Hospital Bag???

[SHELL2006]

Right, I have packed my bag for hospital, but my hubby seems to think that i have packed way too much! Please could someone advise me on what I need to take with me, as he said a suitcase full is taking the p*ss!!!! Thanks x

Just tell him that most of it is those giant maternity pads - should keep him quiet .
Seriously though I would list essentials as:
Slippers/flip flops (good for showers).
A couple of nighties or really big t-shirts at least.
Nice lightweight dressing gown (good for chucking on for wandering ward or if you have visitors).
Water spray (good for during birth to cool you down, and on ward)
Lip salve.
Maternity Bras
Breast Pads
Aforementioned Maternity pads - loads - 3 or 4 packs at least (sorry!)
comfy big nicks or disposible knickers
Outfit to leave hospital in.
Snacks - whatever you fancy & I found bottled water really good too - sports bottles are good to drink from when lying down etc.
Eyemask (sleepmask)
Foam earplugs (you will still be able to hear your baby, but they really help cut out other noise when you are trying to sleep.
Facewipes
Normal toiletries
For your baby, you don't need much to be honest - a few sleepsuits, short sleeve vests with poppers x 4 maybe, going home outfit, nappies, cotton wool.
Camera.
Umm - thats all I can think of.
Surprised you are managing with one suitcase to be honest - tell DH to count his blessings.

sure there will be more post to add to this list.
Good luck!

Thanks mandymac, everything you have listed is exactly what I have packed, so I no I havent gone overboard!!!

books, change for phone, opal fruits, juice for you.

light-hearted magazines to read, choccies and apricots, phone-change and/mobile, pressies and cards for midwives, something to entertain younger visitors if your kids are coming to visit you.

I would say take what you think you will need and want, we have people turning up with a huge case for themselves a case for baby, car seat and carrier bags as well which is a bit much, the problem is space is quite limited especially when you are on a ward and it can be a real problem at times if there is a to much stuff around a bed.

Remember that people will be coming to see you, so they can bring in things you need so I would leave the coming home outfit for you and baby near the car seat at home so that your hubby can pick it up when he comes to bring you home.

The essentials I would say are;

t shirt or nightshirt for labouring in
clean nighdress x 2
feeding bra x 2
disposable knickers or very cheap ones from asda or similar (3 pairs £1)
sanitary towels 2 packs (these can double up as cot matresses they are so huge) slippers or similar and dressing gown
wash bag & make up if you want
breast pads and lansinoh
bottle of squash
arnica for bruising
coins for phone box you cant use mobiles on the ward and may not want to leave the ward
magazine or book (you never know you may get to read some)
snacky bits few bits of fruit is good but for this I would leave a list of bits for people to bring you
for baby I would say 3 vests,
3 sleepsuits,
nappies about 10 (should be more than enough for one day people can bring you more in)
cotton wool

the camera is essential of course

I left things that like car seat, coming home outfits, nappies, sanitary towels, lists of snacky bits etc in the babies room or bed so they were all together and dh didnt have to go searching

I was all organised the last time even with snacks for dh but I got sent to hospital straight from my drs and didnt have anything with me but at least dh knew where everything was

Brilliant thanks for that, its great to be able to speak to other mums/mums to be as none of my friends have had babies yet, so I have no guidance at all!!! Thank you all xx

On the ward, if you have to stay (and with my 3rd DS I was there 5 days unexpectedly as he was ill and I had to keep going to and fro to special care), you feel a lot more comfortable and human in a t-shirt and light cotton track bottoms than a nightie and dressing gown - also that's what the other mums tend to wear nowadays.

.....Also, something I didn't think of with my first, is a baby comb to get the 'gunk' out of their hair for the baby photo!

emergency money if your dh needs to buy food, or to pay for packing.

packing=parking