This is what's in my hospital bag - what else do I need?

[Miaou]

Here's what I've got so far:

Nightie to give birth in
Two button front nighties for afterwards
Cotton knickers (which I am happy to throw out afterwards)
Dressing gown
Slippers
Clothes for going home in
Baby clothes for baby to go home in
Nappies
Sponge Bag (containing hairbrush, anti-perspirant, toothbrush)

Need to add:
Puzzle book or similar
Shampoo
Change for phone
Purse
Maternity notes

The hospital I am going to has fabulous food, tea and coffee and snacks on tap, and is very clean - so I am not planning on taking snacks/flip flops for shower/cleaning materials etc.

Anything else I should have though?

have you got a portable fan - either little electric one or handheld - my Doula had one which she fanned right in my face when I had DS3 recently and it was wonderful. It was the hottest day in May and 27 degrees in the room I was in!

Don't forget your maternity pads too!

Take some of those moist toilet tissues with you - they are a bit like wet wipes. They are great for after especially if you have stitches etc, make sure its the sensitive ones though!!

oooh yes - but do I really need maternity pads? Will night-time ones be enough do you think?

Fan - they have one in the labour room

well night-time, maternity - whatever you want - as long as you've got something.

Miaou - they had a HUGE fan in the labour room where I was too - it was great to start with but as things got more intense my Doula fanning directly in my face (about 2cm away LOL) was much more effective.

where is this hospital?!!! am willing to move!

flannels for soaking in cold water when you get too hot.
Lucozade Sport, boiled sweets, glucose tablets or similar.
Spongebag looks a bit light to me - I'd add at least shower gel, arnica cream, lip balm, moisturiser, toothpaste, hair elastics.

Now tip it all out on the bed and make DH repack it as it'll be him scrabbling around in it while you're in labour.

You have to live in the middle of nowhere (in my case, Caithness) and cope with the government threatening to close down the maternity unit every five years or so and insist that every woman in labour travels for up to four hours to their nearest maternity unit (lets see them try that in London - yeah right!)

Flip side is they have relatively few births and the staffing levels are pretty good. I'm not having a birthing partner and have been guaranteed one-to-one support throughout labour

No point wasting money on branded nighttime pads - you get through loads and honestly nobody is looking at your visible panty line. Buy the cheapest thickest ones you can (pref on special offer.)
I found pyjama bottoms were better for holding up pants with big pads.
Don't forget sugary snacks.
A peppermint teabag because you never know if you might end with a caesarean (trapped wind is v common afterwards.)
Baby clothes: Just vests and sleepsuits, about half a dozen, nothing fancy. And a cot blanket to wrap it up in on your way home.
Stretchy/baggy clothes to go home in.
Socks to keep your feet warm in labour.

Thanks Mrs B - I think there are probably most of those things in my sponge bag - didn't check before I posted! Arnica is a good idea, though I've never been sore before (and this is my fourth so I'm planning for it to just slip out between cups of tea )

Yes, and arnica tablets too. I went through 3 changes of clothes for DD1 in about 6 hours so loads of that. A face fan is good because the midwife will probably turn the big one of as the baby is about to arrive.

Ah yes dynamite - hospital provides baby clothes to wear whilst in - so only need going home things.

You don't have a towel on your list - bath towel, dark colour!

Also, antibac wipes are good for wiping around the loo/sink/shower if they're not that clean or if you want to wipe around your bed cabinet etc.

IMO - maternity pads for first day and then night-time are fine normally after that.

a hair bobble if you have long hair.
cleansing wipes for your face are easy so you don't have to bother with cleansers moisturisers etc.
Camera?

Camera, good idea

What would I need a bath towel for??

Um, for after a bath or shower? But then if your hospital provides baby clothes they've probably got their own laundry so I don't see why they wouldn't provide towels too. Do they offer real nappies?

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Yep, our maternity unit are pretty generous; the only thing they don't supply is nappies - shame they don't have washable ones!

Have added breast pads and feeding bras; I only intend to be in a couple of days but even so. (I was told I could stay as long as I like - am sooo tempted to spin it out a bit )

BF counsellor - there is someone on the ward AFAIK.

So - I need to get maternity/night pads, arnica, face fan, socks. Thanks everyone!

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can recommend Boots Maternity pads - £1 for a pack of 10 so pretty decent value for money.

My doula brought cartons of very sweet juice with her that I sipped through a straw when I was in labour. Lovely taste, really hit the spot.

ooh that's good to know fannyannie, will look out for those.

jetjets - the rest afterwards is the main reason I'm going in at all! My midwife said I could have a homebirth (which would mean we could get a pool etc) - but I know myself too well, I would be up and doing stuff too soon afterwards if I stayed at home. I know from when I had ds, it took me much longer to recover than I expected, so I am taking advantage of the help I will get in hospital (as I say, there are plenty of staff there), even at the expense of having a waterbirth this time.

NKF - good suggestion, but sweet drinks make me feel so sick (had GTT last week and had to drink lucozade - I felt really ill for the whole day!). I'll stick to water I think.

Hi Miaou, I knew you had moved but didn't realise you had gone up there! Can't believe it's that time already for you, how exciting.
I would add arnica tabs too, and nipple cream unless you didn't need it before. Check the batteries in the camera are new. And a full film if 35mm. Birth announcement cards if you're planning them. Lipbalm. Tissues.

Tip for making hospital food taste nicer, don't forget to tick the 'salt' box on the menu form . Took me ages to work that one out, couldn't understand why the food should be so depressing.

cotton balls (cleaning your lady bits) baby bath (for first baby poo's) savlon as it good to keep your lady bits clean!
Socks, pj's, hat, travel size wash bag goodies, coats we may be in summer months but weather confused, nibbles for labour, your own music as i had some weird music!