Do I really need to take my own towels to hospital???

[AllBuggiedOut]

Am packing my hospital bag, and see that on the hospital's checklist it says towels. I had my 2 DSs at Chelsea and Westminster, and I'm SURE they gave me towels to use, but this time will be at Colchester General. Do I really need to take my own? Bag is huge already!

i took my own towel (a nice big red one). Can't remember there being any given out to use.

Yes you really do!

I would - I wouldn't want to use hospital towels!

we don't have anything supplied-only baby gowns so yes take your own towel

Well don't do what I did - take my best fluffy bath towel for a bit of luxury.

I swear the only time the nurses came near me to do any washing was to remove my lovely towel quietly and put it in the hospital laundry, never to be seen again

First baby I got supplied with pads, nappies and basic baby robes, plus all towels and baby bedding.

Second time 3 years later I was unprepared as they didn't supply pads, nappies or the baby robes, did supply towels and all bedding through.

also, take a flannel to erm "catch the drips" so you don't bleed all over your lovely towel.

Yes definitely.

yes, and take dark ones too...

Yes and i my experience take extra baby blankets etc too.
With DS I repeatedly asked for new bedding for her cot as she was very pukey, I never got it, and DH ended up going home to bring some in.

Thanks - don't have any dark ones sadly! And am amazed C&W provide something other hospitals don't; they didn't generally go out of their way to be helpful!

Yep, I did and would next time. I took 4 - a big body towel, a hand, a hair and one to stand on (most important!) I am sure they have some if you really need them, but...eeewww.

Take loads of cleaning wipes too. I had to use toilets covered in blood and shower in a filthy bathroom.
Grim but true.

i have also packed one of those alcohol gel things too

Yeah, dettol wipes. OUr hospital was great though, but I took it incase. And alchohol gel, but it's everywhere at Frimley (Dh was addicted to it!)

Its understandable we must provide for ourselves and our baby. But i do remember back in 1998 when my daughter was born everything was provided. I did take in baby clothes for her to wear but only out of choice, the only requirement then was an outfit to go home in.

does this mean hospital bedside cabinets have now doubled in size to accomodate all our stuff?

babylove, not at all, I kept everything in my suitcase under the bed as I just got a tiny cabinett.

Dettol wipes already in the bag, but thanks for the reminder!

I had three bags For me, for DS and labour. I had them all neatly arranged and the MW blew her top and threw them elsewhere. Silly cow.

i don't remember a cabinet at all with ds2, just teh incubator/cot thingy with a small cupboard underneath and a chair

I was told (for C&W) to bring my own towels and pillows, but that's for my own comfort, as far as I can see. They just said their towels are a bit small and pillows quite flat. So bringing my own, colourful ones so they don't get mixed up with the hospital laundry.

I took my own towel (creme bath sheet from Primark at £7) but the hospital had loads anyway! I was escorted to a lovely big shower room with bundles of massive towels and a power shower. But, by the sounds of it this is definatly the exception and not the rule so take one anyway.

And I do recommend the primark towel - I imagined throwing it away so thoughy might as well get lovely creme but as I used hospital towers still have it now and it is LOVELY! I prefer it to my Ralph Lauren ones! You cannot go wrong for £7!

i'm sure our local hospital supplied everything but agree that having your own towel is a little bit of home from home...