What’s in the bag?! (hospital essentials)

So, a few days ago, I was having a little mommy to be chit chat with my sweet sister and we got on the topic of what to bring to the hospital for the big day!! I decided to compile a list along with a few explanations for some items and why they’re so awesome to have!

First off, the no brainers:
Toiletries
Phone charger
Snacks
Book
iPad/tablet
Headphones
Chapstick
Camera

Must haves you may not think of:
Pillow case(non white) & pillow, especially if you prefer a firm pillow!
Lanolin for breastfeeding mamas
Breast/nipple shields (for those stubborn little stinkers)
Comfy, snap or zip-front gowns(2 or 3); I purchased mine from Walmart

Things you think you’ll need but don’t:
Panties– don’t worry about it, just wear the hospital issued undies! They’re actually really comfy and you’re paying for them anyway. So, why not?!
Diapers– most hospitals will supply you with everything you need for baby and if you run low, just ask! Again, your insurance covers these miscellaneous things, so, there’s no reason for you to bring this stuff.

Baby:
Cute outfit for pictures -I’d say bring a preemie, newborn & 0-3mo if you’re a first time mom, otherwise we have a pretty good idea of what size babies we birth! Lol
Mittens! Have you seen newborn nails! They’re razor sharp!
Raw Shea butter or coconut oil– these are actually good for you and baby. After babies first bath, slather them! Their skin is so dry and moisturizing will keep it from cracking an bleeding. As for momma, massage either on your tummy and breasts. As your milk comes in, this will aide in the stretching of your skin and prevent chafing and stretch marks.

Eva: living one

My first born. Hmmm, about her arrival. Talk about rude awakening! As 6:30 am appears across the screen of my iPhone 3G, I’m stricken with the urge to well, pee. I waddle into the bathroom to relive myself and back to my bedroom where I hear a pop followed by what felt as if I’d peed my pants. I shoot my man a text exclaiming how I thought my water had broken. I start getting dressed and gather my bags for the hospital all while answering questions from my dad like, “are you hurting?” Ummm, hell yeah! A human being is on a mission to exit my vagina. I think it’s safe to say I’m in pain. Despite the anxious thoughts swarming around in my head, I manage a very reserved, ‘no’. As I wait for my mom to take me to the hospital, I take one last mirror pic to send to my honey. The time is 7:38 am and at this time, I’ve officially been in labor for an hour. “Not too bad. I can do this without meds!” I think to myself. So my mom rushes into the house in a frenzy to get me out and into the car (she’s so dramatic). She asks if I’m okay and starts breathing with me, “Hee hee whooooo, hee hee whooooo.” All I can think is, “Oh shit, I’m really about to have a baby. This is really happening!” In a flux of emotion, I join my mom in the whole ‘hee hee whooooo’ hoopla. I figure she knows what she’s doing, she did have all three of us. We arrive to the ER and they send me up to labor and delivery where they tell me they’re going to keep me for an hour to see if there’s any change before they could admit me. It’s 8:00 am and all I can think is, “I have to be in this pain for an hour?! Fuck that!” No really. I was pissed! I knew nothing of birthing babies at the time, but I was certain my little one was on her way. So my contractions are intense now, and I just keep waiting on someone to come save me. Anybody. I beg my mom to make the nurse check my cervix. It’s 8:30am and the nurse asks if I can wait until 9am because she’s afraid of introducing bacteria and blah blah some shit I don’t want to hear. So I just say, ‘okay’. I manage to make it to 8:45am when I feel the uncontrollable urge to push. My mom tells me not to push, but I’m looking at her like, how in the hell do you expect me to not push? Anyway, I start yelling and in rush the doctors and nurses prepping me for birthing my little girl. I ask, “Can I get an epidural?” And a nurse responds, “No!” I’m instantly brought to reality and now, I’m scared. My mom and the nurses tell me I’ve done the hard part already. At 9:00am, I start pushing and between pushes I’m laughing at myself and talking about how bad I thought it was going to be. After 9 pushes, my sweet baby girl is born. It’s 9:09am and I have a healthy 6lb 13oz spitting image of my husband. She’s beautiful and truly epitomizes her name. She is life. Eva.