What I actually used from my labor hospital bag

First time mom here. Which means I research everything. I can't tell you how many blogs I read talking about what to bring to the hospital.  Most blogs seemed normal while others talked about bringing your entire house.  I brought what I'd thought I would use and a few " comforts from home".  So lets talk about what you actually use and what you don't need.

 

 



What I brought
Travel bag of toiletries and makeup
    * I used my shampoo and conditioner,  face wipes, moisturizer,  toothbrush and toothpaste and deodorant
    * I did not use any makeup lol its not that I didn't have time, I did. I just didn't really care. Yes there were lots of pictures. Did I look super amazing? No, I just pushed a 7.5 lb bowling ball out my hooha and I was kinda busy staring at him all day.

Clothing
   * nursing bra, 2 tops, 2 pairs of pants, socks and a hoodie
   * I did not use the nursing bra. I stayed in the gown they provided cuz your going to bleed.... alot. I'm glad I brought options of tops and pants. I wore the baggy pants and the loose top with the hoodie.
   * My room was hot so I didn't need a robe or slippers or anything like that.
   * I wore their gown and the underwear they provide. I didn't feel the need to use a nursing bra or top, or have a nursing cover. I mean everyone has seen your lady bits already so I didn't care to be discreet.  What's the point? I also only had Corey and the moms there so it didn't matter to me.

Baby Stuff
   * socks, mittens, wubbanub pacifier,  2 outfits and 2 blankets
   * I did not use the mittens or socks.

Dad Stuff
   * We used everything he brought
   * He said bringing a cooler with drinks and snacks was a great idea. He wished he brought more drinks though.
   * The hospital will have extra blankets and pillows so don't bring yours.


Hope this helps some!!! And remember, the hospital has to be prepared for a women to walk in randomly and be in labor. They are pretty stocked with what you really need.
Next up is post partum care and recovery

Welcome to the world little guy - Corbin Michael

Our little monkey is finally here and has been here for about 3 weeks now. I have been meaning to get to this post but having a newborn is more time consuming then I would have ever imagined. Good time consuming though :)  So if you read my last post then you know that I was being induced on the 26th of March. So I knew he was coming that day, which was great for me since most of my anxiety about labor was the unknown and wondering when it was going to happen. I'm a planner and this was perfect for me.  To get on with this post, here is my labor and delivery story. Don't worry I will spare you all the details of grossness :)

The day before Corey took off work so we could do last minute stuff. We cleaned and organized and ran a couple errands. It was a pretty normal day. I asked my friend Juliana if she would take some maternity pictures for me. So She met Corey and I at the location where we got married.  I thought it would be super cute to go there and then when Corbin is a bit older we would go back and take pictures again. I love those " same place different times of your life" type pictures. I will do a post with those next. That night I took a shower, washed my hair since we were getting up early. Went to bed as our last night as just me and Corey. Feeling fine all day might I add. Fast forward to 2am and I start having some pretty bad contractions.  I timed them using this app on my phone.  They lasted all night but were never really consistent enough, at least that's what I thought. Also I wasn't too worried about them since I knew I was going to the hospital in the morning anyway. By early morning they were about 3-8 minutes apart and were last a little over a minute.

Morning came pretty fast. We got ready, loaded the bags in the car and headed down the street. We live literally right beside the hospital. We checked in right at 8am and they took us to our room. I remember feeling kinda calm, nervous, anxious all at once. I changed into the gown they give you and then the nurses asked me 10 million questions. They hooked me up the the blood pressure and the belly monitors for the baby, and they started the IV. Around 9:30 is when they started the pitocin and I was already on some fluids too. I expected to feel the pitocin but I didn't which calmed my nerves. I was already having strong contractions so I thought the pitocin was going to make them unbearable. I was already 3cm dilated to begin with so when they checked me the first time I was about a 4. I remember the pain getting pretty intense by this point and Corey kept wetting a washcloth for my chest. The nurses and Corey kept asking if I wanted the epidural yet and I was like uhhh maybe in a bit, I'm OK ... for some odd reason I wanted to see how long I could last without it lol. But after a few hours they were so strong I told them I was ready, I'm pretty sure my exact words were " oooooo yea gimme that needle" lol it took about 15-20 min for the anesthesiologist to get to my room and she started setting up right away. She talked me through everything so I knew what she was doing. They claim it feels like an intense "bee sting"... uhhh no. Not so much. That needle hurt like hell going into my back.  Corey was holding my hand and I'm sure he had nail marks when it was over. The weirdest thing was actually feeling the epidural flowing down the spine. Super cold and creepy. Then your legs go numb along with your butt. I could still wiggle my toes but couldn't move my legs. Also pretty creepy. After the epidural went to work things were pleasant! I could still feel the pressure of the contraction but there wasn't much pain. They also give you a clicker button that you can press to get another hit lol which I did many times!
After a while my doctor came in to break my water and said by 6 I should be ready to push hopefully.  Which was like 6 hours away... I said in my mind " ha ya right! It will be much sooner". She checked to see my dilation and was at a 5-6cm. She had to leave to go back to the office and told me she will check on me soon!  I told her " don't forget about me!! And hurry up !!

So around 3 pm the nurse decides to check me again just to see.... and low and behold she goes " we should probably call your doctor because your ready!!"  That made me so happy since I knew he was coming quickly. I just remember telling everyone that I could feel him coming, like he was down there... knocking at the door if you get me. My doctor was making here way back which would only be like 20 min from her office.  The nurses got everything ready and told me I could start doing little pushes!!! Hooorayyyy!!!

Everything you have ever seen on TV or movies about labor you can forget about it. Its not like that at all. Honestly pushing was the easiest thing ever!! I could have done it all day long. I pushed for a bit then my doctor should up and it was go time! I pushed for less than an hour and there he was!!!

I was so overjoyed he was finally here and healthy.  I was crying, Corey was crying, it was a great moment.  I was completely amazed that I just did that and amazed how kinda easy it was. To this day I still look at him and wonder how he was in my belly and how blessed we are to have him. He is the cutest little monkey and I love him more and more each day. I can't believe Corey and I made this little human being who is perfect in every way.



 

 

Thanks so much for reading! Let me know if I can answer any labor questions for you!

 

~ASHLEY~

 

 

Post coming- Maternity pictures

What I actually used from my hospital bag