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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Checklist for hospital bag

33 replies

SpringChicken · 19/01/2004 12:43

I know i am waaayyyyyyy ahead of myself but just interested really to see if i am aware of the things you need to take into hospital for both you and baby. Can't afford to just go and buy things so want to be ultra organised so i can start getting bits each week.

Thought i'd seen a thread somewhere before but cannot find it now - soooooooo, what needs to go on my list for things to take to the hospital?

OP posts:
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fisil · 24/01/2004 19:37

We took champagne, but nothing to drink it out of. Orderly found us some specimin bottles or something.

A really simple book to read cos you can't sleep but your brain is fried. House at Pooh Corner worked for me.

Don't leave the ward bag in the car. We did, and when we got it in to dress ds all his little babygros were frozen solid and we had to rub them for about 10 minutes to warm them up!

popsycal · 24/01/2004 19:29

or instructions for d/dh on how to do the posting for you!!!

tigermoth · 24/01/2004 19:28

anyone mentioned a laptop, so you can post on mumsnet asap!

dinosaur · 23/01/2004 21:56

Champagne! Am determined to have some this time around!

Tamz77 · 23/01/2004 21:55

Birth plan! In your labour bag! And then in your midwife's hands!

And don't forget your hospital notes.

musica · 23/01/2004 21:55

secur - I didn't - I figured if there was an emergency I wouldn't care all that much to begin with and dh could always pop home and get stuff.

Tamz77 · 23/01/2004 21:54

Oooh good thread, my two hospital bags were fantastic, shame I never got to open the labour bag! This was because it all went quicker than expected but the things I packed could be good for someone else:

Labour bag:

Delivery clothes eg long t-shirt or old nightie.
Bottled water/carton drinks
Flannels
Wet Ones
Glucose tablets
Hand mirror (for watching the baby's head come out! I couldn't have used one if I tried)
Hair band (you sweat and it gets everywhere)
Camera/film (I packed several disposable cameras)
Stuff for afterwards such as: maternity pads, clean undies, change of clothes, dressing gown, outfit for baby, toiletries, etc
Lip balm (your lips get dry and sore)

Ward bag:

Pants - lots of them! I bought cheap big black knickers because they are more substantial and comfy than disposable pants, however I used both at the same time for several days.
Maternity pads - estimate what you think you might need, then multiply it by ten. I used maternity pads and ordinary supersize sanitary towels, ones with wings help.
Baby stuff - check with your midwife what the hospital provides, you will almost definitely need nappies, your baby won't need bath toiletries for his/her first bath so don't bother with bubblebath etc. Bring a few outfits, better to have more than you need.
Munchies for the ward, sweets and drinks etc. Hospitals are hot and breastfeeding is thirsty work!
Change for the phone (remember mobiles not allowed).
Comfy clothes - again, I bought big, cheap tracksuits and t-shirts, other mums on my ward were in nighties, some in shorts.
Don't forget essentials like hairbrush etc, I bought everything cheap and packed it all in advance so I didn't have to rush round at the last minute trying to remember to take my toothpaste. I still forgot hair conditioner though!
Lavender oil (in bath water) and arnica are good for healing afterwards.
Birth announcement cards and stamps (if you're on your own or have to stay in for a while it can kill a few hours to write them).
A good book (sounds silly but I read a lot during my 3 days in hospital; I was induced so read while I was waiting for things to kick off, also newborns often sleep loads for the first couple of days so it gives you something to do).
Dark towels (don't underestimate you blood loss!)

PS Although the hospital should give you one if you ask, a water jug is so handy for pouring warm water over your bits while you wee. Whether you tear or not you will likely be sore and ths can be really soothing.

SpringChicken · 23/01/2004 10:46

I would probably pack one just incase Secur but having never been in that situation before or even given birth for that fact, I'm probably not the best person to take advice from

OP posts:
secur · 23/01/2004 10:23

Message withdrawn

SpringChicken · 23/01/2004 09:27

Thanks everyone - know i have got ages left but just like to be organised - there were loads of things i hadn't even thought about so it's a good job really!

Shireensmom - yes i will be giving birth in L&D - what was it like when you were there?

OP posts:
Angeliz · 22/01/2004 23:46

btw i "claimed" the hospital shirt

SHIREENSMOM · 22/01/2004 23:39

spring chicken are you giving birth in the l&d

Angeliz · 22/01/2004 23:24

haven't read replies so i'm sorry if i'm repeating anyone!

I had:
:clothes for baby
:clothes for me
:sanitary towels(MASSIVE ONES)
:Towel(i had yellow!!!!!!!!!bad idea!!)
:list with phone numbers
:BIG knickers
:camera
:nightie to give birth in

I was SO prepared and when it happened i had checked the bag SOOOOOOOOOO many times i hadn't re-packed it so there was sod all in it!! I had me nightie but dd's first clothes were a hospital shirt
You just never know
Good luck SpringChicken

marlou · 22/01/2004 22:55

The hospital i delivered in provided lavender oil for use in the bath for the days following the delivery, its supposed to help soothe all your painful 'bits' and does work! I also used it when i got home (when i had time to get in the bath!) Make sure you buy a good quality oil - ask at the health food shops,and only use a few drops.
Also when you take the camera make sure you have plenty of spare film, we got carried away with all the photos of our DS!!

musica · 22/01/2004 16:36

The thing I forgot was a hairbrush. I was gutted. A friend had said to take make up because she wanted to just put a bit on for photographs (honestly!), but then I forgot my hairbrush. I have long hair. It looked a mess!

starry · 22/01/2004 16:33

CAMERA!!!

Forgot this one essential item with ds2 (fast labour, speedy drive to hospital, didn't have time to check everything was in bag as I had been taking stuff out during the previous couple of weeks as ds2 was 2 weeks late!)and hence first photos of him are when he is a few hours old not those lovely 'new mummy looking like hell and squashed gooey baby' pics like I had after ds1.

Jaybee · 20/01/2004 13:30

I think most of the stuff I would suggest has been covered. I also took in a fold up changing mat so I could change babes in their cots without worrying bout leaving meconium all over the sheets. I packed three bags, one for labour (absolute basics), one for on the ward (left that in the car) and one in case I ended up staying in longer than a day or two (left that at home). I would recommend that you practice getting the car seat in and out of the car yourself (dh's always seem to say they know how it goes but they never seem to)

Bozza · 20/01/2004 13:29

agree with mum2ella. Neighbour has just given birth (Saturday) and her belly was bigger than mine (am 23 weeks preg and not small with it). Also don't trust your DH to bring in clothes for going home in. Mine bought a skirt and heavy walking style trainers with no tights or socks with snow on the ground in February.....

Gem13 · 20/01/2004 12:38

Do you have another child already?

I ask because I'm planning to take in the present the baby is bringing for his brother. Easier to do that than remind DH and try and smuggle it in later.

Mum2Ela · 20/01/2004 12:17

The one thing I could not do without was my duvet! I took in a single one and it was soooo lovely just to have a bit of home in hospital with me!

DO NOT take in your pre-pregnancy clothes. My mum told me that she was back in her size 10's the very next day after having me and so I look my lovely clothesin - only to be gutted when I couldn't do them up!

Make sure DP knows how to do the car seat thing which will save arguements and tears - not good when you have post-baby blues and THAT IS THE ONLY THING TEY HAVE TO DO AND THEY CAN'T EVEN DO THAT PROPERLY!

rant over!

x

Bozza · 20/01/2004 11:07

No suzywong you're not alone. I made the mistake of taking a cream coloured satin dressing gown which had to be sent home with DH the minute I got out of bed. Along with my slippers. I took loads of stuff but hardly used a lot of it partly because was in fairly advanced labour by the time I got there so didn't need distractions etc.

suzywong · 19/01/2004 14:06

Cotton wool to use with warm water to mop up after that first muconium poo
Some hospital phones use a pre-pay token/card system so but in advance from hospital shop so youi can call outside and spread goos news
agree night-timr pads are better than maternity pads
take drinks with straws that you can drink from hands free during labour, your partner will have to hold the carton for you
moisturiser for you as maternity wards are overheated
slippers
anitbacterial wipes (those shared loos can be quite unpleasant)
If you have long hair, hair bands as you are going to get quite sweaty and may want it out of your face.

Big tip - take a DARK coloured dressing gown. You never know if you have had a leak on your nightie and you don't want to be traipsing around the ward with a big stain (or was that just me)

And another thing, if you want to take all the flowers you are sent home, be aware that water filled vases are v. hard to carry. I was an ungrateful mare and left them behine, so you may ask friends and relatives to send you something more portable instead.

popsycal · 19/01/2004 13:56

paper knickers versus big knnickers....
both - paper to begin with though....IMHE

but then i was in hospital for 3 weeks.....

lydialemon · 19/01/2004 13:55

Oh and to agree with MI, I tried a hot water bottle this time and it was lovely! MWs were really good about refilling it during the labour, but on the ward afterwards they kept saying it was 'dangerous' and wouldn't do it!

lydialemon · 19/01/2004 13:50

In my last one I had:

Old nightdress to give birth in
Clothes to go home in (for me!)
Clothes to go home in (for DD)
Body suits and Baby gros (5 of each - just in case)
Baby blanket
'Night time' towels (better than maternity ones IME!)
Loads of pairs of 'old' knickers (more comfy than paper ones)
toiletries, bath towel, (me and DD)
Couple of books ( for while you're waiting hours to be discharged)
Couple of bottles of lucozade, snacks etc (as I'm always starving afterwards and for DH)
camera!!
Almost forgot - nappies, wipes, nappy sacks

I always seem to pack for a week, but the last two times I've got out the same day!