What is in your hospital bag?

3 weeks from today and I will be at the hospital. I have slowly started to pack my bag. What is in your bag?

1. lip balm
2. shampoo and conditioner
3. colgate wisps
4. yes to carrots lotion.

bought some new pj pants today. need to get a few more pairs. time to start thinking of cooking for the kid while I am gone.

#1 for me is ear plugs. Hospitals are noisy places and I'm a light sleeper so they are a must!

I didn't pack much, and hardly ended up using most of what I did pack. What did come in handy included:

-toothbrush + toothpaste
-deodorant (I don't sweat much as a rule, but I STUNK after surgery)
-Neutrogena face wipes (because I couldn't bend easily to wash my face)
-lip gloss

What I didn't use:

-body wash (there was a dispenser of antibacterial face and body wash right in the shower stall in my hospital room)
-shampoo/conditioner (immediately after surgery, I couldn't bend enough to wash my hair)
-hand lotion (I had a cannula in the back of my left hand)

I also found that pants of any sort were completely out of the question, as the 4 incisions left no "space" to place the waistband. Long nighties and a zip-front housecoat were just perfect for me!

One thing I wish I'd packed was hard candies. I don't usually eat them, but my throat was scratchy after the surgery. I sent DH to look for some, but he came back with fruit chews (Starburst or something) and they really weren't what I needed.

I definitely used my hand lotion. It's nice to have something with a scent in the hospital, too. The lip balm was needed, too.

Yep I have stuff in the bag for the throat already.

I didn't pack much either. Here is what I packed and used.

1) Eye sleep mask (ended up not needing ear plugs)
2) iPad to read
3) iPhone for music and to text
4) Lip balm (a definite MUST)
5) Animal crackers (the best thing to help settle my tummy)
6) Nightgown (I changed as soon as they would let me, it was a shorter gown to allow for access to inspect my incisions)
7) Robe (for walking the halls without mooning everyone)
8) Toothbrush & toothpaste (I prefer my own)
9) Deodorant
10) Ultra soft super fluffy socks with grippy feet (for walking after surgery and so I didn't have to wear the silly hospital slippers)
11) Camelback water bottle (easier to use than the hospital cups and I tend to drink more water using it)
12) Eye glasses (I usually wear contacts)
13) Hairbrush & hair tie
14) Pillow pet (read here about using them and was so thankful to have it to brace with and to set my iPad on without hurting my tummy)
15) My ID, and a small amount of cash just in case (I think I took $20 with me)

The list seems long but it wasn't really a whole lot of stuff.

I wore my super baggy comfy clothes into the hospital that I planned to wear home. I didn't wear a bra in, instead I wore a tank top that had a built in shelf bra, it was more comfortable.

I only live 5 miles from the hospital so I packed light knowing that DH could get me anything else I might want but ended up not needing anything other than what I took.

I did a lot of sleeping and a lot of walking and went home the next morning (but could have gone home same day if I had wanted). I just packed for comfort and relaxation knowing I shouldn't have to stay too long and tried not to over think it. The most effort I put into packing was shopping around town for a pillow pet and am so glad I did.

Good luck and it will be time before you know it!