The Mommy Panel – I Had to Have..

This weeks question was.. 

Mommy: Brandy

My son’s birth picture redone. I hated the first photos that the hospital took of my son, so I made them retake the photos. He is now 8 (8 1/2 if you ask him) and I have no clue where those photos are. Guess they weren’t as important as I thought.

Mommy: Rachel 

After I have a baby but before I go home, there are a few things I look very much forward to.  The first hot shower and nap when I’m NOT pregnant anymore are almost thrilling.  Also, my husband has started the slightly unhealthy tradition of getting us McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches after a baby is born.  It’s amazing how much I look forward to that!  But I suppose if I were to rank things, the most imperative thing would be the maximum allowable dosage of Advil Liqui-Gels.

Mommy: Melissa

Well it depends on which child you are talking about. With my son I would have loved to take every single doctor and nurse home with me. I would have fed them..gave them beds to sleep in. I didn’t even want to leave the hospital! I had such a comforting (and comfy..the beds were so amazing) stay there. It would be safe to say I had the sweetest people help me out. I was 20, a single mom, his dad at the time wasn’t involved, so you can bet I was pretty scared.

Second go around was much easier since I was married.

In all seriousness though I would have loved to get way more diapers. Can never have enough. Oh and ofcourse those lovely mom diapers. We all know why.

Mommy: Kelley 

My carseat and stroller all set up and ready to go.  I assembled both the same night of my shower and test drove the stroller with my friends cat.  It was funny but I really felt more relieved with those two things being set up.  

For the second baby I had to have a new night gown!  I was over the hospital gown fashion and bought two super cute ones for the special day.  I was amazed at how much better I felt after I showered and changed into one! 

Mommy: Amanda

A turkey sandwich.  I didn’t eat deli meat all through my pregnancy which was hard for me because I used to eat at least one turkey sandwich a week.  One really nice nurse gave me her own turkey sandwich because I wanted one so badly and we lived in CA and didn’t have anyone who could bring me one quick enough for my liking in the hospital {ha}.

Also a manual.  I think they forget to give us ours when we left 🙂

Mommy: Liz

For me it would have to be the squirt bottle they give you to clean off after going to the bathroom.  I delivered vaginally all three times and while the little Tucks pads were ok, the squirt bottle was so much better.

Mommy: Missy

My baby! I would not leave that hospital without the doctor getting that baby out no matter what. “I don’t care if I am not even dilated I am so tired of being pregnant. Doc just please let me have it!!””   Okay serious side of things now. I always made sure I had a diaper bag that was packed for me and the baby. I had to have a new outfit, hair tie, shampoo conditioner and razors in my bag. (You know you want to shave after not being able to reach for those entire last weeks.)  I wanted to be sure that I was prepared for my return home with a comfy spot set up to lay in. It had to have access to everything I needed for baby right by my side. I hung a shelf on the wall next to my bed that was temporary with diapers, blue nose sucker, Kleenex, wipes, lotions, diaper pail, and items that were recommended for the baby for circumcision or umbilical cord. That along with a bassinet near my bed and I was all set to come home.

Mommy: Tonii

Well…the first 2 babies I had came 8 and 6 weeks early.  From those experiences I learned that you don’t really NEED anything 🙂  BUT, for my last 2 the one thing I make sure I have is my journal.  I love being able to record my feelings about one of the most miraculous experiences we can have while it is still fresh in my mind and the emotions are going strong.  You always think you will never forget, but once you get out of the hospital and back home with a new baby and all your other kids, a quiet moment to record those tender feelings can be pretty rare 🙂

Mommy: Emily

Comfy (but cute enough for visitors!) clothing! I sent my mom after loose fitting, comfy dresses and lounge-about clothes that were easy to nurse in and cute enough for the endless parade of visitors! Plus, they had to be flattering. Because, let’s face it, just after giving birth, I wasn’t feeling so attractive! 🙂

I also made sure to take extra of the mesh undies they give out on the post-partum floor. I spent a year as a post-partum nurse, so I knew those mesh panties would be a God-send. They were!!