Advise on when baby's born please !

[lorza03]

This will be my first baby I'm 32 +6 and am packing a hospital bag. I was thinking when packing my bag, how many nappies do I take? How many bibs? Cotton balls? Do I take baby bath and towels. All these little questions. Can any one point me in the right direction ? Also this morning I had a small pink bit on my tissue- but no other indication of an early labour. I'll just keep checking.any body else experienced this kind of thing? :-)

Hi - if you google "mumsnet hospital bag" - you will find so many threads on it - all of which will end up giving you different views.

Some people will think X amount is WAY too much as they were in and out in no time.
Others will say you definitely need Y or Z because their hospital was too warm/cold/dirty - others will come and say no.

The best thing to do is to use the NHS list I think. And to remmeber - that if you do run out of stuff - shops will open you know :)

So - say you take 10 nappies - by the time you reach your 6th nappy - and think you may run out - the local chemists will be open :)

I'd say - Stuff for baby should include- nappies (A pack?), something for their heads, couple of blankets, some vests and all in ones, (again people will say different things about how many) - cotton wool balls and waterwipes if you cant be bothered with cotton wool balls yet want something light and unchemically.

For mum - something loose to wear, a light dressing gown in dark colours, 2 packs of matermity pads, waterwipes, pletny dark granny knickers, flipflops, something to hold your hair back, some lip balm or lansinoh. Soem mild toileteies and soft towels. Anything else you fancy is an extra and you re totally allowed to take what you want

Do a tour of the hospital or birth centre to gauge how much space you will have.

Take change - car parks and vending machines needs those.

Food and snack wise - Opinions will diverge. Take high energy drinks and snacks - a few lucozades (or something similar), bananas, flapjacks, some mars bars or chocolate for quick energy if you slump, crisps if you want. Again - local takeaways and shops will open while these can tide you over.

Take a water bottle with a sports straw and cap.

And remeber - womemn can go into labout in a different town and still have fine births at the local hospital. You WILL be okay irrespective of whats in your bag :)

about any discharge thats not usual white discharge - contact your midwife and/or hospital just to be sure.

I would take the whole pack of nappies - they are quite small for newborns. If it's too big for your bag then take about 10. If you have to stay in longer, your OH can bring some more if needed.

I didn't take bibs, muslins are better if you need to burp a baby and to mop up any sick. Take about 5 (the more the better really).

Cotton balls are not very good in cleaning off the poo, cotton pads are better (you can get those thick square ones).

You will not be bathing your baby in the hospital, so no need to take any baby towels.

The pink bit is probably nothing, but if you're worried, I'd call your MW. Good luck!

I took a whole pack of nappies, about 6 vests and sleep suits and didn't need much of it. What I did run low on and had to get Dp to get me some more was maternity pads. I took 2 packs and as I was changing them at least once an hour straight after the birth I used loads. I also needs more knickers and pj bottoms after leaking through them. I would have also taken more snacks for staying in hospital and water because I was starving out of meal times and wanted to drink loads more than the amount of water they bring you.

This is all brill advise. Thank you very much for your input. I'm now going to make a list and get shopping and packing ??

my local hospital provides nappies and cotton wool balls for the baby so maybe ask local mums about yours?
definitely leave the baby bath and towels at home!
I'd say 2 vests and 2 sleepsuits for baby just incase you have to stay overnight. if you happen to be in there any longer then dh can go home and bring more up.
For yourself - plenty of knickers and maternity pads and breast pads!

I stayed in for seven nights so just in case you're in for longer you could either throw in a few extra pjs, pants, maternity pads, babygros and nappies, or pack a backup bag that stays home which your dh can bring in if you are going to stay in longer.

Also a nursing bra, charger for your phone, money for vending machine. Something for your feet (e.g. flip flops)

And yes, cotton balls are useless. Better to use those cotton wool pads. They don't disappear so badly when wet. Meconium is pretty serious shit and you'll want something more robust than a cotton wool ball.

And pack you're bag in the order you'll need stuff. So stuff for any potential extra nights right at the bottom in its own plastic bag (you may not need it) stuff for overnight (pjs, pads) in a plastic bag on top. Stuff for baby/post partum on top of that (nappies, baby clothes, wash bag for that first shower, change of clothes for you) and labor stuff right at the top (snacks, drinks). That way you can leave parts of your bag completely undisturbed off you end up not being kept in or just for one night.

I always second the idea of making two bags ready. One that has simply nappies, waterwipes, 2 vest and sleepsuits, plenty of granny knickers, a nighty and maternity pads. You may want things like lipbalm, facecream, a little shampoo bottle, but thats up to you.

Then make a second bag with snacks, more nappies, more pads, clothing changes for you and baby, a dressing gown, a reading book etc, all the extras you might need for an extended stay.

Just take the first bag when you go in for the labour and if all is well then you should be ok. If, for any reason, you are expecting to/required to stay for longer, then your other bag is packed and ready, all your dp (or other family member) needs to do is collect it and drop it in.

From my own experience, this worked great, and many other mums I know also found it handy as it meant there was no need for their dp to be flapping looking for things on a list in a hurry whilst allowing them not to feel encumbered with bagfuls of stuff on the occasions where they were easy 'in and out' births.

Good luck OP