Which bag/bags for hospital?

[sammy891]

I still need to buy my hospital bag/bags. Which style are you taking? Rucksacks? Weekend bags? I was thinking a separate one for baby and one for my things.

[KadabrasSpoon]

Take something you can easily move as sometimes you get moved bays. Also there's not heaps of space. A hand luggage size wheely suitcase was ideal for me.

[ClaryFray]

I took ex's sports bag. Filled with all manor of crap. Coke and pic-a-mix were a life saver.

[BellyBean]

I had a bag for before and during labour (induction) and another for after and baby. Rucksack style and gym bag. Should have put baby stuff in a carrier though cos dh didn't know where I'd strategically put it all and he was the one fishing for stuff.

[Mummalovex]

I took a small wheely suitcase and a hand luggage bag for both of my children, everything fit perfectly :)

[PandaCat]

I've got a weekend/hand luggage sized bag for my things and I am taking the changing bag for baby, same as I did with DD1.

[QueenAravisOfArchenland]

You don't need to buy a bag particularly, unless you don't own any at all already...?

A suitcase, sports bag or whatever you've got is fine. It can also make sense to have a smaller bag with immediate necessities for labour/after birth and a larger one for if you get kept in a few days.

[katmarie]

I've got a wheely suitcase, cabin bag sized, for me, and I'm using the changing bag for baby, and I have a longer stay sports bag (my somewhat underused gym bag repurposed) to leave in the car for if I'm in more than a couple of nights. Also I have a bag of snacks and a toiletries bag, and dp has a small bag with a towel and change of clothes as we're aiming for a water birth. Seems like a lot when you look at it all!

[LorelaiVictoriaGilmore]

I've got a suitcase for me, cabin bag for the baby and dh is using his sports bag. It is a lot of stuff!! But once you cram in a dressing gown, feeding pillow etc. it's going to take up some room!

[Kpo58]

There is a strong possibility that I will be using a blue IKEA bag this time round...

[sammy891]

Thanks for the advice! I was worried a suitcase may be too much but it will probably be easier to carry that compared to weekend bags.

[MagicFajita]

A small suitcase on wheels.

[Oysterbabe]

I just had a wheely cabin bag sized suitcase. I barely used anything in it as we arrived 20 minutes before the baby was born and were discharged after 6 hours.

[LorelaiVictoriaGilmore]

It's difficult to know how much to pack as you don't know how long you will be in for. Last time I was in for 5 or 6 nights and had nothing!! Sent dh home for stuff and he came back with two pairs of pants, half a bikini and one of his t-shirts! So this time I am taking a suitcase!!

[katmarie]

@LorelaiVictoriaGilmore that's why I went with a second bag for a longer stay. It's not that I don't trust my dp to pack the right things, I just wanted to make sure I had the stuff I'd want. It also takes some of the stress off him and if we have to stay in for a few days I'm sure he'll be worried enough anyway without worrying about that too.

It will stay in the car and hopefully never be needed but it's there just in case. It also has extra baby clothes and maternity pads and stuff too. My midwife told me that space on the ward is limited so I'm trying to keep my bags quite small!

[KimmySchmidt1]

Take a bag for baby - ie the changing bag you’ll use after birth containing. The things you’ll put in it for baby - bottle, milk (in case of difficulty breast feeding) nappies, clothes for it etc.

I took an overnight tote bag for my stuff and my DH took a rucksack for snacks and bits that were his responsibility like phone charger.

[LorelaiVictoriaGilmore]

It's definitely a good idea to have more than one bag. When I left hospital with ds last time though, I had accumulated a suitcase of stuff and made some comment to the midwife about it being embarrassing having so much stuff and she said, 'that's nothing, you should see what some people bring in!'

[Potteryprincess30]

@Kpo58 you are my inspiration and frankly spirit animal! I think I had a morisons bag full of things for my last baby 8 years ago. This time round I'm hoping to be more organised but you comment made me smile, and a little nostalgic for more carefree times, because in the end anything will actually do really won't it? as long as you remember a nappy and clothes for the baby

[Situp]

When DS was born I hadn't eaten for 2 days and was told I had missed the dinner trolley so would get something in the morning. Not even tea and toast was offered.

When DD was born I took 1 change of clothes for each of us and filled the rest with food