Hospital bag contents....

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

Ok - I have for baby -
nappies
wipes
cotton wool + baby lotion
vests + sleepsuits + socks + hat + mittens + shawl

For me -
nighties x 2
new knickers (cheapos)
breast pads
maternity pads
nursing bra
hairbrush + toothbrush/toothpaste + moisturiser + hairbands + glasses/contact case/eye drops
digital camera and batteries
clothes to come home in
Notes and birth plan

Is there anything I have forgotten?

[dobbins]

No- llos pretty good- just remember snacks and drinks for you and partner to keep you going!!

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

Ooh yes that's a good point!

[aquariusgirl]

car seat, list of phone numbers to call, socks(feet get cold in labour!), disposable knickers....i'm still thinking!

[FrockHorror]

Bath towels for you and the baby?

On the subject of cameras, make sure your memory card isn't full or is actually in the camera. We only managed 7 pictures of newborn DS as DH forgot to put the mem card back in after using it to upload pictures onto ebay. Was not impressed!

[tinierclanger]

Drinking straws, if you end up stuck on your back strapped to machines and drips, makes it easier for DP to feed you water/cups of tea - so glad we took these!

Lansinoh, as you will need bucketloads the first few days.

[MrsHappy]

Make sure that the knickers have a high waistband. If you end up with a c section you will be glad of them.
Lipsalve.
I don't think you need baby lotion at all.
You might be glad of an extra pillow or two (the NHS seems to have quite a shortage and the ones they do supply are like rubber biscuits).

[Trebuchet]

Hand held fan? I got awfully hot, that combined with spray water was heavenly.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

This is great! Keep them coming...

[RedHead81]

sweets/choc - you may need a quick release of energy - i wanted choc in my 1st labour and all the hosp had in their vending machine at that time of night was a mini choc swiss roll thing I wanted a block of choc!!!!

Labour 2 I had a stash of energy sweets.

I agree with MrsHappy about baby lotion - actually midwives don't recommend anything Johnsons at the moment. Just cotton wool and water will be fine. (I'd even leave the baby wipes at home too) Best to stay away from anything else for at least the first two weeks.

Tens machine? They are fab
Book? Labour can sometimes be long and a book might take your mind off things
Music? One of them music player things

[mum2jakeyroo]

slippers.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

Excellent. Music player, books, magazines, chocolate!

[hf128219]

Make-up. Vain, moi?
Dry shampoo.

[jojoisamum]

Flip flops for in the shower. The showers at my hospital were horrid and I wasn't convinced they were cleaned between patients showers.

You've not mentioned shampoo/conditioner, showegel and deoderant.

Food/snacks as again horrid stuff where I am.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

Oh yes I have a washbag with shampoo and stuff, and I always wear flip flops as all my shoes are too small!

[lollipopmother]

I've packed a flannel in case I want my DP to mop my brow!

What about sun shades for the car in case it's a sunny day when you're driving home?

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

Lol @ lollipop - not much chance of that!

[lollipopmother]

Kat - Pah, you've got to be in it to win it girl!

[JezzaJ9]

This may seem extreme but its got everything on

I got this from babycentre.co.uk Dec birth Club which I am member of you may not need half of the stuff but its got some really good pointers and helped me out alot when shopping.

LABOUR BAG ESSENTIALS
maternity notes
birth plan
Energy snacks for you + partner!
rounds of sandwiches
old t-shirt / nighty x 2
flannel
lip balm
flip flops
glucose sweets
water / cooling spray
mini fan
batteries for mini fan
gaviscon, if you had heartburn during pg
stop watch to time contractions
bottled water to drink
essential medication for you
essential medication for your partner
mobile, charger + change for phone
telephone list
hairbrush
lycra hair band and hair bobbles etc
fully charged camera
newborn vest
newborn sleep suit
baby hat
baby cardi
1 pair scratch mitts
1 pair baby socks
2 or 3 newborn nappies
LABOUR BAG OPTIONAL EXTRAS
tens machine
socks, you may get cold feet!
plain massage oil (eg sweet almond oil)
magazines / books for you
magazines / books for partner
Ipod, mp3 player, fully charged!
homeopathic labour kit
refreshing wet wipes
small hot water bottle for pain releif
small speakers for mp3 player
relaxation tapes
disposable camera (good back up!!)
birthing ball
Playing cards
aromatherapy labour kit
hypnobirthing tapes / kit
Mirror if you want to see baby on its way
Mini shower Gel / soap
sponge / flannel
mini shampoo
mini conditioner
mini tin of vaseline
moist toilet tissue
face creams / body lotion
toothbrush and mini toothpaste
old dark fluffy towels x 2
make up essentials
alcohol gel for hand sanitizing
mirror
aloe vera gel (cooling and soothing!)
Part 2 Packing for a hospital stay, 3 bags, your bag, baby's bag and your washbag from labour
OVERNIGHT BAG ESSENTIALS
cool comfy nightwear to last 3 days
big cotton granny pants?lots
slippers / comfy shoes
money and a debit / credit card
ear plugs
snacks for after labour
notebook and pen to note baby's feeds etc
maternity pads / big sanitary towels
antibacterial wipes
comfy going home outfit
carrier bags for sending things home!
OVERNIGHT ESSENTIALS FOR BREAST FEEDERS
2 or 3 nursing bras
breast pads
book / information about breastfeeding!
breastfeeding compatible nightwear
nipple cream
Breast Pads
OVERNIGHT BAG OPTIONAL EXTRAS
lavender oil
arnica tablets
chocolate
paper pants
photo(s)
sports bottle (see notes..!)
 BABY BAG
vests x 6
sleep suits x 6
Cardigans x 3
Pack of nappies
Scratch mitts x 3 pairs
Socks x 2 pairs
Soft bibs x 3
hat
muslin squares
cotton wool
super cute going home outfit
going home blanket
super cute teddy / soft toy
GOING HOME
Car seat: make sure you and your partner know how it works!

Hope it helps

[Jane7]

I'm going to take my exercise ball and a camping mat too - not sure how we'll squeeze it in the car, or what the hospital will make of us marching in with it...

[cathym]

Jezza, how do you fit all this into one bag?
With my first I knew I was going to be in hospital for a week so I packed for a week. Completely forgot that my husband could take stuff home and bring more stuff in each day. The problem is that you don't get much storage space in a hospital bay/cubicle, and they don't make them any bigger to allow for the baby cot they also need to accomodate.
I took in stuff like books as well and never opened them. The funniest thing I took was a Sudoko book thinking it would keep me occupied. I'll never forget that because I think I would have struggled to count to 10 the week after my daughter was born :0

[JezzaJ9]

Cathym, this is not my own list, god no I have not even started yet... I am 26 weeks and its my first! This was from another forum and I thought it may help I don't think I will be taking that much But some handy hints on some of the stuff especially learning how to use the car seat!!!

[cathym]

Making sure you can use the car seat is a good tip. The problem is that putting a car seat in the car when you don't have a baby is a bit weird.

I don't think 26 weeks is too early to have a bag packed. With my first I had to spend a night in hospital (can't remember how many weeks) and had to send my husband home with a list of stuff I needed and where to find it.
With my second I had a miscarriage at 12 weeks and was trying to throw stuff in a bag whilst feeling that it was pouring out of me (sorry - tmi).
I am now 10 weeks and will be getting a bag ready this week. It doesn't hurt to be ready.

My top tip is that if you have stuff that you use every day and so can't pack then either keep a list on top of the bag or even better get duplicates e.g. toothbrush. I can guarantee that at the point you decide you are actually going to hospital you won't be able to do much more than remember to take the bag with you

[MrsTittleMouse]

I do duplicates of toiletries too. Spare toothbrush, and travel sizes of shampoo, conditioner etc. The bag is too blummin big (and heavy!) as it is! The one thing that I took last time that was a complete waste of time and took up far too much space was my towelling dressing gown. It's really hot on the wards, so I just didn't need it.

[Neeerly3]

2 piece sleep wear for you, or a proper breast feeding nightshirt if you are intending to BF. Friend of mine only took night shirts to give birth in and then was all exposed afterwards when she was feeding while being visited!

Towels for you and baby is good idea, can be a bit crispy is hospital supplied. Your own bath/shower gel, so you can feel human when you eventually get chance for a soak.

Arnica pills....help healing from inside.

[hedgehog1979]

I had three bags and a spare one at home

Baby Bag - sleepsuits & vests, nappies, wipes, nuslins, sudocrem, vaseline
Labour bag - Snacks, squash, book, ipod, old tshirt, maternity notes
'after' bag - nightie, 3x knickers, pads, breast pads, bf bra, toiletries, Pj's, flip flops, antiseptic wipes (FOR BATHROOM), 2x dk brown bath towels
At home - another bag with the same as the afterbag as DH took stuff home and bought it back in