My hospital bag

[pinkyp]

Please can anyone let me know if i'm missing something really obvious, i know i've packed make up and hair straighteners - yeh i might not use them but with my first ds it was one of the things than kept me feeling normal after the birth ok her goes:

FOR ME
Towel
2 pairs of Pj's
1 old nighty (for labour)
1 pair of slippers
1 pair of slipper socks
hair straighteners
5 pairs of underwear
3 packs of mat towels
4 sets of breastpads
Baby wash (for me and baby)
Small pack of baby wipes
shampoo
deodrant
tooth paste
face cream
nipple cream
make up
hairbrush
digital camera and spare batterys
dressing gown
carrier bag for dirty clothes
couple of pounds in change for wotever
some cereal bars
socks
clothes to come home in (joggers and baggy top)
For baby
pack of nappies
baby wipes
baby towel
1 long sleeve vest
2 normal vest
1 sleepsuit
1 pair of pj's
1 cadigan
1 trousers&jacket (soft velour 2 piece set things)
3 hats
4 scratch mittons
2 socks
1 slippers
3 bibs
dummy
blanket

Mrs gubbins my packs only have 10, so were taking same. Good idea on edge!

Blimey You've got enough stuff there!! How long are you planning on stopping in !!

Ok so you haven't got an MP3 (WHAT!!)
How about a DS or something like that.

Take no notice of Scarabeetle who says you wn't have time or care about hair straightners. If you normally use them then you will care. Remember the photos last forever.

With regards to make up I would consider (did) got my eyelashes permed and tinted and eyebrows shaped before my due date so there was no faffing there. I also had my hair done as you will know the first few weeks will be frantic. Same with the waxing

Well i've just packed the minimal make up i need (i do need it too lol), i did use hair straighteners with ds1, just to make me feel better and also something to do as i woke at 3am and wanted to go home.
I've got a mini suitcase for me and a changing bag for baby both are 3/4's full so ita not as bad as it sounds. I sold my ds and got a wii - i have a blackberry so i can play games on there / facebook lol.

lovely moisture cream, mags & books & snacks

Earplugs are a must!

Also, I would suggest more than one sleepsuit/pair of PJ's for the little one. I ended up being in for 3 days and as my DD was my first, I found I had to change her sleep gear quite a few times

I think you've got enough in there, if you need anything else you can always ask your dh to bring things in from home. I was given nappies and (HUGE) maternity pads to use while I was there even though they tell you to take your own. They also provided towels, shower gel and cotton wool even though I'd taken them with me. I was only there for 8 hours, turned up pushing then discharged before there was a bed for me on the ward so I hardly used anything from my hospital bag!

Cotton wool for washing baby - wipes are too harsh for some newborns.

I took peppermint teabags in too - I had an elcs & felt bloated for a few days afterwards.

DH kept forgetting to bring me a flask of hot water but occassionally I could persuade a passing midwife to let me have some!

I admire your optimism with hair straighteners

anyone taking a wheatie or a hot water bottle i would urge caution in letting on to any mws that you are using it. of course it's totally safe and fine, but i had a BIG argument with a senior mw who found out the mws and HCAs had been filling up my hot water bottle for me and told them not to becuase it 'breeched health and safety'. it was the only thing that eased my excrutiatng back pain and i couldn't believe she'd rather i popped some pills whilst breastfeeding, which surely is more risky in the grand scheme of things, than using a simple hot water bottle! so definitely pack one, but just go into the mws kitchen yourself and heat it up when you can grab the opportunity...

A small changing mat, like the ones you get in a change bag because you have to change them in their cot.

Instead of a hot water bottle those disposable stick on heat packs from boots etc, they work instantly.

Take wipes but rinse them all out under the tap and keep them in a tupperware or one of those wipe cases which you can fill with water.

When I had DD and DS they didn't need vests or hats on the ward as it was boiling.

In our hospital you cannot use your own electric fans, nor can you or the midwives use the staff microwave to heat anything for you.
There are no patient microwaves they've been removed [health and safety]

Your list looks fine but don't lug it all in when you arrive.
Once you're admitted and assessed and definately staying your OH can pop to the car and bring the rest in.

Otherwise you'll be discharged home in early labour dragging suitcases behind you back to the car!

More clothes for the baby. One sleepsuit is very optimistic . I think OnEdge's idea of a roll with stuff for the baby is great and will use that myself if I remember.
What I've done previously is have 2 bags; 1 for labour and 1 for after. It just made stuff easier to find when needed.