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Childbirth

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Original poster

Checklist for hospital bag

33 replies

SpringChicken · 19/01/2004 12:43

I know i am waaayyyyyyy ahead of myself but just interested really to see if i am aware of the things you need to take into hospital for both you and baby. Can't afford to just go and buy things so want to be ultra organised so i can start getting bits each week.

Thought i'd seen a thread somewhere before but cannot find it now - soooooooo, what needs to go on my list for things to take to the hospital?

OP posts:
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popsycal · 19/01/2004 12:47

maternity sanitary towels
paper knickers
tiny nappies (think positive!!!)
clothes that you do mind getting ruined for birth
small babygros

this is from the person who was in denial about packing a hospital bag then had to go into hospital without one and dp had to bring stuff in
DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!!!

popsycal · 19/01/2004 12:47

nursing bras (if breastfeeding)

EmilyHoward · 19/01/2004 12:48

Seek and yee shall find here and here

tabitha · 19/01/2004 13:28

Why not ask the hospital whether they have a checklist, as some hospitals seem to provide more than others. For example, the hospital, I'm booked into provide everything for the baby except for nappies, while other hospitals provide much less. Also, think about how long you expect to be in for and how far away from the hospital your house is, i.e. much easier to collect extra stuff if you live in the next street than if you live 50 miles away.

motherinferior · 19/01/2004 13:32

Take more babygros than you think you'll need. And take a hot water bottle for pain relief.

melsy · 19/01/2004 13:38

Instead of paper knickers (so uncomfortable)I bought a couple of multi packs of cheap BIG knickers from Asda 6 for £3.00 I think. Take some snacks also like: melba toast, rice cakes, sweet chalky lollies, jelly sweets and small cartons of juice/herb teas.they were my comfort all through!!! This is if u stay in before and after.

littlerach · 19/01/2004 13:39

Nice snacky food - hospital food may not be too nice, and you get hungry after birth and bf. I also took in cold drinks and herbal tea bags.
A book to read. Dark towels. Pen and paper to remind yourself things - I could never remember feed times etc, and couldn't get a pen from mw.
You'll probably get a list from your mw or ante natal class.

ThomCat · 19/01/2004 13:49

I also packed

  • Arnica tablets to help the internal bruising after the birth - these were the only things I actually used from my hospital bag!
  • Rescue Remedy
  • old knickers i didn't mind not seeing ever again!
  • lavender candles
  • flannels - for possible biting down on or mopping of brow
  • something to wear home - something comfy and maternity like - you'll still have a belly on you and your old jeans you're dying to wear in probably won't fit still for a while
  • a list of telephone numbers and spare change so the new daddy can call everyone from the payphone.
  • something for baby to wear home and a shawl or something, plus nappies, little hat, etc
  • I packed bananas and iced buns and everything M&S had to offer that looked nice as well as fruit juices and water
  • CDs
  • a notebook and a pen

My bag was huge!!!!

lydialemon · 19/01/2004 13:50

In my last one I had:

Old nightdress to give birth in
Clothes to go home in (for me!)
Clothes to go home in (for DD)
Body suits and Baby gros (5 of each - just in case)
Baby blanket
'Night time' towels (better than maternity ones IME!)
Loads of pairs of 'old' knickers (more comfy than paper ones)
toiletries, bath towel, (me and DD)
Couple of books ( for while you're waiting hours to be discharged)
Couple of bottles of lucozade, snacks etc (as I'm always starving afterwards and for DH)
camera!!
Almost forgot - nappies, wipes, nappy sacks

I always seem to pack for a week, but the last two times I've got out the same day!

lydialemon · 19/01/2004 13:55

Oh and to agree with MI, I tried a hot water bottle this time and it was lovely! MWs were really good about refilling it during the labour, but on the ward afterwards they kept saying it was 'dangerous' and wouldn't do it!

popsycal · 19/01/2004 13:56

paper knickers versus big knnickers....
both - paper to begin with though....IMHE

but then i was in hospital for 3 weeks.....

suzywong · 19/01/2004 14:06

Cotton wool to use with warm water to mop up after that first muconium poo
Some hospital phones use a pre-pay token/card system so but in advance from hospital shop so youi can call outside and spread goos news
agree night-timr pads are better than maternity pads
take drinks with straws that you can drink from hands free during labour, your partner will have to hold the carton for you
moisturiser for you as maternity wards are overheated
slippers
anitbacterial wipes (those shared loos can be quite unpleasant)
If you have long hair, hair bands as you are going to get quite sweaty and may want it out of your face.

Big tip - take a DARK coloured dressing gown. You never know if you have had a leak on your nightie and you don't want to be traipsing around the ward with a big stain (or was that just me)

And another thing, if you want to take all the flowers you are sent home, be aware that water filled vases are v. hard to carry. I was an ungrateful mare and left them behine, so you may ask friends and relatives to send you something more portable instead.

Bozza · 20/01/2004 11:07

No suzywong you're not alone. I made the mistake of taking a cream coloured satin dressing gown which had to be sent home with DH the minute I got out of bed. Along with my slippers. I took loads of stuff but hardly used a lot of it partly because was in fairly advanced labour by the time I got there so didn't need distractions etc.

Mum2Ela · 20/01/2004 12:17

The one thing I could not do without was my duvet! I took in a single one and it was soooo lovely just to have a bit of home in hospital with me!

DO NOT take in your pre-pregnancy clothes. My mum told me that she was back in her size 10's the very next day after having me and so I look my lovely clothesin - only to be gutted when I couldn't do them up!

Make sure DP knows how to do the car seat thing which will save arguements and tears - not good when you have post-baby blues and THAT IS THE ONLY THING TEY HAVE TO DO AND THEY CAN'T EVEN DO THAT PROPERLY!

rant over!

x

Gem13 · 20/01/2004 12:38

Do you have another child already?

I ask because I'm planning to take in the present the baby is bringing for his brother. Easier to do that than remind DH and try and smuggle it in later.

Bozza · 20/01/2004 13:29

agree with mum2ella. Neighbour has just given birth (Saturday) and her belly was bigger than mine (am 23 weeks preg and not small with it). Also don't trust your DH to bring in clothes for going home in. Mine bought a skirt and heavy walking style trainers with no tights or socks with snow on the ground in February.....

Jaybee · 20/01/2004 13:30

I think most of the stuff I would suggest has been covered. I also took in a fold up changing mat so I could change babes in their cots without worrying bout leaving meconium all over the sheets. I packed three bags, one for labour (absolute basics), one for on the ward (left that in the car) and one in case I ended up staying in longer than a day or two (left that at home). I would recommend that you practice getting the car seat in and out of the car yourself (dh's always seem to say they know how it goes but they never seem to)

starry · 22/01/2004 16:33

CAMERA!!!

Forgot this one essential item with ds2 (fast labour, speedy drive to hospital, didn't have time to check everything was in bag as I had been taking stuff out during the previous couple of weeks as ds2 was 2 weeks late!)and hence first photos of him are when he is a few hours old not those lovely 'new mummy looking like hell and squashed gooey baby' pics like I had after ds1.

musica · 22/01/2004 16:36

The thing I forgot was a hairbrush. I was gutted. A friend had said to take make up because she wanted to just put a bit on for photographs (honestly!), but then I forgot my hairbrush. I have long hair. It looked a mess!

marlou · 22/01/2004 22:55

The hospital i delivered in provided lavender oil for use in the bath for the days following the delivery, its supposed to help soothe all your painful 'bits' and does work! I also used it when i got home (when i had time to get in the bath!) Make sure you buy a good quality oil - ask at the health food shops,and only use a few drops.
Also when you take the camera make sure you have plenty of spare film, we got carried away with all the photos of our DS!!

Angeliz · 22/01/2004 23:24

haven't read replies so i'm sorry if i'm repeating anyone!

I had:
:clothes for baby
:clothes for me
:sanitary towels(MASSIVE ONES)
:Towel(i had yellow!!!!!!!!!bad idea!!)
:list with phone numbers
:BIG knickers
:camera
:nightie to give birth in

I was SO prepared and when it happened i had checked the bag SOOOOOOOOOO many times i hadn't re-packed it so there was sod all in it!! I had me nightie but dd's first clothes were a hospital shirt
You just never know
Good luck SpringChicken

SHIREENSMOM · 22/01/2004 23:39

spring chicken are you giving birth in the l&d

Angeliz · 22/01/2004 23:46

btw i "claimed" the hospital shirt

Original poster
SpringChicken · 23/01/2004 09:27

Thanks everyone - know i have got ages left but just like to be organised - there were loads of things i hadn't even thought about so it's a good job really!

Shireensmom - yes i will be giving birth in L&D - what was it like when you were there?

OP posts:
secur · 23/01/2004 10:23

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