et me preface. After the arrival of my son, I quickly realized how much additional consumption and waste there is with a little one! At times, I felt guilty knowing how much more water, paper goods, and diapers (of course) we went through! While you will use and dispose of more than you’re use to, there are opportunities to reuse and repurpose items (when it makes sense to) to help offset! Saving you money (yay) and if you are like me, feeling better about having a smaller (although greater) consumption footprint and it can begin right at the hospital.
Hospital Provided Items
Knowing what to expect may help (dependent on birthing center or hospital). The hospital provided essential care items for both my baby and I. For me, this included mesh underwear, long & thick pads, peri bottle, medicated witch hazel iced cooling pads, Dermoplast first-aid spray, Lanolin breast ointment, diapers, large tub containers. For baby, this included, baby formula (we supplemented), baby soap, baby sponge, Medela mixing bottles and nipples, Medela breast pumping gear.
Going Home
Then on the day we discharged, our nurse told me, “Take everything that’s leftover, we are going to throw it away anyways”. She even told me to pack the bathing bucket and sponge from my son’s 1st bath. Being polite, I obliged thinking I’d purge it anyway, but to my pleasant surprise I used just about everything!