"Labor Day" Mommy and Baby Essentials for Free

In my world, "Labor Day" is when mothers get ready to deliver their own tiny little miracles.  It's a day filled with pain, joy, and laughter (in that order).  Very similar to running a marathon or competing in some Olympic event.

Just like the planning and strategizing involved in packing for the big game, the same process happens when packing for the big day. You walk around contemplating about things that you think you need and things that you really don't.

When you're a first time mom, you want to pack your whole bedroom, closet, and your bathroom.  Although I wanted to do all of the above during my first pregnancy, I didn't have the time because my daughter arrived two weeks before her due date.  At that time, I was still in the midst of contemplating and, in hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise.

When I was on my way to the hospital, I was completely mortified that I didn't have anything that was accompanying me to the hospital--not even my birth plan.  I was imagining that my baby was going to be completely nude during our hospital stay and I was going to die from nursing (I had none of the recommended breastfeeding essentials that I intended to pack in my bag).

Thankfully, I was wrong.  Instead I got a lesson or two in saving money.  By using the hospital as my one stop freebie shop, not only did I instantly become a minimalist, I saved money.  Since I didn't have anything, the hospital literally provided me with everything.

So for any paranoid mommas worrying about leaving something out, there's absolutely no reason to fuss because the hospital will probably have what you need--unless it's something like a silk pillowcase or a cashmere robe.

With that being said, in honor of "Labor Day," I've compiled a list of ten things that saved me money and my sanity, during and after my hospital stay:

1. Nipple Cream and Nipple Shield - I received enough samples to last me a good month.  The nipple cream definitely helped me during the initial days of latching on (I'm not going to lie, it felt like someone was skinning me or better yet, I felt like a piece of salmon sashimi). 


2. Diapers for the Baby - They provided me with three packs of diapers (34 in each pack) during our hospital stay and also gave us two additional packs for the road.


3. White Kimono-style Tops - Nothing fancy.  The nurse gave us 3 extra tops to take home, which carried us for a good two weeks.  The clothes at home were way too big for the baby.


4. Hospital Blankets for the Baby - Although they look very medical or have that hospital vibe, they truly withstand everything and is better than any blanket I've bought--including the higher-end brands.


5. Medical Grade Feminine Pads - After delivering the baby, there was major trauma to the you-know-what area and the feminine pads were super soothing.  With one twist, the ice beads started to work its cooling magic on me.  I was given enough pads to help me through the recovery period.


6. Manual Breast-Pump - Not my first choice in breast pumping, however, it was free and not all that bad.  My doctor wrote a prescription for me and I was able to get one before leaving the hospital.


7. Diaper Bag Filled with Formula (liquid and powder) - It also had a pacifier and some bottles in it.  Even though I was breastfeeding, I was able to pass on the goodies to people who were formula feeding (formula gets pretty expensive once you add those numbers up).


8. Squirt Bottle - While it may sound like a no biggie, it's something that you need for recovery and one less thing to buy.  Since there is major trauma down there, during the recovery period, this takes the place of a toilet paper.


9. Hospital Gown - If you want it, you can take it home.  For the first couple weeks, if you want things to stay open, this is the perfect alternative to loose fitting clothes.  Plus, it has openings to make breastfeeding a lot easier.


10. $10 Gift Card to the Hospital Store - While the amount sounds very little, I was able to get my daughter a tiny fairy necklace that she still has to this day.

I walked in with nothing and I left with bags and bags full of things that the hospital generously gave me.  While I don't encourage people to walk in empty-handed (my experience just happened to be that way), I also don't want moms to completely obsess over their hospital bag either.  Know that if you forget certain things, the hospital will have your back (at least mine did).