Yet another hospital bag thread - but what to take in and what can DP bring later?

[Mirry71]

don't have a car and so am going to have to cab it to hospital. Feeling already rather overwhelmed with all the stuff have to take. Realistically is DP likely to go home before baby and I leave, and therefore cd pick up car seat from home and bring it in? Or is it likely that we have to lug everything in? trying to shove change of clothes, all baby's stuff, TENS machine, breast pads, nappies etc already rather a lot....

You need :

Things for labour - tens, drinks, snacks, sanitary towels, pants(lots), change of clothes.

For baby - nappies,wipes,vests, sleepsuits, hat,mittens.

Everything else DP can bring in after. Sods law baby will be born in the middle of the night and DP will be sent home until visiting hours commence.

Just take babies clothes, nightclothes for you, toiletries (including breast pads and materinity pads, lots of), anything you might need for the birth (CD, TENS machine, etc etc) Car seat and even your clothes for the next day can be bought in later. DP will be 99% sure to go home without you on that first night. Good luck!

Yes, ime it's very likely dh will go home, especially if it's your first, they don't like to rush you out, the paperwork takes ages and if there are set visiting hours he'll be encouraged to shuffle off. Unless they've said otherwise, you are likely to have at least an overnight stay. Dh can then take home all your labour stuff (tens/dirty clothes) & bring in car seat & bits.

I had two bags: one for labour (including a smorgasbord for dh!) - and one for baby/on the ward.

If you take pyjamas/nightie make sure they are a dark colour. I made the mistake of having a nice pale pink pair which rather nicely showed up all the blood and leakages on the post natel ward as you get up and go to the loo etc!

Bottles of water for labour with a squeezy top thing (easier to drink/be poured down your neck! - if u have gas n air your throat goes really dry and your gagginng for some moisture!

Towels dark or old ones - 1 for you 1 for baby.

Big knickers that your grandma would wear - e.g. from Asda that you won't mind throwing away, although the ones I got from there unfortunately wash brilliantly & are virtually indestructible!

Take flip-flops, not slippers, as can wear them into the showers.

And dh took antibacterial spray and cleaned the bath before I got in!

You don't need to take a full pack of nappies, or pads or breastpads. Half a dozen of each should more than suffice.

It's very warm in hospital, so baby will just need a couple of little babygros. DH can pick up hats, mitts, blankets etc later.

A nightie for you (dark is a good suggestion! There is more blood than you would imagine). I'm a fan of paper pants (in a larger size than you would normally wear) so that you don't have to take bloody knickers home to launder.

Plenty to drink - water bottles with a nozzle and cartons of juice with straws are very handy (especially if you are hoping for gas & air). Maybe some lip balm too, to counter the drying effects of the gas and air. You may also want some sort of snack for after the birth (a flapjack or something that will keep in your hospital bag until the day comes). Everyone seems to get given toast but all I was given immediately afterwards were a couple of stale bourbons.

If you don't have a car, how are you getting home? I am going to get shouted at for this, but did you know that in taxis and private hire vehicles you aren't legally required to put a baby in a car seat, so you don't strictly need to have it at the hospital.

My DH went back to work straight after I ha DD. I was desperate to leave get home so I bundled my baby up in a sling and hailed a cab outside the hospital.

Take in fanta or coke or similar ( full sugar) as I felt very faint after losing so much blood and the only thing that worked was gallons of fanta.
As for dark coloured Pjs, it is a good idea in theory but try to make sure you aren't wearing a black nightshirt in first photos( as I did) as you'll look positively grey.

What the others have said re clothes, pants, pads and nappies plus cotton wool for wiping.

I would take a change of "bottoms" for you in case one gets trashed in labour/postnatally.

My hospital wanted the baby in vest, babygro and hat (twas October) even though it was quite warm in there.

I had a block of marzipan to eat afterwards - was the only thing that helped my post birth blood sugar crash and very compact. Kendal mint cake or lucozade tablets would do it too but aren't as nice. Chocolate melts unfortunately.

CAMERA.

ooh, yum to block of marzipan, why didn't I think of that!

Mirry - I took a shed load of stuff in and didn't really use any of it.

As others have said - For you: changes of underwear and change of nightwear and socks (or flipflops handy for when visiting the loo/shower), shampoo and showergel, breastpads, maternity pads. A light dressing gown may be useful.

For baby: a few nappies, cotton wool, babygrows (2), vests (2) and hat.

DH did actually eat one of the sandwiches I packed too but only because my Mum said he had to (i.e. the weeks worth of shopping I packed wasn't necessary). I did enjoy a couple of the snacks while waiting for DH to arrive though but I didn't have a huge appetite for a few days (and then wanted to eat everything in sight).

Some of what you will need depends on the time of day you end up giving birth but I can't imagine you would need much other than what people have said here.

Good luck

vaseline for babies bum - smear it on and it makes the first black poos easier to wipe off

arnica tablets and lavendar oil for the post birth bath

wipes for the toilet and showers

slippers

camera

chocolate and treats for you for afterwards

baby's bum - not babies ...

Great thread - very helpful for me.