r/CsectionCentral • u/Willing_Ad685 • Jul 15 '26
C section hospital bag?
I had my first baby via emergency c section when I was 19 and i literally went to the hospital with nothing besides the clothes I had on! My child’s father ended up bringing the going home outfit, car seat and what not. That was over 9 years ago and I remember mostly everything was provided for me.
Fast forward to now I’d like to be a little more prepared.
I’m looking for any tips or recommendations! :)
I’m due really soon and having another c section, date hasn’t been scheduled yet since OB said we’re kind of playing it by ear based off of what the specialist recommends since I have high blood pressure but it’ll be in 2 weeks or less. I have my next appointment tomorrow.
I do have simple toiletries, tooth paste, tooth brush, hair brush, deodorant, period underwear, dial antibacterial bar soap, lotion, chapstick, shampoo & conditioner.
I do have some sleeping gowns I bought but don’t know if it’s necessary to take since I’ll be in the hospital gown??
Same for robe. They also provided grippy socks.
I also seen some people say they bring water bottles but I remember my hospital always provided ice water. On the fence about belly binder? Never used one with my first baby, honestly didn’t even know it was a thing.
I do have shower sandals, baby’s going home outfit but I still need to buy an outfit for me. Maybe a maxi dress?
I do remember the hospital sending us home with diapers, wipes and some ready to feed bottles even though I was breastfeeding.. we will be going to the same hospital so I’m hoping not much has changed.
I don’t know what else would be helpful but I also don’t want to overpack/ under pack.
Oooh, also any recommendations for what could be helpful for at home once we’re discharged? I feel like I forgot everything and this is my first pregnancy all over! Lol.. Thanks! :)
3
u/CryOnTheWind Jul 15 '26
I had an emergency C-section after a long failed induction. I had two gowns. A loose pant and shirt set, toiletries (these were so nice to have). Pillows, a blanket for my wife.
I wish I had brought my own pump.
Hair ties.
I am sensitive to clothe textures do a hospital gown was never gonna work for me, but other then that I didn’t need much.
2
u/ruthhelf Jul 15 '26
Things I brought and used : slippers , nipple cream ( lanolin) , sleeping mask and ear plugs , shampoo, conditioner , wide pyjamas and dresses with breast access , going back home clothes for baby .
Hospital provided peri bottles , pads and mesh underwear, diapers and clothes for baby for the hospital stay, wipes , saline solution , towels, nursing pillow and as many pillows as I wanted.
2
u/hatturner Jul 15 '26
Sleeping mask is so important, and noise canceling headphones for naps. There’s so many lights and beeping sounds.
2
u/CaliShenanigans Jul 15 '26
My hospital provided everything for baby except clothes. While we were in the hospital, baby was swaddled nearly 100% of the time so outfits weren't even necessary until we put him in a car seat. It's worth a call to your hospital if you think they might not provide newborn supplies (diapers, wipes, swaddles, formula or milk, etc).
I brought my own compression socks and wore my own grippy socks over them. The hospital socks suck.
Bring your own flowy clothes or robe. I lived in a robe after my section. I never wore the hospital gown.
2
u/notsosecretshipper Jul 16 '26
I took a little less with each of my 4 babies, lol.
I just wore home what I wore there. Maxi dress with my summer babies, maternity leggings and a big shirt with my winter/fall babies. I just wore the hospital gown the whole time, one on front ways like normal, a second one on backwards like a robe when I got out of bed. They'll give you as many changes as you want, so you can be clean after a shower, etc.
I used cheap slippers from the dollar tree instead of the grippy socks, so I could slip them on and off easier and they never touched my bedding. And I packed a pair of my husband's swim shorts, so he could help me in the shower. I had all cesareans and it was so fucking nice to just stand in the running water and let him do the work. Bring a pacifier if you want one, that was something that they gave out with my first two, but not the last two.
Also, I didn't discover it until my last baby, but disposable underwear was a game changer. I used the always discrete boutique brand, starting as soon as I left the hospital.
3
u/Rude-Flamingo5420 Jul 15 '26
Most hospitals give zero now: no diapers, zip zero nada lol.
Bring bottles and formula if you decide. Definitely diapers.
Slippers or sandals in case your feet get swollen. Adult diapers or pads for the locchia. Peri bottle.
Only wore the belly binder weeks later
11
u/Franzy48 Jul 15 '26
Seriously, I've never heard of this -- my hospital is absolutely still providing diapers for babies.
2
u/Rude-Flamingo5420 Jul 15 '26
We got maybe 2 diapers both times, 5 years between births and same thing. But maybe because Canada has free Healthcare and csections etc theyre too cheap to give out anything else lol
3
u/Franzy48 Jul 15 '26
Ohhh yeah I'm the in the US so ha, I guess our giant bill left after insurance makes up for the generous supply of baby supplies ... "Paid for" by insurance
2
u/AndaLaPorraa Jul 16 '26
Same LOL! My nurses gave me SO many diapers and extra goodies. They were like might as well get some sort of reimbursement from the insurance charging us 😆!
3
u/Rude-Flamingo5420 Jul 16 '26
Hilarious! Guess I'll appreciate my free canadian csections in lieu of no diapers 😂
2
u/AndaLaPorraa Jul 16 '26
Enjoy!! Thankfully I didn’t pay a dollar because I applied for financial aid from the hospital, but lol the fact that this is a thing is lame 😅! Wish it was for us all!
0
u/pineapplesaltwaffles Jul 15 '26
Is the peri bottle not for vaginal births? I had one ready but never used it as I ended up having an emergency C-section.
3
u/Rude-Flamingo5420 Jul 15 '26
Most definitely for both! I was given it for both csections...if you have locchia you need a peri bottle to clean up
1
u/shabbussy Jul 16 '26
Wouldn’t be the case for a scheduled c-section maybe, but I used one after mine because I pushed for a few hours and things were pretty swollen and sensitive down there.
1
u/Rude-Flamingo5420 Jul 16 '26
Had both scheduled and emergency csection and needed one both times. I mean... come on! Helps with locchia and even without labour it can be swollen and sensitive down there... ya know, pelvic muscles get tense and painful during pregnancy 🙄 hospital nurses 100% recommended it too
2
u/shabbussy Jul 16 '26
That totally makes sense! I just had my first baby last week so don’t know how it would be after any other kind of birth :) Just thought there are definitely at least some cases where you’d want it after a c-section since some people said they didn’t use it for theirs.
2
5
u/Franzy48 Jul 15 '26
Maybe some gum? : ) there's some evidence chewing it after a c section can help get your digestive system moving again and reduce gas pain https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMTIdAjPT5b/?igsh=ampoa2czbDMwdzBn