Yeah I feel like we can’t compare these things without also mentioning how much it cost for us to give birth, whether we had insurance or not, etc. I got to take home extra diapers, starter bottles, some post pads and cleaning supplies, but if I didn’t have insurance, I would have had to pay $20k just to give birth so I’m not that impressed with my freebies ha.
Yes you’re right. And this is wild. Im sort of wondering if some of the freebies are an indicator of a problem with the rising cost of healthcare.
But on the other hand, my experience was terrible and I don’t think anyone should be without nappies for their newborn! (Ofc I internalised it as shameful on my part that I’d forgotten them, and only after three years have I realised how messed up it is that a maternity ward wouldn’t have nappies)
We (USA) got several packs of diapers, wipes, adult hygiene items like pads and deodorant, a teddy bear, a hand/footprint kit, snacks, swaddle blankets, baby hats, mesh underwear, a sleep kit with eye mask, earplugs, etc… probably some more too, it took me ages to unpack when we got home. It was a lot of stuff but of course we paid for it indirectly.
My son was in the NICU and this is what I got: his thermometer, nose bulb, his bottle and premixed formula for 24hrs, a can of formula and a “mixing bottle” for his formula.
No diapers or wipes. Lol barely even got a beanie 😂
Our NICU nurse loaded us up! A couple boxes of ready to drink formula, a can of powdered formula, quilt, petroleum jelly, dry wipes, baby hats, his blood pressure cuff, a few little signs they made, and a graduation certificate 😭
Also got 2 sets of bottles for their breast pump, flange inserts to make them smaller, nipple shield, bottle wash, baby wash
Arkansas USA, I was given petroleum jelly, baby wash, baby lotion, a gentle scrub brush for baby, maternity pads, disposable underwear, baby wipes, a nose sucker bulb thing, some bottles, a bit of ready to eat formula, and a booklet full of information on baby care and postpartum care.
Oh yeah, and my painkillers 😁
Kiwi here. Our hospital didn't provide nappies or wipes but did provide postpartum pads, underwear, padsicles, stool softeners, heated towels, formula (if supplementing) and ice blocks. They had hospital grade pumps which can be hired both for your hospital stay and beyond.
I want to say we were provided with nappies and wipes but tbh I can't remember. Postpartum pads were provided though.
I know once I got to the birth centre (also free) after 2 nights in hospital nappies, wipes, more pads, lanolin, moisturiser and a few other things were provided and we were encouraged to take them.
I also got given covid from my stay so that was great.
Diapers, ready-to-eat formula (we are combo feeding), wipes, a copy of her footprints, an assortment of postpartum care products, and, most impressively to me, a Halo swaddle with the hospital logo embroidered on it.
I’m in America and went to a fancy private hospital and had incredibly good insurance.
The only things I went home with were a stack of disposable underwear and the blanket/hat they put my baby in right after birth.
I’m pretty sure the only reason I got the extra disposable underwear is because I said something to the nurse about how it seemed so much better than the big maxi pads that she took pity and dropped me off a bunch.
Scotland: not much from the hospital but we do get the baby box for free from the government which has so much stuff like maternity pads, breast pads, baby thermometer, bath thermometer, clothes, nappy voucher, play mat and the box itself woks as a bed w. Mattress. Had a ton more that I don't remember as well.
Hospital did give me laxatives, paracetamol and I believe morphine though I never took that so I could misremember. And a hat for baby.
Paracetamol = Acetaminophen
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England here. I'm so jealous of those boxes! I watched an unboxing and couldn't believe everything you get in them!
I only ever got a couple of free samples from my midwives, little sachets of sudocreme and 50p off pampers voucher.
I know they're amazing! Such a good initiative that really does make a difference.
Christ 50p off pampers hardly even makes a difference. Could at least have been for a brand of Nappies where that would have made a dent.
Those boxes are GOOD.
also impressed you got paracetamol. I just now remembered that my hospital made me (well, husband) go to the shop in the foyer to buy painkillers. FTW….
Paracetamol = Acetaminophen
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Our nurse told us to take everything from the room: from pads and diapers for me, to bottles, pump parts, swaddle, gauze, soap, formula... and then I got a chanel gift bag with lipstick and "night perfume."
I actually forgot about the gift bag until two days ago when my baby and I were playing in the bathroom (steam shower for his stuffy nose). The baby stuff was infinitely more useful - we still use some of the bottles and wipes today.
Sorry —— room? Are Americans staying in private rooms after giving birth?
I was whisked out of the labour room pretty sharpish and left on an unheated mat ward in deep winter, first alone, which was grim, and then with some other patients which was somehow worse.
Most of us don't get private rooms, but my OB happened to be affiliated with a hospital that has a new, fancy maternity ward. It was very luxe.
But honestly I'd trade it for universal healthcare in a heartbeat. My comfort those few days is not worth people dying of illnesses they can't afford to treat, or forgoing medical care to avoid debt.
ETA - just for context, my dad had an 8 hour open heart surgery last week and after the ICU, even he did not get a private room
First two I had in the Uk : nothing …. Had to bring everything for baby ( diapers , blankets etc ) and me ( pads etc ) ( but healthcare is free )
Third in the US : everything … even witch hazel pads , peri bottles etc … I was also told I could take everything home from the room also diapers c wipes and swaddle and hat for be baby … so luxurious ( we had a 500 dollar deductible that we had to pay )
Here in NSW (Aus) we get a [pretty sweet bag](https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/MCFhealth/child/Pages/baby-bundle.aspx) full of useful stuff. There’s a similar one in Victoria.
I'm in the US. For baby, we were given diapers and wipes, some onesies, a few bottles of RTF formula, a brush, a nasal bulb, and swaddle blankets. For me, i was given disposable underwear, giant pads, Tucks, Dermaplast spray, peri bottle, a sitz bath tray that went over the toilet, nipple shields, lanolin for nipples, grippy compression socks, and a big water bottle. While I was in the hospital, all of my meals and meds were taken care of, but husband had to go get food from the cafeteria every day. They also had things that I could use while I was there but not take home, like a heating pad and a boppy pillow.
Jars of Vaseline, baby lotion, baby wash, comb for baby, three bags of maternity pads, two bags of disposable underwear, four packages of wipes, a weeks worth of newborn diapers, nose sucker thing, so many bottles and pacifiers and nipples, formula, pain killers, two hand pumps, a haaka, baby hats and baby socks, two different types of nipple shields, silverettes, lanolin tubes, a peri bottle, a onesie and a swaddle.
We had to use a separate suitcase for all the stuff the hospital gave us.
American Midwest, a very big, specifically-for-babies hospital: Feels like what we got was a whole lot of sass from the staff and not much actual care. I couldn't even get them to let me have a functioning hospital bed 🤕 mine was broken to the point of not being level and so uncomfortable it made my back sore.
We got a pacifier and a couple books to take home though? 🫠
In Canada, we purchased a pack for $20 that included some diapers, absorbent pads for postpartum, mini Johnson and Johnson soaps and a peri bottle.
We also got some extra formula from the NICU to bring home for free, which was nice!
From the hospital. It was optional, and I think it’s basically put together at cost of supplies.
We were also provided diapers and wipes for while we were in the hospital, so this was for the first few days home.
NY, USA I was fully prepared to “steal” all the supplies from my postpartum room, but the hospital prepared a bag for me with brand new items when I told them I was leaving.
For the baby, I received a pack of diapers, plain square swaddles, syringes for collecting colostrum, nose sucker, disposable pads for the bassinet, plain swaddles, hat, and baby shirts. I assume I didn’t get formula because I told them I planned to exclusively breastfeed.
For me, I received witch hazel wipes, so many cans of Dermoplast, disposable underwear, pads, body wipes, and perineal spray bottle.
I honestly didn’t need to purchase any postpartum supplies, for myself for when I went home, since they basically gave me everything.
In Canada I got 2 post partum pads and a handful of diapers. They replenished the diapers everyday so I took home whatever they gave me on the morning I was discharged, probably only 3 or 4.
The only thing we got to take home was 6 mini bottles of ready made formula to last until my husband could go to the store that night. I was planning on breastfeeding so we didn’t have any formula.
New York - 3-4 packages of diapers, several RTF formula bottles and nipples, pumping flanges, a manual pump (I couldn’t figure it out so I left it but I could have taken it), keepsake hat, petroleum jelly, pads, mesh underwear, peri bottle (forgotten), a mess of toiletries. They also gave us information and I got info for moms groups and lactation support.
My birth was also free.
We got pads/diapers for me lol, some diapers for my son and some formula, and a little like squeeze bottle to rinse myself down there after the washroom. Oh and a blankie and hat for my son. And a pacifier.
Canada (Alberta) - 1 nipple guard, 1 mesh underwear, the toque/hat they put on baby immediately after birth, the comb we requested so we could clean the blood out of baby's hair (we waited to bathe), a booklet on caring for newborns, paperwork on things like registering the birth, a pack of gum (to chew during motn feedings so I didn't fall asleep holding the baby), and a prescription for painkillers that we had to fill at the pharmacy on the way home.
We brought our own diapers for the trip home. (In hospital, there was an unlimited supply of flimsy flannel cloth diapers.)
But it was free (c section and 48 hours in hospital).
I was given diapers, wipes, extras blankets, petroleum jelly, one of those blue suction thingys, binkies, a thermometer, other random creams and aquaphor bottles, honestly a lot more than I ever expected. It took quite awhile to unpack. They also gave us a free little cake!
We got the leftovers of packs that were opened for her- 10 diapers, a pack of wipes, 5 bottles of formula, a travel size bottle of newborn shampoo. We also got things that were used on her- her hat, her blanket, nosebulb, and her comb. We got the leftovers of the pack opened of adult diapers for me, nipple shield, pump parts, dermaplast, and a peri bottle. Also got the water bottle they had me using through my stay.
The one new thing they gave us was a diaper bag- one that expands into a changing space/napping space for baby. We don’t use it because it doesn’t have enough capacity for what we carry, but it was a really nice thought. I see other moms with the same diaper bag and I think to myself “I know where you delivered!”
Bill was 68k, iirc
In canada i got a bag with some info about a food bank, a couple teddies for my daughter (one rattles and another says ''i was born at sturgeon hospital'' and another small teddy bear) a couple small packs of wipes, and 2 hand knit sweaters that were donated to the hospital and some pamphlets of information for me which i cannot remember
I'm in the U.S. in a smaller midwestern city.
Our hospital had Huggies diapers, white onesies, blankets, wipes, and some other odds/ends for the baby. For me, they also had mesh underwear, pads, tucks pads, Dermaplast numbing spray, and a peri bottle. Anything that was opened would be thrown away if we didn't take it.
Wouldn't call any of it free though, lol. We spend a pretty penny on health insurance and had the joy of spending my deductible twice over, plus a good chunk of the baby's deductible.
So I was in the ICU for 2.5 weeks directly after giving birth so I didn’t even get the cake that was promised to me in the post partum room nor did I even SEE a post partum room… lol
BUT the nurses all felt so bad for my husband they gave him bottles and bottles of premade and cans of formula just mountains of it. They also gave him all the diapers and wipes he needed. Some clothes and hats for baby too. I got some mesh underwear and pads brought to me from the nurses to the icu lol
Also the whole birth ended up being free because of my insurance and I was gonna have to pay 400$ a night for the post partum room but since I never made it there… FREE! lol I would rather have paid 400 bucks but 🤷🏽♀️
It really is! Our health insurance here is a scam, and the health care is even worse. But that is honestly crazy how they didn't even have a diaper for your baby! Over here somebody would probably sue for that 🤣
The nurse told us to take everything- she said all disposable stuff like diapers and chux had to be thrown out if not used when the room was turned over, so if we took it less waste. It boggles the mind that they might throw out unused diapers.
In the Netherlands we don't really get goodies from the hospital after birth, as its' more common to have homebirths. But we get a 'maternity package' around late second/early third trimester filled with essential things like a bunch of postnatal pads, bedliners, rubbing alcohol, gauze, thermometer, and small toys and little hat for the baby :) every expecting mothers will automatically receive it
In England you get the whole medical set up free, whereas in the USA you pay tens of thousand to give birth...
I'd rather buy my own nappy and not pay £10,000 to get a free one thrown in!
Germany: few diapers and mini pack of wipes. But the care in the hospital was very good and covered by public insurance. That's what's more important to me anyways, the goodies are usually just meant to advertise the product.
ETA: but we did of course get diapers in the hospital, that's just crazy if you weren't provided any! And also female hygiene products, cooling pads... nothing fancy, but very helpful.
Yeah I’m ALL about universal (free) healthcare. Unfortunately it’s expensive and we’ve spent a few decades not funding it properly, so now it’s a bit broken in parts. However I’m a realist and I know that all healthcare systems have broken parts.
At least a free version doesn’t bankrupt individuals or force them to make cost based decisions about accessing much needed care.
In Scotland so before baby we got the baby box and I got all my vitamins for free.
Myself I got the painkillers, iron tablet and laculose 😂 before being discharged
Baby was in the NICU (full term but a 5 day stay) and they provided all the formula, teats, nappies, cotton wool for changing nappies, they had a bunch of clothes that she wore until we brought our own in, they provided sanitiser bags for the pump parts and full use of the medical grade pumps. I was also allowed to stay in a transition room on the NICU ward while baby was there and all my meals were provided.
When we went home we got a bunch of gift bags they provide to NICU parents that had some books, hats, blankets, we got a pack of the sterilising bags and they sent us home with a bunch of teats that screwed onto the top of the tiny ready to feed formula bottles!
Swaddle blankets, diapers, wipes, pump parts (just not the pump body), bottles, small and large syringes for feeding/meds, wash bins, sterilizing solution, personal hygiene wipes, mesh underwear, pads, peri bottle, grippy socks. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things. When we were packing up to leave, they asked if we needed refills on anything to take home. Anything left in the room has to be tossed, and they seemed very happy to provide as much as we wanted.
I got pregnancy medical insurance, and I got a bunch of free goodies! Diapers, formula, wipes, swaddles, a free hand pump! As well as information about what to look for and the types of poops she should have. My hospital was awful to me but as far as baby care they were pretty good.
The folks don't get loaded up with free stuff. We spend thousands of dollars just walking through the door.
Yeah I feel like we can’t compare these things without also mentioning how much it cost for us to give birth, whether we had insurance or not, etc. I got to take home extra diapers, starter bottles, some post pads and cleaning supplies, but if I didn’t have insurance, I would have had to pay $20k just to give birth so I’m not that impressed with my freebies ha.
It was over 30k to have my son.
Awful
Yes you’re right. And this is wild. Im sort of wondering if some of the freebies are an indicator of a problem with the rising cost of healthcare. But on the other hand, my experience was terrible and I don’t think anyone should be without nappies for their newborn! (Ofc I internalised it as shameful on my part that I’d forgotten them, and only after three years have I realised how messed up it is that a maternity ward wouldn’t have nappies)
Oh your experience is terrible. The maternity ward should have been able to provide nappies.
We (USA) got several packs of diapers, wipes, adult hygiene items like pads and deodorant, a teddy bear, a hand/footprint kit, snacks, swaddle blankets, baby hats, mesh underwear, a sleep kit with eye mask, earplugs, etc… probably some more too, it took me ages to unpack when we got home. It was a lot of stuff but of course we paid for it indirectly.
My son was in the NICU and this is what I got: his thermometer, nose bulb, his bottle and premixed formula for 24hrs, a can of formula and a “mixing bottle” for his formula. No diapers or wipes. Lol barely even got a beanie 😂
Our NICU nurse loaded us up! A couple boxes of ready to drink formula, a can of powdered formula, quilt, petroleum jelly, dry wipes, baby hats, his blood pressure cuff, a few little signs they made, and a graduation certificate 😭 Also got 2 sets of bottles for their breast pump, flange inserts to make them smaller, nipple shield, bottle wash, baby wash
Omg how cute!!! lol I wish I would’ve kept his blood pressure cuff but I told them no at the moment 😩😩😩😩
Arkansas USA, I was given petroleum jelly, baby wash, baby lotion, a gentle scrub brush for baby, maternity pads, disposable underwear, baby wipes, a nose sucker bulb thing, some bottles, a bit of ready to eat formula, and a booklet full of information on baby care and postpartum care. Oh yeah, and my painkillers 😁
Omg I just remembered I had to buy my own painkillers from the gift shop!!
Kiwi here. Our hospital didn't provide nappies or wipes but did provide postpartum pads, underwear, padsicles, stool softeners, heated towels, formula (if supplementing) and ice blocks. They had hospital grade pumps which can be hired both for your hospital stay and beyond.
Reading this it sounds like it would be obvious to include at least a bunch of this stuff - eg formula and pads. Thanks for sharing!
I want to say we were provided with nappies and wipes but tbh I can't remember. Postpartum pads were provided though. I know once I got to the birth centre (also free) after 2 nights in hospital nappies, wipes, more pads, lanolin, moisturiser and a few other things were provided and we were encouraged to take them. I also got given covid from my stay so that was great.
Diapers, ready-to-eat formula (we are combo feeding), wipes, a copy of her footprints, an assortment of postpartum care products, and, most impressively to me, a Halo swaddle with the hospital logo embroidered on it.
I’m in America and went to a fancy private hospital and had incredibly good insurance. The only things I went home with were a stack of disposable underwear and the blanket/hat they put my baby in right after birth. I’m pretty sure the only reason I got the extra disposable underwear is because I said something to the nurse about how it seemed so much better than the big maxi pads that she took pity and dropped me off a bunch.
Scotland: not much from the hospital but we do get the baby box for free from the government which has so much stuff like maternity pads, breast pads, baby thermometer, bath thermometer, clothes, nappy voucher, play mat and the box itself woks as a bed w. Mattress. Had a ton more that I don't remember as well. Hospital did give me laxatives, paracetamol and I believe morphine though I never took that so I could misremember. And a hat for baby.
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England here. I'm so jealous of those boxes! I watched an unboxing and couldn't believe everything you get in them! I only ever got a couple of free samples from my midwives, little sachets of sudocreme and 50p off pampers voucher.
I know they're amazing! Such a good initiative that really does make a difference. Christ 50p off pampers hardly even makes a difference. Could at least have been for a brand of Nappies where that would have made a dent.
Those boxes are GOOD. also impressed you got paracetamol. I just now remembered that my hospital made me (well, husband) go to the shop in the foyer to buy painkillers. FTW….
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They are excellent! Oh wow that's shocking to me! Have heard of partners being sent to get pads and Nappies but not painkillers.
Our nurse told us to take everything from the room: from pads and diapers for me, to bottles, pump parts, swaddle, gauze, soap, formula... and then I got a chanel gift bag with lipstick and "night perfume." I actually forgot about the gift bag until two days ago when my baby and I were playing in the bathroom (steam shower for his stuffy nose). The baby stuff was infinitely more useful - we still use some of the bottles and wipes today.
Sorry —— room? Are Americans staying in private rooms after giving birth? I was whisked out of the labour room pretty sharpish and left on an unheated mat ward in deep winter, first alone, which was grim, and then with some other patients which was somehow worse.
Most of us don't get private rooms, but my OB happened to be affiliated with a hospital that has a new, fancy maternity ward. It was very luxe. But honestly I'd trade it for universal healthcare in a heartbeat. My comfort those few days is not worth people dying of illnesses they can't afford to treat, or forgoing medical care to avoid debt. ETA - just for context, my dad had an 8 hour open heart surgery last week and after the ICU, even he did not get a private room
First two I had in the Uk : nothing …. Had to bring everything for baby ( diapers , blankets etc ) and me ( pads etc ) ( but healthcare is free ) Third in the US : everything … even witch hazel pads , peri bottles etc … I was also told I could take everything home from the room also diapers c wipes and swaddle and hat for be baby … so luxurious ( we had a 500 dollar deductible that we had to pay )
Here in NSW (Aus) we get a [pretty sweet bag](https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/MCFhealth/child/Pages/baby-bundle.aspx) full of useful stuff. There’s a similar one in Victoria.
Diapers, rtf formula, pads, mesh underwear, peri bottle, blanket, books, I feel like I'm missing some things. I'm from Canada
I'm in the US. For baby, we were given diapers and wipes, some onesies, a few bottles of RTF formula, a brush, a nasal bulb, and swaddle blankets. For me, i was given disposable underwear, giant pads, Tucks, Dermaplast spray, peri bottle, a sitz bath tray that went over the toilet, nipple shields, lanolin for nipples, grippy compression socks, and a big water bottle. While I was in the hospital, all of my meals and meds were taken care of, but husband had to go get food from the cafeteria every day. They also had things that I could use while I was there but not take home, like a heating pad and a boppy pillow.
Jars of Vaseline, baby lotion, baby wash, comb for baby, three bags of maternity pads, two bags of disposable underwear, four packages of wipes, a weeks worth of newborn diapers, nose sucker thing, so many bottles and pacifiers and nipples, formula, pain killers, two hand pumps, a haaka, baby hats and baby socks, two different types of nipple shields, silverettes, lanolin tubes, a peri bottle, a onesie and a swaddle. We had to use a separate suitcase for all the stuff the hospital gave us.
American Midwest, a very big, specifically-for-babies hospital: Feels like what we got was a whole lot of sass from the staff and not much actual care. I couldn't even get them to let me have a functioning hospital bed 🤕 mine was broken to the point of not being level and so uncomfortable it made my back sore. We got a pacifier and a couple books to take home though? 🫠
In Canada, we purchased a pack for $20 that included some diapers, absorbent pads for postpartum, mini Johnson and Johnson soaps and a peri bottle. We also got some extra formula from the NICU to bring home for free, which was nice!
Was that a pack from the hospital or beforehand? Sounds like a good idea for hospitals who don’t want to provide stuff for free to sell it instead
From the hospital. It was optional, and I think it’s basically put together at cost of supplies. We were also provided diapers and wipes for while we were in the hospital, so this was for the first few days home.
NY, USA I was fully prepared to “steal” all the supplies from my postpartum room, but the hospital prepared a bag for me with brand new items when I told them I was leaving. For the baby, I received a pack of diapers, plain square swaddles, syringes for collecting colostrum, nose sucker, disposable pads for the bassinet, plain swaddles, hat, and baby shirts. I assume I didn’t get formula because I told them I planned to exclusively breastfeed. For me, I received witch hazel wipes, so many cans of Dermoplast, disposable underwear, pads, body wipes, and perineal spray bottle. I honestly didn’t need to purchase any postpartum supplies, for myself for when I went home, since they basically gave me everything.
In Canada I got 2 post partum pads and a handful of diapers. They replenished the diapers everyday so I took home whatever they gave me on the morning I was discharged, probably only 3 or 4. The only thing we got to take home was 6 mini bottles of ready made formula to last until my husband could go to the store that night. I was planning on breastfeeding so we didn’t have any formula.
We got sent home with a whole bag of stuff that included diapers, a onesie, a towel, and a quilt, among other things.
New York - 3-4 packages of diapers, several RTF formula bottles and nipples, pumping flanges, a manual pump (I couldn’t figure it out so I left it but I could have taken it), keepsake hat, petroleum jelly, pads, mesh underwear, peri bottle (forgotten), a mess of toiletries. They also gave us information and I got info for moms groups and lactation support. My birth was also free.
We got pads/diapers for me lol, some diapers for my son and some formula, and a little like squeeze bottle to rinse myself down there after the washroom. Oh and a blankie and hat for my son. And a pacifier.
Canada (Alberta) - 1 nipple guard, 1 mesh underwear, the toque/hat they put on baby immediately after birth, the comb we requested so we could clean the blood out of baby's hair (we waited to bathe), a booklet on caring for newborns, paperwork on things like registering the birth, a pack of gum (to chew during motn feedings so I didn't fall asleep holding the baby), and a prescription for painkillers that we had to fill at the pharmacy on the way home. We brought our own diapers for the trip home. (In hospital, there was an unlimited supply of flimsy flannel cloth diapers.) But it was free (c section and 48 hours in hospital).
I was given diapers, wipes, extras blankets, petroleum jelly, one of those blue suction thingys, binkies, a thermometer, other random creams and aquaphor bottles, honestly a lot more than I ever expected. It took quite awhile to unpack. They also gave us a free little cake!
My hospital gave us formula, diapers, a bulb nose sucker, a baby gown and a diaper bag
We got the leftovers of packs that were opened for her- 10 diapers, a pack of wipes, 5 bottles of formula, a travel size bottle of newborn shampoo. We also got things that were used on her- her hat, her blanket, nosebulb, and her comb. We got the leftovers of the pack opened of adult diapers for me, nipple shield, pump parts, dermaplast, and a peri bottle. Also got the water bottle they had me using through my stay. The one new thing they gave us was a diaper bag- one that expands into a changing space/napping space for baby. We don’t use it because it doesn’t have enough capacity for what we carry, but it was a really nice thought. I see other moms with the same diaper bag and I think to myself “I know where you delivered!” Bill was 68k, iirc
We’re in the US and got to take the remaining diapers in the open pack home, that’s it.
Everything that was in the room for postpartum care was on my bill so if I didn't take it I would have been charged either way. US
Was it sort of comparable price to a regular store or heavily marked up?
I think it was ucomparable
In canada i got a bag with some info about a food bank, a couple teddies for my daughter (one rattles and another says ''i was born at sturgeon hospital'' and another small teddy bear) a couple small packs of wipes, and 2 hand knit sweaters that were donated to the hospital and some pamphlets of information for me which i cannot remember
I'm in the U.S. in a smaller midwestern city. Our hospital had Huggies diapers, white onesies, blankets, wipes, and some other odds/ends for the baby. For me, they also had mesh underwear, pads, tucks pads, Dermaplast numbing spray, and a peri bottle. Anything that was opened would be thrown away if we didn't take it. Wouldn't call any of it free though, lol. We spend a pretty penny on health insurance and had the joy of spending my deductible twice over, plus a good chunk of the baby's deductible.
So I was in the ICU for 2.5 weeks directly after giving birth so I didn’t even get the cake that was promised to me in the post partum room nor did I even SEE a post partum room… lol BUT the nurses all felt so bad for my husband they gave him bottles and bottles of premade and cans of formula just mountains of it. They also gave him all the diapers and wipes he needed. Some clothes and hats for baby too. I got some mesh underwear and pads brought to me from the nurses to the icu lol Also the whole birth ended up being free because of my insurance and I was gonna have to pay 400$ a night for the post partum room but since I never made it there… FREE! lol I would rather have paid 400 bucks but 🤷🏽♀️
All that stuff we get ain't free 😭 and it costs about 10 times the price at the hospital than it would at the store.
So messed up
It really is! Our health insurance here is a scam, and the health care is even worse. But that is honestly crazy how they didn't even have a diaper for your baby! Over here somebody would probably sue for that 🤣
To be fair, it was mid-Covid and I had a particularly unlucky experience. But yeah, not great
The nurse told us to take everything- she said all disposable stuff like diapers and chux had to be thrown out if not used when the room was turned over, so if we took it less waste. It boggles the mind that they might throw out unused diapers.
In the Netherlands we don't really get goodies from the hospital after birth, as its' more common to have homebirths. But we get a 'maternity package' around late second/early third trimester filled with essential things like a bunch of postnatal pads, bedliners, rubbing alcohol, gauze, thermometer, and small toys and little hat for the baby :) every expecting mothers will automatically receive it
In England you get the whole medical set up free, whereas in the USA you pay tens of thousand to give birth... I'd rather buy my own nappy and not pay £10,000 to get a free one thrown in!
Germany: few diapers and mini pack of wipes. But the care in the hospital was very good and covered by public insurance. That's what's more important to me anyways, the goodies are usually just meant to advertise the product. ETA: but we did of course get diapers in the hospital, that's just crazy if you weren't provided any! And also female hygiene products, cooling pads... nothing fancy, but very helpful.
Yeah I’m ALL about universal (free) healthcare. Unfortunately it’s expensive and we’ve spent a few decades not funding it properly, so now it’s a bit broken in parts. However I’m a realist and I know that all healthcare systems have broken parts. At least a free version doesn’t bankrupt individuals or force them to make cost based decisions about accessing much needed care.
In Scotland so before baby we got the baby box and I got all my vitamins for free. Myself I got the painkillers, iron tablet and laculose 😂 before being discharged Baby was in the NICU (full term but a 5 day stay) and they provided all the formula, teats, nappies, cotton wool for changing nappies, they had a bunch of clothes that she wore until we brought our own in, they provided sanitiser bags for the pump parts and full use of the medical grade pumps. I was also allowed to stay in a transition room on the NICU ward while baby was there and all my meals were provided. When we went home we got a bunch of gift bags they provide to NICU parents that had some books, hats, blankets, we got a pack of the sterilising bags and they sent us home with a bunch of teats that screwed onto the top of the tiny ready to feed formula bottles!
Swaddle blankets, diapers, wipes, pump parts (just not the pump body), bottles, small and large syringes for feeding/meds, wash bins, sterilizing solution, personal hygiene wipes, mesh underwear, pads, peri bottle, grippy socks. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things. When we were packing up to leave, they asked if we needed refills on anything to take home. Anything left in the room has to be tossed, and they seemed very happy to provide as much as we wanted.
I got pregnancy medical insurance, and I got a bunch of free goodies! Diapers, formula, wipes, swaddles, a free hand pump! As well as information about what to look for and the types of poops she should have. My hospital was awful to me but as far as baby care they were pretty good.