Hospital bag bits

[Raindrop87]

Just wondering if anyone has any good recommendations for things to pack in my hospital bag? I'm thinking perhaps a few nice products to make me feel a bit nicer, things to make the experience nicer and more comfortable etc?

Also I've heard a few people mention taking unfragranced products - would you say this is required?

The unfragranced thing is maybe so baby gets used to your smell.

Other bits that can be good: dry shampoo, a really long phone charger, an insulated bottle to keep water cool, a separate bag for laundry. And I don't know about your hospital but mine had a policy of not changing the baby on your bed so you had to do it on the cot so something to put under them would be good. I used lots of face clothes as I wasn't so used to changing nappies so the meconium got everywhere.

I’ve heard lip balm is an essential many people overlook, since your lips can get quite dry during labour! Also the reason people say not to use fragranced stuff is so the baby can recognise your natural smell and bond better with you

A pair of slides.

Great for the shower and it helps not to have to bend down to put shoes on.

Snacks.

A water bottle to refill - Otherwise you’ll be stuck with tiny, crappy cups you can only get a mouthful from.

Longest phone charging lead you can find.

sliders not slides.

My expert midwife do lovely stuff I used this spray afterwards is a life saver for your bits lol

Snacks snacks snacks!! My labour was really quick and I was sick with every contraction but as soon as i was breastfeeding I was ravenous. I ate a whole box of the apple fruity bake bars within about 5 mins 😂

Secondly a lot more baby clothes than you think you’ll need. We had to get the in-laws to bring more. Babies have gunk that they vomit up, which meant DH was changing him all the time!

For you get some super comfy clothes to leave in, and maybe a bag of special travel toiletries like the l’occataine ones.

FYI I only spent one night in hospital and although I had a bed bath (heavenly!) I didn’t have a shower and spent all my time naked 😂

Outside of the obvious I have packed:

Lavender room spray
My own pillow
Extra long phone charger
Hypnobirthing book/scripts
Spritz for bits
Lavender Labour massage oil
Cooling spray

I have read lip balm is a must but I am yet to pack some xx

Some great suggestions here, thanks!

@nearlyamummyof2boys

My expert midwife do lovely stuff I used this spray afterwards is a life saver for your bits lol

I had a few complications after labour i.e. all of my external stitches just left the building after 5 days. I'd been using sprits for bits because it really was soothing and was told by the consultant in no uncertain terms not to use it on the open wound - just as a word of warning.

Honestly OP, I was so fucked after labour you could have bathed me in liquid gold and I wouldn't have noticed so I personally wouldn't bother taking things to make you feel nice. Definitely take a lip balm and I took lucozade sport to keep me hydrated during labour.

Flip flops. A light weight comfy cardigan/dressing gown to just pull over your pyjamas. Quite a few changes of night dresses/pyjamas (I bled a lot!). A pen and paper to make a note of important stuff they tell you and to fill in your menu sheet

I just took normal shower stuff in smaller holiday bottles, I know you are imagining that some nice fancy shower gel or something will make you feel nice, but if you’ve ripped up to your arm pits it’s not going to do much. I’d definitely take lip balm, I was using gas and air for over 12 hours with my first baby, funnily it was my husband that packed it as he’d done some googling. I’d have had no lips left without it. Straws are another good one, again my husband thought to pack them, I was so exhausted/out of it he was giving me drinks out his straws he packed, I did wonder why he was bothering when he put them in but yep used lots. A couple of pairs of dark pj bottoms, I bled everywhere and was v thankful my bottoms were black when I had to go clean myself up on a ward full of people. Dark towel too, far better than ruining a nice one. Hair bobble if you have long hair. Flip flops for the shower. A dressing gown. Comfy clothes for when you go home. Snacks.

For your husband - food lots of food my husband nearly starved to death with our first, it was a long labour (24hours) Saturday night going into all day Sunday nowhere was open for food in the hospital and the vendors were empty. For our second child he took in 2 carrier bags of food (he isn’t a fat bloke!). Clean t-shirt for him, swim shorts if he’s allowed to get into the birth pool and a towel, toothbrush for him too.

I would add a hand held fan. The post natal ward when I was in was 27 degrees!

You'll be so besotted with your baby you won't want to do much other than look at them! Make sure you have plenty of paracetamol at home for the after pains though. Also sudocreme is good for stitches as well as babiies bums!

Water spray/mist - I had my baby in Feb and it was still needed!

Nipple cream in case you're in longer than a day or two. Also, perhaps some wet wipes and cleaning spray (TMI warning...I bled all over the floor and there was nothing on ward for us to clean it with - nurse tried to borrow a spray from a cleaner on another ward but wasn't allowed - partner popped to Tesco in end)! Maternity pads. Handheld fan is great idea. Something short sleeved in case you have a canula. A couple of towels. Yes also to long phone lead and flip flops. Several bottles of water (keep one in the bed with you for when your table is moved out of reach). Snacks. Granny knickers! Lip balm. Comfort all the way!

I'd also recommend (and hopefully not get flamed) some mini bottles of pre made formula with sterilised teats. Aptimil do sets. With my first DC, I was in and out of bed all night in hospital after a c section - baby just couldn't feed enough. In the end, the nurse suggested a bottle of formula and they found me one. I carried on with baby on breast so she'd still get comfort and colostrum, but she also managed to actually get some food and rest. I brought bottles in for next pregnancy, but didn't actually use them.

Clothes that are easy to breast feed or skin to skin with if not breastfeeding.

Lip balm definitely.
Flip flops/slides for the bathroom
Dressing gown or cardi - while the ward was warm, I had chills a fair bit so needed something to put on
I wouldn't worry too much about nice toiletries - the bathrooms are usually fairly grim and tbh my pp body was such a shock I wanted out of there asap. Quick shower and done! Save that and your nice PJ's for being back home.

@KNB02 I've been searching for a good/ natural lavender room mist and labour massage oil. .could you recommend any please?

I was thinking of getting a room mist too but was torn between relaxing and uplifting for energy? I've seen there's a spritz to uplift one which looks good? What do you think?