Ok,let the experience shine through! LOL! My friend is due in 2 weeks with her first baby! What advice would you give??

Something special to bring to the hospital?
Any one thing you couldn't live without?
How you found your pediatrician?

Any pearls of wisdom for her?

My advice was puffy maxi pads-the cheapy puffy kind were the best. Also, to bring a nice nightgown. I know I was so worried that I would be bleeding all over the room. LOL! After my shower, I was happy to put on my own nightgown and get out of the hospital gown!

By Janet on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 02:25 pm:

Tucks in the fridge!!!!!! A good friend told me that one, and now I pass it on. It was invaluable!

By Janet on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 02:27 pm:

Oh, and remind her to bring pregnancy clothes to go home in... she won't be back to her "before" size for awhile!

By Karen55 on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 03:00 pm:

Limit visitors in the beginning! Otherwise she will be completely worn out. And accept others' offers of help!

By Familyman on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 03:01 pm:

Swaddling blankets
Cloth diapers, not for bottoms, for tops
Sling, I love it
Comfortable shoe to walk around in at the hospital, something nice and slip on
Less people around is better. The husband is there to take car of the wife and every one else is there to support the husbands efforts. Do not come between the husband and the wife at this time, we don't like that. I'll think of more.

By Dana on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 03:18 pm:

If she is planning on breast feeding, get the breast pump BEFORE going to the hospital.

It never crossed my mind that I might be coming home WITHOUT my baby! My milk came in as we drove across town with DD still at the hospital.

DH searched for several hours before finding one (and DH never looked for breast pumps before, much less ever been a father before LOL). I was SOOOOO sore and hard as rocks. Didn't get releive until 8:30PM!

By Joan on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 04:17 pm:

Make sure she brings a brush and if her hair is long bring a ponytail holder. Tell her to be in no rush to get home , stay as long as the hospital allows, she will need the extra time to rest. If she goes non-medicated make sure to tell her to breath between contrations and not to hold her breath for long periods of time because if she isn't breathing, neither is her baby. A credit card is usefull when ordering hospital baby pictures. Bring warm clothes for the baby to go home in. Bring a big empty bag, there will be lots of things that she will leave with that she did'nt come with. Bring a camera/camcorder.

Mara

By Angellew on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 04:27 pm:

A big, empty bag was REALLY helpful!
Your own nightgown.
I packed a weekend bag, as if going away... anything you want to bring with you to go somewhere for a weekend, you want with you (toothbrush, paste, brushes, something to hold your hair back, lotion)!

And, when people say "Can I help you?"... say YES!!!!!

By Dana on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 04:40 pm:

Oh, and a list of phone numbers.

Have a few copies of phone numbers. If her DH is like mine, he wont know how to reach the people she knows.

Esp the pediatrician phone number and address. I can't even tell you how many times they asked us for the info, and DH had to keep leaving the room to tell who ever (even though I had it written down) I needed more than one copy of this information but could have really used 3 or 4 w/ the dr and insurance info.

Also, for me, I ended up induced. I told DH to take his time, finish work, eat and shower before coming to the hospital. But did he listen???? Heck no! He was sooooo hungry, so tired and very dirty by next morning and all the photos have him with a several hours past 5 o'clock shadow Poor guy. I got more sleep than he did. so if the DH has time, make sure he uses it wisely. EAT BEFORE coming to hospital. Chances of leaving the room later are pretty much zelch once labor starts.

By Palmbchprincess on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 01:11 am:

I took spandex workout shorts, which I wore under my PJs after the kids were born. (actually I wore them a lot of my pregnancy, because the support is nice.) I also had to buy granny panties for delivery, because I only had one pair, and NEVER wear pads. That's the reason I wore the shorts. It helped hold the pad snug so I didn't feel like I was the one in diapers! It also helped hold the bandages from my c-section in place. And we forgot a camera!!!! Don't forget the camera!!! Get up and walk as soon as possible, you'll feel better! (I can't speak for vaginal deliveries, so don't shoot me if that's bad advice!) And when the nurses offer to take the baby to the nursery to let you sleep LET THEM!!!! I didn't, and I regretted that once I was home!!!! One thing as the baby grows... keep a newborn diaper for your memory box. I have a preemie diaper and can't believe my babies ever wore them!!!

By Jenn on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 08:56 am:

The advice that I would give is tell her to talk to her obgyn and explain to him that when the babies head comes out, she would like to be able to touch it. My obgyn had me do this when I was having Chad. I was at the point that the head was out and the shoulders were coming and I wanted to scream, but he had me feel and he showed me that with me staying calm and collected that I was delivering a miricle. Jessica was my c-section baby, so I never was able to experience this with her. When someone asks me what do I remember the most about having an all natural baby, I will tell them that I was able to feel and experience what my body was doing while delivering this miricle. All the pain that we have with tearing and pushing, went away. I didn't realize that I was torn from the inside and out, I was focused on the fact that I felt my baby. This may be totally off the wall for something, but this is something that has always stuck with me. Tell her good luck!!

By Eve on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 06:38 pm:

Wow! Some very good advice. I forgot about the Tucks in the fridge! That was heaven! I would just line my pad with them. Aggh! Ok, this is birth control for me. LOL!

Thanks ladies! Anyone else have anything to add before I pass this along??

By Laurazee on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 10:59 pm:

Here are some items from my hospital checklist:

• Nursing pads - I used Evenflo...they don’t "stick". There are also washable ones.
• Heavy-duty menstrual pads - LOTS.
• Nursing bras are handy.
• Lansinoh (nipple cream)
• Dioflucan or Senakot (mild laxative - just in case)
• A topical anaesthetic like Polysporin or Nupercainal
• Hemhorroid ointment (sighhhh - after the delivery, you may need it)
• Tylenol 3's if you can get 'em.
• Socks & underwear you never want to see again
• A good electric breast pump is worth it (buy or rent)

By Palmbchprincess on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 11:44 pm:

You know, I love Parents magazine. Every time I have a question or am thinking about something, it shows up in my mail with the answer. I swear, sometimes it's creepy! Anyway, Eve, your friend should read the Feb issue when it comes out on the stands. It has a "what to expect" article about labor, delivery, and the first few weeks. It has a side article about tips for dads. Cute things like how to make Mom feel better when everyone else is soley focused on the baby. It was a really cute read!

By Marymary on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 10:27 am:

My only piece of advice would be.....a lot of people will offer her advice, she should listen to each persons suggestions (especially mother-in-law) etc...weigh them all and then do what she thinks is appropriate...my mother-in-law still insists that my husband was toilet trained by the time he was 14 months old and other "terrific" leaps in development...always take the prsons suggesitons, say "thank you" and then do what she and her husband feel is best for them and their new family member.

Wishing her a speedy and safe delivery

By Eve on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 12:25 pm:

Thanks again, I'll pass these along today. It's her last day of work until the end of her maternity leave!

Mary, that's a great one! LOL! Every baby is so different, that you just have to ignore some people. Still, some advice and help I got was really great! I think we called Trina A LOT! "Is it normal for the baby's hands to be blue??" LOL! The things no one tells you! LOL! There is still a lot that you learn on your own. I guess that's motherhood! LOL! Thanks again!

By Tunnia on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 12:53 pm:

Here is something for after the baby comes home--invest in a sling or a front pack. I found that people always wanted to touch my babies if I had them in a stroller or infant carrier and I hated that strangers felt that they could just reach in and touch them if they wanted to. So I started using the front pack and no one ever tried to touch my babies when they were in it. I guess they didn't want to risk touching my boob? LOL Also, it can make those days your baby need extra attention so much easier.

By Jazzermom on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 03:03 pm:

EARPLUGS!!!! Ya know, the soft foam kind that hunters use.... get some! The postpartum ward of the hospital is NOT a quiet place, women coming in and out of rooms all day long, visitors/well-wishers, crying babies (even your own ).

Earplugs helped me to sleep soundly during a time when I REALLLLLY needed it and knew I would NOT be sleeping soundly again for quite some time. The security of having the baby in the nursery with the nurses was helpful.

My biggest piece of advice is to let others care for you. You will have that baby/child for the rest of your life.... a few hours apart, for you to sleep/rest or just get used to the idea of being a mother can be invaluable.

And, keep the visitors to a minimum. This time in the hospital should be all about the new family getting to know each other. Visitors can come to your home, after you've been home for a week or two.

The things I wish I'd known with my 1st........

By Jewlz on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 04:38 pm:

a phone card to call the people that cant be with u at the hospitol ... and cameras ... pack a single use one in the bag just in case the reg one is forgotton lol

By Kaye on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 10:01 am:

A phone card is a good idea. As far as the baby, make sure she checks out all her options as far as what to do with the baby. They will let you keep your baby as little or as much as you would like and that is her decision, everyone is different. I think we sometimes feel like everyone says oh you have to get sleep, send the baby back to the nursery and really feel like that is our only choice. I say this because a good friend had a very bad experience with that and said that even then nurses conviced her to send the baby back to the nursery. The short story is there was a mess up and her son was taken to another room by accident and BF by a stranger. In hindsight she said that it was never what she wanted to do, but what she felt like everyone was telling her. Parenting is very individual, you won't find anyone that does is 100% the way you do, so follow your instincts and your feelings.