Can someone explain to me how you keep your hospital bag small?

[dropthedeadhorse]

Due to give birth soonish. Planned c section. Last time (ended in emcs) I think I packed about 4 bags full of stuff so I’m trying to streamline it to one bag.

So for baby:
6 vests
6 babygros
2 hats
Warm cardigan
2 cellular blankets
3 muslins
20 nappies
Cotton wool

For me:
2 nursing nighties
1 thin dressing gown
Flip flops
2 maternity leggings
2 long nursing tops
2 nursing bras (1 nighttime one and 1 day)
20 maternity pads
5 big high waisted pants
20 breast pads
Snacks
Baby wipes
Hairbrush
Shampoo and conditioner

How does that sound? What have I forgotten/not thought about? Enough nappies there?! Is there anything non essential in there because it sounds like a massive amount of stuff to me! I’ll pack an extra bag to keep in the car with more babygros nappies and muslins etc in but I think once DH has exited the building after the birth he can’t come back in without a Covid test result.

Towel for after shower.

I used a small roller case and a bag for snacks.
Face wipes.

I’ve got nothing useful to add because I saw the thread title and snorted tea all over myself because it brought back vivid memories of me carting -

Bag for me
Bag for baby
Bag with laptop
Bag full of wool and knitting needles
Dressing down
AND A PILLOW

Into the hospital for my first. What a knob

With my last 2 I was out the same day and during birth they only allowed their gowns.
Apsprt from baby clothes, flannel and tooth hair brush my stuff was untouched. I live 5 min from hospital so showered when home.

Tooth brush and paste

I was same December.

Missing
Phone and charger
Book or kindle
Arnica tablets
Peppermint tea
Toothbrush and paste

I don't think I took blankets? They gave me them. Will try and find list, I was same with first but cut it right down second.

Congratulations

Why are you taking so much for baby? It’ll be boiling in the hospital you won’t need blankets and cardigans and hats. You won’t need muslins that early on either.

Do you know how long you’ll be in for? If just a night or two I’d half what you’re taking.

i packed two bags.

Labour bag that stayed with me, hospital bag that went in the car boot.

H then exchanged stuff each time he visited.

Following!
I’m planning to take a pillow and it’s my second! If I have to stay in their bedding is yuck

I’d say two blankets are not needed. You’d get bedding in hospital so just bring a blanket in with the car seat on leaving.
Same goes for two pairs of leggings. Surely you’ll be in bed until you’re on the day you leave so only need one pair. One hat not two for the baby. One top for yourself as you can have nightie. Breast pads sound excessive as your milk won’t come in til you’re probably leaving. Or maybe day 3/4 at the earliest so 4/6 of them would suffice.

Remember your phone and charger. You won’t need a towel.

@Isadora2007 she might need a towel. I never even considered taking one the first time and was given one, but I’ve been specifically told to take one this time (birth centre) for my shower they only have tiny baby ones.

Can you split the stuff and put a spare bag for you and another with baby stuff in the car boot. Then if you need more things your DH can bring the relevant bag in with him?

Don't forget deodorant!

How easy is it to take a shower after a C-section? I just wonder about the hair washing plan.

Covid complicates it - I had far less stuff, but my husband was coming in daily, so brought extra nappies etc. If I had to take everything I’d need I wouldn’t have had a small bag! At my hospital you’d need to add a towel and I found a big water bottle with sports cap very handy, the little plastic cups of water are just not sufficient! I didn’t wash my hair in hospital so that cut down on the shampoo etc. Phone charger/battery pack - I found the plug socket a long way away from my bed which was awkward when immobile immediately post section so a battery pack meant I could just charge it in bed with me which was super helpful.

I’d keep the blankets and cardigan in the baby car seat, you won’t need them until you leave.

Thanks so much for the replies.

Ok so I need to add towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, charging block and possibly a pillow.... and remove muslins, blankets and cardigan.

I do remember my milk coming in quickly last time, and the hospital insisted the baby have a hat on. I don’t think 6 baby outfits is too much in case I have to stay in for a couple of nights like i did last time. I was able to have a shower after the c section.

I brought three babygrows and ended up having to dress DD in an outfit from the odds and ends box in the maternity ward after she boked over everything I'd brought 😂 DH brought more in the next day, no big drama, so in hindsight I still wouldn't pack any more than that.

I'd probably just bring nighties for the hospital and one "going home outfit", so just one pair of leggings.

Ultimately though I had a nappy bag and a small wheelie suitcase completely filled and I certainly didn't pack like I was going to be in a week. Everything is just so bulky!

Take extra of everything and anything at all that can help you cope better alone.

The maternity ward I was on was horrendously short staffed, I fortunately could walk for those that couldn't they d be waiting a while to have water refilled or any help in general ( I regularly got my BP medication an hour or more late so honestly I d take your own paracetamol so at least if no one answers the buzzer you have a back up.)

I d pack a couple of sports drinks and some easy snacks and extra milk starter packs.

I realise this isn't a positive response but I think it's better for women to know how bad it might be so they can do what they can to prepare mentally ( I don't want to share my labour/birth story as I don't want to scare you too much but it wasn't good at all).

I'd half the baby outfits and leave the rest in the boot of the car/get your other half to bring them if needed. I took three outfits and maybe 8 nappies, one blanket muslin snd that was pretty much it for baby.

Oh I do remember taking some pre-mixed formula in with me in case I couldn’t breastfeed. Turns out I could but what would happen if I can’t for some reason?

Sorry you had a bad experience @1990shopefulftm. I think my previous birth experience would scare others too but the care I received was good and I’m going back to the same place so am hopeful!

If you can't breastfeed but have the intention to they will provide formula in pre mixed bottles - they don't let babies starve.

I am taking 2 bags this time. I think that's a reasonable compromise. One bag for me and one for baby.

@dropthedeadhorse the hospital I went to is normally perceived as a good hospital they just had too many staff off self isolating and too many women in labour at the same time.
I d be hopeful as it's a planned c section even if they are short of staff that would go ahead as it should do.

No harm taking a starter pack of milk with you just incase so you aren't relying on whatever the hospital's spares are.

I tried to breastfeed but couldn’t and needed to supplement what I was expressing and syringe feeding. They provided sterile disposable bottles and tiny ready mixed formula cartons. They provided what I needed to express while in hospital too - breast pump, microwave steriliser bag etc.

Oh and I was offered a choice of sma, cow and gate or aptamil too!