Essentials for Hospital Bag?? Sorry 1st timer..

[Leilababyno1]

Hi

I am almost 32 weeks and have been thinking about getting some sort of bag ready-

What do I pack? What will I realistically need?

Don't want to end up packing a million things..

I know this question has probably been asked a million times before, so sorry in advance..

Just a tip, I treated myself to some lovely new PJ's for after our DD arrived....only to end up sobbing when they didn't fit! I'd bought a size too small, thinking that once our baby was born most of my tummy would disappear. It didn't! (How do the celebs do it?) Take some really comfortable clothes to wear in a size that you wore when you were about 5-6 months pregnant. You'll also want some flip-flops for the shower and some comfy slippers for around the ward. Magazines/easy reading is also good to have if you need to stay in a day or so.

I have packed:
towel, going home clothes, giving birth nightie and nightie for afterward, toiletries (I just went to boots and bought travel size eveything so I didn't have to worry about grabbing things from my bathroom at the last minute, including a new toothbrush), lip balm, massage oil, arnica tablets, Tena ladies pants (have been told they are better than any maternity pads you can get as there is hardly any chance of leaking), snacks (hula hoops beef flavour and monster munch for hubby, somw sweets and a few granola bars), bottles of drinks, baby clothes (gros, hats, scratch mittens, vests), swaddling blankets, antibacterial wipes (for the toilet, have been on ward tour...eeuuuggghh), breast pads and nursing bra, nappies and wipes for baby, some muslin cloths, a soother, a deck of cards, a CD of music I like, flipflops, socks, an extra t-shirt and pants for hubby, will take tens machine with me but haven't packed it as I will be using it at home first, birthing ball will also come with me.

I wouldn't call it a 'bag' though, it's all in a small suitcase! Don't want to get caught out just in case I spend more time than expected in hospital.

Hi, gave birth to my first last year. Just wanted to add that I took warm socks too - everwhere seemed to advise it. Totally not needed hospital was at boiling point, take lightweight clothes too. Dont forget those nice to have things can stay in the car untgil as and when you need someone to bring them in.
Lip balm, blankets, wetwipes all a waste of space. Youll use cotton wool, hosp have blankets.
I also found cards and music useless - I didnt want them in labour and wanted to gaze at baby afterwards.
Packing seemed a way of controlling the stress at the time, but it really is a small detail, hosp have want you really need

depends a bit on if you live close to the hospital. We do so DP was able to pop bac and forwards (though I was in for week). Most people are only in for 1-3 days so don't overdo it and have a you bag, a baby bag and an extras bag that can be left in the car until needed (your DP may also want clean t shirt, pants etc.) For you, maternity pads (not just big sanitary pads), cheap cotton big pants that you can throw away (the disposables are horrible), nighties or PJs that you can BF in, slippers, cotton robe, towel. Big bottle of diluted squash (I got through gallons) + whatever amusements you may want ipod, books etc. We played a lot of scrabble while my induction failed to work!
Baby needs nappies, hat, babygrow x2. Take some cotton wool - some hosp. can be a bit mean. Also worth taking a couple of cartons of milk and bottles just in case the BF for whatever reason can't happen.

I took loads with first baby and most of it never got out of the bag. This time around everything fits in a small wheelie carry on bag .

Don't forget your DP will have to carry your bag(s) and possibly push you around (if you are in a wheelchair) being transferred from waiting room to triage room to labour ward to delivery suite and back. Less is definitely more.

In answer to your question, real "essentials" are nappies for the baby, a few muslins, a couple of baby pyjamas, a baby hat and cardigan, blanket to wrap baby home, maternity pads, towel, and something for you to sleep in if you don't want to wear a hospital gown. Primark has some really cheap nighties that you could wear for the birth and bin afterwards. Everything else, in my opinion, is up to you - although I will also be taking a nursing bra, breast pads, cheap cotton knickers that I'll bin after use, flip flops, wet wipes (for me and baby), toiletries, and a paper fan as I got ridiculously hot last time. Oh, and camera of course.

You won't become a "different woman" the moment you give birth, so no point taking stuff you don't use at home on a daily basis. For instance I never wear a robe, so I'm not taking one with me. Never occurred to me to take clothes for DH, he couldn't spend the night anyway (hospital policy) so had to go home and could shower and shave. Ditto for snacks and drinks, I have yet to see a hospital that does not have a canteen/vending machines and frankly food was the last thing on my mind. I took my pillow last time (as advised by midwife) only to find out each bed on labour ward comes with 3 pillows so really didn't need one more. Hopsital also provides antiseptic wipes available so I don't need those either.

I'd also advise involving DH in the packing, mine didn't know where anything was (or indeed WHAT most of the stuff was!) whenever I asked for something.

Pack a bag now for if you have to stay overnight in hospital. I didn't think I might go to hospital and not have my baby and had to spend a night in a hospital gown that wouldn't do up with no washbag after being kept in for observation one night.

Packing 1 nappy, 1 bodysuit, 1 sleepsuit and 1 hat in your overnight/labour bag is good as that's all baby will need at first and you can have a bag of baby stuff waiting in the car - it saves Dad having to lug loads of stuff around the labour ward.

Food was my saviour! They gave me toast after ds born, but forgot to eat it, then starving later. Lots of crisps and things like dairlea dunkers were great!

Also, my friend gave me a lovely little bag full of dinky versions of nice shampoo + conditioner, and sanctuary bubble bath for the bath after, which was really nice as felt so grotty.

I know you're not really meant to use scented stuff though so 'Simple' stuff may be better.

Take your own food and drinks, don't take anything too posh that you wouldn't want to throw away ( I used a plastic bag as my toiletries bag), flip flops for the shower, at least 2 dark coloured towels, one to use after birth and your parnter can take home.

If you are driving to hospital you can always have an overflow bag in the boot

Wow some of you are taking loads.
How long do you expect to stay in for ?

With DD1 I was in for one day ( born in the morning, left next morning ) and with DD2 I left 6 hours later.

Am genuinely interested in how long your hospitals keep you in for ? Do you have to stay in longer if you have an epidural ? I didnt with either of mine maybe thats why they kicked me out lol

Snacks that don't melt! Chocolate not a good idea! Was often ravenous in the night and got the shakes so muesli bars were a godsend.
Bottle of squash/water for labour - frozen so it stays nice and cold
Sweets
Old flannel/sponge for squeezing water over your stinging fanjo for those post delivery wee's.

Otherwise just what the rest of the posts say.

Red book for your baby

Sports cap bottles of lucozade - can be drunk at any angle and easier to digest/get energy from than snacks!

I thought the Red Book (child health record) was issued at the hospital after the birth? That's when I got given the one for my DD.

Just come home after birth of first born, I would recommend some ultra soft toliet paper! I have food mothercare maternity pads fantastic so far.

Flip flops for the showers if you need to take one

Cheap slippers for padding about the ward

Ear Plugs

Mini Cool Box with treats- tiny bottle of champagne and some strawbs and G&B chocolate for me and DH.

japhrimel one nappy! You will need more than that- babies poop ALL THE TIME!

Well it has been 6 and a half years but the most important things to me were:-

A nightie to wear giving birth (nice and stretchy)
Slippers
Dressing gown
Lots of very thick pads knickers for afterwards
Giant granny style pants (full briefs in a size 18)
Water and food for hubby
Camera (sadly ours was turned on it the bag somehow and was dead by the time DD was born!)
Book (I was so full of adrenaline afterwards I couldn't sleep)
Dettol wipes (the post natal ward was disgusting)
Teenie nappies
New Baby sleepsuits (0-3 are always too big)
Cotton wool

Oh sorry also nice comfy PJs for afterwards
Toiletries for shower

Bras for breastfeeding too!

The reason I say snacks and drinks is because I was in the delivery room for 8 hours but DH didn't want to leave me for long (vending machines were not near) and he nearly passed out at the end from dehydration and hunger - those rooms are HOT!

Two small bags - one for you and one for baby, helps keep things organised.

Lots of food and cartons of drink. Your normal smellies as it is nice to smell homey smells in hospital.

More than 2 pairs of PJ's/Comfy clothes
I threw up all over my dh, midwife, self, bed a good few times after giving birth (not advisable!)

Sneak in some nice snacks, as food is normally poop.

Something to stick in your ears- earplugs/ipod. I had really noisy irritating woman with twins in bed next to me who thought it would be a brill idea to shout down the phone at 3am!!!

About a million breast pads and maternity pads, you bleed and milk a fair bit more than you expect!

Good luck

Lip balm (you need it esp with gas and air as it makes your mouth all dry)
Hair bobble
A sponge or wash cloth (we forgot with ds and it was not easy to wash after with hospital tissue!)
Stuff for baby - vest x 2 / babygro x2 hat and nappies
Pj's for yourself in a DARK colour
Body wash
2 in 1 shampoo
Earplugs in case you have to stay over
Sanitary towels

I saw some people with suitcases and I dont honestly think anyone needs that much stuff. Most dads have to go home, you stay the night and then you come home the next day (unless your babby is born at 2am!) so they cna bring you stuff you need. Is maybe better to take a smaller bag and then have another bag packed at home in case DH has to pick it up in a hurry on his way back. In my experience with DS and DD you dont really care too much afterwards you just want to go home ! Good luck and

I wish I'd taken a towel last time - the ward ran out so I couldn't have a shower - v annoying