Shady Grove

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I'm due in 8 weeks and am starting to think about what I need to bring to the hospital for myself and my newborn. I'm not sure if things vary from hospital to hospital, and I'm sure they went over this on the tour, but I'm pregnant and can't remember anything!

Do they provide some type of clothing for the baby while you stay? Or do I need to bring clothes for him (other than his going home outfit)?
Would you suggest bringing your own comfortable clothes or are the gowns comfortable?
I've read that some people bring depends with them because they are easier than the pads you get - thoughts?
Do you have to bring diapers? Or does the hospital provide them?

Any advice on what goes on at Shady Grove would be helpful. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

You don't have to bring diapers or any clothes expect for what you and baby will wear home.

I was happy to wear the hospital gowns because things are bloody and no point in ruining your own clothes. They even give you disposable underwear. You do want to bring toiletries - tooth brush, tooth paste shampoo, conditioner, comb, contact solution/case or glasses if you have them, etc...

I felt so much better after showering with my own soap. But I used all the hospital's towels, gowns, etc..

[Anonymous]

I delivered at SG twice. You don't need to bring anything for baby except going home outfit and car seat. For yourself I'd use all their supplies except bring your own pillow. Other than what PP mentioned also bring your camera, cell phone charger, and slippers.

[Anonymous]

i have had two babies -- first time i used pads and the mesh undies from the hospital. second time i used depends. the depends made me feel so so much better ... no shifting saggy pad or weird see through undies. they were comfy and light and felt like normal underwear and didn't leak once. i would highly recommend using them at least for the first few days until the flow lightens.

i also would suggest bringing snacks for your partner (and yourself if you want) for during labor, in case the cafeteria is closed!

i preferred my own clothing because the gowns were open in the back and i did not want to have to hold it closed. a really soft easy to put on nightgown was nice.

congrats and enjoy!

[Anonymous]

Thinking of this myself since I am due to deliver at SG in a few week. Apart from both our going home outfits and the car seat, cell phone and camera:
- yoga ball (they have some, but I need the smallest size)
- juice in a cooler, snacks like Clif Bars, etc
- music on my Nano and speakers
- pillow in a dark-colored pillowcase, to recognize it from the white hospital ones.
- my own soft robe (worn without the matching gown), closed in front if needed or opened for immediate breast feeding after the birth. Gowns for after.
- perineal oil and soft cloth to avoid tearing, should the midwife not bring any
- comfy socks and my own hypoallergenic aromatherapy toiletries
- Weleda baby kit (diaper cream, lotion, etc), a little cute bag with little samples of their hypoallergenic Calendula baby stuff - you can ask them to use the baby wash for the first bath.
- a stash of seventh generation diapers, instead of the hospital chlorine ones.
- swaddling cloths (they have receiving blankets already)
- baby's organic clothes.
- other things I am forgetting...

As you can see, I am pretty obsessive-compulsive A reaction to my first-born's emergency birth, probably, where I came with nothing except the clothes on my back.

[Anonymous]

PP here.

Ah! Lip balm and a towel for the jacuzzi. And nursing wear and underwear for me. Boppy.

I think that's about it...

[Anonymous]

lip balm yes! lips get very dry with all the breathing done during labor.

[Anonymous]

SG has exactly ONE yoga ball (or so they told me), so definitely bring your own if you think you'll want one (and I definitely made use of mine).
I agree with all the above posters. I preferred to wear my own clothes for both labor and afterward, but that's really up to you. (For labor, I got a short flow-y skirt for about $4 at Old Navy and also wore an old giant tshirt.)
In retrospect, I should have brought a bunch of cheap tube socks to wear while at the hospital and then pitch. Taking slippers on/off is annoying, but the floors can be cold.
I also wish I had brought a breastfeeding pillow - piling up the thin hospital ones drove me nuts.

OH - Something I found out on my last day but would have loved to have known earlier: there is an alternative menu of "favorites" from which you can always order if you don't like the food options for that day. The staff will bring you a menu to order from each morning, but they may not bring you (or even mention) the "favorites" menu. Had I known, I would have gone with many of the alternatives (things like yogurt cups, cottage cheese and fruit plate, simple sandwiches) over the daily dishes.