What did you wish you'd put in your hospital bag?

[quesadillas]

Hi,

Starting to pack my hospital bag. I've got a checklist, and I remember what I packed last time, but is there anything you wish you'd packed and didn't? Or anything not on the regular lists that you included which was really helpful? I'll be having an ELCS, so don't need things to help me during labour, just things to make my stay a little more pleasant and easy. I'll probably be in a good few days. I have packed posh chocolates as I wish I'd had a treat readily available last time.

Thanks!

[gloria2088]

I got sent this guide recently and have shared with some friends who are due soon - the checklist may be useful www.essentialbagcompany.co.uk/what-to-pack-in-hospital-bag-for-baby-including-checklist

[cosmicdancer89]

Lucozade !! and dry shampoo

[Fluffy24]

Much more food!!

I too had ELCS and when huge breech DS was finally evicted from the space my stomach (and lungs) was meant to occupy I was ravenous!! Think a packet (or three) of your favourite deli sandwiches in a cool bag!

I took my hairdryer, it was great having a shower the next morning and even though I was putting another night dress on it was very good to be able to wash and dry my hair and generally feel a bit more human.

[eaiand2]

More starburst as they were the only thing I wanted out of our snack selection

[WhatAHooHa]

Savoury food. By the time I got onto the ward it was night time, all I had with me was cereal bars and other sweet stuff which, in quantity, made me feel sick. What I really wanted was some stodgy carbs. So, pasta salad, doorstep sandwiches etc would have been perfect

[mrsg1888]

I'll be taking some of this little robinsons squashy cordials to help with the drinking water
Arnica tablets to help with bruising/swelling (recommended from a friend)

[GoooRooo]

Make up. I look so awful in the photos with DS.

[Lonz]

I never anticipated how much time I would be left alone in hospital so didn't pack anything to entertain me, let alone know that I would be forced to stay in.

Books, magazines, something to take a tally on everytime someone actually came round to see me. My own food that didn't look like a 4 year olds packed lunch. I've seen some people take in their own pillows and duvets as well. I wish I did that.

[lilac3033]

I don't think I missed anything but here are my favourite things I brought.

• for labour I had dry cereal bars which I had bits of regularly. I also froze a few lucozade sports and those were AMAZING! Meant I had a cold sugary drink throughout labour.
  

-postnatally I had a little spray bottle of pure witch hazel which I sprayed on maternity pads (just a spray or two). This was really soothing for swollen bits!
-I also back up the extra food thing. I didn't get nearly enough food from the hospital so was glad to have snacks!

[quesadillas]

All good ideas, thanks. Particularly like the one about separating the twins stuff. DH will probably be doing the first dressing, he needs all the instructions I can give him!

[StrawberryTartYum]

Lots and lots of snacks! And a smartphone or tablet or something to help pass the time if you are kept in. We were in three days waiting on DS's temp to come up and I had nothing to do while he slept, which was most of the time. I also struggled to keep myself awake when breastfeeding and this would have helped there as well!

[HollyAndIvyTime]

Ear plugs!! You'll still hear your babies, but cuts out on all the other noise on the ward so you might get some sleep at least....

[CobbOnn]

Toilet roll. Might not be as bad with a c section but the loo on my ward had run out and I was told off for asking for more. Hard paper towels were very unpleasant on sore bleeding parts. (Thinking about it someone probably flushed the paper towels causing a blockage and that's why they closed that toilet so I had to walk across to the opposite ward. Hated that ward. Home birth this time)

[CheesyNachos]

Also food. I gave birth at about midnight and was offered nothing until breakfast, which I guess makes sense, but I did not think to take anything but dried fruit and cereal bars. I was going mad with hunger. I should have taken sandwiches, babybels things like that.

[FreeButtonBee]

Also small tip but one I wish I'd known before. You may get bumped for emergency sections - which is totally understandable. But heavily PG with twins is miserable if you are nil by mouth. Demand a drip if you Re waiting more than 3 hours. I was pretty out of it by the time I got to the theatre as I'd been waiting all day.

[FreeButtonBee]

For twins, pack one bag with first vest/baby gro/nappy/hat for each baby. I used plastic ziplock bags and labelled them twin 1 (boy) and twin 2 (girl). Frankly it's chaos after they are born so not having to dig around in an enormous bag to find clothes was v helpful.

Spare tshirt and trousers for your DH. DD vomited milk and blood (from my bleeding nipples...) all over DH on the morning of Day 2. Not v pleasant for him the rest of the day.

Defo recommend sports cap water bottle which holds at least a litre. I was sooooo thirsty and it could sit in the corner of my bed without leaking. I used it for months actually!

[NickyEds]

A flask. The tea making facilities were along a corridor and around a corner, I couldn't carry ds and make tea and the mw was pissed off with me for asking her to watch him. I didn't want to leave him alone but was desperate for a cuppa so wish I'd been able to make a flask full so I only had to do it once.
Plastic pint glasses and cordial. So didn't have to drink aforementioned shot glasses of tepid water.
Carrier bags. For your washing
Snacks. Stuff like flapjacks. At our hospital if you missed meal times (what with having a person coming out of you!) then you didn't eat.
All in the bag for this time.

[quesadillas]

I think I'll pack two bags for me - one for immediate use with a few of the basics, and another with extra everything. Expecting twins so need to be really organised!

[makeminea6x]

0-3 mo clothes and bigger nappies. My DS was too big for newborn things and my DH had to go and buy some bigger ones

[Chillyegg]

I was in a week longer than i thought.
Extra clothes
Extra maternity pads
Extra pants
A razor
Extra cereal bars

[BabyNeedsChocolate]

Hot water bottle(s) and a little plastic back massager - they were the only things that really helped with contractions. This sort of thing www.amazon.co.uk/Palm-Urchin-Massage-tool-4-Legged/dp/B00MVKTFPI?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

A mattress which my husband slept on for five nights while I was in the induction bay, labour ward and postnatal ward - it was a roll up one which was brilliant.

Lots of sweets.

[avocadotoast]

I wish I'd taken food for afterwards. I don't know if you can plan better with an ELCS but I threw up the toast they gave me straight after giving birth and then was starving later. If you end up getting to ward between meals, or even after the evening meal, you'll wish you'd brought snacks!

Oh, and toiletries. For some reason I remembered to bring straws and a spray bottle but totally forgot shampoo and shower gel, had to get DH to bring them the next day.

[LadyOrangutan]

Vaseline or lip balm. I had a emcs and my lips were so dry. I nearly kissed the midwife that found some for me.

[polarbearshuffle]

The first time snacks, drinks and extra pj bottoms. Was very grateful I had them the second time. I couldn't sleep after having dd so I sat there gazing at her munching starbursts and sipping flavoured water!

[Sparklingbrook]

Antibac wipes for bathroom trips especially if shared facilities.