Hospital bag...

[dabihp]

c-section (or natural birth)... dont want to over pack...

How much did u bring for each, what can u expect hospital to provide?

When did u have your packed from?

Some extras that I took second time round - marmite (to go on dry hospital toast), a small bottle of detox to clean hospital bath and loo seats before I used them (I was determined not to get infected stitches) and those lemon scented wipes (great for mopping a sweaty brow in labour cos I didn't enjoy being squirted in the face with water - baby wipes would do too.)

I've seen ice cubes recommended - may be a daft question, but what do you put them in to stop them melting?

check what your hospital provides. Mine provided pads for me, nappies and cotton wool for baby and endless towels. Some hospitals will only allow you to have hospital sleepsuits on baby, others expect you to dress baby in its own clothes.

blimey, ja9, which hospital's that?!!

Stirling Royal Infirm. Is that unusual then?

min also provided sanitary towels and cotton wool I think. I think there were towels too iirc.

I took disposable, antibacterial wipes in a resealable packet into hospital which were really useful.

Don't forget the camera!

Take lots of food too. For this time round, I have packed rice pudding and fruit pots - and a spoon.

didn't have anything like that a St George's really - tea and toast post-delivery! But still a fab hospital IM

mine was packed for 2 weeks. I was being induced. Didn't think about a c-section so didn't prepare so when an emergency one was done mum had to go and buy me some HUGE knickers as tummy was a bit tender and some larger pads as I bled a bit more initially.

Ja
Good on Stirling. Edinburgh Royal Infirmary provides squat . NOT looking forward to giving birth there again and am looking at St. John's Livingston instead this time round.

if you're in for any amount of time and planning on BF Lansinoh is the only nipple cream that worked for me for the soreness ( and its ok for the baby for it to be on your nipples when BF) many mothers who've had sore nipples swear by it! good luck!

Arnica tablets - I think that they helped me get up and about quickly.

sports cap bottle drink!!!! I saw someone advise this one on a previous thread and really meant to get one. Never did and it would have been great. I had a fast intense labour, and after every contraction had to ask for someone to pass the water as I couldn't hold on to a glass with the strength of those contractions thank you very much!!! The whole room would have been soaked. For labour, this would have to be the thing i wish I most had. Good luck, hope I haven't scared you!

I packed my bag at 38 weeks.
The essentials i used were:

• Lipbalm (gas and air really drys lips out.)
• Lucozade drink
• A really nice bubble bath for after birth for you to try and relax in!

Hope these help a little.
Good luck.x

Message withdrawn

Disposable loo seat covers if you don't feel up to cleaning it every time you use it can't remember where we got them from though.

Glucose tablets. I couldn't keep anything down, not even dry toast. Nerves I guess. Glucose tablets gave me much needed energy on the day I really needed it.

natural sponge - sounds bizarre but great to drink from when having contractions- used it in both labours
water spray (body shop do bottles you can refill)