What else do I need?

[MrsMattie]

Packing my hospital bag for an elective c-section next week. I had a section last time, too, but can't think if I'm missing anything obvious. Will be in hospital minimum 3 days.

ME:

Toiletries - shampoo & conditioner, shower gel, moisturiser, deodorant, body lotion, lip balm, mini make up bag, hair brush & hairbands, cleansing wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash & floss.

2 pairs of big, baggy PJs (DH can bring me more if they get dirty)

Slippers & dressing gown

Pack of black 'granny' knickers

2 nursing bras, breast pads, Lansinoh cream

Ginormous sanitary towels

Arnica tablets

Camera + charger

Phone + charger

Bit of cash for TV card etc

Chocolate

Going home clothes - undies, some jersey trousers & a loose top (will get DH to bring in my boots and coat on the day)

BABY:

4 pack of plain white baby-grows, vests, scratch mitts, little hats in 0-3 mth size

Nappies, wipes, cotton wool, nappy cream

Going home outfit (DH will bring in carseat on the day we leave)

What else?

Would recommend a cardi for baby. Dd was cold after birth and we put a cardigan on her.

Good luck x

something to read

A towel! Iirc the hospital doesn't provide them.

Good luck and congratulations in advance.

oh, and a pillow to lean on while bfing

Definately your own pillow.

A shawl for baby.

Magazines.

Socks - aren't your fee supposed to get cold when you're in labour?

Antibacterial wipes to clean hostpital before you touch anything.

Music.

Birht ball - just to annoy every one

More pants, preferably some of those stretchy mesh things the NCT sells. They are supposed to be comfy over a CS scar and easily washed through and dried on a radiator if needs be.

Couple of decent mags you are really keen to read, preferably without too many slim celebs in, eg Junior or Marie Claire.

I'd second the thing about the antibacterial wipes as minor hospital acquired infections are rife amongst new mothers. Maybe some of that hand gel stuff might be a good idea as well.

Socks a good idea - forgot that. Eye shades and ear plugs very helpful indeed. Think of the whole enterprise as something like being long haul on a plane for three days, requiring similar equipment, except there'll be a baby there too!

I had a stash of food as the hospital food was rotten but I guess you can get your dh to bring that in. I had a big pile of fruit, some oakcakes, dh used to bring in a pot of houmous or something in for me and some nice fresh French bread, I also had a big bottle of orange squash for when I was bored of water and a couple of packs of biscuits. Sounds a lot, but I didn't really eat any of the hospital food, and dh ate most of the biscuits!

HIBI scrub for last shower before section and after to combat any MRSA fears.

flip flops for showers

Towel, pillow and maybe snowsuit for taking baby home. Nightdresses are supposed to be less irritating for CS scars

Ribena

V-shape pillow

Changing bag with a small changing mat, so that your bed doesn't get soiled

Puzzle magazines

Favourite sweets/treats

Fruit

cheap pillows that you don't mind losing - I had 4 extra from Argos for about £5 and was very grateful for them.

Disposable pants - didn't care a bit about bleeding all over them.

rescue remedy

Water, lots of it - it's VERY hot in maternity wards!

CD walkman might be helpful

tissues

razor (if you want to keep stubble-free )

travel hairdryer

I second the mesh nickers. They look awful but you can manouvre the over or under your scar and they still hold the ginormouse san pad in place.
I took my ipod and mobile phone too.

forget boots. feet can often sweel too big to get your shoes. no idea why this happens. but just have nice cosey slippers that can handle walking out to car.

and definately flip flops for wearing in showers. goodnes knows who was bleeding there before. they really are manky if it's the type where its a wetroom instead of shower cubicle.

definately shawl. we found hospital blankets to be very very rough. wrap lo's in super soft hawl of our own first. then rough useless hospital ones.

Thanks for all this, ladies!

Forgot about the extra pillows. It was like trying to get blood out of a stone trying to get the hospital to hunt down a extra pillow for me to BF with last time.

I'll be carrying in a suitcase at this rate, though

Peppermint tea v useful in few days after c section to help the bloating. Good luck :-)

moist toilet wipes - tp will not be your friend in the first days weeks

def more pants, granny or disposible kind

your own paracetemol - when you want/need it, they will take forever in bringing it!

[impressed emoticon] at razor

I couldn't have imagined shaving my legs for about a year after having dd2, let alone in hospital!

But good on those who can.

mrsmattie, I carried two suitcases for dd2. One for my stuff and one for hers. It's one of those occasions you can't overpack for.

A straw and water bottle was a godsend for me. COuld keep filling the water bottle up rather than those silly little one mouthful plastic cups. And I took in some cereal bars for midnight BFs when I was shattered.