Labor and Delivery - More Unsolicited Advice!

So if you read my previous post, you are familiar with the births of my two sons and how dramatically different they both were! I think a lot of that is because of choices and circumstances, but the biggest thing I overlooked with my first birth was getting educated enough before hand. Yeah, I read books and read stuff online, but my husband and I did not take a birthing class (I know, shocking!) mainly because his work schedule was absolutely awful the months before we had Jackson. We literally did not have weekends or evenings to go together! One thing I really regret with my first son's birth is not getting educated enough on the birthing process and my options, and I certainly did not have the right kind of support, excluding my hubby of course!

You know, birthing has changed over the years. Years ago, it was normal for women to have babies in their homes. (I know a lot of women still do... I'm just saying the percentage is lower now than it used to be hehe!) Mothers were aided by their sisters and their mothers and their own daughters. I don't think birth was the big "mystery" that it is these days. Most women had seen birth while growing up and weren't afraid of it. It was a natural occurrence. I had never seen a birth before my own, so of course I had fears and uncertainty going into my own births because I had no idea what to expect. So instead of trying to get as much help as possible beforehand, I was like, "ehh we'll just see what happens and go with it!" Well, that didn't work out for us... at all!!! We had a healthy baby (so thankful!), but not the birth I was hoping for! 

So what I learned for my second birth, is that if I wanted it to go differently than my first, then I had to make different preparations. I had to talk to people. I had to get help and get a good advocate for my health and my baby's health, and to help support my amazing hubbie through the process! So we hired a doula this time around, and I talked to one of my good friends who teaches natural birthing class a LOT. I read books and talked to Jacob about the info, I tried to talk to as many people as I could who had had a VBAC before and what they did to be successful.

Through my months of pregnancy with my second son, I made notes from people like Julia and Lourdes, and then also added my own thoughts after I had my second birth. These are just some things that helped Jacob and I have a better experience the second time around, and I just wanted to share them with anyone who is trying to prepare for their birth!

Ok, let me just say, again... I'm no expert and this has been just information passed on to me that I have found useful, and also just some things that helped me with Jude's unmedicated birth! I don't want to overstep or say too much but I am open and honest about things, just because if anyone is about to have a baby, I want them to be comfortable going into their birth! 

This is kind of long... apologizing in advance! (This seems to be the theme lately!)

Tips: (from Julia) - Julia is an amazing lady, with so much knowledge about birth!

• Push with your body rather than on command. Some people think pushing feels like an OVERWHELMING urge (kind of like a vomiting urge), some say the urge to push is present but not overwhelming, some don't feel one. If you don't feel an urge, you may need to change position- baby might not be hitting the pelvic floor at the right angle to trigger the urge. When you do feel an urge, push for as long as you feel it, then rest and conserve your energy. If it takes time, that's good! It gives the skin time to stretch rather than tear. ;)
• If baby comes fast, you can lay on your side to slow baby down, get some rest, and give your skin more time to stretch. 
• If baby comes slowly, use gravity during pushing. Get on knees and kneel. Hands and knees helps baby get in a good position and is gravity neutral (Yes, you can push a baby out while on hands and knees!)
• If baby seems stuck, squat! Squatting opens your pelvis by 30% more. 
• You can bring oils (olive or coconut) to put on your perineum to help baby slide out and prevent tearing. Also, you can request perineal support (doc or nurse holds the skin together to prevent tearing.)
• Keep your sounds low and open (think "o" and "u" rather than a or e)
• Think of each contraction as progress, leading you closer to your baby. Think "open", tell Yourself you want it to get more intense. 

More from Julia... There are a lot of things that affect the pace and duration of labor. One of the biggest is your attitude and environment. If you are uncomfortable, embarrassed or feel rushed, you can actually slow your labor down. When you can relax, at least mentally, you progress. That's why it's so beneficial to practice relaxation. Spend time listening to your labor music or have your hubby read some scriptures to you while you focus on relaxing tension in your body. When we're tense, we actually ADD to the pain in our bodies, feeding fear, making us more tense. It's a vicious cycle!! Practice taking HUGE deep breaths, filling your belly with air, relaxing your shoulders and jaw. (Bonus tip: the tension in your jaw directly correlates to the tension in your cervix!) Truly, one of the greatest benefits of a doula is having someone else totally at ease and happy- gives you lots of reassurance in a room full of people who are either uncomfortable or unattached! When I've given labor support, I make sure I smile every time mom looks at me. Trevor (Julia's husband) always smiled at me between contractions and it kept me from getting discouraged or worried. :)

Once labor/contractions have started...(Most of this is from Julia and Lourdes)

• Sleep - Sleep and rest in the beginning stages as much as you can.
• Walk
• Eat - Eat good food while you are at home, once you get to the hospital they will most likely not allow you to eat anything. Eat something with protein, eggs are good!
• Drink water after every contraction - It is super important to stay hydrated during labor. 
• Bathroom - go often, every hour - Emptying your bladder makes room for the baby to make its way down.
• Relaxation - relax muscles, spell open, jaw relaxed, be a ghost (make deep, low moaning sounds - the lower the better), showers - try to relax other parts of your body... relax your face, relax your shoulders... the more other muscles in your body tense up, the less productive your contractions will be as far as opening your cervix. This is something to start practicing now as you go to bed at night or rest on the couch. Start from your head and consciously go through each part of your body and focus on relaxing it until you get to your feet.
• Position change - hands and knees for back labor, squating opens your pelvis for bigger babies - make sure you do not just lie on your back - your baby has to get into position to come out! Lying on your back causes the baby to settle in looking out of your stomach instead of looking at your spine or to the side. If you get an epidural, make sure that your nurse is moving your legs or rolling you to your side, or making your bed into a throne position.
• Breathing - deep breaths, balloon - breathing is so key, deep breaths through each contraction. 
• Massage - Have husband or doula massage your back, feet, hands, legs, whatever feels good that can get you to relax
• Counter pressure - palms on hip bones and squeeze while on hands and knees, or hubby against wall and I lean against his fists - Applying opposite pressure to where you are hurting can help. (I had a lot of back labor, so I would lean over the bed and Jacob would push against my back during contractions. Leaning over the bed was also a good position for baby to swing his back down to come out face down.)
• Encouraging words - you're doing great, making progress - This is the hubby's job! Remind you that you are doing great, you are making progress and each contraction will bring you closer to your baby. Remind her that this will only last a short time, that God made your body for this and you can birth this baby!

With Jackson's birth, we went to the hospital way too early. I would recommend staying at home as long as possible where you can eat, rest, bounce on an exercise ball, take a shower... You will know when things change and pick up and when it is time to go. Contractions should be 3 minutes apart and lasting 1-2 minutes I think is what my doula recommended. 

Wait as long as you can to get an epidural if this is what you want to do. Once you get an epidural you are very limited to how you can move, and moving is so important to get your baby in position. I loved not having an epidural with Jude's birth because one, I was awake and conscious this time unlike Jackson's birth, two, I could feel what I needed to do with my body to push him out later, and three, he was SUPER alert and it was so awesome how well he nursed after coming out. It really was amazing how different their levels of alertness were.

They had a bath tub at our hospital that I was able to use, and that helped me relax a ton and get through some of the harder parts of the labor. 

I would also recommend that you let your water break on its own rather than your doctor breaking it for you. Again, having fluid inside of your body means that baby can move easier to get into the right position to progress labor and come out. My water broke at 9 cm (such a blessing!) and the pressure was much more intense after that happened. I also opted to tear naturally instead of getting an episiotomy. It is supposedly easier to recover from. 

Also, as hard as it is, try to do things yourself to encourage labor to start rather than being induced. I know it is hard to wait, and I know sometimes it just doesn't happen for people, but I have so many friends that have told me the regretted being induced because their body just wasn't ready yet and the contractions were much more intense from the pitocin. A good website to help with getting baby into position to get labor started and progressing is spinningbabies.com.

I think right the best thing you can do is pray and find some good verses to meditate on. I looked up online verses for birth and labor and then made some verse images on the Bible app. I looked at those the months before we had Jude, everyday the week leading up to our birth and afterwards. They really helped me focus and look to God through the hard parts, especially after I had him and we weren't sure what was going to happen with all of the bleeding and if I would have to go back for surgery. 

Positive thinking really does help too. You can do this. Your body was made to do this. God will take care of you and your baby! Eat good food, drink water, eat some pineapple, sleep and rest as much as you can and be positive about the birth. Your hubby will be a wonderful support for you and experiencing this together will only bring you closer to each other. 

I really feel like that anyone can have an unmedicated birth if that is what you want. I didn't think I could do it, even in labor I contemplated having an epidural, but they told me I could have the same experience again as I did with Jackson so I just kept pushing through each contraction and eventually you are done! Even the hours add up to such a short time in the grand scheme of things and I seriously believe that anyone is strong enough to do it. 

So, really a more informative post than normal, but I thought it was a lot of good information! Hope it helps someone out there!

Preggo Points for Pregnancy Health and Preparing for Birth

I like to start a lot of my posts off by saying that, "I am no expert!" because I am not! I am just a momma who has learned a lot from two pregnancies and one but almost two births and love to share with others what I have read about and used for myself that has helped! I have had a couple of friends asked me for advice on things to do to help your body get ready for birth or to encourage labor in the sense of getting your body headed in that direction, so I just thought I would make a post about some of the things I have done that seem to have been beneficial.

1. Take pictures! - Haha this was a no brainer, right?? We have tried to take pictures every week or every other week so we can watch the baby's growth! I did a photo album for my first son and did a whole spread of each of the weeks, it was pretty cool! I have loved comparing those bump pics to my second son's bump pics too!

2. Drink Chlorophyll - I mentioned this in a previous post about gestational diabetes, because of the digestive and circulatroy benefits it can give you. My friend who is a birthing coach recommended it to me. It has helped my regulate my blood sugars, but it also can help your body with swelling. I have really been shocked at how little swelling I have had this pregnancy, and I think this is one reasons why! I got this from Amazon, and it has lasted a long time because you only drink 1 tsp in 8 oz. of water twice a day. It has a minty flavor and is actually refreshing! I drink this at breakfast and dinner. My doula also recommended this to me, as it helps with your immunity, postpartum healing because it strengthens body tissue. Chlorophyll's molecular makeup is similar to that of a red blood cell except that the center of the atom is magnesium instead of iron. It has a lot of detoxifying effects in our body, binding metals that we don't need and removing those, and protects us against a lot of different carcinogens. Obviously you can obtain chlorophyll from your food, by eating more dark green vegetables in your diet.

3. Coconut Water - This is great for hydration. Another reason you may have swelling is because you aren't drinking enough water. Sounds backwards, right?? Same way that not consuming enough protein can be a cause for preeclampsia, which has a retention of too much protein in your blood. Coconut water is great to drink for daily hydration, but it is also good to sip on during labor for those same hydration purposes. I found this one at Target that also has pineapple in it, which has benefits of its own which I will cover in just a minute! Coconut water also has a lot of potassium in it, which is also good for you. I had some potassium deficiencies at the very beginning of my pregnancy and this fixed it really quickly!! Coconut water helps with immunity, tiredness and fatigue, and also kidney function and prevention of UTIs and possibly helps with blood pressure regulation as well. I also have read that this can help with morning sickness for some and constipation. Doesn't pregnancy just sound wonderful haha?? Coconut water can also help with metabolism and detoxifying your system, controlling diabetes and also balancing your body's pH levels.

4. Red Raspberry Tea - There are a lot of pregnancy teas you can drink to help your uterus prepare for birth but I have just been drinking plain red raspberry tea. I usually drink it once a day, and later in pregnancy 2-3 times a day. Another way to get in some good hydration! When taken during pregnancy, red raspberry leaf is said to aid the mother’s immune system, ease morning sickness and promote better circulation. Taking raspberry leaf is said to strengthen uterine muscles and tone the pelvic floor in preparation for childbirth, as well as assist with breastmilk supply. It supposedly also helps with reducing bleeding after giving birth, helps with relaxing the smooth muscles of the uterus when it is contracting and in birthing the placenta. When reading about this online, I read that women who drank this regularly had shorter second stages of labor and reduced birthing interventions. One of the side effects is that it can increase Braxton hicks contractions, which is why it is advised to not drink a lot of it early on in your pregnancy.

5. Supplements - I take a number of supplements... I do this on a regular basis even when I am not pregnant, so really when I am pregnant I just switch out my multivitamin to a prenatal. I try to eat healthy but I feel like I don't get the proper nutrients that my body needs from my meals, especially being a mom and eating what is available at times or scarfing something, anything down just to keep up with my toddler! I get all of my supplements from Amazon and do subscribe and save. From my research and talking with my cousin who is a nutritionist, it is pointless to take supplements that aren't good quality because your body can't absorb them, so I generally try to get brands that are better quality for that reason.

• Cod Liver Oil - Helps with infant brain development, heart and joint development. See more about cod liver oil in this post. I have heard that some people switch to a different oil at the end of their pregnancy because cod liver oil can possibly cause your placenta to be sticky but I don't know a lot about the recommendations for that.
• B Complex - Helps with fatigue and nausea during pregnancy
• Vitamin C - Immunity
• Prenatal Vitamin - Make sure that your prenatal has folic acid or folate. I prefer folate over folic acid because folic acid is synthetic. See more about my prenatal vitamin below. Here are a couple of links over the difference between folate and folic acid...
• Folic Acid vs. Folate
• Why I Regret Taking my Prenatal Vitamin
• Calcium - I usually try to take a calcium supplement with also magnesium and Vitamin D to help with absorption. Helps protect bones and teeth, helps with muscle contractions and nerve health. I have read before that the baby will take what it needs from your body, so pregnancy can cause a calcium deficiency in our bodies, leaving us more susceptible to osteoporosis later in life.
• Probiotic - Helps with immunity and digestive health, as well as preventing Group B strep.

6. Evening Primrose Oil - This helps soften your cervix, good to start taking around 38-39 weeks of your pregnancy. I've also read that it is good for regulating blood pressure and shortening labor time, but I have read other controversial things about this as well. You may want to read up on it more before starting it. 

7. Prenatal Vitamin - I have loved taking this prenatal from New Chapter. It has folate in it instead of folic acid, and hasn't upset my stomach like some I have taken in the past. Also recommended from my cousin's wife who is a nutritionist. Subscribe and save on Amazon baby!

8. Pineapple - With my first son, during my third trimester, I was CRAVING pineapple and eating it constantly. I had no idea that this was actually a good thing to be doing anyway haha! My students at school actually started making fun of me about it... "there goes Mrs. Campbell, eating that pineapple again..." So I read up on it a little bit because I heard from someone (can't remember who) that it was actually really good to consume during the third trimester. Here's why... Not only is it good to help with digestion (you have so many digestive issues prego!), it helps soften your cervix and ease labor. So it apparently was good that I was eating one a week by myself! Some other perks include immunity boast (it is high in vitamin C), helps maintain healthy heart and nerve function and bone health. I have also read lately that it helps with milk production and breastfeeding as well, reduces swelling and possible clogged ducts when your milk comes in and if you chose to wean later. So eat up mommas! And stick with the fresh pineapple, yes it's kind of a pain to cut up, but it tastes better and the benefits listed apply the the fresh pineapple route rather than the canned.

10. Spinning Babies WebSite - Baby positioning is really important to prepare for labor, and there are a lot of things you can do to help encourage your baby to get into the right position! I had looked at this website some with Jackson, and my doula also recommended it again for Jude. I do think that crawling around more, laying on my left side as much as I could and other positions have helped Jude get LOA, or his back being on my left and head down. It is really important to make sure that you don't recline as much as possible, that can encourage your baby to sit looking out instead of to your side or eventually looking in towards your spine. I read in the Bradley Method book that we have many more posterior babies (coming out face up) because we sit and recline much more than we used to. So anyway, just a good resource to loo at!

11. Prayer Cards, Meditation ... be patient!- I have started making verse images on my Bible App to focus on during labor, and meditate on beforehand. I wish I would have done this more with Jackson. I think it is so truly important to draw yourself closer to our Lord before you go into labor... He has created your body for this act, don't doubt what you body can do. Pray specifically for how you want your birth to go... don't just ask for a healthy baby and delivery... ask for specifics, for your doctor to be present, what time do you want to labor, for you to have opportunity to rest, to have a vaginal delivery, for the timing to work out, for your labor to be quick, to be able to withstand the pain and relax your body and embrace the contractions... the list could go on. There are tons of other people's blogs that have good verse recommendations for labor, just google it! Here is one I found that I used and liked. But be patient with your body, and wait. I told my husband that I feel like you have to get completely miserable and absolutely uncomfortable and then your baby will make its appearance hehe.

12. Read other Birthing Stories - I ended up having to have a c-section with my first son, mainly from complications from my epidural, and then he was face up and not coming out at the end... so for this pregnancy my husband and I are hoping for a VBAC. Let me tell you, this was probably the hardest decision we have made together. Mainly because a lot of people (including my old doctor) made us feel like we were risking the life of our baby and being selfish, even though a vaginal birth is a better option for mom and baby. This was a hard decision, but one of the things that has helped me a lot is reading other people's birth stories and just talking to other people about their VBACs. I have been amazed, shocked even, at how many people around me have had VBACs, and I firmly believe that we are in good hands with my doula and doctor and that our Lord will watch over us during our birth.

13. Rest - Be careful how you sit and lounge! It is best to lay on your left side as often as you can. This helps baby slide to our left side and is also good for digestion and to reduce swelling. Also try to sit up straight and not lounge as much. Rest is so important though when you are counting down the days to labor. I really should be telling myself this over and over because I am the queen of not resting and feeling compelled to do as much as possible during the day. But my doula has reminded me that one of the biggest reasons that people get epidurals is because they are worn out and tired during labor. So rest up, drink water and eat good food!

14. Activity - Exercise is important, walk and do some yoga! Stretch those muscles and keep yourself in good shape! You will be thankful you did so after you have your baby too and have less weight to lose!

15. Stay Hydrated, Be selective with food - I keep saying that it is important to drink water, but it really is... not being hydrated can cause braxton hicks contractions more often and often can be the reason for contractions in the beginning but not real labor. Also during your third trimester, I would just recommend being careful with your carbs and sugar intake. And trust me, I am the queen of dessert and obsessed with muffins and scones... for real I crave them like crazy, it's horrible. But having gestational diabetes has MADE me be more disciplined, and I am not perfect, but my weight gain has been so much better this time around and I have felt better over all. So as hard as it is, have a little restraint hehe!

16. Chiropractor - I have gone to a chiropractor for both of my pregnancies. Not only has this helped with back and hip pain, it also helps to keep your pelvis aligned so that the baby can rotate and get into the correct position for birth.

17. Alfalfa - Take an alfalfa supplement. This is something I did not do and regretted it! Alfalfa helps control bleeding after you give birth. I had major post partum hemorrhaging from my uterus not being able to clamp down (big baby and lots of fluid) and lost a lot of blood. I had to have two blood transfusions over the next few days to get my hemoglobin levels up. My doula had recommended to take this but for whatever reason I never "got around" to ordering some and adding to to my diet. Definitely will if there is a next time, trust me on that!

18. Doula - I saved this one for last because it has been one of the most important things we could have done. We hired a doula for this birth. Yes, it is money, but if I could go back and do anything differently for my first birth, I would have hired a doula. She has been a wealth of knowledge, and confidant, and she will be here with us while we labor at home and help us decide when to go to the hospital. She will be at the hospital with us, to help us make decisions and be an advocate for us. She has so so so much experience and has seen things go well and go wrong, she has had a VBAC herself... I just can't express how much that means to us, who are nervous about doing this ourselves, she is the best decision we have ever made. She has helped me with nutrition, birth knowledge and things we can do to get ready for labor. She will be there with us after the baby is born and help with breastfeeding. She will come to our house later to check up on us and provide post partum support. The list goes on and on. And if you research the benefits of having a doula online, you will see that statistically, people have shorter labors and less intervention, and more successful births when they have a doula present with them. Worth it.

There is SO much you can do, and this could go on and on... and on... but these are the things that I have focused on and they have seemed to help me. You can take parts of it and do what you feel comfortable with. My advice would be to do what you can and be content with that. You can never do everything and never control everything, as much as you try to prepare, you still have to trust your body and go with what happens. Trust yourself, trust your hubbie, hire a doula and pray. Pray a lot, because really that should have been my number one hehe! You will do great, you can take positives from any birthing experience, even though it make take time to do so. I wasn't able to say that I was thankful for the way Jackson's birth went until just a couple of months ago because I knew I needed to find peace with his birth before I have Jude. Good luck with your pregnancy, good luck with your birth and may you have a wonderful beginning with your new little one!

Packing for the BIG trip to the hospital!!

Well, you hit 36-37 weeks and you start hearing that you need to pack a bag for the hospital, just in case, right?? Even though you would have time during the early part of your labor to get things together, it is better to be prepared!! 

37 Week Belly Belly!

So I thought I would do a quick post on what I have brought before and also what I am planning on bringing this time around. Some of these things I brought last time and were definitely worth it, and a few things are new that I have read about from other random blogs online. I would try to be conservative, you won't be there long, and you will leave with more than you came with!

What to pack for Mom:

Pack a little cosmetic bag with your favorite travel sized items... the bag you see here is a 31 bag. Two of my sister in laws sell 31 bags so I have a TON of it! haha!

• lotion/body wash
• shampoo/conditioner - yes you will at some point be able to shower and wash your hair! yay!
• deoderant
• floss/toothbrush/toothpaste
• cue-tips
• compact brush/hair ties/head band
• kleenex
• face wipes - these are nice for when you can't shower or if you have a c-section and can't really get out of bed quite yet to wash your face
• dry shampoo - in case you don't want to wash your hair again or feel like you can't (I will never forget my mom helping me in the shower after my c-section with my hair! What would we do without our mommies!?)
• hair dryer - I love my hair dryer, so I'm planning on bringing it hehe!
• makeup - I don't think I put any on after my first birth but some people feel like wearing it!
• driver's license and medical cards

What to bring for Mom to wear:

• Nursing Nightgown - I got this one from Macy's. It has an elastic neck so you can pull it down for easy nursing. I am planning on finding another one before baby comes hopefully! This one looks like a good option on Amazon, very similar to the one I own. I usually don't wear nightgowns, I prefer shorts and a top, but regardless of what birth outcome you have, it will be easier for nurses to take care of things for you! ;0)
• Robe - You will most likely have lots of visitors! I used this a couple of times to cover up really quickly if we had visitors (like my friend's hubbies! hehe!) that I wanted to be more conservative around!
• Boy Short Undies - These were the BEST to have after birth with Jackson. I normally wear a size small, but I bought these from Target in a size large. You don't want anything restrictive on you after birth, trust me on that! I read online that this style of undies were great for after giving birth and whoever advised that weren't joking!
• Nursing Bras - I brought a couple of sleep nursing bras and a normal nursing bra. Medela makes great sleep nursing bras, (I would size up, I normally wear a small but I ordered a medium and it fit well.) and this Bravado bra has been my go to for daily wear. Yes, they are a little pricey, but so worth it and so comfortable, and trust me, you want to be comfortable!!
• Lanolin Cream - Yes, bring your lanolin cream with you, they won't have any at the hospital and you possibly may need some. 
• Nursing Pads - I like the washable kind of nursing pads. I don't leak a ton, so these are great and easy to change out and wash. The disposable ones aren't nearly as forgiving for soreness, cracking ect. that can happen when you are first beginning with nursing!
• Slippers for walking the halls or Flip Flops
• Going home outfit - I usually bring a couple of things because I don't know what I will feel like wearing. Maternity pants are a good go to, you will still look a little prego when you leave! I am also bringing a high waisted maxi dress, those are pretty comfy too. :0)
• Some people recommend bringing pads ect for after because they prefer specific brands, but I just used what the hospital provided and they were fine.

Yes Dad, that's my bra online for the world to see haha... 

This is something you need to ask about before you go to the hospital... I got this band from the hospital after my first c-section and it was AMAZING. They wrapped me up in this and it helped so much to support my core after surgery. If it is your first birth, I would just ask your doctor if the hospital provides them. If not, you may want to find some kind of belly binder for after birth. There were a couple of times I took this off for an hour or two to wash it and thought I was going to die. It is totally worth it to buy one and bring with you. This Post Delivery Belt is very similar to what I have and would be helpful for either kind of birth I think. These are also good to just help your body "bounce back" a little faster from what I have read. I have also read that other countries are big on wrapping your tummy after birth to help things go back where they belong, and I would agree that this baby helped things go back down a little faster!

What to pack for Dad:

• Cosmetic stuff
• Swimming trunks - two of my friends recommended this because their hubbies were in and out of the shower with them helping with back labor 
• Flip Flops
• Comfy Clothes for a few days
• Tennis balls ect. that you may need to use for labor
• driver's license and medical cards - you definitely want Dad to be able to go into the hospital with you!!!

What to pack for Baby:

For my first birth I brought my whole diaper bag, I know, overkill! haha... but this time I am just bringing my purse/Mommy bag and packing a few things for the baby in my bag. You really don't need as much as you think, just because the hospital provides diapers, wipes, blankets... most of what you need for your new little one. Just think about if there is anything personal you would like to have with you.

• Going home outfit
• Couple of newborn gowns - we didn't do this with Jackson but I am bringing a couple this time. for Jude.
• Nail file - Jackson's nails were SO long, it was bizarre! Just would have been nice to have this so he didn't scratch his face!
• Burp Cloth
• Don't forget the infant carseat!

Some other random things for everyone...

• Sound Machine - seems unnecessary right? But it's not. I would recommend either getting a white noise app or a cheap white noise machine to block out hospital noise from people in the hallway or next door neighbors. We heard a lot from the people next to us with their new little one, and you are already waking with your own baby or nurses coming to take random vitals so the white noise will be nice!
• Nursing Pillow - I didn't bring this with Jackson but I am this time. I just used a pillow from the hospital but it was hard to balance him on it and he would slide around easily. This is my favorite pillow, not as big as the Boppy and I only had to pay for shipping with a promo code I found. Yep, it was FREE.
• Snacks - Bring some granola bars, nuts, coconut water to keep you hydrated during labor, and pineapple juice supposedly is good to help with milk supply
• Phone Chargers
• Camera
• Sibling Gifts - We are planning on having Jackson bring a little gift to the hospital for Jude and one for Jude to give him. Just thought it would be fun :0)

Big brother testing out the sound machine, making sure it works!

So these are just some ideas from a Momma! I hope it helps you plan what you need for your trip to the hospital! It is so weird to think that coming home you will not be prego anymore and you will have this new little human with you!! Happy birthing!!