Hospital bag

[wingingitmills]

What do I actually need to take with me? So many lists online and some of them are excessive. What would any of your recommendations be?

The only thing I used from my bag was a drinking bottle with a straw , everything else apart from clothing was untouched

Your own pillow, eye mask and ear plugs.

There's really no need to go overboard. Some of the online lists are bonkers! Clothes, wipes and nappies for the baby (assuming you are talking about this kind of visit). DS1 swallowed a lot of mucus on the way out so was a bit sicky and needed a few changes of clothes. DD3 didn't need to get charged at all. Either way you don't need tons.
Clothes for you (including a spare nightie) and things like sanitary pads (quite a few). If all goes well you shouldn't need loads of clothes as you'll be home relatively quickly.
Some nice shower gel & shampoo (travel size). Treat yourself here!
I took a couple of snacks (breakfast bars etc) because I got really peckish in the night (didn't sleep because I couldn't stop looking at DS!) and breakfast seemed like an age away!
Obvious stuff like your phone charger etc.
To be honest that's about it. It's not like you're on holiday or have loads of time to actually do anything!
My top tip is to put your baby's first outfit and everything you'd need to get sorted out after the birth at the top of your bag. I had to get DH to get stuff out for me and it was one of the most frustrating things I've ever had to watch. I think he was a bit flustered but he was completely useless!

I forgot my phone charger at home and a midwife gave me one out of their 'lost property' stash as she said lots of people left them behind.

I brought the basics with me, on the basis that I could always send OH home to pick up anything I needed.

Food. Some hospitals don’t feed you if you arrive on the ward outside of meal times. I had toast and then ate all the snacks we’d brought and was still hungry (had been in labour 24 hours and not eaten much). Or at least check...with DS2 different hospital gave me a choice of microwave meals and I nearly hugged the midwife.

Depends how big your hospital is?

I wouldn't bother with food or drink next time. It gave my OH purpose to go off and find it for me or him plus I was nil by mouth after a while.

Lol at the idea of a pillow, eye mask and ear buds! Are you planning on having a nice relaxing sleep while your newborn screams the ward down?

I would take (if I do it again):

• Massive amounts of maternity pads. I got through 3 packs in 2 days
• newborn vests and onesies x 3
• newborn hat x 2
• newborn nappies pack and wipes
• phone charger
• lip balm
• shower gel
• towel (check if your hospital provides them)
• pyjamas

Thank you for the suggestions. Hospital isn't all that big in comparison to where I was living before. I'm procrastinating a little on packing my bag just because I tend to be overzealous when it comes to things like this.

It was a long time ago but with DS1, I needed something for him to wear, and some nappies and pyjamas and underwear/dressing gown and slippers for me.

DH brought anything else I needed afterwards as I stayed in for a couple of nights.

With DS2 I had a 25 minute labour and the bag stayed in the car, I was only in for a few hours.

Literally clothes for yourself and baby. Nighty and pj trousers, underwear, pads, book, tablet, phone, charger any medication, wipes, cotton wool, nappies, cream, handcream, toothpaste, toothbrush, snacks.
My tablet was a godsend when I had ds I was in for a week. My book came in handy with dd, after given birth couldn't sleep properly from excitement and wanting to go home!

Large knickers!

Pj's, big pants, maternity pads, toiletries, towel & phone charger for you.
Babygro's, vests, nappies, cotton wool balls & blanket for lo.

I took way too much stuff with ds1 & hardly used any of it, much more organised & just had a carry on size bag. My SIL took 3 regular size cases 1st time & 4 second time around! I did put ds2's clothes & spares in sealable sandwich bags (not individual). Made it easy for HCA's to find whilst I had a bath etc (they told me after) & when I had to change him in the night i could keep dirty stuff in one place to shove in wash when home.

Unrelated but I also do the sandwich bag thing when travelling

Coins for the vending machines were handy

Really appreciate all these tidbits!

Snacks, nuts, crisps, flapjacks, cordials, pop.. the sorts you like. Even a flask of soup. Load it in. Depending on time of day or night you might be running on tea and toast for hours after baby is born and before you're discharged. I took earplugs and eyemask for the times XH was around so I could zonk out without hearing every man and his dog on the ward. Phone charger. Slippers. Comfy nighty and dressing gown. Big pants and big maternity pads. Jug for running warm water over your bits when you wee isn't such a bad plan either x

Sports water bottle, flip flops, cosy slipper socks, lip balm.

I made individual bags with outfits for baby, including vest, hat and nappy to make things easier and quicker for DP x

Haven't had a baby in hospital but did have a short stay last month after DS2. My only tip is the air con and heating made my lips painfully dry and gave me a sore throat so lip balm and lozenges. Both help after gas and air too.

I had 2 bags. 1 for immediate and 1 for hubby to bring in in case i had to stay, which i did.

1. Snacks, water spray, earplugs, nightie, flip flops, maternity pads and giant knickers. Baby sleep suits x 3, phone charger
2. Comfy clothes, xtra nightie, more maternity pads and giant knickers, toiletries, more baby clothes, nappies, cotton balls baby wipes.

Change for the car park unless you can pay on card and a little sign that for DH to leave in the car saying he is taking you up to labour ward and will move the car if you are in a rush and need to leave it in a drop off bay.

Definitely also worth figuring out the best place to park and your route up to maternity. I did this, then we totally forgot and went the wrong way and it was a nightmare.

Get your DH to pack the bag once you have everything you want together. That way he will know where everything is and won't be the most annoying man alive when you're desperate to get your hair off your face and he can't find a hair band etc.

Finally chocolates for the midwives always goes down well!

I like the chocolates for the midwives tip 😂

We took bottles of wine in a week or so after for the midwives. I wouldn't take gifts with you, that's just extra to carry and you don't know if they deserve them yet!

They stayed in the boot of the car until DD was very much born and I was on the postnatal ward. They deserved way more than chocolates and we ended up being there for 4 days. They also got an email to PALS praising every one of them.

My dressing gown was my favourite thing. I had an induction though. I used it as a blanket, pillow, as a vagina support cushion, when I had lots of pressure in early labour and even as a dressing gown. Took up loads of bloody space in my bag, but so worth it. Plus it smelt like home.

You definitely need some chocolate in your bag. The minstrels I had after my last baby was born were epic. Other than that everything everyone else has said!

Oh I forgot. Pack two smaller bags. One for you and one for baby. You don't want to be digging out nighties while looking for baby vests.