What am I missing from my labour bag?

[nicolamumof3]

40+1 with DC have big hospital bag packed, but also felt the need the pack a smaller 'labour bag' which is actually baby's change bag.

Feels rather empty..

I have long baggy old t-shirt
sleepsuits in pink and white (in case scan was wrong!)
vest and two nappies
and a flannel!

Not taking any snacks, drinks etc as don't mind just water and have always laboured successfully at home and gone in last minute. Do i need anything else?

Full on hospital bag contains, wash bag, 2x pairs pj's, 2xnursing bra's, knickers and pads, towel for me and one for baby. Three sleepsuits and vests, nappies breast pads..and i think my slippers (need to check on that) baby blanket, and muslins.

cotton wool for cleaning baby's bottom?

Bendy straws or bottle you can drink from at a daft angle.
Tenalady pants
Paracetamol
Midnight snacks for you to stuff afterwards
Dressing gown
Camera
Phone charger
baby Wipes/cotton wool

Hat for the baby?

my word, your labour bag only has stuff for the baby! Personally for me, that would be that one staying in the car for getting out afterwards, and the bag I'd want with me would have in it:

my wash bag, shower gel, toothpaste, hairbrush etc.
water spray bottle (was heavenly last time when I got so hot towards the end and DH kept spraying my face to keep me cool)
small cartons of orange juice with straws for quick energy drink
spare tracksuit bottoms / pants
spare t shirt for me

Dh can always go down and fetch stuff for baby from the car surely?

Flip flops for standing in the shower
Magicool or a hand held fan (DS's birthday tomorrow so i know what its like to ive birth in july heat)

Personally i would go for nighties instead of PJ's. I unexpectedly needed a catheter with DS2 so pj's would have been awkward. Plus its hot!

Haven't got any nighties, only pj's! The hospital im going to has all private rooms so bathrooms pretty good, oh and air con.

Will get some magicool tho thats a good idea. DS3 is a july baby, but wasn't particularly hot that summer.

Thanks for all the ideas tho! Def will have phone charger/camera and thinking will pack some snacks in my main hospital bag for after too. Never eaten anything in labour as always been so quick just a quick sip of water.

I'd take some food just in case you have to stay in for some hours while something gets checked out - but mainly envious of your quick labours!

Socks and rest of outfit for wearing to go home?

Flipflops - not just for hygiene but to stop you slipping if you are slightly shaky on your feet.

Snacks for partner? Mine kept trying to sneek off to find a vending machine at crucial moments of labour.....?

I took a couple of changes of clothes with me - just in case I was in for a couple of days (which in the end I was) and didn't want DH to have to root about for outfits for me.

Something to entertain yourself with - book/magazines, again in case you're stuck in for a few days.

I would think about another top for you in case you throw up in labour although if you've been ok before you'll probably be the same. I certainly wasn't sick with any of my births but I know lots of people are. Also a spare t-shirt for dh in case he ends up in the firing line.

Cotton wool that comes in a flat roll as it's way easier to clean the baby's bum with than the balls they give you.

Anusol, for obvious reasons.

Shower kit for that heavenly wash afterwards.

Morphine.

If it's just the labour bag and everything else is in the hospital bag then I'd suggest maybe more than one item of clothing for labouring in (vomit/blood/breaking waters might ruin the first), maybe a blanket to wrap the baby in in case you're enjoying a snuggle and not quite steady enough to dress her yet, plus a hat for the same reason.

And yes snacks for a birth partner so they're not off stalking the corridors looking for mars bars at the nth hour.

There is a good labour bag list here:

Labour Bag

Get out of jail free card nic! Hope labour is going ok for u and baby is already here! Hopefully will see some news b4 its my turn tomorrow so you can pass the birth baton on :)

Some things which you hopefully won't need but I will be packing them if I have another:

A notebook/diary and mobile phone with camera and charger to detail the times you feed the baby for proof that you are feeding - some MWs won't believe you unless they see it themselves.

Also I would take some kind of little bowl and a bottle of water for after for cleaning baby's bottom when nappy changing, I had to use water from my water jug and one of the cups and go without a drink as didn't want to put new nappy on a dirty bum and wasn't given anything to wash baby off in/with.

I would also put the number of the ward in your mobile so if you can't reach the buzzer to buzz the midwives for help/more water, you can ring the desk using your mobile instead.

Good luck

Thats some good ideas too! Fortunately my dd arrived on Wednesday evening after a fast induced labour.

I didn't use much from my bag at all. Just food really as had been admitted to antenatal on the Tuesday afternoon as hind waters broke and high head..fear of cord prolapse. All went quickly and easily in the end tho.

Just out of nosiness, what are the tena lady pants for? Are they better than just ordinary cheap knickers and maternity pads? I am pregnant with my second baby so any tips very welcome!

The tenalady pants were a tip from my IM. They are effectively disposable pants, but with pads in and more like a nappy substantial. So you load them with maternity pads and they will last 1-3 changes of pads depending on how much leakage there is, or you can wear them without any pads if the lochia is light. But because they are so like a nappy large and padded, they are more comfortable to sit down in, hold your jelly belly in, you won't leak out of them especially at night.

Congratulations, Nicola