hospital Bag Packing List

For Labor:

•  If you scrapbook or are planning on making a baby book, bring a sheet of paper or the book itself into labor and deliver and they can make the footprints right there in the delivery room!
• An extra outfit or two for your husband (I threw up a few times, so it was nice for hubby to have it – plus he didn’t have to go home then).
• Glasses, if you wear them 
• * * Chapstick – hospital air is pretty dry, I liked to have chapstick readily available during labor and afterwards. 
• Camera and/or video camera – plus chargers/batteries 
• Snacks – both for hubby if labor is long (I have friends who have had 36 hours+ labors), and for you both after labor. 
•  Magazines or a book or something to do in case labor is long. 
• Music – I think I’m just going to bring my phone or iPod 
• Headband or hairties to pull hair back 

For Mom:

• Lanolin ointment if you plan to nurse – use for a few weeks beforehand
• Nursing bra/camisole (NO underwires!) and (disposable) nursing pads. If your milk comes in, you’ll definitely want them. Also, if you’re using lanolin ointment, you’ll want to use nursing pads because the ointment seems to stain bras a bit.
• Small things of shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, and other toiletries – they provided basic ones (worse than hotel ones), but I wished I had my own.
• * *Extra absorbent overnight pads...with wings! They supply pads in the hospital but they’re huge and it’s nice to have a pack at home ready to go (your husband will thank you for not having to go out and get you some more!).
• * * Underwear that is a size or two too big. That way you can fit the bulky pads and ice packs and everything in. The ones they supply in the hospital are huge saggy mesh ones that don’t hold anything in place. I used these for a few weeks after the baby was born. That way, I didn’t ruin any of my “good” underwear with leaks.
• Pajama pants and a lightweight robe to wear with the hospital gowns. I liked having something that opened in the front (ie light cardigan or zip-up sweatshirt) to make nursing easier.
• A comfy outfit for you and baby to wear home (maternity clothes, because you’ll still have some extra weight – boo!)
• Comfy slippers/flip flops that you don’t mind getting dirty
• Cell phone charger
• Gift for nurses?

For Baby:

• Newborn diapers for the baby. They supply size 1's in the hospital which are too big on a brand new baby and they don't have the umbilical cut-out. You are allowed to take the ones they supply home with you. 
• Homecoming outfit
• Diaper bag with diapers, burp cloth(s), wipes
• Own swaddling blanket if desired
• Car seat (already installed)

Have at home:

• Nursing pads (disposable or reusable)
• Maxi pads with wings
• Hemorrhoid wipes
• Witch hazel pads
• Formula - even if you plan to breastfeed, have a little on hand in case your milk doesn't come in for a few days. Mine didn't and poor Lu'au didn't eat much until then.

General Tips:

• *Don’t bring anything that you wouldn’t mind getting a bit dirty – you’ll be surprised where fluids will leak!
• *Don't pack a ton more than you think you'll need. I didn't actually wear a lot of clothes while I was there, and I had packed 4 outfits! Pajamas are good - anything comfortable is good! 
• *Take home anything you can – especially the squirt water bottle they give you to cleanse, pads, ice packs, extra diapers, receiving blankets, anything!

Today

Today we woke up and I was thankful that I am alive. That we have electricity. That we have running water. That things weren't as bad with the hurricane as they could have been.

Today I found out we lost a dear friend, and I am extremely saddened by it.

Today would have been 40 weeks pregnant with our second child. Unfortunately, we lost the baby at nearly 12 weeks. I can't figure out how to mourn appropriately. It's been a lot harder overall, than I thought it would be. I'm starting to get back to my normal self. But still, I don't trust my body. It's kind of hard to explain, but that's the best way I can describe it.

There isn't a specific way how to mourn the loss of an unborn baby. I'm sad because I thought I'd be pregnant again by the time this date came around, but I'm not. Way to set an unrealistic expectation for myself, and then have no way to really make sure it would happen. Thankfully, with all of the hurricane craziness lately, I haven't thought much about the due date being today. I'm just holding onto Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. I'm full of hope.

I'm about to become a farmer...

It's kind of frustrating when...

• The pain reliever you give your child to ease the discomfort of vaccines is recalled.
• The formula you give your child to help her gain weight is recalled.
• The teething tablets you give your child to help with teething pain (without using pain reliever) is recalled.
  

Seriously, people, it's been a frustrating year!

Entering the Twilight Zone...

There's a magical hour that I never knew existed. And it's going to be my magical hour for the next several years. I once thought that restaurants were closed before 5. I know now I was mistaken. Early bird specials aren't just for seniors - they're for families with small children.

No joke, we went to dinner at 4:30 tonight, and the place was packed with the under-5, or perhaps the under-10 crowd and their families. And there were some grandparents taking out the grandkids, so it was perfect for both generations...

We were in and out before the young trendy people even started getting ready for their nights out. It's a total win-win(-win) situation. Families get to go out for dinner (yay for going out), kids can be put to bed at their normal bedtimes, upscale patrons aren't disturbed by little people, restaurants get business for more hours (though possibly with more mess, which could mean more tip!). Everyone gets something good out of the early family dinner time.

I had not realized this enchanting hour existed... Oh baby, life with a child is not the same. Little by little, I'm learning exactly how much my world has changed!

Not as bad as I thought it would be...

Today CO went back to work. I was seriously dreading this day, as my mom went back home on Saturday and last week there was a delightful ratio of 3 adults : 1 newborn. Today marks the first day of a 1 : 1 ratio. That 1 adult being me. And so far, it hasn't been bad. I've not been as productive as I would have dreamt, but it hasn't been as bad as my nightmares. I made Jello this morning, and ate breakfast.

The only problem I'm having is that baby girl likes to be held and is refusing to sleep in her cradle now...

And that whole "sleep while the baby sleeps" is totally cool at night, but really, am I expected to be able to nap at 1pm?

Introducing our gift :)

The pictures are a little bit out of order... but I'd like to introduce you to baby girl

Mother and baby are doing great! Daddy and I are head over heels for her already :)

"87 - more than just a Coastal Patrol Boat" or "Yay for HALIBUT Day!"

Ok, so you all know by now that I'm kind of a dork when it comes to the Coast Guard. Reference me getting my picture taken with ADM Allen at my graduate school graduation.

You now have more fuel for your fire -
When CO and I were counting down until our wedding, I would try to make big numbers a little more relevant by comparing them to lengths of Coast Guard cutters (hey, doesn't EVERYONE do that?). We started off with the Eagle (the CG's training barque - that CO was on while at the Academy), and moved down from there...

We got really excited when it got down to 110 (he was on a 110-foot ship at the time), and then 87, and 82...

It would have been cool had we been counting down the same way for the baby's due date. But alas, pregnancy brain has taken full control over my faculties and we have not been counting this way. But today is the day! Today is 87 days - and 87 feet equal the size of Marine Protector Class Coastal Patrol Boat (I don't know why it's called a boat when it's technically a ship). And CO used to be on one of those, the HALIBUT... Yay!

I also have one more chance at playing this game. In 5 days, we'll be down to 82' ships. And we'll celebrate POINT BRIDGE Day! (82s are now decommissioned so don't try to look them up as being active.)

Flu Shot?

I'm debating whether or not I should get a flu shot. CO gets one each year, on the first day he can get them. He swears by them. I, on the other hand, have never gotten one, and haven't really gotten sick before.

Enter this year. I'm pregnant.

According to my doctor, pregnant women are more susceptible to getting the flu, and if they do get it, they usually get it more severely than a "normal person." Great. She can't make me get it, but she can highly suggest it.

I'm worried about the effects of getting the shot. Could it be bad for baby? Is it worth the chance I'd be achy for a few days afterward? Should I be nervous it'd be from a military hospital?

What do you think? Is it worth it? Should I get it?

Wednesday already?

Well, I'm happy to report it's Wednesday. And Wednesday's almost done. My brain is kind of scattered, so you get a bullet list of my thoughts...

• I've been trying a ton of new recipes lately - it's been a lot of fun. Check out Flaky Apple Turnovers and 5-Minute Individual Potato Gratins.

• Our local commissaries and some grocery stores (aka all of the ones I go to) are out of normal, canned (not pumpkin pie mix) pumpkin puree. I really REALLY want to make pumpkin bread one of these days, and I guess I'll have to roast and puree the pumpkin myself. That could get interesting. But then I can also make pumpkin seeds!
  

• Tomorrow I'm going to listen to a congressman talk about the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act. I'm tired of not knowing where I'm a resident, or having to change it with each PCS. I vote in and still have my driver's license from the lovely state of Hawaii. I technically live in Virginia. My daughter will be born in Maryland (if things go as planned). Um... wouldn't it be easier if I could be a resident of the same state as my husband, who is not a resident of any of the states listed above...

• We're probably going to try to paint baby girl's room this weekend. Hubby wants to paint it light pink. Who am I to say no?

• I get to go to a "tea" this weekend. I wonder if there will be crumpets as well. I hope I can find something appropriate to wear!

• Baby (and I) sleeps much better when I don't eat sugary foods (including ice cream and chocolate malts) shortly before bed. I now eat them during the day ;) Ha!

Registering

CO doesn't care what we register for... as long as the list includes this.

Boys are funny.

Overwhelming!

Holy cow, people. I know America is the land of options (just check out the yogurt aisle of the supermarket here - in Brazil it was vanilla or strawberry). But come on! How in the world do you sort through all of the strollers, car seats, and crib bedding options?

We're trying to focus on the following things right now:

- Car seats
- Pack n play (baby's bed for the first few months)

Anyone have advice? How did you choose your baby stuff? What's important to consider?

the (other) good news

well, not THE good news, just our good news...

This is what we've got thus far.

I was 16 weeks yesterday. That, friends, makes the due date the 25th of December (as my dad said, "Wow, that's awfully close to Christmas"). And yes, we are already accepting donations to help pay for baby's therapy for getting combination presents (birthday + Christmas).

Will we find out the sex of the baby? I'd like to think I'm patient like my sister, and could wait for the surprise in the delivery room, but alas, I'm not very patient. I reserve patience in my life for things I have no control over, aka our military life. Though I cannot change the sex of our baby, I would very much like to be able to (semi-)plan as much as I can for the new addition to our family. CO kind of wanted the whole delivery-room-surprise thing, but I think I've convinced him that there's no way I could wait that long.

When will we find out the gender? I go to another appointment at the end of this month, and then they'll schedule the big ultrasound then. That's all I know.

As far as names go, we do think that we might keep our ideas a surprise. Plus, we want to make sure the name fits the baby. We are accepting suggestions as far as real names and names I can use for the baby while blogging.

I've been holding out....

Hapai - literally to carry, pregnant

Too cute!!

So, I'm trying to shop for Christmas. It's kind of difficult, as I have the responsibility of shopping for both my and CO's family... but I'm a gift-giver, so it's very fun. While shopping today, I found an adorable baby present -

Baby Cupcakes!

All of the stuff on their website is in the more expensive range, but they have cups of "gelato" that include a cup, a rolled up onesie (the gelato), a spoon, and a (plastic) cherry on top! They also have "cupcakes" that include a bib and baby socks formed into the shape of a cupcake and put into a silicon cupcake mold! Too cute!!

And, as always, I love Sweet Baby Things - they use the money to help fund their adoption and are from the same area that I am! I love their little blankets :)

Cute Baby Things

This site has a bunch of cute baby booties and blankets. We don't need them... but if you do, all of the money goes to a family adopting a baby from Ethiopia - sounds like a good idea to me!