What's in your maternity bag?

[Tothepoint99]

Anyone due to give birth or just very organised?

What's in your maternity bag? Don't want to forget anything!

Eye mask
Long long phone charger
Snacks
Extra large knickers - high waist in case of c section (but comfortable otherwise so won't go to waste)
Night gowns - to wear during or after birth that are breastfeeding friendly
Lucozade sports drinks - that I can also refill will water as they make drinking at strange angles easier (handy during labour and when breastfeeding)
Sliders or flip flops for walking and using bathroom
Maternity pads
Lipbalm / toiletries / hair bands / dry shampoo
My own pillows x 2 in 'colourful / distinct' pillow cases
Flannels to wash down / cool head
Book / kindle - I didn't envisage downtime but with visiting hours still restricted and a very sleepy newborn I found myself mindlesslymscrolling my phone and a kindle would have been nice

Will be include piles cream and paracetamol defo.... apart from that the usual phone charger, £20 (emergency drink money or car park), baby grows, nappies, bottle, ready milk if needed ( emergency) , wipes or cotton wool, pads, nightie, socks, slipper socks, towel, shower gel, toothpaste and tooth brush . Lip balm, snacks and big knickers

Lactulose!!!

Not strictly speaking packed it yet but -
Maternity pads, arnica, paracetamol AND ibuprofen, onesies, nappies, wipes, hat for baby (in Ziploc per outfit), pre mixed bottles, spare clothes, high waisted grotty pants, and nightwear for me (remember night sweats so pack more than you think you need), snacks, drinks, baby blanket. Then standard toiletries like toothbrush and paste, shower gel, moisturiser, and probably bio oil if I remember to pack it. Book and charger in side pocket ready to bung in phone and purse (including cash and change) at the last minute.

You don't really need that much for actual labour other than the drinks and snacks, can always have an immediate small bag and a bigger stay bag if needed.

Oh and nipple cream, Lansinoh is a good start. Breastfeeding sucks (badum tash) so you might as well minimise the agony.

A black bin bag for the manky birth clothes to go in!

The things I had that I used were:
Nightie for labour
Comfy pj's for after
Big pants!
Slippers
Comfy clothes for the journey home
Wireless maternity bra
Toiletries bag with mini bottles of shampoo conditioner and shower gel and deodorant, brush and hair bobbles, lipsalve, toothbrush
Phone charger and charging block
Headphones (I couldn't sleep at night so spent the night watching greys anatomy and cuddling my baby!)
Snacks and drinks (I loved having cartons of apple juice- was a good sugar boost and easy for my partner to hold for me to take sips of even lying down).

For my baby we just had baby grows and vests, a blanket, Nappies and wipes.

I packed loads more but that was what I ended up using! The midwives gave me maternity pads that were bigger than the ones I'd bought so I used them, but no harm having some with you.

Thanks guys!! Lots to get still then....

Wasn't sure about buy a pump?! I've got uncooperative nipples and just didn't manage a latch last time. Hoping I can express something this time though....

*buying

You could speak to your midwife about hiring one to try first? If you are buying one, try looking on vinted. I got an almost brand new medula one for £30 that normally sells for over 200.

I'd also recommend packing baby 'outfits' in sandwich bags and labelling them. I.e. first outfit, 0-3 etc so partner/midwife can grab it easily. I even put a nappy in with first outfit etc my husband proudly dressed dd1 and dd2 himself in their first outfits and loved that I wasn't barking directions 😂
We did a rucksake for partner, a labour bag incl firs outfits and then another bag incase I had to stay and with extra stuff for baby etc so if I'd had to stay hubby would have taken my labour back and rucksake home and I'd just have been left with 1 bag. I had too many small bags first time and could find anything 😂 x

Good tip with the separate bags! I'm going to do that.

A drink cup that has a lid with a straw through it that goes to the bottom of the cup, easier to drink out of during labour as you don't have to move position to get a drink.

Button down nightshirt, light weight one, hospitals are warm! And more comfortable that wearing something with bottoms.

Snacks for post labour, like breakfast biscuits or cereal bars.

Lucozade sport, I was sick a lot during labour and drank this out of my cup, small sips.

Im 34 weeks, my first and only baby IVF is just too tough to go through again!

Im packing my bag and wondering how do you get everything you need into one bag? I was planning on using a carry on luggage suitcase but the maternity pads alone take up half the space!

Ive had no a antenatal classes my midwife isnt very good, keeps saying she will sort something over teams, she wont return calls or emails, appointments are less than 5 mins. All she does is try to bully me into breastfeeding, then throws me out of the room. I have no birthplam and not sure of my options. My mum won't acknowledge Im expecting as we are catholic and IVF goes against teachings.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Snacks snacks snacks

I gave birth at 7pm, missed dinner, didn’t get food (toaster didn’t work) and no breakfast until 8.30am. I was so so hungry.

and btw it’s a scandal that you don’t get fed properly after giving birth. I was up from 6am
starving and couldn’t dash to Costa as nobody to watch the baby.

@VRJR I had the same during my first. Midwives would go quiet when I said I wanted to mix bottle and breast. Turned out that was best for me. One midwife was very pushy when I gave birth even though I was stressed because the baby had mucus so it was nothing to do with me feeding her. This time no-one has judged etc. Think it depends on who you get. Stick to what you want. Happy mummy, happy baby.

I saw a husband bring a big suitcase in for his wife a few weeks ago. I was shocked as I have a small cabin suitcase for me and a baby bag for baby stuff.

Flip flops and slip on slippers are essential.
Thin dressing gown and a towel.
Shampoo etc to feel normal after labor.
Snacks as hospital food is 🤢
Maternity pads
Good bras and lots of underwear
Phone charger
Straw
Bobbles
Playlist on your phone to relax you
Eye mask
Energy drink or juice
Stuff for baby
Spare bag for dirty clothes
I've downloaded some TV series and headphones for after or when I'm waiting to be induced
Deodorant
Face mist
I'm taking a feeding pillow this time as I found it helps me
Premade formula and a bottle just in case I can't produce milk etc.

I've been told to bring towels. I have two old ones in case they get blood on, which is very likely! This is for showering afterward not the actual birth obviously

@Borgonzola wow! With both births the hospitals gave me towels. No way would I have wanted to take that one back home. Are you sure they can’t give you a towel? There will be a lot of blood and stuff.

@AdriannaP
I've got quite a few friends who have given birth at the same place tomorrow and that's what they've advised!

Same place recently, I mean. My due date is tomorrow. Baby brain