I have met MANY soon-to-be-new-mommy's, and even experianced mommy-to-be's that don't know about this stuff. When you go into a hospital to have your child, your hospital stay covers everything you and your new bundle of joy needs. I encourage you to request any or ALL the things you and your baby need/will-need from this list of things the hospital will give you,offer you,or they have you just need to ask for.
If by any chance you need socks, a robe or PJ's you can request "slipper-socks" at the hospital, "scrubs", and a robe. When I had my daughter I left the hospital with 4 pairs of "Slipper socks", pj's (they were like scrubs) and a robe. They arent fancy but they are comfy.(And trust me after giving birth you really won't care how you look, as long as you are comfy.) I also left with MANY things I needed for afterbirth,nursing & for my child.
If your going to nurse remember to ask for a breast pump, they will give you a hand-pump, which will help you until you can get an electric one, or if you like the manual then it didn't cost you anything.(Your insurance will already cover it.) If you are going to nurse then remember to ask for storage bottles, they will give you a few of them.(Which is very helpfull, and nice to have.) Remmeber to request nursing pads, and nipple cream too.
If you are going to bottle feed they will give you ready-feed formula bottles. Remember to ask for more formula,they will gladly give you more.(Put it in your hospital bag, or diaper bad & stock up.)Trust me formula is EXPENSIVE, and you will use ALOT of it over the first year of your childs life, if you don't nurse.)
You will get a diaper bag with coupons and a couple samples ready-to-feed formula in it. At the hospital they will provide you with a package of diapers, wipes (generally dry-wipes because it is the best choice on a newborn baby), a thermometer, vasoline, a baby comb,baby wash, and baby lotion. You can ask your nuse to bring you more diapers,wipes,baby wash, and lotion.
For yourself they should give you a "mommy bag",it should have pads, a squirt bottle (its not a squirt bottle you drink out of), disposible underware,nursing pads,shampoo, bodywash,combs,tooth brush, and tooth paste. If you don't get one, ask for one.However some hospitals don't have them but they DO have ALL the contents that I listed that is in one. Any of this stuff you can request more of, and I recommend that you do get as much pads and stuff that you need as you can get.
When your nurses switch shifts is a good time to ask for more things you & your baby will need. I recommend you write a list and hand it to your nurse---thats what I did. Don't worry about asking for too much your insurance covers your whole stay and everything you and baby needs so you might as well get everything you and your baby are intitled to. Trust me you will truely be thankfull that you did ask for everything,and stock up.
