what to pack in hospital bag?

[j20baby]

anyone bored and want to do a list for me? i know you get a basic list in the pg books, but what will i actually need, bearing in ind i'm meant to be staying in 48 hours after the birth.

Your Hospital Bag

Comfortable clothes for in labour __
Going home outfit __
Pyjamas/Nightshirt/Slippers __
Sanitary towels __
Water (bottled for you and your partner) __
Snacks (dried fruit, savoury snacks) __
Lavendar face wipes __
Nappies (Newbon) __
Cotton wool (for babies bum!) __
Sponge (natural) __
Face spritzer (water or aromatherapy) __
Money for payphone/snacks/parking __
Mobile phone & contact numbers __
Camera __
Babygros/Snowsuit/Going home outfit __
Lansol cream __
Blanket for baby __
Hat for baby __
Showergel/Deodorant/Toothbrush etc for you __
Arnica (6c) for after!

thank you, what is arnica?

Makeup. For post birth photos with new baby.

Something to play music on (cd player rather than a piano!!!)
Something to do. There are quite often boring bits, and I read a lot, much to the amusement of the midwives.
Something for dp to do - it's fatal if they get bored!!!!!
Socks. I got incredibly cold feet.
Slippers - they won't let you go barefoot in hospital.
More pairs of very huge very cheap pants than you believe!
A really pretty nightie for recieving visitors
Nursing bras.

For you

pjs
dressing gown
slippers
socks(feet get cold in labour)
underwear
maternity pads
clothes for coming home
snacks
drinks
flannel
toiletries
money for telephone
book
magazines

for baby
nappies
vests
babygros
cotton hat (in case baby is cold) - I never thought of this but with ds 2 he was only 5'8 and quite cold
cotton wool/wipes
clothes for coming home
coat for coming home
blanket, hat etc for coming home

Don't forget to have car seat ready to go for dh to put in car.

thanks, how many vests, babygro's..etc

Chocolate
Magazines
Nice drinks (eg fruit juice)
Woolly socks (feet can get cold in labour)
If space, your own pillow or pillowcase from home.

Remember your going-home outfit will have to be big and baggy, make it something long, stretchy and comfortable or even maternity wear. You'll still have a bump. (Sorry!)

you wouldn't think i've done this before would you! although it was over 7 years ago

There was a really good tip on here the other day suggesting flip flops rather than slippers. I wish I'd thought of that. Going barefoot in the maternity ward shower - ugh!

Also, and I'm not joking, consider taking a thermos flask with your own ice chips which will at least turn to ice cold water. That's in case it's 30 degrees and the hospital's ice chip machine is broken.

Oh sorry j20! Assumed it was the first time.

I took maternity clothes to come home in and dp had to go to asda as after 48 hours I was pretty much in normal clothes again.

Ditto

Yes it was very hot in the ward - luckily I was next to a window but some weren't. So maybe one of those hand-held fan thingies would be useful if you have one.

arnica is a homeopathic remedy for bruising/swelling and helps healing.

you can get it form boots.

cx

its ok, don't worry, my dd has been helping me to pack, although she seems to think me and lo need a suitcase each. erm...do we?

oh and i'm quite a cold person anyway, already bought some lavender aromatherapy slippers

thanks for mentioning the arnica, will get some

Glad other people had cold feet -thought I was just odd. The rest of me was boiling (second the ice cubes) but my feet were freezing!

what everyone else has said, plus I found bendy straws to be a godsend, when you cant manage a bottle or holding a cup.
Also, for gods sake
bring a pillow - the suite I was in didnt even have one NHS one. I was sooo ruddy chuffed to have brought one, plus a small bean bag that was indispensible during the last stages. Sometimes they provide them, but the thought of all the other women who have slavered over it.. hmm.

Get recovery pyjamas in a massive size - dont be silly like me, went to primarkjacobs and spent a fortune (well, as much as you can in there) on fabulous PJs and layabout clothes, and was so looking forward to wearing them in the first few weeks, but lo and farking behold, i only got a size 14 (was a 10) which fitted, kind of, but was no here near roomy enough boy, -did I ball my eyes out when reality dawned. Buy big.

Forget specialist maternity pads - just get bundles of Always nightime ones, always on offer in superdrug.

Packs of 5 cotton granny pants from primark or asda or whatever - again in massive sizes - comfortable and just bin em when you done.

Peppermint or camomile teabags - again, godsend if you are sat about for ages with an epidural - usually all you can get is builders tea and you might not fancy it. Plus peppermint good if you still got heartburn or need to refresh your gob.

Which leads me neatly to
chewing gum and boiled sweets to suck
for a change of taste when youve had too much G&A and your tounge is well furry.

Facial wipes - so worthwhile for all stages.

Massage oil for Dp to use on your lower back while your having your contractions.

Dark towels - first shower is such a mess and a nice brown towel (hello..primark! £5 for thick cotton bath sheet) is a godsend otherwise you will look like an extra in CSI.

Antibacterial wipes - if your para about hospitals, like moi.

Chocolate.
Nuts and fruit.
Mags.

Good luck lady, ive got goosebumps recounting it all.
px

thanks Red, bottom bit of your post made me giggle in a kind of terrified nervous way

btw, don't have a dp, still not sure if i'm going to have a birth partner yet, any extra's i might need in case i do end up on my own (apart from a punch bag with ex's photo on it)?

Well if thats the case, dont worry to much (easy for me to say) but what I mean is that 90% of the time dp was a spare part, i didnt want anyone near me when i was contracting, you zone out and end up in your own world, and to be honest the only person I took any notice of was the midwife. And of course the tiny person who started the whole affair.

You should try a TENS machine too - cost about £20 to hire off the internet.
I found it took my mind of things in the stages at home. It did help the pain, but Im sure it was also the fact it gave me something to do when things started getting hairy. My labour was a 50 hour walk in the park, and for the first 36 hours at home the only time the tens machine came off was when I was rolling about in a hot bath.
If you do get one you must buy some gauze tape to attach the electrodes - promise you do, otherwise it will drive you mad and you will end up flushing it down the toilet or burning it ceremoniously when the pads keep falling down and you get electric shocks on your arse.

Ah i can hear my tiny dancer calling me,
I wonder what on earth she wants at this time of night

px

some breastpads if bf, some bf bras, Lansinoh cream (just in case).

Definitely lansinoh and I second all of the above especially the bendy straws. Also, it is hot on the ward and my MW recommended putting cartons of fruit juice in the freezer which I then took to hospital frozen and drank as they were defrosting but were still ice cold. I was really grateful for that and found them a godsend.

Hi Girls
This thread is brilliant, can I butt in and ask a question from a confused 1st timer? Thank you!
How many baby clothes?
And what type? I am a bit confused about all the different types
GG

food for everyone
babyclothes in various sizes
tons of baby wipes
tons of nappies
nighties
socks
well everything nearly including the kitchen sink

gardening girl, found this hope it helps

Your birth plan
so your carers know what you want

Large nightdress or t-shirt
to give birth in

Dressing gown or robe
dignity and warmth!

Warm socks
your feet can get very cold in labour

Small hand held mirror
if you want to see your baby crown

Lip salve/petroleum jelly
gas & air can make your mouth & lips very dry

Ice pack
to relieve backache

Tissues
blood, sweat & tears need we say more

Water spray & sponge/flannel
ideal for a freshen up & to keep you cool

Personal/portable stereo
to relax to & take your mind off the pain!

Drinks and glucose tablets
to keep your energy levels high

Massage Oil
massage can be very soothing in labour

Immediately after the birth you will need...
2 or 3 front opening nightdresses
for breastfeeding

Slippers
for moving about the ward

2 large bath towels (dark colour)
they don?t show the stains!

Flannel and liquid soap
they will not usually be provided

Change/phonecards
you will want to call everyone you know?

List of telephone numbers
Obvious

Toiletries, toothbrush, make up etc
so you don?t scare your visitors

Maternity pads (2 packs)
very uncomfortable but definitely worth it

Disposable or old knickers
they will stain even with maternity pads

Breast pads
to stop your clothes getting soaked in breast milk

Nursing bras
to hold the breast pads & make you more comfortable

Snacks and drinks
you?ll be starving after the birth

Camera
those first proud pictures are irreplaceable

Magazines, books, something to do
babies sleep a lot in the first few days

Ear plugs/eye shade
baby wards can be very noisy day or night

Your baby will need?
1 pack of newborn nappies
easier to deal with than Terries until you get the hang of it

Nappy bags
old carrier bags will do to put the dirty nappies in

2 cotton vests
depending on the season to keep your baby warm

2 cotton sleepsuits
to keep your baby warm and comfortable

Sample pot of nappy cream
regular tubs are huge and heavy ? you?ve got enough to carry

Cotton wool
used with cooled boiled water to clean your baby

Baby wipes
because we all like the easy option!

For going home you will need...
Outdoor clothes for you
unless you want to go home in your nightie

Rear facing newborn car seat
you cannot drive your baby home without one!

Going home clothes for your baby
for warmth or protection from the sun ? you?ll need a hat whatever the weather!