Hospital bag time

[Nunyabiz]

Ok so my EDD is in 2 weeks (although have been recommended for an ELCS in the next week or so- unless I go into labour naturally beforehand)
And I need to pack my hospital bag. I'm pretty relaxed As this is my second child and I know it's not the end of the world if I send DH to run out and grab some extra bits

[GwenStacy]

Percy Pigs!

Seriously, something like that is great for keeping energy up without eating too much in case you need a section for whatever reason

Good luck!

[Lucky29]

I second snacks, loved having them after labour as I was in for a few days and it was good having stuff for between the hospital meals and I had DD at 10pm and was starving after cos I wasn't allowed to eat during labour.

[Nunyabiz]

Excellent suggestions! I look forward to enjoying snacks again without indigestion!!

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Stick some plastic bottles of water in the feeezer to take in so you have ice cold water.

[deepinthewoods]

Lots of useful things you could take, but none of it actually matters.

I found this out to my cost when, in labour with my first child my OH grabbed the bag I had been painstakingly packing for weeks, with all the essentials.

I was pretty far into labour when I needed something from the bag. It was then we realised my OH had picked up the wrong bag, in his haste he had grabbed a similar bag we had taken to Turkey a few months before.

It contained a snorkel, mask and a pair of flippers!! the midwives were almost wetting themselves with laughter.

They rallied around though, found everything I needed and for my new baby.

For my second birth I found lip salve, socks ( got very cold feet) and a hand mirror if you want to see baby's head make an appearance v useful.

[eggybrokenoff]

camera and charged batteries or phone charger. car seat.

[Nunyabiz]

Deep I actually snort laughed at that! Lol. I remember thinking if the hand mirror thing last time but was too busy screaming my head off in pain to want to take a peek! Socks are a good idea though- and just thought of slippers and flip flops (hospital showers- bleugh!!)
Camera- well I'm more of a phone picture taker- rubbish but they seem to be of similar quality these days.
Thanks so far!
Keep them coming guys!

[Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal]

My midwife gave me a list of things my local hospital recommend:

For you:
Maternity notes/birth plan
Mat pads (thick ones) x2 packs
Old/cheap/disposable knickers x5 pairs
Breast pads
Nursing bra
Dressing gown
Slippers
Old tshirt/nightie to give birth in
Toiletries, hairbrush, toothbrush/paste & makeup
Lip balm (lips can get dry with gas & air)
Wet wipes (good for cooling down & freshening up)
Spare socks
Flannel or water spray (to cool you down during labour)
Plain massage oil
iPod or similar
Energy sweets/drinks (to keep blood glucose up during labour)
Spare set of clothes
Hair bands
Snacks

For birth partner:
Camera
Mobile phone with all the essential contacts
Spare change for car park
Snacks

For baby:
3-4 baby grows
3-4 vests
Hat
Muslin squares
Pack of nappies
Cotton wool
Clothes to go home
Car seat

[Nunyabiz]

Fab! Thanks for that filthy! Looks like I'm pretty set then! X

[Nunyabiz]

Oops I meant keepthechange (might have read your name back to front)

[Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal]

Ha ha that made me laugh!

[WorryWarrier]

Wet wipes

[whereisthewitch]

I went to primark and got pajama shorts and vest tops for afterwards stay in hospital...got A few pairs of shorts because I leaked quite bad last time. Have my black labour nightdress from dds birth also packed.

I packed so much stuffI didn't need last time, the hospital provided pads, nappies, bed mats, iced water with straws for labour so maybe checkwith your hospital. They even gave me lansinoh for my ravaged nipples!

one tip I found really useful was to put a vest, babygro hat, wee blanket and nappy in a carrier bag which is easy for your dp to grab once baby is born....saves him hoking through your bag cos some men are useless at looking for stuff under pressure

really recommend an eye mask thing for trying to get some sleep on the ward.

[Nunyabiz]

Ooooo eye mask great idea and ear plugs! (Or actually ear plugs are probably a stupid idea as I won't hear DD) aaah wish I could afford a private room. Bloody £800 a night

Hmmm I might go to primarni tomorrow and grab a nightie or 2.

Thanks

[whereisthewitch]

That's shocking!!
it was my DD that kept the whole ward awake the night I stayed, she was the only breastfed one out of 10 and they took all tne other babies to the nursery.

[NearTheWindymill]

Proper cleaning cloths, cif and disinfectant for the hospital bathrooms .

Clean shirt for you DH. DS shat all over DH when he was born .

Phone charger.

Arnica tablets.

A couple of those coffee cartons you can bung in the microwave nowadays.

Bung a couple of frozen sandwiches into your bag on the way out and a couple of bananas, packet of kipling cakes, etc..

[Nunyabiz]

Yes whereisthewitch- and that's if there's even one available. They are first come first served. Last time I had about 50 other women speaking to their families on the phone in 50 other languages at all hours it was hell! (Ok so more like 7 but felt like 50).

Great idea about cleaning products lol. Can't believe how manky the bathrooms are considering it's a hospital.

[unlucky83]

(I'm lazy)
I used a hospital gown for both births - old tshirt never left bag for DD1 (in fact most stuff left untouched in bag)
Kept both my DDs in the baby gowns the hospital provide until hometime (days with DD1 , hours with DD2) - this was recommended to me by a midwife for DD1 - as she said - why make washing for yourself? you'll have enough to do anyway...
Good to have your own stuff but if you forget anything don't worry too much...
after a couple of non birth related emergency hospital admissions I know they have a stash of combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toiletries, disposable slippers, gowns, dressing gowns - everything really....just need to ask...