Hospital bag - suitcase or holdall?

[CupcakesHay]

Hi

Sitting here bored so thought i'd read list of things to pack for hospital - and start making a list (ha ha only 14 weeks gone - so 26 weeks to make the list)

Anyhow.... from looking at lists - would a holdall be big enough or do people take mini suitcases? And do you get odd looks turning up with a mini suitcase... i mean bearing in mind you might even get kicked out the same day!

i had both a suitcase and a holdall because i knew the food was going to suck, there'd be no meds when i asked for them, no tea when i wanted it, and basically FA.

so i brought it all.

don't give a toss what anyone thinks, either.

i had a bike chain and lock, too, to secure it.

To be honest, just take a holdall in. You just need a change of clothes, nappies and baby grown for the baby and maybe a dressing gown (usually too hot)

When I arrived for my elcs, all the other people had shown up with great big suitcases on wheels - it looked like a queue at Heathrow, it made me laugh. I was the odd one out with my holdall.

take as little as possible, you can buy or bring in any extra stuff you need. Also remember it won't be you rooting through it after baby is born so make sure that your partner knows where everything is (and what it looks like - you'd be amazed how many dads have no idea what a vest/babygro/scratchmits look like). Most people look like they are going on a minibreak and it's a bugger to transport it all to the postnatal ward!

With DS I took a backpack, had everything we needed in, but got us a few funny looks on the ward as most people had suitcases or holdalls.

This time I'm taking a holdall, as we have a present for DS and it's too big to fit in the backpack (it's a car and caravan, he's mad for them at the minute!)

Also means I've got more space to cram some biscuits and things in, I didn't like a lot of the food last time and spent most of the time really hungry.

I wouldn't think anything of someone bringing a little wheely suitcase though, whatever's easiest for them!

Depends if you're going to have to carry/drag it yourself while having 5-minute contractions! There's a good chance I'll be going in by myself this time (no one but dh to stay with dd1) and though I had a holdall last time it was awkward to carry. Think I'll go for either a wheelie suitcase or a rucksack this time.

Is this a real question?

Plastic shopping bag did me. Added bonus it stuffed into the maxi-cosi so only one thing to carry. You do realise you're going into hospital to have a baby not a holiday break don't you? What on earth do people take in that needs such big bags?

Sonic, we were told to take towels as well as the usual baby clothes, pyjamas etc because the hospital wouldn't supply them. Different places have different things they'll supply. Personally I can't fit a bath towel, baby clothes, nappies, food, waterbottle, pyjamas, t-shirts to labour in, maternity pads, disposable knickers, breast pads etc in a plastic shopping bag.

Tarty - yes it's a real question! Honestly - haven't got a clue!

Yes - see I've been advised to take in towels and a pillow - and couldn't squeeze them into a plastic bag.

Plus I have heard horror stories about people getting things nicked - so would feel more comfortable with a zip up bag.

Thanks, feel better about it all already!

I took 2 massive bags in, 1 for things for me to use in labour and 1 for after the birth. Ds was born only 30 mins after I got there so there I gave birth in the top I was already wearing and then we went home a few hours later so most things stayed in the bags! Next time I'm only taking a few things and sending dh home for supplies!

I took a holdall and I didn't pack enough stuff. I took 1 babygro and 1 vest for DS thinking he would be able to wear that while we were in there. He was out of it within hours. Luckily a very nice new mum gave me some babygros that were too small for her baby as he was pretty big. DH had to go and buy some more too.

I was talking to the MW and she said loads of people take in small suitcases so that is what I am going to do this time.

All 3 times I took in a fairly big suitcase. With dd1 i was in 3 nights, dd2 1 night and dd3 8 nights.

I don't think nappies and maternity pads alone would have fitted in a carrier bag!

It was good to have everything in one easy to move bag, as we were transferred with each birth.

With the 3rd birth (c-section) I knew I would be in for a few nights, and was very glad that I had packed plenty of baby gros, snacks etc, because it ended up being a long stay, and whilst I could have asked dh to bring stuff in, he had enough on his hands,looking after our dds, my mum and trekking back and forth to hospital.

i had a bike chain and lock, too, to secure it.

sorry that made me laugh, where did you give birth expat!!!???

need to pack mine due in 3 weeks, towel, good idea

food? like what????

I was told to take my own towels, maternity pads and nappies but they were all provided by the hospital. We went straight home from the delivery suite though so its probably different on the ward.

i have managed to get it all into a small (hand luggage size) suitcase on wheels, that is inc my huge bath sheet as hosp dont provide towels.

i plan on leaving hospital as soon as possible providing everything is ok if for any reason i stay longer dh will be sent to fetch things.

inface if i have to stay longer dh will prob have to go shopping for pjs, dressing gown etc for me as i sleep in his boxers and vest tops and dont fancy wearing that on the ward, have bought a few xxl nightshirts for giving birth in but am not wasting money on pj's that i wont wear again if possible.

Definitely a wheely suitcase this time. It's more rigid so neater than a holdall I think, also means I can wheel it out with me when we leave - our car seat is really heavy and our daughter was 9lb 2oz so dh found it quite hard to carry both her and my bag to the car - though 2 years on he might be a bit more used to carrying a child's weight now :)

we had a holdall but it was very full so when we were leaving for hospital we chucked last minute bits into a smsll rucksack each. so we had 3 small bags. this would have been fine except we moved from the first labour room into the birth pool room, then back to the labour room, then down from the mlu to the labour ward, then to an assessment room after theatre, then to the postnatal ward - dh was like a packhorse! next time i would take a bigger, wheely suitcase.

I've got a holdall for me (as with most i've been told to take pj's, dressing gown, and towel as hospital do not provide). Midwife also recommended packing biscuits and energy drinks for labour so by the time you've got all that plus your essentials (undies and what-not) a good size holdall is needed. The only thing i haven't bothered with is a change of clothes. I intend to be wearing clothes when i go in, so i can wear the same ones home (not underwear!).

Baby's stuff is packed into his changing bag.

When I pack I tend to get everything I need to pack laid out, then decide which bag it will fit best into.