Hospital bag - the actual bag...

[Bartimaeus]

What type of bag are you taking to the hospital?

I have a lot of stuff to take. I live in France and for a straightforward birth you stay 4 - 5 days. The hospital has given me a HUGE list of "essentials" which includes my clothes, towels, sanitary pads etc. and all the baby's stuff including towels, nappies, clothes and 2 sleeping bags...

For 4 - 5 days this is a lot of stuff!!!

They've told us to bring one bag for the bedroom and one bag for the birthing room (actually they've said one bag for me and one for the baby for the bedroom and again one bag each for the birthing room but this just seems ridiculous)

For the bedroom I was thinking one large suitcase but for the birthing room I'm not too sure - maybe a suitcase would be awkward? Maybe a soft canvas bag would be better?

What are you planning on using?

To be honest I'm still a bit in shock at the list of stuff to take, which includes 2 sleeping bags, 2 packets of newborn nappies, 7 pyjamas, 5 vests, 2 hats, 3 maternity jackets....

[FoxyRevenger]

I had three holdalls and a little bag that you would carry on to a plane sort of a thing.

[PrincessScrumpy]

I will have a bag for me for after the birth, a bag for the babies and one bag for the delivery room - I'm having a c-section, but stuff like lip balm and a flannel for me and all the baby first stuff.

I'm having twins and am likely to be in hospital for a few days but I was planning on a baby change bag for the delevery room stuff, then a large canvas bag for everything else. I thought about a suitcase, and might change my mind, but when dh leaves at night, he can leave a canvas bag on the chair next to the bed so I can reach things as I won't be able to get to the floor!

We live near the hospital though so dhh can nip home and get things I need if necessary.

[Bartimaeus]

Good thinking about not having a suitcase on the floor!

I might have to use DH as a courrier service, if I need extra stuff, plus he can take away the sick/poo covered clothes...

I actually prefer the idea of holdalls, the only problem being we don't have any! We have a couple of gym bags but no way would I put clean baby stuff in them!

[CBear6]

I have a little air-hostess style suitcase that I'll be using, it holds enough for a weekend away so is plenty big enough for hospital, I used it with DS too.

[apricotears]

OH- I have a question relating to this aswell, hope you don't mind Barti.

What stage of pregnancy should you make sure your bag is packed and ready to go?

[TransatlanticCityGirl]

Suitcase. But I've spent no more than 2 mins thinking about it as it's bottom of my list.

[shelscrape]

I used two sports bags - one each for me and baby post birth and a small rucksack for birth stuff. I only took enough stuff for two days, although I was in hosptial for four days. when DH came to visit each day I sent him home with the dirty stuff to wash and he would bring a clean days supply with him. I gave birth uin a UK hospital and there was absolutely nowhere to keep stuff

[edwinbear]

I had two suitcases, (one for my stuff, one for DS's), plus a big cool bag with food and drinks in it, two pillows and the camera. I looked like I was going on holiday and they all laughed when I walked in, to be fair, it probably was a bit OTT. However, I ended up staying for 5 days and actually used everything and had to send DH home for more clothes for both us and nappies.