What advice or information would you give to other mothers who are going to deliver at Irwin? What do you wish someone had shared with you, or that you knew before your delivery?
My first was born back home, but now that I am having a baby on post I am nervous all over again 'cause I don't know what to expect. 

I did my first at a civilian hospital and was in for 3 days after i had him which gave me some time and all that ..but i was glad that when i had my second one on post that i was only in for a day after and got to go home so i could be with my family and sleep in my own bed and since it wasnt my first go around i knew the ropes so to speak. i dont think its for everyone. But the thing i had most issue with was the fact that just to go take a pee it was like pulling teeth just to watch my baby for the short time i needed not to mention when i wanted to take a shower my nurse was doing paperwork and acted like it was a problem when i just wanted to clean up after giving birth. maybe i just got them at a bad time but i was ready to go home so i didnt need to ask to do what should just be expected after having a child. the same with my third 24 hrs couldnt end soon enough so i could go home and take care of my kids. 

What i found helpfull was they already have the stuff they need for your deliviery in the room in a closet on a cart. They dont have to go hunt down supplies and set up a cart or anything. It was already done. or it was when i went in at 1030pm. depending who all is in the hospital at that time will depend on how many nurses are in your room at your delivery time. i had probably a good 5-8 nurses in my room and 1 doctor but then again there was only one other person in there at the time that had already given birth and i went in quick. contractions started at 830pm went to post at 930pm got there at 10pm checked at 1030pm which i was fully dialated and had him at 11:04pm. I wish i was there for only 24hrs. My 1st child was born back home and 2nd one here but i was in the hospital from thursday night - sunday afternoon. 

What would ya'll recommend packing in a hospital bag? Do they have stuff for the baby that you get to take home, is it a lot? 

they provide the nasessities for the baby. diapers, formula ect. (which you wont be using the formula since you are breast feeding) usually whatever is left in draws of the bedside table you will get. Which normally doesnt amount to much becuase they dont keep it well stocked they stock it as needed. you usually will get a diaper bag of free stuff but that really doesnt amount ot much either. So as far as diapers/ whipes you really dont need to pack. i guess all you really need his clothes for the baby. which if you want you can leave him in the hospital gown that they provide untill the day you go home which is what i did. it was easier for them to check him (heart, pulse lungs) and whatever else they needed to do. And then of course your clothes, your personal hygyne stuff ect. 

much easier keeping them in hospital clothes until going home definitely.
Thanks :) just getting into the early nesting phase I guess. 

I am actually surprised only two people said anything about it. 

i just ha dmy baby gurl on post on july 18th and all i got to bring home with her was the left over diapers out of the pack they gave me the wipes and i really didnt have any formula left i was there for 3 days and i was not allowed to take any of the baby blankets or the cloths from the hospital for her i had to have my husband bring her an outfit from home and one of her blankets and i didnt get a free daper bag or anything they gave me a bottal of simalac formula which it was supose to be enfamial and the lady was going to switch it but she never came back to my room befor i left but it wasnice that they didnt have to take her out of the room to clean her it was all right there in my room 

well thats not fair :(
you should have been able to, especially if your baby used them. 

You didnt have an outfit to bring your child home in? I thought that was pretty standard now a days.Ive delivered at 3 different hospitals and we have never been allowed to bring them home. Most moms get a special outfit to bring there baby home in though. Maybe its just me but the thought of all the other people who have used those blankets and outfits and had there fluids all over them grosses me out! 

One thing no one told me is that Irwin does not have a nursery. The baby stays with you from birth to discharge. 

One thing no one told me is that Irwin does not have a nursery. The baby stays with you from birth to discharge.

I like that idea! I was so annoyed when the hospital I last delivered at kept taking my son out of the room for different things. Thanks for sharing, I didnt know either.

Maybe its just me but the thought of all the other people who have used those blankets and outfits and had there fluids all over them grosses me out!
Thats why you're supposed to take them home, no ones else is supposed to use used ones. I think I will check with TriCare to make sure its in the insurance policy to bring everything in the drawers home. 

I dont remember but i thought when i had my son that they offered to put him in the nursery i never did i could be wrong tho that was awhile ago. aNd as far as the blankets/hospital gowns ive never heard of someone being able to take their reciving blankets and gown home that their child was in. both times back home and here when i delivered i wasnt allowed to take those things home. And if i did they would probably just go in the trash not something i want. If hospitals would do that they would be BROKE or they would have to charge more to rebuy those things. Nothing a little laundry saop and bleach wont take care of to sanitize it.

If you want to talk about something nasty. This is a little off the subject but when you go to a hotel to stay the comfater(sp) and if there is a blanket under the comfater doesnt get washed on a daily basis when they strip the beds to put new sheets on. they only get washed about every 3 months. Know this from experiance as my mom managed a hotel. When ever my grandma would go stay at a hotel she would strip everything but the sheets off the bed and put her own blankets on becuase of this. 

I like that idea

I did too, but it was something I worried about prior. I was so nervous about them taking the baby at night. Could have eleviated some stress knowing ahead of time! I delivered in 2008 and there was no option for a nursery at that point. Maybe the other poster was there before or after me. I would ask your OB. Maybe they have one now? 

I had my first back home in 08 I hardly kept him in his bed, when I slept he was in my arms. Drove the nurses crazy but they kept my door open and checked on us... I was/am such a mother bear.
I need to ask OB for a tour anyways. I still haven't had one. 

I think I will check with TriCare to make sure its in the insurance policy to bring everything in the drawers home.


Tricare has nothing to do with hospital policy on taking stuff home. Its up to the hospital. Like I said this will now be my forth delivery (once this child decides to come out) and we have never been allowed to bring the blankets and gowns home. That would get very expensive for the hospital.

Are we done yet- We bring our own pillows blankets and sheets if we stay in a hotel.Sometimes an air mattress . It grosses me out too. How many other people have got it on in those beds? Ick. 

I had both of our boys on post, 20 months & 3 months. both times most of the nurses were very helpful. plus didn't really need to take any thing. They provided every thing for both of us and got to take most things home except the blankets. with our youngest we got a diaper bag with samples and coupons. plus got a couple kid books.

There is no nursery but both times the nurses offered to take them for a couple hours at night( i didnt though). they just take them to the nurses station durring that time. 

They provided every thing for both of us and got to take most things home except the blankets. with our youngest we got a diaper bag with samples and coupons. plus got a couple kid books.

Awesome, The same with my first.. was hoping for something similar this time around too. 

they just take them to the nurses station durring that time.

That was nice of them! 

LOL... you guys make me feel bad... I always sent the babies away at night so I could rest before going home to be supermommy. ;)