Hospital bag - OMG, ought to pack, what goes in it??!!

[dizzymama]

This might seem like a really trivial question, but it's beginning to give me (even more) sleepless nights! I'm at the stage in my pregnancy where I need everything to be ready to go. Most things are prepared but the bloomin' hospital bag! What on earth do you take with you? How long can I expect to be in? What the heck do I put it in...a suitcase (presumably not!), a tesco's carrier bag (being daft now I know!!!) Please help me, my brain is no longer capable of making obvious leaps!!!

The hospital gave me a list but there were lots of things I found out I needed. Extra food. I was starving and even though I ticked large portion the hospital food was teeny tiny. Night/dressing gown. Big pants (just in case you have a c/s and don't want pants rubbing on that area). Ear plugs. (the women in my ward snored worse than my partner).

clothes for baby, clothes for you, night dresses you can breastfeed in and bf bras and pads if you are going down that route. Nappies, maternity pads, phone numbers of people you want to call. camera.

At my hospital it was 1-2 nights for a normal birth and 2-3 for c/s and longer generally if there are complications

Hiya dizzymama. Goodness, I wish I'd had mumsnet to ask that question of when I was expecting dd. I took 2 bags -
One with stuffy for the labour and with wash things for you and nappies and a few clothes for the baby. Oh and your camera. I find it useful to take snacks and lots of cartons of drinks. I took favourite tapes and a tape player with batteries (some hospitals are funny about you plugging your own stuff in unless it has been checked by their electrical dept which takes weeks). Magazines, books, just incase it gets boring! Several t-shirts or nighties or whatever you are going to wear in the labour (things get very messy once the watres breark and don't plan to give birth in your best neglige (sp?) as it won't be the same again after! Also, buy up the whole supermarkets stock of maternity pads and find all your old knickers. Make sure they are maternity pads and not normal nightime towels as the latter have some kind of gel in them that makes everything mighty uncomfortable down there (sorry about TMI).
I'll post this now while I think about the second bag, cross my legs and pour a glass of wine

dizimama, I spent so long making my list of what to take into hospital and believe me, it was very comprehensive (as am very organised person!). As it turned out, I didn't think I was in labour as it was just like bad period pain but when I got to hospital I was 9cm dilated. As it happened my carefully planned hospital bag stayed in the car so I wouldn't worry too much about it, just take the basics.

Well Jane seems to have covered lots of the rest. I'd forgotten about phone numbers and lots of 20ps for the phone. Always useful; to have an emergency supply of chocolate - dark if you can stomach it as its full of iron which you may need and also you need to keep your cocoa solids levels up in your blood stream! As well as dressing gown, I'd suggest slippers or flip flops and you never know what's on the floor. I guess you'd need some proper clothes for when you are going home (or sooner if you feel up to it).
Now, in one hospital I was in, they had a problem with a shortage of pillows so I took 2 of my own which really helped when I couldn't get comfortable and when breast feeding. Did I mention a camera? Oh, and dont' forget a towel or a flannel. I'm sure I'll wake in the night and remember more things but that's all for now.

if u have a large holdall or sports bag you can use that.

OOOH, that so exciting. I laid out all my stuff and was being lazy about packing and then my waters 2.5 weeks early. As it was my first, I had expected her to arrive late! Anyway, here's a list we put together in our antenatal class and from ideas from sisters, friends, etc.

For Mommy:

• at least two night shirts (if you can get ones that button down the front easier if you want to breastfeed - mothercare does good ones, and wear a dark colored one during labor (messy! )
• heating bad or microwavable bean bag for back ache during labor (they won't give you them in hosp)
• 2-3 pairs of socks (ones that you don't mind throwing out!)
• lotion (for backrub and after recovery... I guess toiletries in general)
• Hair ties (if you need them)
• pillows (we left ours there, too much to carry home)
• lip balm (esp if using gas and air, lips get dry)
• disposable underwear
• maternity pads (mmmh, yes, you will need them)
• Nursing pads and bra (even if yuo aren't going to breastfeed, you will need support for sore breasts)
• something to wear home (you won't fit into pre-pregnancy clothes... things like track suit bottoms or draw string a good idea)
• snacks and drinks (if you are doing the NHS thing, you will need FOOD!! or at least I did) Dried fruit is v handy
• watch w second hand
• camera/film
• music, happy photos, or trinkets from home to help you feel homey and happy
• birth plan, yellow antenatal book/chart, etc.

For partner:

• change of comfy clothes, extra tee-shirt
• snacks (they def don't feed partners on NHS)

For baby!!:

• 4 changes of clothes (at least, depending on how long you may be in hospital - esp as the first poo they do can be rather explosive, hee hee)
• something cozy for outdoors
• carseat
• nappies
• warm blanket (a good knit one is great for swaddling)
• socks/booties
• hat

Ok, long-winded, but I hope helpful!! I am smiling here thinking back of that day. So amazing. I hope you're feeling well and that the labor goes very well... how much longer till due date?

Oh, how embaressing. my post was so long. yes, bring your own towels.

i wold pack 2 bags, one for a short stay in hospital, with nightdress, baby clothes, fresh change of clothes for you (recommend baggy trousers, loose top, good bra and comfty knickers), nappies, one pair of scratch mitts, few snacks/drinks, a book, toiletries, hat/coat for baby and a blanket.

Then at home leave a further bag for things whcih u may need for longer stay, more nappies, clothes etc. that way you dont take too much in at first and your partner can bring the 2nd bag later if needed.

Mommy2Ro, what a great list! I might book mark this thread so I can come back to it should I ever get in the club again.

TENS machine if you are hiring one.

Snacks to get you moving afterwards - IYSWIM - dried prunes, apricots etc...

Personally I took paper knickers and threw them away... oh and LOTS of maternity pads. I had 2 at a time for first few days!!!!

ditton the 2 bags thing. I had one for labour room and 1 for post natal ward.

1st time - loads of stuff

2nd time I took food and drink (not that kind of drink, cranberry juice in cartons), camera and few clothes for baby. I had another bag packed with the other stuff mentioned here, the idea being dh could bring that if needed, but it wasn't as I came straight out and had tea at home

None of my midwives mentioned the need for so many maternity pads before hand. I really wish they had. It came as quite a shock.

Thanks, cad. I am glad I saved it as I have a little girl, maybe one day she'll need it!

Btw, do not take anything valuable with you. Just ID and maybe a little money. I was moved for an epi and we had to leave the bags for 20 min before my DH could go back to get them. Three days later at home, I get letter from bank! Check my purse, and yep, all my cards and ID gone... and 2000 quid spent on them! Such a hassle to get that money back... people pray on new parents bc they know they are distracted. sucks.

Oh how awful. That makes me spit.

Yes, that part sucked. but I had such a great labor experience and my DD, so to be honest, I somehow wasn't that angry. I thought, hey, if that's what i have to pay for skipping the stitches and having such a healthy little peanut, that's fine by me (I'm v superstitious... )

take at least one pack of maternity pads in with u, and some breast pads. even if not planning to b/f as some people leak from the start.

i like to take a choose snuggly blanket in as i feel it helps settle a baby quickly. i hide it in a bed for a week b4 hand so it smells of me.

If you buy disposable knickers, make sure you get the size up from what you'd usually wear. You will not want to wear tight pants at all!

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i didnt do it for dd1, and the only way she would settle in a moses basket was when i stripped the pillowcase from my pillow and used it as an underblanket in the moses basket. so i then had a blanket for her in my bed for a while, and put that it in there. it worked.

dd2 also used to snuggle upto my clothes if left in her reach (i'm awful at leaving laundry about)

Guys you are absolutely marvellous!!! Thank you so much for all the great information, I've just spent 10 minutes copying it all down. Love the two bags idea, i'd never have thought of that, and the blanket ideas is great misdee! Mummy2ro I've actually copied your list on to the computer and will print it off for friends having the same 'problem'! My sleepless nights are over....oh, well, at least for another few weeks anyway!!!!

Oh yes, forgot to add.....Cadbury, great to hear from you! Hope all is going well, any more domestic goddess stuff been going on?! My daft studentr left last Friday btw and I barely passed him, he wasn't pleased but hey ho!!!! x

If you want to win approval of midwives team - put a large box of nice biscuits to give them when you go in. Invaluable for winning favours!!!

Good Luck