what do i pack?

[hayley2u]

hi. yet another question lol. i'v decided to start sorting my bag to take to hospital. i have about weks left, although waiting for actual date as having a c. section.
what the hell do i pack. i'm getting my self in to right muddle over it?.also when it says baby toiletries what exactly do i need.

I never needed half the stuff on the list, but probably better to be prepared:
maternity notes
birth plan
PJs
Dressing gown
Slippers
Wash stuff for you: toothpaste, toothbrush, deoderant, shower gel, make up etc
Stuff for the birth:socks are often recommended (although I didn't need), flannel, snacks (energy bars, glucose sweets for you, stuff for birth partner), drinks
Stuff for baby: blanket (not on my hospital list, and I got told off because baby got cold ), vests, babygrows, jumper, nappies
Change for the carpark
Lists of names and telephone numbers to tell all the good news
I don't think you need baby toiletries - it's just cotton wool and water at the start (and hospital had cotton wool there)

Think that's it...

Oh, and all the yukky stuff:
disposable pants, maternity pads, breast pads, nipple cream

Some people take additional stuff for birthing: their own pillow, massage oil, arnica tablets (supposed to help with healing)

Hairband if you have long hair

Umm....

breast pads, sannie towels, towel for you and baby, hat for baby, cotton wool, book, dummy if you plan to use one and car seat but that comes on the day you go home
lisa

And tons of sanitary towels - at least 2 packs, maybe some of the super thick night-time/special maternity ones.

Lip balm useful for my long labour, but prob not for CS?

If your having CS make sure the knickers you pack dont sit on your scar, get some big granny knickers
L

I found it extremely hot in hospital. Next time, I plan not to take PJs (difficult to get on/off!!) and v hot. Instead, I am going to take 3 or 4 cotton t shirt style nightshirts. You can get them with poppers down the front if you want to bfeed.

thanks every one. i bought some big granny knickrs last night at tesco along with there maternity pad s got 2 box s of 10 of them.
iv packed about 6 vests and 6 baby gros. but do you thinki'll need both as hospitals are usually very$ hot are nt they.

Hayley, babygrows & vests don't take much space, and after a CS you'll be in prob 3+days, so best to take all of them, and use what seems right at the time (vest or sleepsuit - unlikely to need both together). Also, given that you will be in hosp a few days, you'll prob need more san. towels than 20. Sorry!

whoops ok i'll get some more this week.making me nervous now my bag is nearly all done i did babys bag on friday.i'm trying to be as organisd as i can which is not like me at all but i bet theres a lot of things i forget when get there

Hi hayley, me again!

Last time I had to carry all my stuff so this time i'm taking an overnight bag with just the essentials for the frst few hours, then laoding up the car boot as if i was going away for a week! that way i can just send dp out to car to get anything I need and he can't forget/leave it at home. someone on the ante-natal thread said about peppermint tea for the trapped wind after as that's quite painful and you are reluctant to push it out cos you feel like you're about to burst your scar.

have you got any old flip flops? they're useful for the shower as the floor can be very yucky and you wont be in any position to bend down that far. forget pj's with a section as you'll have a catheter for a day or so and take a flannel/small towel just for the scar area to reduce risk of infection. make sure you have the first nappy and set of clothes separate as dp will have to dress baby while you're being stitched up and an extra pillow is very useful for resting baby on while you're feeding, whichever method you're using.

thanks lou thats really helpful. i was going to try breast feed but thinking of opting for bottle milk now, i know its not the best but never did ds1 any harm.
yer i have a bag separate with the baby stuff but will put the first nappy and that on the top of bag so dp can sort it easier.
getting really nervous now. i know i,v got weeks left but feeling so dissorganised one minute and the next i feel its all going so slow.what happens with the scar do they come and change the dressing or is there no dressing? sorry just not sure on those things.
i'll go and get cheapy pair of flip flops from asda i think.
bought a couple of nighties.
also do you know if i can ask for a private room when having c section. i had one with ds1 but he was born naturally. just not looking forward to being on a ward for days

I didn't get a private ward last time but the one i was on everyone had a section so it was fine. they put a dressing on me until after 1st shower (they tell you to kinda soak it off rather than pull it) then it was left uncovered as being kept dry is important. I've asked for the stitches that need to be removed as i didn't get on well with the dissolving kind. Gonna bottle feed too. It was so traumatic trying to bf ds1 for 4 days and the moment i put him on the bottle i was much happier. like you said, i really don't think it's done any harm. i also used wet wipes from day 1, just made sure there wasn't a mw around when i was changing him! take some high-waisted maternity trousers/pjs for after catheter is taken out as you really don't want anything touching your scar area for several days. the pillow will also help you to sit up as your tummy muscles will be no use.

hopefully i'll make it home before you go in then i can tell you if this time was any different, but other people just keep telling me that an elective is better as it's more relaxed

keep in touch x

yer thats what people say to me you about electives. that everyone is there ready so its all more relaxed.
so they leave the scar without anything on after shower, dont know why but id feel better with something o it as if protecting it but i suppose its the healing process and i am an utter wimp. think you said you were due end of august did nt you?
cant wait for it all to be done and get home. i will defo pack extra pilows. really nervous about the scar healing though but sure i'll be ok

i posted a thread like this a few wks ago, will link it for you if i can find it.

also, can i ask a weird question-with a c section, do you still bleed and need maternity pads?

hijak sorry!

j20 -have we started another thread yet?

hijak over -ta

muppet-not that i can see as yet, is the other one full?

here's the other thread hayley www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1365&threadid=352495#7179312

I'd take mroe than 20 pads tbh, I bled heavily and that wouldn'y have lasted me a day and a half- nto something you want to run out of

Hospitals I ahve been in insist on baby bath (they want to check how you do the bath for the first baby before discharge)

reaidng stuff, elective c-sections get delayed in emrgencies and you dont want to be bored

j20 - you do still bleed with a c section. I recommend buying some huge, cheapo cotton pants from Primark and the night time sanitary towels - I found these really good after my c section and the cheap knickers meant I didn't worry about the mess etc

j20 you do bleed- its the lning of the womb, hormones etc

thanks, i'm not planning on having a c section, but did wonder.

a good point that was posted on the other thread was to get proper maternity pads because the one way weave thingy of normal sanitary towels can rub on you if your sore.

j20 at first i wondered the same thing about bleeding i had to ask.ok going to buy many many more pads then and need more big knickers too but only had one back of high ones in tesco. dont understand why they are that popular unless all the pregnant women went to tescos that nigh lol

j20 also thanks for the link

My mw told me not to get Always pads as they're plastic-backed so it can get a bit sweaty down there in hot weather (my dd was a June baby) which plays havoc with any stitches.

Proper maternity pads or failing that really big brick night pads (put two together at night) should do the trick.

on my antenatal thread someone said boots have got them on offer-80p a pack i think