Being induced - what to take to hospital?

[Plumm]

I'm being induced this weekend and although I have a bag packed it's got the bare minimum in because I thought I'd go in when labour was established, pop out a baby (first labour was fairly quick!) and be home again the same day.

Now, of course, I know I will be in there for a while as I could be waiting up to 12 hours just for the pessaries to do their job + labour time.

So, what do I need to take with me? Will I be in my normal clothes after the pessaries or will I be in a nightie, etc (probably more comfortable as even my mat wear is getting too tight now).

Help! I need to get organised as I have to call them at 10am tomorrow and I could go straight in.

Hospital bag,

some magazines , can be long and boring, Ipod

ipod
comfy clothes, slippers
munchies , lots of water

and mostly good luck!!!

I was induces too. I went to the hospital at 8am and din't get admitted to the labour suite until 10 am. Then they put in in one of those horrid nighties told me to take a shower. about noon they put a pessary in and told me to sleep for a few hour cos I would be busy.... Hubby was sent home for same

My contractions started around 5pm, Ds was born at one in the morning.

Yes a long and tiring day I would take as much as you can to make you stay as confy as poss incl snacks and drinks.

I was in hospital being induced for 3 days (1 day gel, 1 day pessary, 1 day drip). There was lots of waiting around too and it was very boring so I would say:

Books, mags, ipod,
Comfy clothes and shoes - I was constantly being told to go for a walk to move things along and quickly got bored of the hospital corridors so trainers and a fleece were invaluable. I was in my normal clothes for most of that time.
Change for the vending machines/canteen/tv cards etc.
Mobile phone.

Good luck and I'm sure you won't be waiting as long as I was. DD was a little velcro baby and just didn't want to move!

it took me 3 days too, until he came out at 40+15. Take a DVD player if you have one. Also, nice pjs or nightie, I had my pessary at 3 am so spent a lot of time going up and down stairs in an attempt to start labour (didn't work)!

Also lots of money for food, unless you want hospital food for 4 days straight...

some nice food, a good book, cards or board games (my DH and I played backgammon for ages waiting for first labour to get going!)

Thanks everyone. I didn't think of snacks - I'll pop into Tesco before I go!

Some cooling face spray (like Magicool) or hand held fan if you can get hold of one. The ante-natal ward was so hot it made my legs swell and gave me headaches (even one of the midwives couldn't bear it and had a fainting fit).

Make sure you take some towels because you'll probably end up having at least a few showers and the hospital towels aren't very big.

I was lucky as my pessary worked within 24 hours, but I then had a 12 hour labour on top of that. However I ended up with an emcs and I was in hospital for a good 5 days in total so I would reitterate the boredom factor, especially if dp/dh gets sent home over night while you're waiting for labour to start.

Food and drink and your own pillow and blanket or wrap

Waters have gone and contractions have started! No induction for me!

Hurray! Have a good one