Hospital Bag

[MeadowHay]

So I've been looking at the NHS website for what to pack in your hospital bag. But it doesn't really have quantities of anything especially with regards to clothes for baby. I know nobody knows how long they will be kept in really but if anyone could give some rough guidance on what you did/are going to do then that would be much appreciated. E.g. how many items of clothing should I pack for baby? How many nappies? How much clothing did you take for yourself? I feel very clueless!

Ooh another thing, how many maternity pads and breast pads should I take?

I only took three sets of baby clothes as that's what most lists advised. It was not enough he'd got through three sets by lunch time and no one to bring anymore until the evening. One pack of nappies was enough, get the ones with the wee indicator strips, couple of packs of pads. I should have taken more clothes for me than 3 nighties.

Leave extras clothes for both you and baby at home ready packed so all your partner has to do is pick up the bag and bring it to you.

Baby clothes: 4 x vests, baby grows/onesies. Don’t bother taking actual “outfits” for baby. Your not going to be in the frame of mind to bother getting them into it!

Nappies: we took about 20. Remember a pack of baby wipes (forget about the NHS advice on only using cotton wool/water - it’s a bloody faff in hospital, especially if your in over night and trying to clean a dirty bum while trying to be as quiet as you can!

For yourself: take a pack of maternity pads (20 or so) a good 4 or 5 pairs of big knickers, a box of breast pads.
Take a few pair of leggings/pj bottoms - to slob about in on the ward if you stay in and for going home. On top either a big oversized tshirt or a night shirt - Primark has loads, just get bigger sizes than normal. Take your own paracetamol- easier and quicker than having to ask for it (I mean for after baby is born, not self medicating during labour!!!)

I took two or three baby outfits, then people just brought me more the next day. About 10 nappies a day. Shit loads of maternity pads. You won't need breast pads until your milk comes in around day 3, but if you're planning to breastfeed definitely take some lansinoh!

And I'd agree with taking your own painkillers, just don't forget to let the ward staff know if you take any so they don't give you an overdose.

i packed the essentials, 3/4 sets of baby clothes in 2 sizes, 1 pack of nappys, pack of water wipes, and stuff for me. Then I left a top up bag in the car with extra stuff.

One thing is wished I had done was pack more drinks/snacks. I had a complete aversion to water whilst in labour and ran out of lucozade sport at 11pm!

I went in for induction at 8am, had baby at 2.45am the next morning and was out by 5pm. I do wish I had taken more thought about what I was gonna wear after the birth. I left in my black pj bottoms as I was too sore to wear anything else I had taken.

Take some boiled sweets! I wasn’t allowed to eat anything as they thought possible c section. I was starving, the only thing I was allowed was boiled sweets (which cost a fortune from the hospital shop and weren’t that nice!)

Sorry to jump onto your thread Hun but if anybody can help with a quick question when isit best to pack a hospital bag

Also OP it's good to take two bags one for you and one for baby

Il be taking two bags one for me and one for baby just so everything's nice and organised also if you go into YouTube there's LOADS of "what's in my hospital bag" videos Iv found helpful,

Primark is best place to buy your Pjs and big underwear from (pack of 3 for £2)

So far I can think of these items for babies bag

Hospital notes
Nappies (you get a free pack of 22 nappies (papers)with the Emma dairy vouchers)
Water wipes (1 pack)
Cotton wool (you can put some in a sandwich bag)
3 vests (1 long sleeve, 2 short sleeve)
3 sleepsuits (newborn and upto 1 month)
A baby blanket (1)
Muslin cloth (1)
Bib if your formula feeding (3)
Baby hat (2)
A cute teddy (optional for photos)
You can also get fancy sleepsuit so u don't have to worry about a fancy outfit

That's all I can think off for baby

For yourself in your bag

Lucozade glucose sweets (can buy from boots online or instore)
Lucozade bottles (2, cheaper then hospitals)
Some change (for parking or incase you want to buy somthing)
Phone charger
Phone
Camera (optional)
Dressing gown (hospitals are normally hot so even a long cardigan will do)
Socks
Slippers
Some flip flops (90p from primark for when you need go into the shower)
Big underwear (5/6)
Pads (boots pads are supposed to be good I would take regular winged pads too so you can put them in ur knickers first then put the materinaly pad on top)
Nipple cream of your breastfeeding
You won't need breast pads until day 3/4 but id take 2/3 pairs just incase
Cereal bars to snack on
Some sweets
Toothbrush/toothpaste
You can buy travel bottles for shampoo/moisturiser/bodywash
Abit I'd make up( although I don't think you will want to wear it but some people do)
A baggy long nighty or t shirt for giving birth in
Two sets of pjs
Something comfy to wear going home (flat shoes/sandals somthing easy to put on, joggers loose comfy soft material pants, nice loose top and a hoody jacket or cardigan)
Hair bobble and headband to keep hair up whilst in labour
Box of paroctmol

That's all I can think of hope this helps xx

Just to say as well, do take a nightie or two for after the birth. I just took leggings and nightshirts but ended up with a catheter so just had to wear a nightshirt and sit with a blanket over my lap - not ideal!