To ask what you really need in your hospital/baby bag?

[summerskittles91]

I imagine this has been done a million times, but just looking for tips on items you really wish you had packed in your hospital/baby bag or items that ended up being really useful.

Started packing mine, and having consulted a million lists on google I don't actually know what I really need.

Any tips would be fully appreciated!

Oh and some dried fruit, makes the dreaded first poo much softer.

While we're talking toilets ...

When you have your first wee after a VB (and indeed for a few days depending on the state of your fanny) reach forward and put your hands on the floor before you start to wee. This prevents the sting of having urine run over grazes/tears/cuts. Weeing in the shower with a jug of water also supposedly works but is logistically far, far more complicated.

Lots of drinks - fruit flavoured, juices, water or isotonic are best; I had Powerade bottles with the drinking nozzle. Also worth taking some drinking straws so your birth partner can hold drinks for you when you're in activea labour.
Loads of spare undies and maternity pads. Buy big knickers, you will want them.
At least one change of comfy clothes for after the birth. Dressing gown for comfort when walking around.
Toiletries so you can shower and make yourself comfortable. Take lip balm as you may get dehydrated.
Baby clothes, nappies, wipes, a blanket.
Phone charger.
Snacks like cereal bars - nothing too heavy.
Spare pillow for you or your partner if they're stuck in a horrid hospital chair.
Phone/e-reader or book/magazines.

Oh and I took my own tea bags as hospital tea was Tetley (i.e. weak!).

Pack lots n lots of pants and also a dress. I never wear a dress but no way cold wear jeans afterwards!!

Big black cotton pants. Wide gusset (to hold in the two maternity pads) and high waisted (both to cover the tummy, and be higher than the wound if you end up with an emergency section).

Probably a pack of 4 or 5 pairs.

My most important buy.

Buy size bigger pants

Some baby clothes.

For some reason we didn't think to take any.

MW was very . Quite rightly so.

Food, drink, paracetemol and ibuprofen.

Think that's all I actually used!

Some people have mentioned it but if you are taking a partner, do take food for them. They often won't get any and if it's after hours cafes etc won't be open.

Flip flops.
More food.
More baby clothes.

Lip balm - is hospital is dry

Phone charger preferably with USB so you can plug into TV to charge if not allowed to use plugs.

Dressing gown or big cardi to cover up when moving to toilet

Biggest pants that don't fall down

Make sure your DH packs a bag, too. His own snacks, charger and entertainment - it can be very boring. DH ate all my food during my first labour

Hospital wards are boiling - take a big water bottle and a fan.

Hair bobble. I say this on every thread like this but I'll say it again! My hair really irritated me during labour and i had forgotten a bobble. Someone found me an elastic band in the end.

Oh and loungewear type pyjamas were my friend last time round! Went home in them and my trusty ugg boots as I really couldn't bear anything else near me. Lived in them for the first week as well. You needn't spend a fortune mine were from Primark.

What everyone else said.
Also Lucozade/energy tablets. I packed energy tablets and they turned out to be one of the best things I packed. Really helped!!

Socks or scratch mitts for the baby - if they end up canulated overnight like mine did in order to receive antibiotics, the midwives at my hospital like to put a sock/scratch mitt on the hand to keep the canula still.

Large sports bottle of water for refilling - post natal wards are hellishly hot.

A long nightie. If you end up with a catheter, pjs are not that practical.

Tena lady pants - so much easier and less likely to leak than maternity pads (I'm rocking some right now 36 hours after a c-section )

Congratulations Jelly !

Thank you!

I stayed in hospital for two nights/three full days, so I'm going to list what I needed. If you're in for longer or not as long, adjust as necessary.

More maternity pads and underwear than you think you'll need. I mean like 3/4 packs and at least 10 pairs of underwear. Ditto a few changes of pyjamas. So much blood.

Drinks and fruit - you'll not only be really thirsty, you'll need to drink loads to help your milk come in.

If you're going to use cotton wool and warm water to change baby, something to put water in. I was luckily next to the sink on the ward so I used plastic cups for drinking, but wasn't ideal.

Phone charger most importantly!

Place marking for later as I'm 35+3 and need to pack my bag soon!

Have a look out for Vichy water spray - keep it in the fridge beforehand and use it when you're in labour - it's really lovely.