October 2013 - only 3 months to go!

[roxvox]

Baby due dates/sexes/name choices here

Other things for the bag may be:

Evian water spray
Big bottle of frozen water (don't put that in yet obvs....)
Peppermint tea bags (will be going in my bag for post cs trapped wind!)

ok, now we've covered whats going in the hospital bag, lets talk about bags!! am I best having one each for me and baby? how big? a weekend type hold all for me? maybe a rucksack for baby?(trying to think of bags I actually have!!)

I would take flip flops fort wearing in the shower flyer they're never that clean. Maybe a small fan too. Labour and maternity wards are far too hot.

Comtesse your poor thing - that's what happened when I was pregnant with DS - I got a cold and sinus infection at 16 weeks that I couldn't shift (winter) for about 6 weeks, then I went straight into horrible carpal tunnel and PGP, then seamlessly into high blood pressure and an emcs!
This time I'm doing much better and I remind myself of it every day if I'm feeling a bit shit. I hope you feel better soon x

Am I the only one who'll be packing hair straighteners?

Mon I'm purposely keeping my hair a lot longer than normal so that I can leave it to dry naturally and it won't look totally mad, otherwise I would!!

I have just ordered this changing bag

www.mothercare.com/Skip-Hop-Dash-Deluxe-Changing-Bag-%E2%80%93-Blossom/487421,default,pd.html

Hope that link works! I have a skip hop dash one at the minute that I love as it has so many compartments and a changing mat and is a nice size. The side pockets are perfect for bottles. I just want a change so am going to keep this for when ds2 arrives....

roofio in relation to hospital bags, I'm bringing a case (a small handluggage size one) with all our stuff in it. I will keep maternity gown, wash bag and a baby blanket separate though to take up to the delivery suite. The rest you can use when you come back down again.

I would also suggest (not that I have ever been in labour) that magazines or a book for you, and also for your birthing partner just in case you're in there for a while.

I read about someone taking in a suitcase and the midwife asking the husband to take it back out to the car because it was restricting access to the mother. So I reckon a weekend/overnight bag would be best (again, I am speaking from NO experience at all).

I am also going to take some wet wipes so I can have a clean of my face/arms if I am in there for a while and feel like I need freshening up.

Last time I had a cabin sized suitcase for myself for the hospital and a holdel for the baby. But I personally would take 4 baby grows and 4 vests to the hospital as I took 3 with dd and ran out as she kept sicking up brown mucus which is apparently common and I was only in hospital for 26 hours.

I'm now Off to Brighton to do a little baby shopping :-) need to satisfy my urge and if I happen to feel funny at lunch time and need a Pizza Hut then obviously I will just have to go in there lol

also, not sure what to do about maternity towels, I can have a really bad reaction to sanitary towels, I can only use always,.not own brand ones. the ones that feel more plasticy make me very sore and itchy. how do I know what mat pads will be ok? do u reckon I buy some and try one out before investing in a few packs?!

Yes to wet wipes, also phone charger.

MoN I wil be packing my trusty ghds I have very frizzy curly hair if left to dry naturally so will need to tame even it for definate even if I don't end up packing them dh will have to bring them in for me lol

I used boots ones Roofio, make sure you get maternity pads though not sanitary as they can't assess blood loss properly from sanitary towels.

yes will do pseudo but I can't use boots sanitary towels so not sure about their maternity towels!!

roofio the shops own brand maternity pads are usually around £1 a pack and sanitary towels definately won't be sufficient to begin with so I would recommend buying a few different brands and see what agrees with u if u are particularly sensitive as u don't want anything extra irritating u especially if u end up with stitches etc xx

Just to clarify, I feel bad complaining about my mum as she is really good and such a help. We are very close but I am just tired, grumpy, irritable and oversensitive at the minute :(

Someone posted this on my Facebook this morning - I thought some of you might like to have a read, it made me
katyhillsblog.com/2013/07/05/letter-to-kate-middleton-and-other-first-time-mums/

I haven't even thought about a hospital bag, though we are still keen to try a home birth, I know it would be wise to have one ready. It's just another thing I'm ostriching about

Try again:
katyhillsblog.com/2013/07/05/letter-to-kate-middleton-and-other-first-time-mums/

try Tena then roofio. I used Tena and found them OK. Plus maternity pads are much softer than normal sanitary pads. Normal pads wouldn't cope with this kind of bleeding (at least in my case)

warlin this changing bag looks lovely! I had skip hop with DS (just plain grey) and loved it. Very functional. But it's all mucky now and I wanted a fresh one so went for Baba Bing this time, for a change. They are very similar I think - simple and functional, not too overengineered like some

legally great tip on vaseline...! Makes sense and I would never think about it!

UCLH ANTENATAL CLASS INFORMATION
WHAT TO BRING INTO HOSPITAL

?Maternity notes
?Books, magazines if being induced

Labour:
?Old nightdress/t-shirt to give birth in
?Flip flops/easy shoes
?Socks
?Lip balm
?Bottle of water/sport drink
?High energy snacks
?Food for birth partner
?Pillow
?Hairbrush
?Hair band
?Music
?Camera
?Phone Charger

Post Natal:
?Maternity pads
?Toiletries
?Old/disposable knickers
?Dressing gown
?Slippers
?Nightdress/PJs with front opening for BF
?BF bras
?Breast pads
?Towel

Baby:
?Nappies
?Cotton wool
?Sunflower oil (good for skin and removing first poos!)
?Baby blanket
?Hat x2
?Vests x5
?Baby grows x5
?Socks

Going Home:
?Car seat
?Change of clothes for mum

shirehobbit I really enjoyed reading that, thanks for sharing the link. Brought a tear to my eye!

I have a piece of paper with my maternity bag list on in my back pocket that I keep digging out and adding to. Thanks for the lists everyone! DH is going to think I am mad when I am packing all of this stuff!

Blimin Heck wicked, i take less for a weeks holiday....I'd best drag the big samsonsite case out of the loft for the occassion!!! :-)

Thanks everyone. Very useful....Anyone packing any make up?

warlin the maxicosi usually has compress release buttons underneath, around the handle area I think.

A small bottle of olive oil is great to put in the warm nappy changing water as that helps the sticky stuff slide straight off.

mon took them last time and didn't even look at them. I've not straightened my hair much since having DS.

roofio they are unlike sanitary towels, usually cotton topped without nasties in them. I used the mothercares own and really liked them. Thicker the better in those early weeks!

Oh! And I am also going to pack a toothbrush and some toothpaste, just in case.

If there were such a job as a baby planner, a bit like a wedding planner i would seriously consider employing one. I am the most disorganised person and actually don't enjoy buying all the little essential things, i bet that sounds terribly selfish! Clapham you'd make a fantastic baby planner, you sound very organised pay a visit to Liverpool and come and help me :-)