hospital transfer bag for homebirthers

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

I know there are a few homebirthers lurking around so thought I'd start a thread for a hospital transfer bag as I can't really remember what I'll need seeing as I didn't transfer last time.

I'm anticipating a fairly swift labour like my last one so imagine if I do transfer it'll be an emergency rather than for more pain relief, so am cutting out stuff I might need for a protracted labour in hospital (snacks, drinks etc)...any additions gratefully received

Comfortable pyjamas for me
Flip Flops
Slippers
Coming home clothes
Maternity pads
Lavender and Tea Tree Oil
Pillow
Sleepsuits&vests for baby
Couple of hats for baby
Blanket
Nappies
Money

er.....can't actually think of anything else!

Oh yes, have been wondering about this. Was going to do a really simplified one on the basis that DH can go home and get stuff if necessary.

I think my list is:

toiletries: toothpaste/toothbush/flannel/travel size shampoo/conditioner/gentle bodywash/moisturiser
maternity pads and breast pads
Clean pants, socks and pjs.
Nappies, couple of sleepsuits and hats.
Squirty water bottle and snacks.

Ear plugs

oh, and stress balls.

oh god toiletries!! of course....

hard to plan for isn't it because I don't want a huge hefty thing to lug if we need to but also I guess if I've gone in because it's an emergency I'm more likely to stay in than if it was a straight forward hospital birth - but you're right, DH can always go home for stuff post birth

That's kind of what I'm thinking... part of the plus side of a homebirth is supposed to be the lack of packing as far as I'm concerned!

I'm sort of assuming the hospitals will let you borrow basic bits if you forget anything too. With DD I had a hospital birth and forgot to take anything to labour in and they gave me a spare scrub... was lovely and comfy.

yeah to be fair if I do en up transferring it'll be to St George's in Tooting (5min drive from our house) or Tommies, which is in the middle of London so anything I forget I can get hold of really easily.

I'm mainly doing it so when it comes to getting DD dressed etc after birth, DH knows where it all is!

I took the moses basket with me so I could get a photo of just born DS2 in his moses basket like the one I've got of DS1 who was born at home. Midwife thought I had a problem with the cleanliness of the hospital cot! I also raided the homebirth kit before I left because I'd gazed at the cord clamp in it's sterile packet with excitement thinking that in a few weeks it would be clamping my baby's cord. Despite being in hospital that cord clamp was still going on my baby's cord . The midwife in hospital must have thought I was mad.

On a more practical note, more knickers and maternity pads than you could ever imagine needing, camera and mobile, paracetamol and ibuprofen because the midwives will probably take their time in getting them.

A nightie instead of/as well as PJ's???

I had planned a home birth and ended up in labour ward with an episiotomy/stitches and a catheter. (Still had a great birth even though not as planned). I had packed a bag "just in case" which was "just as well"!

My only problem that i found out after the birth is that PJ's are bloody awkward when dealing with a catheter!!! My sis who was an additional birthing partner had to nip out and buy me a nighty!!!

Bet you will not even have to worry about this No.2 will just "pop" out!!!

Big Pants. On the basis that if you are transferring, it is likely that this is because of complications, so you may be looking at a C-section in which case you need Big Pants.

I went into labour 16 days before the due date with DD2, and wandered around looking rather pathetically for Big Pants. THen I went downstairs and gave birth in a pool in the living room

yy to water bottle and bag of toiletries!

I pack 2 bags, a 'baby' bag (nappies, sleepsuits, vests, hats, blankets, bottles/ready made formula if you want?) and a 'me' bag (PJs - easier to BF than nighty, but never having had a catherter I can see they would be a nuisance, LOTS of pads, about 4prs of pants for 2 days, bra, toiletries/medications, list of phone numbers - probably on your phone, lavender oil for adding to warm water in old shampoo bottle for when you need to wee afterwards!)
A friend recommended antiseptic wipes and/or handgel after she got an infection when in hosp after having DD
Makes things easier for DH/MW to find at home even if you don't transfer
Don't forget the camera!
Hope all goes well for you

i made a conscious decision not to pack a bag last time as i was determined to stay home....i ended up with a hurriedly packed bag before flying out the door, so i took nighty, clothes, a nappy, a few maternity pads......baby ended up in scbu for 10 days so i stayed in too....things i needed that couldnt be found in and around hospital....nursing bras, mat pads (hospital ones tend to bunch up and be uncomfortable).
so my advice to myself this time is to have a bag that will do me through at least 4 days.

I had a transfer and took
the baby
and a change bag

that's it!

Pack the snacks and drinks! I had an emergency transfer with DD2 and spent the next day starving because my transfer came too late apparently for anyone to put me down for food the next day. I packed every extra space in my emergency bag with snacks and water just in case.

brilliant, thankyou, going to add to the list (not not taking your advice notjust but if I transfer to Tommies they have an M&S downstairs now!)..good tips on pants and nighties in case of csection or catheters (bleurgh!)...think I need a pot it on top to remind me to chuck in phone, camera etc cos stuff like that will be out

Comfortable pyjamas/nightie for me
Flip Flops
Slippers
Coming home clothes
Maternity pads
Lavender and Tea Tree Oil
Pillow
Sleepsuits&vests for baby
Couple of hats for baby
Blanket
Nappies
Money
Bra and BIG PANTS
Toiletries
Paracetemol/Ibruprofen
Antiseptic handgel

Just remembered about arnica for afterwards

I planned a HB for DD, and packed the bog standard hospital bag - if you transfer in and end up staying you might well want snacks to hand for afterwards because getting food on a postnatal ward can be nigh on impossible outside of the regimented mealtimes - DD was born at 6.39am, I didn't eat until DH came in for visiting at about 4pm that afternoon. No tea or toast, and if you transfer in during the middle of the night to Tommies, will the M&S be open?

Packing the whole lot also means if you end up going in for induction (if you get that far and choose to accept it, of course) it saves you repacking the bag.

Ooooh, i'm planning a HB, currently only 24 weeks but I am sure the rest will fly by! I was just going to pack a standard hospital bag, but now i see it makes sense to do a concise version of it, e.g minus snacks and stuff like that.

hmmm yeah good point flisspaps I'll pop in a bag of nuts then to keep me going - I guess I'm also basing it on my last labour and birth where I couldn't keep anything down bar water and lost my appetite completely for about 2 weeks after (was literally forced to sit down and eat) but that doesn't mean I'll be the same this time. waaaaaaaaaa I don't want to go to hospital!!

ARNICA! Yes, forgot about that - will pop out and buy that and the various oils today as well

Another one hoping to stay away from hospitals here!! Though midwife has told me to get my bag sorted just in case (am nearly 34 weeks)...

Will you be getting maternity pjs/nighties? I only have 1 set of maternity pjs as I tend to sleep naked so don't really wear them that much... Not sure if 1 pair would be enough if I have to go to hosp (or actually, even if I end up staying at home), but don't want to buy more maternity stuff this late in the game...

Home Birth hopeful hand up here! Had my last two in hospital - or rather 2nd labour mostly over by the time I got there - pretty sure I don't have time to get there this time as I've moved further away from the hospital!

After several stays in labour ward and children's ward in past few years I find a dressing gown with hood and small radio with earplugs invaluable - put the hood up, earplugs in, classic fm on and you MIGHT be able to sleep. (But not so loud you can't hear the baby crying!)

I chucked a set of pjs and underwear, clean clothes, some maternity pads and my toilet bag in a draw in the spare room.
I was absolutely certain that packing a bag was tempting fate, but expecting packing phobic DH to do it from scratch was not wise.
DD2 had the good manners to turn up at home, while her sister was a sleep, with no drama what so ever.

Seriously comfy day clothes, I loathed walking round the ward with DD1 in my night shirt since I was not ill.

what are maternity pyjamas? I tend to sleep naked too but with DS wore pyjamas cos of hopping in and out of bed to feed, but just got normal pj's

ah ha - I need a good excuse for a new dressing gown

Suppose I ought to actually start packing this 'just in case' bag. Might wait til after the homebirth kit has arrived, to save tempting fate