stupid hospital bag question

[Tinkerisdead]

if i pack a labour bag and a seperate ward bag, which do i put my toiletries/clean nightie in? This is my first baby and have no idea how soon or where i actually would get a shower etc?

I know its a bizarre thing to think about especially as im planning a homebirth but still... humour me!

[maidamess]

I only had one bag. But was lucky enough to deliver in an en suite room so it wasn't an issue. Could you double up in each bag so all your bases are covered? I'm sure your dh could go and get whatever bag you need, anyway.

[cmotdibbler]

In your labour bag - I got a bath soon after delivering the placenta, and it was on the delivery unit.

[Tinkerisdead]

LOL, i got the idea of two bags of doing search of hospital bag threads and loads of Mners saying have two bags, keep ward bag in car then you can offload stuff etc. ok one bag it is then...

[NorthernLurker]

One bag - and a pile of stuff at home for dh to fetch if you need to stay in longer than you think. You want your bath stuff with you because believe me you will be haeding for that water come what may as soon as you possibly can and it's wonderful! Pack dark coloured pants and nightwear though - nothing more depressing than a huge visible spot of blood on your freshly donned cotton.

[MrsBadger]

labour bag IMO, and don;t forget a dark towel too

I had a shower in the delivery suite before going up to the ward

[jellyforbrains]

I think that the 1st time I just put my toiletries in a wash bag which was in the labour bag - this could then be transferred as one unit into the 'ward bag' (this worked for the '2 bag' system!). This time I am taking one bag for me and one for baby (the bags are not that big). Have also packed a plastic bag to put the dirty things in and send them home with DH.

Am also planning homebirth but have bags prepared - am a week overdue so desperate to just use them now! Had HB last time - this is 3rd - and was good to have everything in a bag anyway as it was all more accessible for my DH when he was (hopelessly) trying to find things.

[jellyforbrains]

Yes, I second the dark towel advice. I have a red one packed this time .

[katiepotatie]

I just had one bag, small weekend trollycase. One side labour the other for afterwards with baby things in too....had an en suite got a bath pretty soon after. Birthing nighty went in the bin!

[MrsBadger]

I took my old Guide camp towel, which was navy with my name embroidered on it

tres stylish

[Tinkerisdead]

pmsl at enjoying bed bath with eyes closed. okay and ive searched and searched on all the previous threads but doesnt say how many nappies to pack or how many mat pads i need, i can see think how many and double it, this is my first so how many??? i dont know what to think to double it!!

im only 23 weeks so this is more for fun to pass the time as im on crutches and i have a decorator here so nothing better to do than plan my bag mentally!!!

[MrsBadger]

pack rest of bag first then fill spare space with nappies and pads (you can always send dh out for more)

[NorthernLurker]

Think how many pads you use with a heavy period - and then double that and two more for luck!

[NorthernLurker]

Don't worry too much about nappies - they have those on the ward - they have pads too but they are basic and massive so you will be more comfortable with your own choice.

[Umlellala]

most important bits IMO
-clean (big enough/maternity)clothes
-maternity pads - i had one pack of ten
-comfy clean pants that youy could chuck (i never needed to but...)
-mags/book
-FOOD for post-labour (choc, crisps etc)
-nappies * clothesw for newborn, i packed enough for two days but was out same day

one bag.

I washed most stuff though, wasn't that bad... waters cleaned off no prob.

Is it really gross that I waited til I got home to have a bath? (home same day)

[nervousal]

why bring your own towels to ruin (even if they are old?) I just used the hospital ones - not as nice and fluffy as home ones, but didn't have to worry about ruining them.

I second Umlellala's list - important to bring somehtign relatively nice (but comfy) to wear for all those photos. I happened to be in ward with Friend who gave birth 2 hours before me - she looked dead glam in all the photos and I looked like a haggered mess....

[MrsBadger]

I took my own towels because the hospital doesn't provide them!

[cmotdibbler]

Hospital towels ? Ha ! No such thing in the hospital I was in. Had to dry myself on blue paper in delivery unit (hadn't packed a bag as was only 35 weeks, so had only grabbed a nightie/book when waiting for someone to take me in), and there were certainly none on the ward. Mind you, I was in for 6 days, and didn't get any clean sheets in all that time.

Not sure whether they had any nappies on the normal ward - SCBU did let us have some to start with, but it was made clear that they were our responsibility (apart from the low rise ones when DS was under UV lights). Def no pads available.

[halster]

Take food, food and more food! I was taken up to the post-natal ward at midnight and was STARVING. No food available other than a paltry piece of toast. I ate SIX cereal bars in about 10 minutes. Couldn't shovel them down quick enough.

Oh yeah - and anti-bac wipes for the bathroom - a sad necessity.

[Lemontart]

no hospital towels? wow. Just shows how much they vary.
DD1 hospital (not private) awful labour experience there (enough to put me off hospital deliveries) had fluffy towels, deep baths, nappies free with even a bag of them to take home. DD1 had towels but no nappies.
Can I suggest a little bottle of lavender oil for your post delivery bath? So lovely and relaxing, calming and refreshing to pop a few drops in the water afterwards. Takes up almost no space in your bag and worth it.

[Tinkerisdead]

Right having searched through the threads, ive made a list of all recommendations and this is what ive got.. now im not saying i'll take all this but you will see what a bag would have if you included everything... you can see why i have a two bag dilemma....here goes....
Tshirt/nighty to deliver in
flannels to bit on, mop yourself down etc
waterspray
your own pillow
a fan
tens machine
camera
drinks and drinking straws
snacks/sweets etc
a hairband
music: IPOD/CDs etc
Toiletries esp deodorant
phone numbers to call after
change for phone calls/parking/bedside tv
Birthplan/pregnancy notes
Clean nighties for ward
dressing gown - dark coloured
big knickers
maternity pads
babywipes(for you or baby's meconium depending on which side of the fence you stand on using wipes on a newborn)
daytime clothes if you want to feel normal on ward
lavender oil
arnica tablets
ear plugs
dark towels
A book/magazines
pen and paper for notes/thank you cards
breast pads
slippers/flipflops for showers etc
nursing bras
babygros
vests
hat
baby blanket
cotton wool..for the same meconium you darent use wipes on..
vaseline to assist you getting this dreaded meconium off with
a couple of muslins
nappies
nappy sacks
a towel for baby
going home outfit for you
going home outfit for baby
a water jug to pour over your bits when weeing
fybogel/prune juice to help you poo
and disinfectant wipes for the nasty blood splattered toilets....

phew, now tell me what can i leave at home and do i need two bags!!

[nervousal]

why bring your own towels to ruin (even if they are old?) I just used the hospital ones - not as nice and fluffy as home ones, but didn't have to worry about ruining them.

I second Umlellala's list - important to bring somehtign relatively nice (but comfy) to wear for all those photos. I happened to be in ward with Friend who gave birth 2 hours before me - she looked dead glam in all the photos and I looked like a haggered mess....