We are SO excited to welcome our little Wilder James into the world. This past week has felt like a dream I never want to wake up from. I wanted to share with you guys a few bits of information I thought would be helpful regarding our hospital stay when giving birth, as well as some of my postpartum and breastfeeding essentials.
Hospital necessities:
- Pajamas – Of course I brought my tried and true Lake Pajamas {maternity} with me. I know you guys have heard me go on and on about these pajamas but they are the best of the best. Soft, comfortable, stylish and the buttons down the front make it easy to breastfeed. I wear a size M and wash + dry them like normal {I do not hang dry!} I also brought these Eberjay pajamas which are extremely soft and comfortable.
- Bathrobe – This is a must for me – I am a huge robe person in the first place but especially with a newborn. When I snuggle the baby up to my chest, I want the material to be soft and cozy making it comfortable for him to rest his head on me. I ordered this white fleece one and wore it 24/7 while in the hospital. Can’t beat the price!
- Slippers – I brought these cute Madewell sherpa slippers {similar in stock option here} to wear around my hospital room. I hated the idea of walking around barefoot and then getting back in bed. A cozy pair of slippers kept my feet clean and warm! Similar cozy slipper here.
- Night light – With nurses coming in at all hours of the night, I wanted a little bedside lamp I could easily tap on. I brought this $20 Amazon lamp that provided enough light for the nurses to do their job and me to breastfeed without having to turn on the super bright overhead light. My husband was also grateful 🙂
- Heating pad – I had a lot of soreness in my back postpartum and was extremely grateful that I had brought this heating pad. Hospital rooms can also be drafty and cold, so this made sure I was warm at all times.
- Blanket – A large, plush blanket is another necessity for me while in the hospital. The ones the hospital provide tend to be thin and scratchy so I prefer to bring my own. I brought a white microfiber fleece blanket and was so grateful to have it. Similar here.
- Long chargers – These are essential as the outlets tend to be a ways away from the hospital bed. I bring an extra-long phone charger and computer charger.
- Dop kit – I packed so many toiletries but only ended up using my Cle de Peau Serum, Augustinus Bader Rich Cream and Dr. Barbara Sturm Cleanser {and toothbrush and toothpaste of course 🤪}.
- Frida Mom healing foam – this cooling foam makes everything feel better when healing after giving birth.
Suites at Presbyterian Hospital
I delivered both Wilder and Henning at Presbyterian Hospital here in Dallas. For an additional fee, you can request an upgraded room for your post-delivery stay. We decided to do this, and wanted to share the information in case any of you plan to deliver at Presby too.
There are various suite options available through the Margot Perot Center at Presbyterian Hospital. They offer Gold, Platinum, and Diamond room levels with respective increasing pricing, amenities, and space. I emailed PerotConciergeDallas@texashealth.org to request a suite but they cannot guarantee any specific suite prior to your arrival – they put you on a list and you find out once you deliver if the room you want is actually available. Nothing is guaranteed! You can also request a suite using this link online. Below I am going to break down the major differences between each tier of room:
Gold
This is the suite we had when we had Wilder. It is bigger than a ‘standard’ hospital room {a ‘standard’ room is a typical non-suite hospital room} but not as large as the Platinum option. They provide amenities such as plush towels {I used theirs instead of bringing my own!}, in-room snacks/drinks as well as nicer bedding and a larger bathroom. With Covid restrictions, I found this option to be spacious enough as we were not allowed visitors while in the hospital. This option is $349 per night.
Platinum
This is the suite we had when we had Henning. It is two ‘standard’ hospital rooms with an adjoining door. This style was great in a pre-Covid world – we loved the extra space for visitors, especially when I needed to nurse or the baby was sleeping. It was also nice for my husband as there is an extra bed in the second room which meant he didn’t have to sleep on the comfortable hospital couch 🙃 Both this option and Diamond option have in-room snacks/drinks, nicer towels, etc. This option is $549 per night.
Diamond
I can’t speak from personal experience to this style of room but the biggest difference between this option and the Platinum option is the Diamond room has two adjoining Gold rooms whereas the Platinum option has two adjoining ‘standard’ rooms {plus all the other amenities mentioned prior}. This option is $799 per night.
Postpartum necessities:
- High-waisted underwear – I was gifted a set of this underwear prior to giving birth and am soooo glad I packed it with me when we went to the hospital. It is made of stretchy cotton with the perfect amount of compression. I love how high-waisted they are and immediately ordered myself another set to have when we got home. I have worn a pair every day since giving birth and only wish I would have discovered them earlier.
- Robe – Like I mentioned above, I am a major robe person and can’t live without this one. It’s so soft and the baby snuggles right in.
- Heating pad – My back has been sore since giving birth – likely due to the shift in weight on my spine. A heating pad has been a lifesaver!
- Trash can – This is crucial for your restroom if you have a vaginal delivery. Bleeding for a few weeks post-delivery is normal and not a big deal but you’ll want a separate little trashcan to throw your used pads in. Just trust me!
- Maxi Pads – I have used these and liked them! They’re organic and made without the use of toxins, pesticides, or synthetic chemicals. They come in all sizes and absorbency levels
- Diaper-friendly pants – Let’s be real, in the weeks after giving birth you are most likely wearing either a diaper or a large underwear/pad combo. Because of this, you’ll need to find pants that are comfortable and can also accommodate. I ordered this pair from Target. They come in tons of colors and the elastic waistband makes them super comfortable.
- Breastfeeding-friendly top – I love a button-down top and this one {similar in stock option here and here} from Madewell has always been my favorite.
- Easy throw-on dresses – These nap dresses are so comfortable and easy to throw on. The elastic top also makes them super breastfeeding friendly. I love all the colors and plan to wear them all spring with a cardigan on top!
Breastfeeding necessities:
- Milk storage bags – I use these to store pumped breastmilk. I like that there is a space to write the date and amount of milk at the top of each bag. Helps me know which to use first when thawing for bottles down the line.
- Pump flanges – These flex flanges are great! Super comfortable
- Mini fridge – I use the mini fridge to store pumped breastmilk + pump parts. Saves me a trip downstairs!
- Container for freezing breast milk – I can’t believe I didn’t have this with Henning! It is soooo helpful for ensuring the milk freezes FLAT {vs. bulky at the bottom}. Once it is frozen flat, you can stack them like credit cards. Helps save so much space!
- Bottles – I used to pump using plastic bottles, but switched to glass this go round. These are high quality and really nice. Love.
- Conversion kit for breast pumps – If you buy the glass bottles, you’ll need this conversion kit so that the pump parts all fit together properly
- Nipple cream – Love this stuff. Especially helps in those first few days/weeks after
- Pump – This pump is by far the best pump on the market. Unfortunately, it has a pricetag to match that – it retails for over $2,500! – but I am renting mine through the hospital which is wayyyy more affordable! I think I rent it for $25/month. Most insurance companies will also cover this cost!
- Duckbill valves for pump – If you rent your pump from the hospital, they will give you valves, but I find that these duck bill valves work so much better!
- Breastfeeding bra – Wore these for a year after having Henning and am happily wearing them again! The wide band makes them so comfortable and I love that each set comes with a pink, nude and black colorway option. I wear both the M and the L.
- LED Light Sterilizer – A friend told me about this product and I’m loving it so far. For a year after having Henning I used these Medela Micro-Steam Sterilizing bags but the entire process was more time-consuming. Plus the bottles + pump parts would have to air dry afterward. Again, not a big deal, but this LED light sanitizer does it all. Bonus is that you can sanitize anything in there – phones, toys, remotes etc! It’s amazing.
Hope this was helpful! If you have any other specific questions leave them in the comments below. xx
