Hospital bag! What was useful what wasn't so useful?

[saiyme09]

I'm a little way of to giving birth however as I enjoy being organised slightly neurotic I've been considering what to pack for my self the baby and if anyone found it handy for there partner to have some spare clothes and toiletries?

I think it depends on the birth and the hospital policy, it would have been pointless for me because I had an emcs and dh had to stick to hospital visiting hours so didn't do much hanging about. I got my stuff spot on from the lists here but didn't pack enough for dd or the things I'd packed weren't appropriate. I didn't pack socks hats and scratch mits for example and had to send dh out for them.don't worry about being too organised.no such thing. I had my hospital bag packed at 22 weeks!

Socks, towels, slippers for you.
Feeding pillow
Clothes, a nappies, cotton wool, yes to scratch mitts, baby hat
Kindle, mobile, money.
There isn't much room to store stuff.
Comfy clothes for after.

Didn't take anything for dh. If yours wants to take a small bag do that separately so he can take it away with him.

Yes, a clean tshirt is all that's really needed but we were hanging about for hours (like 8!) in reception waiting for my C-section and then had the op plus recovery plus moving up to the mat wards. Hospitals are hotter than hell and he was very sweaty by late afternoon. It wasn't a major priority but a nice to have.

One thing dh took was shirt. Seems bizarre but was great as once baby was born he changed into shirt and had baby sleep skin to skin on his chest with shirt open/ wrapped over baby. Did both times, and really handy as we both wanted baby to have as much close skin to skin the first few days so he would take over after I had fed baby/ when I showered etc.

I also took a few breastfeeding wrap dresses and wore in hosptial and going home as I felt better in those than pjs! Just added comfy leggings.

The shirts idea sounds really good! Thanks for all the top tips!

It sounds really obvious but if you are planning on breastfeeding, take clothes that allow you to do so! I didn't (high necked nightdresses - what was I thinking...!!) and had to practically strip off to feed the baby which I was reluctant to do on the post natal ward at visiting time

Mint tea and/or wind tablets. I had an emcs and was in crippling pain; it took several hours for midwives to get me a flippin peppermint tablet as they needed it signed off by the consultant and the ward was operating at capacity.

Lip balm! And squash. I was SOOO thirsty and dry between the heat and milk coming in I was parched.

My Dh goes round telling expectant fathers to take plenty of food and drink for themselves and a fork ( pot noodle) as the midwives are not that interested in finding a pot noodle wielding Dh a utensil to eat his food with!

For Christmas my husband bought me a Radley holdall and filled it with things he'd been advised to include on here, it was a lovely idea but I hardly used most of it.
The things I did use were nightie, slippers, dressing gown, lip balm, snacks and for my daughter used a vest, hat, sleepsuit, nappy and wipes.
I formula fed from birth and the hospital provided it but you need to check policy, I know mine don't any more so with this daughter I need to take a bottle and some formula.

Definitely pack a phone charger and I also plan to take some mints this time, I had a very long labour and my mouth felt awful, I must've been gassing the poor midwives with death breath!

Oh and maternity pads.

I took toiletries but they and the towels were provided and also packed way too many clothes for dd.

It's a good idea to take a bag of necessities in with you and have a bag of "maybe's" in the car that your husband can fetch if need be.

Lip balm. If you use gas and air you get a really dry mouth afterwards.

boiled sweets to suck on during labour. Couldn't eat anything personally but this little bit of sugar helped during a long labour!

Plenty of big knickers

I was so happy I'd brought toiletries with me . I had a lovely shower the day after ds but it does depend on what state you're in . You may not feel like budging , I know I didn't after dd

Lots of maternity pads and big black knickers!!
Clean PJs
Loose clothing to come home in
Snacks
Hair brush and hair bobble
Flip flops for the shower
Towel

Depends on how far you live from the hospital doesn't it? I have one new set of clothes for leaving the hospital in, and a set of pyjama. A couple of baby vests and babygros, a swaddle blanket, cotton wool (for wiping baby bum, nappies. And a charger for my phone. And my tens machine. That's it really. We are 15-30min from hospital so can go back and pick up anything anyway. Didn't pack anything for DH.

And obviously a lot of maternity pads! Way more than you think you will need.

I took pretty much the same filled bag to hospital for three births and bought the same stuff back unused: face spray, flannel, make up, magazine..

Things that were invaluable were hair bobble, breast pads, paracetamol & ibuprofen, nice bubbles for post birth bath, high energy non-perishable snacks (flapjacks/raisins etc. and plenty if cartons of juice and drink to help the post birth poo!). And maternity pads and cheap oversized knickers. I found I used most stuff after the birth-there's entirely too much else to bother about than listening to your iPod or doing your nails!

One thing that I do not think anyone has mentioned are nappy sacks (I know not environmentally friendly, but when you are new to nappies they are useful), lansinoh nipple cream (if breastfeeding) and ear plugs (this should hell you block out other people's babies, you will still hear your own I promisie).

Apart from that, the last time I was on the post natal ward, what struck me was the number of women who were wearing nightclothes they looked self conscious in, as if they had not thought through that they would need to walk around in front of people they did not know to use the bathroom and so on.
Good luck.

Snacks and drinks! I was starving on the ward after an emcs and the food provided was pathetic. Had to send dh out to get me takeaways both nights I was in! Breakfast didn't arrive until 8am so I was thankful for the snacks I had.

Ear plugs and an eye mask are also useful, plus a nightie or top that's suitable for breastfeeding.

I packed snacks and drinks and was nil by mouth for 3 days after my emcs. Very frustrating with all that choc around! I agree with the disposable pants. I had those and they were great agree on the pads too.

It's funny what some hospitals do or don't supply. Mine provided formula and even gave me the rest of the tub to take home yet I had to bring in blankets which surprised me.

Nightwear wise I got a set from m and s. You get one normal style and one that buttons up down the front you can wear them together or separately so you can use the button up one for bf or as a dressing gown.it was very handy and not hideous.not maternity I just got 2 sizes up.

Re clothes for dd though, I was told she was massive. She was under 7lb in the end so whilst I'd packed both sizes just in case she was in the newborn size only and because it was 25 degrees I'd packed mainly rompers but they still wanted her in sleepsuits and vests and a cardigan! Also she's my first,I still struggle with dressing her because she's so delicate. So, sleepsuits that do up down the front not over the head and round the legs.

From the perspective of someone who has had two labours ending in EMCS I would say bring nightshirts/nighties rather than PJs. If you have EMCS you will be catheterised at least for a short while and also PJ bottoms would be too uncomfortable/difficult to put on. Bring slippers or crocs or something that you can slide your feet into easily.

Ditto the recommendation for peppermint tea/oil/capsules. I am getting peppermint oil from Holland and Barrett so I can do peppermint water as both the other times I suffered very badly with trapped wind after the operation and the MW says they are no longer allowed to give out peppermint water. I'll be bringing full sugar Ribena cartons to keep me going in case I find I can't eat for a bit as was the case last time. And chocolate or something in case my appetite returns at an odd time!

I'll probably pack muslins too although I can't remember how much they spit up in the very early days. A carrier bag to put sleepsuits/vests in when they have been worn, ditto something to stick the clothes in you were wearing in labour for DH to take home (my waters broke when I was still wearing my yoga trousers!)

My two best things were a "nursing pyjamas" set (a gift from a friend who had bought them for her pregnancy but didn't use them) - pyjamas, top with nursing clips, bed jacket. Was great to be able to layer and cover up easily. Made me feel a bit out together top :)

And a travel mug and tea bags (but then I was in Belgium where they don't understand tea - I used to potter down the corridor and fill my travel mug and have a lovely hot mug of tea whenever I wanted, not the odd lukewarm jug they would deliver with breakfast)