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Thursday, April 18, 2013

Hospital Stay in Style

You know I'm a researcher.  This week I've been making myself pack my hospital bag for when Jack arrives.  For whatever reason I'm making this way harder than it needs to be.  I'm stressing myself out trying to pack the perfect "coming home" outfit for both me and Jack, when in all likelihood, no one will even see us but Jason and close family.  I'm stressing over which nursing gowns, robes, slippers, etc I should bring.  I'm trying to find a balance between packing light yet still having all the creature comforts I might want.  I know I'm being silly, especially since our house is 5 minutes from the hospital in case, heaven forbid, I forgot something so important like the perfect pair of grippy socks to walk the halls in. 

In doing my research I came across the trend of packing your own cute hospital gown so that in all of the pictures you might take of giving birth, you look cute...as if a gown can really help!

There is a market for everything, right?  In case you would like to invest in your own hospital attire, here are a couple of options for you!

Gownies (by Baby Be Mine) seem to be the "delivery-gown" leader.  You can purchase them direct from their site or find them on other sites like Amazon and The Monogram Chick...why wouldn't you want to take your own personal hospital gown a step further and monogram it!  There are lots of different colors and patterns to choose from.  The gown alone will cost you around $30.  With a monogram, around $40. 

You also have the option of purchasing your gown with a matching pillowcase with the "Labor Kit" to make those sweaty delivery pictures even cuter!  Pillowcase is about $13.00. 


Word to the wise: if you want to purchase the pillowcase and gown combo, you will get a better deal when ordering through Amazon as a set.

You can even purchase your own "Labor Socks" that are simply white socks with skid pads on the bottom that say "Ready, Set, Push."  ($10)



Gownies have been featured in an episode of The Office and the movie, What to Expect When You're Expecting. 

Elizabeth Banks in What to Expect

Cameron Diaz in What to Expect



And if you didn't get quite enough matchy-matchy sets with your gown and pillowcase combo, they also sell a matching nursing gown ($40) and baby gown with cap ($30). 

So what do we think ladies?  Good idea or waste of money? 

15 comments:

  1. I try not to comment on mom-stuff since I am not one and have no imminent plans of becoming one but I have to say... those socks are awful! Grippy socks I get, but ones with messages? And the person who needs the motivation can't even read them. Shouldn't they be for the doctor and say "you better catch this thing" instead?

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    1. Those socks could make a fortune! Hilarious!

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    2. Haha! Love it...I agree that those socks are ridiculous!

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  2. Waste of money. Seriously, you're only wearing the gown for a short time and be prepared for things to get ruined. Not everything will, but its a likely possibility. I totally Er wanting to be cute. But take your pjs (and plenty of underwear you're prepared to throw away) and things that are comfortable and better yet, dark! Trust me. Not only have I had 2 babies, I was an OB nurse. Some hospitals won't even allow anything other than their own hospital down for safety reasons.

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  3. So funny that you posted this today! I finally made it to Target today after three weeks of it sitting on my to-do list to get some of their comfy Gilligan O'Malley pajamas. For the remainder of your hospital stay, I recommend picking up some dark colored gowns or comfy pajamas with robe from there. Reason being...there is a lot of blood and fluid so you will definitely want dark and inexpensive, the gowns are good because you don't have to worry about the pressure of a waist band and the straps are easy to pull down for nursing if you choose. This time, I added a little gaucho and cami set, but I already think I probably should have stuck with the gown type feel. I did a pair of ballet slippers, too. As far as a going home outfit, I know my case was definitely not normal with all I went through postpartum and the additional meds they pumped me with before being released, but I was so swollen, my going home outfit and shoes did not fit. :/ I had to leave barefoot so I would throw some sandals in there for good measure. :) I had the BEST hospital bag with Preslie, but cannot remember a thing I did this time around! Grr...post your list! :)

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    1. Thanks for the tips Meagan! Hope you are feeling good...we are almost there! This post from a few months ago has some links with helpful packing lists that I've been using:

      http://www.theperfectcatchblog.com/2013/02/hospital-bag-must-haves.html

      Hope this helps!

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  4. I'd say waste of money - I just brought a few of Craig's big t-shirts and some comfy pajama pants and shorts. I also bought a couple nursing tank tops from target and wore them all the time. And as for socks, I just wore my regular athletic socks and brought my old Pi Phi flip-flops. Ha!

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    1. I wish I still had my old Pi Phi flip-flops...those things were comfy!

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  5. I was the exact same way, Chelsea! I stressed out when I discovered all of these delivery gowns--but in the end I just bought a cheapo robe from Target that I could wear over the gown when I wanted to feel a little more covered. And honestly, there is something kind of special and "real" about that ugly old hospital gown in all of the pictures where I'm holding Arden for the first time :) I'm so so excited for you…you're about to experience the most wonderful thing in the world! Can't wait to hear the good news!

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  6. This post cracked me up! Here is my 2 cents!! Wash and blow dry your hair before you go to the hospital. This is your best chance of looking cute for post delivery pictures! Wear the hospital granny panties - way more comfy and dont mess up your own. Wear their gown and take something for the second day or after your shower as before that you are too nasty to wear anything cute. When they broke my water it went all over my back, front, everywhere and then I had to change gowns anyway. Take flip flops to shower in and coins/change for hubby and vending machine. I also took my pump because I wanted the lactation consultant to explain a few things about it to me. When we had our little girl, with all of the stuff I took it looked like we were moving in for a month. When we just had our little boy, I took 2 outfits for him and a pair of socks. He wore one when he was a day old and the next when we went home. Steal everything from the hospital that you can! Diapers, swaddles, as many nasal suctions as they will give you, ice packs, granny panties, the foam stuff, a sitz bath, etc!

    You will do great and I cant believe you are so close!!

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    1. Thanks for all of the advice Lauren! This is so, so helpful!!!

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  7. Haha this is too funny! I did buy a special gown ... And after the first 24 hours of labor, ended up going with the one they give you!!! That was when my girl was finally ready to make her debut! :)

    Excited to your newest follower - congrats on your baby boy to be!

    wordsaboutwaverly.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks Ashley! So happy you found my blog and excited to jump over and follow yours!

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