what to pack for the hospital??

[xXjoiedevivreXx]

I am nearly 37wks and have been saying I'll pack my bag for the past couple of weeks but needed to buy stuff for it first i.e. long nightie/tshirt, toiletries etc and I finally got round to this last week and now have no excuse for not having my bag packed!! (I think I'm putting it off due to the reality check of it all!).

Can you please help/advise what I will need to pack for during labour, hospital stay and baby??

What were your essentials or things you wished you had?

Thanks!

There's a good checklist here.

I'd recommend taking two small bags - one for during labour and one for afterwards (your overnight/next day stuff plus baby stuff) - to save you or DH/DP having to rake through one big bag looking for things when you're in labour.

I'd also add Lansinoh (nipple cream) if you're going to BF. Slather on after every feed and it's safe for baby to 'eat' so doesn't need to be washed off. And a couple of big carrier bags for dirty clothes.

I wrote out some notes after giving birth in Sep.

Hospital bag (after labour)

Nightgowns (front opening)
Nursing bras
Tena Lady pants
Maternity pads
Breast pads - normal & hydrogel
Breast shells
Compresses (MAM & Lansinoh)
Codeine
Paracetamol
Ibruprofen
Aloe Vera Durex Lube
Lansinoh cream
Lansinoh latch assist
Moist toilet tissue
Sanitary bags
Anusol HC
Flip flops
Toilet bag
Phone & charger
Ecover hand wash & hand cream
Pillows
Lactulose

Hospital bag (labour)
Cold compress
Swim suit top
Camera
Misting spray
Food
Birth ball
iPod & docking station
Straws

Hospital bag (baby)
Babygrows
Vests
Nappies
Bepanthan
Shawl & blanket
Muslins
Hat & Cardigan

All the best x

I have mine Packed and ready for dc no3. Inside is
Comfy cheap nightie for labour
Flannel for mopping my sweating brow
Warm socks
Lip balm
That's it on the labour front, the only thing I really need is serious drugs.
For afterwards
Clean comfy front opening pjs. X2
6 pairs of huge black knickers the sort that come up to my chin
Nursing sleep bra x2
Breast pads x 12
Face wash, unscented shower gel and underarm stuff, toothbrush toothpaste, hair brush.
Black bath towel
Dressing gown and slippers
2x 12 pack maternity towels
Phone charger
I have books to read on my phone
Ear plugs
Face mask thingy for sleeping
Makeup just in case I'm feeling better than last time
Camera, spare batteries.
Sports water bottle for reducing the sting when you wee afterwards.
For baby
6x sleepsuits
6x vests
6x bibs
12x nappies
Dummy
Socks
Cotton hat
Snow suit for coming home in and warm hat.
Car seat and base (obv not in the bag but needed for hospital)

I had one bag we took straight in with us - one of those wheelie ones for Ryanair hand luggage only flights - so it had a rigid shape. And one I left in the car with stuff that wouldn't be needed immediately (e.g. going home outfits).

I then sorted everything into clear plastic ziplock bags by type - post-birth going home clothes for me, nightclothes for me, towel, maternity pads, outfit for baby, warm outer clothes for baby (was winter) nappies and wipes for baby, camera, clothes for labour, food, TENS machine, money and cards etc. I also put labels in the bags, that could be read without opening them up.

I then packed the stuff we would need in labour/ delivery in the rigid bag and started at the bottom with the stuff we would need last (e.g. post-birth clothes, outfit for baby), moving up to the stuff we would need when we arrived at hospital. It worked really well - no scrabbling through a bag to find things, DH could find what was wanted despite not having packed the bag, etc. etc.

I just want to point out - before I sound totally organised anal, that I didn't buy the ziplock bags, we just seemed to have a lot from buying things like cot blankets, maternity knickers etc.

Thanks very much guys. There are some great suggestions here, some that I hadn't even crossed my mind!

Will get onto the bag packing today!

Lots and lots of food / snacks. I had a long labour and the food the hospital provided was disgusting not enough