Hospital Bag - Have I gone OTT????

[CupcakesHay]

I've just finished the last bit of my hospital bag packing, after adding a few more bits in....

To give a bit of background, we live about an hour's drive from hospital, and if plan goes OK - my dad is going to drop me and DH off, then we have baby, and DH will stay at travel lodge nearby whilst I stay overnight.... so no going back for anything I forget and not really any shops that close by - so really can't forget anything!

So here's the list... does it sound OK? Mad? Too much? I'm getting a bit paranoid that I have too much stuff! So any advice would be great...

Hopsital bag (me):

• Towel
  
• Pillow & Pillow Case
  
• Crocs
  
• Bin Bags for dirty laundry
  
• Maternity Pads x 30
  
• Knickers x 4
  
• PJ Bottoms x 1
  
• PJ Top x 2 (one with buttons, one without)
  
• Nighties for giving birth in x 2
  
• Dressing gown
  
• Nursing Bra x 2
  
• Knickers x 3
  
• Fluffy socks
  
• Normal socks
  
• Dettol wipes (in case showers/toilets are minging)
  
• Bag with toiletries - lip balm, shampoo, toothpaste, etc
  
• Breast Pads and Nipple cream
  
• Water Bottle
  
• Ribena
  
• OJ Cartons x 6
  
• Hob Nob flapjacks
  
• Boost Bars
  
• Camera
  
• Birth Plan
  

(still need to put in clothes to wear home for me! And Ipod and Speakers)

Baby Bag

• 2 vest/baby grows
  
• 2 x outside baby grows (as in coloured)
  
• Star Shawl to wrap baby in for "leaving hospital pictures"
  
• Beige blanket
  
• Cotton Wool
  
• Wet Wipes
  
• Socks and Scratch Mitts
  
• Muslins x 2
  
• Knitted Cardy, hat, booties and mittens
  
• Snowsuit
  
• Pampers - newborn - x 35
  

PHEW - so what do you think?

[jubblicious]

Sounds about right. I was really worried that we had overpacked, but as everyone said, it is better to have more than realise that you need something at the last minute.

One thing that did come in handy was the change we needed for parking!

[Louii]

I would get DH to drive, you can leave stuff in car then, he could also go home if needed, an hour drive not to bad.

[Firawla]

I think its fine, best to have too much than to be running out of things and in a position where you cant easily get more. So on that note personally i would bring more than 2 baby vests as they can easily poo on that and leave you with none! are there no shops nearby at all?? because that is hard if you dont know how long you will be in. for one night or two nights may be okay but if you end up for a week you will end up needing more, so would be tempted to just find out the shops incase, as dh could then easily drive off and get things if necessary.
I know you are not trying to increase the amount of stuff any more but one more thing i would say is sometimes handy to bring in a couple of different sizes, well for me it was. first baby was average sized and the clothes swamped him so had to send dh for the smaller newborn ones, second one was huge and didnt fit the newborn stuff packed, luckily had a couple of slightly bigger ones in there.. so can be good to prepare for all eventualities.
agree about dh drive and leave stuff in the car (if your dh drives that is?)

[Flisspaps]

I'd leave the 'leaving hospital photos' shawl, save it for getting home.

Take a couple more vests/babygros in 0-3 months, more knickers, you won't need baby socks if you've got a babygro to put him/her in. I only planned on being in and out (ha!) but ended up being in for four days.

Take some vaseline or lipsalve. If you have G&A it comes in handy.

[Moulesfrites]

Sorry I am 38 + 1 and packed my bag last week - wil I need 30 maternity pads?? I have packed a pack of 10! Am I being terribly naive?

[thisisyesterday]

sounds fine to me.

i wpould agree with getting your dh to drive tho, presuming he can

there are generally times when visitors are not allowed... so he will have opportunities to go and buy anything else you need, cos he won't be able to stay with you the entire day...

[Flisspaps]

Take 10 pads, there will be plenty of mattresses maternity pads at the hospital anyway (or at least, there were at mine!)

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I would take more baby vests - we took 2/3 in and DH had to go and buy a new pack of 7 because DS had pooed on them all!

I would take less nappies initially, we mostly used hospital ones for the 3 days that we were in.

Could your DH have a 'back-up' bag in his hotel room - with extra nappies, more maternity pads, knickers, baby vests? Then if you are only in for 1 day/night you won't need it, but if you have to stay in for a few days then you will have supplies of stuff there?
I would pack more nighties and pjs for you in that bag - I got incredibly hot in hospital and it was so lovely to have clean pjs or nightie in the morning and again at bedtime.
Do have a couple of nighties for post-birth as well as pjs - if you need a catheter then they very likely won't want you to have pj bottoms on, at which point you then end up in a hospital gown if you haven't brought anything suitable.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Moules - depends what your hospital has on the ward. Ours has maternity pads, cotton wool, nappies and bedding for the baby.

Friends in other areas were told to bring everything as the hospital will (for example) supply the first nappy for the baby and then nothing at all.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Yes definitely get your DH to drive (if he does). Hospital food can be vile, and often in really small portions. I sent DH out many times to buy me edible things!

[NannyState]

If you sail through the birth and are out in 24 hours, it will all be a bit OTT, yes. But better safe than sorry. I was in for 8 days with my first, and it was lovely having all my own home comforts.

[CupcakesHay]

I was told by my midwife that the hospital didn't provide mat pads - hence the 30. And my Dh isn't on the car insurance - long story - but he works for Foreign Office so we live abroad at moment - so staying with parents and no car.

Think i will tke more baby vests - hadn't thought about the pooing. And only taking so many pampers cos i can't be bothered to split the packet!

Wow - i thought i had loads, but you all make me feel a lot better!

[WhyMeWhyNot]

Our hospital doesn't supply anything except first nappy and baby's cot bedding. No mat pads or baby clothes. Cost cutting at it's best you know

[sunndydays]

I would put in a couple more pairs of knickers and another pair of pyjama bottoms, also you may well be frown upon if you are going to use baby wipes on baby so maybe leave them?

[PrivetDancer]

I don't think anyone will frown at wipes :)
And they are useful for all sorts of occasions

I wouldn't bother with the pillow, but everything else sounds good

Good luck :)

[harrygracejessica]

def more knickers - only little anyway so dont take up space!!

I wouldnt take the pillow either.

More vests, babygrows needed. I pack 7 for each kid (had twins last time and expecting more)

[Secondtimelucky]

I'd split it into two bags (or three even, if you want a separate one for the baby). You don't want to be rooting through all that in the middle of things.

So, whilst I get your point on nightclothes, you won't need two nighties and 1 1/2 pjs in labour.

In terms of things you could ditch, I wouldn't take the snow suit and the blanket or the pillow, and would reduce the number of nappies. Also, why do you need a blanket and a shawl, won't they do the same job -or is the blanket for hospital bedding?

I'd also up the number of vests and babygros.

[Secondtimelucky]

Sorry, I deleted a bit. I meant to say (between para 1 and 2) that it would make sense to have a labour bag and and after bag, so you can stash the after bag out of the way.

[CupcakesHay]

Was thinking the baby wipes might be more useful for me anyhow!

Right - def going to pack more babygrows then, and knickers and another pair of black PJ bottoms. As for the pillow, it's only a cheap one from IKEA, and at bottom of case, so can't be arsed to take it out now! [need a lazy emoticon here!]

[mummyplonk]

Agree with above, prob only 10 nappies needed max, more vests, babygro's in case you have a sicky babe and the thing most Mums I meet in my job worry about is change for tv etc, their phone/camera charger and a little soft toy or personal blanket to put in their cot to make it feel less like a hospital.

[moomaa]

Yes more baby vests and babygros, you can easily get poo on the baby's clothes (especially if you are not practised!) and baby may be sick, especially if they swallow any merconium.

I would say more things for your bottom half, I preferred to get dressed in the day and quickly went through my trousers and knickers with leaks, I felt like a teenager

[mummyplonk]

Sorry if someone has mentioned it already but def worth bringing some baby nail clippers, I cant believe how long some of the babies nails are

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Yes - split it into a labour bag (which should include a couple of nappies and first outfit for baby), and then an 'after' bag with all your pjs, mat pads, more nappies, baby clothes etc.

Also - make sure that your DH is familiar with what is in each bag. When you are dealing with contractions you don't want him firing 'which pocket darling' type questions at you

[stillbobbysgirl]

bring a little bit of make up if you use it - just a mascara and a lip gloss, and some nice hair grips if you have longer hair. you never know you might end up in for a few days and it will make you feel more human if you have yer lippy on when visitors come in!