Hospital bag help

[Jam8]

Hi!

Due to be induced on Wednesday and feel like my hospital bag is too big.

Annoyingly I’ve tried to attach images of the bag I’m taking but won’t load. I’m taking a travel hold-all and a mini one for baby.

Can anyone advise what sort of size bags they took? First baby therefore no idea about anything!

Thanks

[Jam8]

Attachment....

[PlinkPlink]

Jesus woman 🤣🤣🤣 you planning on being there long? 🤣🤣

Bless you, I remember the uncertainty of this too.

I've got a 13 week old and a 3 year old. First one was in hospital, second was at home but I still had to pack a bag, just in case. Most hospitals will want you out at soon as possible, which sounds awful but really its just so nice to get them home in your space.

Honestly, the main things I would pack are:

A shirt nightdress/pyjamas

Pants x 4

Pack of maternity pads

Toiletries bag - toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shower gel and maybe a little bit of make up to go home in

Outfit for baby -includong hat and scratch mittens

Nappies for baby

Water wipes for baby - that first poo is like tar. Do not attempt to clean it with cotton wool and water 😂 i know they say you should but its just horrendous.

Clothes to go home in

Nursing bras - if you plan of breastfeeding

Towels

Mobile charger


Anything else is just a bonus/optional, and if you need anything else or have to stay in longer someone else can go and get those for you. Some places suggest music and headphones, books etc but you'll most likely be too busy gazing at your little one or sleeping.

Congratulations by the way, and I hope it all goes well 🤩

[maryberryslayers]

They look fine, I took a medium wheeled suitcase for me and a small bag for baby so there was less to carry. It's better to have all you need plus extra with you incase you have to stay in longer and visiting/bringing things in is restricted.

[PlinkPlink]

Bag was a holdal...about 60cm x 50cm.

Second time I had alot less in it 😂😂

[NWnature]

I'm going to take a handluggage style wheely suitcase which feels pretty massive and another bag for baby stuff! i think those ones look fine.

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

I took a cabin sized suitcase on wheels for dc2. Dc1 I had the separate bags and it just annoyed me. The cabin bag was great as it sat open on the chair next to me. I took a couple of carrier bags to chuck worn clothes into ready for washing when I came home.

[Jam8]

Thanks!
I don’t think I would take so much stuff but due to partners not being allowed back into the hospital and being unsure of how long I’m going to have to stay I’m taking probably more than I should.
No transparency from hospital about rules etc atm and I’ve been given little to no info about the induction.
Being thrown in at the deep end😂

[Heyha]

I'll be honest if you're being induced you can expect a few days in so I would expect you to be 'allowed' more luggage! I had a backpack with me on the ward and then we kept another top-up bag for me, and a baby bag, in the boot of the car. When we got moved onto postnatal most of my stuff went in the car and the baby stuff came out. It would have done my head in having it all around the bed! We made 'going to the car to top up the bag' one of my daily tasks while we were waiting round for induction to get going. I'd also got a 'going home' little bag ready that lived in the car seat (fresh outfit for me and baby). Not much help if your partner can't visit every day which I know might be the case still in some hospitals.

[Heyha]

Ah cross-posted OP. Deffo take the beasty bag then, plenty of underwear and snacks ready! Induction was a huge long boring waiting game for me. But don't worry about your bag, plenty of room on the chair in antenatal, it will go to delivery with you, slightly less room on postnatal (the baby takes up quite a bit of space 😂) but you'll have eaten snacks and can offload your washing on DP by then so should be fine. Hope all goes well, have gas and air for any looking about they want to do if you would like, you can ask for it!

[BeMorePacific]

I think that’s ok. Especially as induction can take 72hrs. If you end up having a C section that’s possibly another 48hrs.
I think I will take one hold all (medium sized) and my nappy bag stocked for baby.
I had induction —> C section 1st time around. So if that happens you need more! Post natal wards are also really warm, so don’t worry about packing lots of layers.
Good luck with induction xxx

[BeMorePacific]

Only thing to bear in mind, when you leave you’ll have baby to carry too, so don’t have more things than you and OH can manage xx

[RunnerRunner]

I did wonder if you were going for a fortnight, my bag was the size of the small bag for both of us. I must admit I did have 2 more bags in the car with extra clothes etc in that my husband could bring up if I ended up stuck in longer or needed more clothes, I didn’t need them though. If your husband isn’t allowed to bring more stuff up I’d probably try to fit everything you need in the large bag including baby things. Two bags looks a little excessive!

[Metallicalover]

That's looks fine OP. When I went into be induced I ended up being there for 3 nights/ 4 days in total. So needed clothes for them 3 days. Then baby needed a few change of clothes etc! Especially now with restrictions and partners can't come and go etc I would have to take a lot more! Xx

[Jam8]

I assumed I would get the ‘are you planning a holiday’ comments 😂.
I mean the opinions seem very split so I guess I’ll just go with it.
Thanks for all the help and good luck ladies xx

[1990shopefulftm]

I've packed a hold all bag for me, then a big changing bag for baby and will have a rucksack as well.
I'm due next month and at the moment if i can't use the midwife unit, DH can only return in the afternoon for 3 hours if i got transfered to the postnatal ward, so I m making sure to have extras incase I don't have something and he's not allowed back in for a while and plenty of food incase I can't get up easily to get it as I've heard its unlikely they bring it directly to you.

[Yorkshirepudding1987]

Ive got a cabin case packed and then the changing rucksack with more things in. Ive had to pack everything we might need this time as my partner isn't allowed back in and I'm having a section so don't know how long ill be in for. I've even packed snacks as he wont be able to bring me anything.

I think those bags look fine.

[greenemerald]

I think it looks fine. I took a wheelie cabin sized bag (much easier to wheel around than carry) plus babies changing rucksack. I was in a week but didn't need any extra supplies.

[Myworld90]

i honestly think its fine. you might be out within hours and that's great but you also might not. I got induced with my first went in on Sunday morning didnt go home til late Friday night. My other half had to do a few trips home for extra bits and this time he won't be able to visit at all on post natal ward so I'll be packing everything i possibly can this time!

[MichelleOR84]

My bag was huge ! And we had a separate one for baby too . My hospital actually gave me a list of what to pack including an extra pillow/pillows and a towel . I just packed exactly what was asked and I ended up using everything. I was in the hospital 5 nights including labour and my husband had to go home to pick up extra underwear.

[unimaginativeusernamehere]

In normal times I'd say it's too much and to just have enough for 1 night with an extra bag packed in car boot but as you're being induced and your partner won't be allowed in for visiting then I'd say take plenty with you.

Would you like to post a list of contents and we might be able to advise what you'll definitely need and what you might be able to do without?