First of all, congratulations! And welcome to the mommy club!  Preparing for the hospital can be a daunting task but it is best to get some things ready before your due date just in case you go into labor a little earlier. Here are a few tips on what to bring to the hospital:

• Pack a hospital bag for yourself and the baby, complete with blankets and his/her “going home” outfit.  Pack your “going home” outfit, too.  Please note that you most likely won’t fit into your old jeans just yet.  Bring an outfit that will fit.
• picture ID (driver’s license or other ID)
• your insurance card, and any hospital paperwork you need
• your birth plan, if you have one
• eyeglasses even if you usually wear contact lenses, you may not want to deal with them while you’re in the hospital.
• toiletries, such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, deodorant, a brush and comb, makeup, and a hair band or barrettes. Hospitals usually provide soap, shampoo, and lotion, but you might prefer your own.  Bring cheap throwaway flip-flops to wear into the bathroom and shower
• bathrobe, a nightgown or two, slippers, and socks. Hospitals provide gowns and socks for you to use during labor and afterward, but most will allow you to wear your own clothes if you prefer.  Choose a loose, comfortable gown that you don’t mind getting dirty. It should be either sleeveless or have short, loose sleeves so your blood pressure can be checked easily. Slippers and robe may come in handy when you’re walking around during the early stages of labor.
• a list of people to call and their phone numbers, your cell phone and charger
• regular bras or comfortable nursing bras and breast pads (you will need these whether or not you are breast feeding because they stop leaks by absorbing milk)
• remember  your bobby pillow or breastfeeding pillow to add comfort with feeding your baby -  bring the binkie, too
• car seat (the MOST important item – the hospital will NOT let you leave with baby without a car seat)
• camera, video camera, flip video, film, memory cards (or film or tape), batteries, and charger.
• DVDs and/or mindless reading material such as a magazine
• SNACKS – you will get hungry and may not like what’s on the hospital lunch menu. Snacks!  After many hours of labor, you’re likely to be pretty hungry, and you won’t want to rely solely on hospital food. So bring your own – crackers, fresh or dried fruit, nuts, granola bars, or whatever you think you’ll enjoy. A bottle of nonalcoholic champagne might be fun for celebrating, too.
• photos of your other children – when they come to visit they will see that you haven’t forgotten them.
• gifts for older siblings – some parents bring gifts for the new baby to “give” to big brothers and sisters.

I hope you found this blog helpful – please feel free to add any comments below or helpful tips for our other readers.  I wish you well in your pregnancy and you’re parenting journey!  Enjoy every…parenting…minute!  God bless!

Joyfully,

Julie

***Be sure to check out the prior blog entry – Tips on preparing for the arrival of your new baby.

Summer is loaded with opportunities to reduceyour energy usage and energy bills.  For an energy-smart lifestyle try these tips for warm weather savings.

• Take a shorter shower to lower water-heating bills.
• Lower the temperature of your water heater.
• Enlist the kids to turn off all the household printers and computers.
• Close your windows and blinds.
• Obey the speed limit on your way to school or work to reduce the amount of fuel used.
• Turn up the thermostat or program the thermostat to adjust at specific times.
• Change the filter in your A/C.
• Run ceiling fans instead of the A/C.
• Leave the lights off – keeping them off will keep a room cooler.
• Prepared dinner on the outdoor grill. 
• Fill up that dishwasher, a full dishwasher uses less water than hand washing so load up those dishes and press the energy-efficient cycle button.

SAVING ISN’T JUST FOR ENERGY – Can’t live through July and August without A/C, but still want to cut costs? Try saving on your BACK TO SCHOOL clothes budget instead.  Shop and/or sell online at Consignment Crossroads today.  Tell us how much you saved.