Hospital bag - what should I take?

[TrixieVix]

Am due next week and have got the basics packed, but am not sure if I've got everything I'll need. I'm the first in my group of friends to have a baby, so got no-one with recent childbirth experiences to ask. Don't want to get up there and be in the full swing of things only to realise I'd forgotten something.

How long can I expect to be in hospital if everything is ok? Any advice greatly appreciated!

ok,

For You
Slippers
Dressing gown
Opening nightdresses (if BFing)
Loose nightdresses for giving birth in, or big old T shirts
NO PJS - They are a pain.
Hair bands
Water spray - worth the £6 it cost me
Lucozade tablets & drink
baby oil for massge
I had leg cream that tingles - good after an epidural
maternity pads
disposable knickers
books/puzzles

For Baby
TONS of body suits and sleep suits (I had 6 and got through them as DS kept throwing up)
Cardigan
Small hat
Mittens
booties
going home outfit
nappies
wipes/cotton wool
blankets
a few toiletries & towels

Im sure theres more...

towels for you.
toiletries for you
Dettol spray for the bath
cuddly toy to cuddle

music if you want it
clips etc for hair as its annoying all over your face.

Good luck! If all OK, you can expect to go home within 12 hours. I've had to stay in overnight with both mine because of meconium in the waters but you don't need much really. Visitors can always bring stuff you've forgotten!

Essentials include nappies, cotton wool, clothes (for you and baby) and chocolate biscuits. Notepad and pen useful too - you will forget details of the birth if you don't write them down. Then again, you may be happy to forget them all...

I've packed a bag but know I'll probably forget the things that I use everyday - like slippers and dressing gown.

For you:

1. a comfortable, loose fitting (and preferably dark) set of clothes to wear home -

You may be sore and not wanting to feel constricted by tough materials. Equally, you may not fit into your usual close-fitting stuff (if you usually wear it close-fitting that is).

1. Maternity pads (Kotex) definitely.
2. Moisturiser
3. Chapstick
4. Hairbrush and ties / clips
5. Mineral water

Good luck!!!

Fab - thanks for all those. Have packed 3 different bags - a labour bag, a hospital bag and a baby bag, all of which can stay in the car until I want them then DH can go and get them on request.

Want DS out now - getting increasingly fed up, although must admit I enjoeyed my first lie-in in 2 years this morning (started mat leave today) which was great - guess I'll be waving goodbye to them for the next few years eh?!

Make sure you've got a couple of nappies and a first set of clothes for the baby (vest, sleepsuit, cardigan, hat, socks) in your labour bag. You don't want to be sending dh out to the car to get baby's clothes from the bag.

TBH, 99% of the stuff in the bags you won't use anyway. As long as you've got clothes and maternity pads for you and clothes and nappies for the baby, nothing else is THAT essential. Anything drastic that you've forgotton can be brought in by your dh during visiting. Check with your mw what the hospital provide too, we didn't need towels ot toiletries for the baby - they were provided.

If you're planning on breastfeeding, take nipple cream and make sure it's the good stuff (Lansiloah. Apply after every feed and don't wait for problems to develop...

Hi, the hospital gave us a list of things we need. The list included 6-8 body suits. Do we really need this many?! I have 4 packed and thought that would be enough!

What do you ladies think?

If you are only staying in one night you won't need many bodysuits, I think if you were in for a few days you might need more but you can always get someone to bring more from home.

The most useful thing I found overall was having several small bottles of water for labour, the sports type ones so it's easy to drink from. The gas & air makes your mouth dry.

Thanks Indigoblue, I thought that would be the case.
Re- water, thats a good idea. I have packed just one carton of orange juice! Ha thats not going to last me long! Yes, more drinks and snacks will be going in the bag, will get some next time I'm shopping.

Cheers

Make sure to pack emergency money.

Pillows pillows pillows - for labour and afterwards. Pillows are like golddust in every hospital I've ever been in!

I loved my PJ bottoms - worn with my nightie.

I think everything important has already been said, but you might also want to take a travel changing mat if you have one (if you are in for a few days, baby could turn into a poo factory before you get home). A pair of flip flops for wearing in the bathroom is also a good idea.

Yes, need to get some emergency money sorted and put aside for car parking etc..

I know what you mean about pillows, I actually work at my local hospital and know from experience they are hard to get hold off!

I've got two nighties for 'after' and one big baggie shorter nighty for 'during'. oh and not forgetting my disposable knickers. Ha can't wait! Roll on December!

I went through a few nighties during the labour itself! I bought cheap normal pants rather than disposable ones. Check out Tesco or Asda's own ranges

And for at home, some salt and bio washpowder if you don't normally use it. I was all for binning everything, but my mum took it all home, and there's no sign of all the stains!

Hi Laura, yes I was debating how good these disposable pants will be? I think I will pack some old knickers just in case.

Thanks for the tips x

make sure the old knickers are big enough for those GIANT maternity towels... and you might find you'll need to use two at once. the disposable knickers these were really really great - just take off and bin with the pads.... and they were really quite soft and comfy once you got over them!

oh, and thick socks. My feet got cold during labour

Thanks twickersmum, I can't get onto your link for some reason?? My disposable knicks are from Mothercare, to be honest I've not even got one out of the packet! So from what you said the bigger the knicker the better? !

I've got some bed socks packed, thank you.

Sorry, been on website now. will have a proper look. Thanks

KF1ZZ140 gives you free delivery for mamatoto.co.uk at checkout if you are interested!

ah thanks again! x