Hospital bag - have a packed too much?

[MrsGiraffe12]

I have 2 bags.

Mine:

• 1 x nighty
• 1 x dressing gown
• pair of flip flops
• 1 x sleep nursing bra
• 15 pairs disposable pants
• 3 x packs of 10 maternity pads
• pack nursing pads
• bath towel
• mini shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deoderant, facewipes, toothbrush and toothpaste, earplugs
• kindle and charger
• pack of snack a jacks and one of them robinsons mini squash things

Baby:

• 4 x sleepsuits
• 4 x vests
• 1 x cardigan
• 1 x hat
• 1 x baby towel
• 1 x baby blanket
• 24 nappies
• pack baby wipes
• pack nappy sacks

Also have some change for the first hours parking as our hospital only charges for the first hour when in labour. Will also have a purse with some change for vending machine etc and my maternity notes and phone and charger obviously. Will wear home the clothes I wore in.

Is there anything else I need / have missed? X

When are you due?

The maternity ward may be incredibly hot. Dd was born in July and spent her overnight stay (less than 24 hrs) in a vest. Might have changed it once, but certainly didn't need many clothes for her. Popped her in a sleep suit for journey home.

I hated maternity disposable knickers - just bought primark cheap ones.

My big tip is an 'emergency' bag in the car with things like a change of clothes for you to go home in in case the ones you wear in get vomit/waters/whatever on them. You might also want to pack your birth partner a spare t-shirt in the main bag.

One pack of pads should do you for a few hours. If you are in longer you'll need more of everything anyway. You probably don't need nursing pads until your milk comes in - maybe 4 or 6 if you want to be safe, not a whole pack.

Have you been told you need a baby towel and blanket? Our hospital did those. Wards are hotter than Hades so leave the cardie with the carseat. Ditto the blanket if it's for going home.

I don't really see the point of nappy sacks on a ward and doubt you'll need 24 nappies. Half that max before you get into needing more clothes for baby and you type time scales.

I'm due early September but my eldest was 2 months early so want to be ready to go in hospital at the drop of a hat x

I doubt you'll need the Kindle unless you are kept in afterwards either, in which case again you'll need another bag of clothes, etc.

and yes, we need to take our own towels and blankets x

Oh, it's your second! Ignore everything I said then

Seems about spot on , although I'd pack a spare nightie or pjs just in case off accidents (bleeding) or you end up staying a little longer and fancy a freshen up.

I found the hospital really hot so took some diluting juice to freshen up the water, as although it was fresh twice a day, it did get warm quick.

Make sure shower gel is fragrance free, I didn't first time and regretted it. I bought this time round tho as those first few showers can sting

Good luck :)

penguin I was in 6 weeks after my eldest as I was really ill, hence asking if I have too much / not enough. I never even had a bag packed last time x

Well I would take extra clothes to go home in, what if you leak waters or anything over your clothes?
I would also take more than one nighty as it could get covered in blood.
I would also take some paracetamol for afterwards on the maternity ward, the midwives can be really busy at times and take a while to get to you.

Also a squirty water bottle can be soothing to poor over yourself when peeing if you have stitches.

I really wouldn't worry about packing too much, you could just leave an 'extra' bag in the car.

I would also take more snacks.

If there's any chance you might be in for longer your list sound fine. But I think you need more nightwear. Even if only in for a short time, it's a pleasure to get into clean clothes if there are leakages of any sort. Even with short stay with dd I took 2 nighties.

Agree that a standby bag in car of extra stuff is v good idea.

Yo u haven't mentioned hairbrush/ hair bands, don't know if you have very short hair so might not need these. I think you will only need the kindle if you use it as a tablet ie for taking pictures, Facebook mn etc. Can't see that you will want to read a book! Also wouldn't take the nursing pads or so many nappies and no nappy sacks. Personally my most important items were my lip balm and moisturiser. Also I needed LOADS more food than a pack of snack a jacks!

Oh sorry also meant to say that I hated those paper knickers, got 6 pairs of big black knickers from primark for £1 each (still wear them now!)

Thanks all. Pretty much think I need to add another nighty, and hair brush, also then some massive black pants! I guess that if I need more than what I've got, DH can bring it in x

Is your DH good at packing, etc? Mine is, so I never worried too much. But my friend whose partner is rubbish packed a bag that she left at home with clothes, baby clothes, extra toiletries, etc. Plan being that she could just say "Please collect the blue holdall".

Take more snacks- I had about half a dozen or more cereal bars that I chomped through.

I'd ditch the disposable knickers, found them awful and so uncomfortable, found the elastic quite unforgiving round the tops of my thighs.

Get some cotton big granny pants!

It's so hard to know isn't it?
I wouldn't take as many pants or breast pads but put them in another bag your dp can bring in if needed.
Dd was very sicky and went through all 4 sets of clothes so dh had to bring more in!
I'd just have another bag at home on standby incase dp needs to bring anything for if you stay longer.
Good luck!