First night in hospital: what do you wish you'd done/brought?

[ethicsgirl]

For dc2 I want to be a bit more prepared as I had a horrible time with ds1. I spent the night in a ward with noisy women, ate vile food and hardly got a wink. Looking for suggestions of what might improve my stay this time round. I felt so lonely and anxious last time.

I was in hospital for two weeks following the birth of my DS, and had my own room, and also had plenty of things bought in for me.
This time I'm hoping things will be much more straight forward and I'll only be in for a short stay, but have a big bag packed! It includes anti-bac wipes to clean the bath before I use it, plenty of toileteries so I can feel human again after a bath or shower, plenty of baby clothes and nappies (I only had two outfits with me before, both too big, and both ended up getting blood or poo on them by the end of day one!)

I've also packed biscuits, chocolate, diet coke and squash, wet wipes, my own towels, flip flops, a change of clothes and cheap knickers rather than paper ones! Plenty of maternity pads, nursing pads, a thin dressing gown (it's so hot in hospital!), money, a disposable camera as well as our digi one and a baby blanket.

I've also put an extra pack of baby nappies in the boot of the car, as well as some maternity mats and a change of clothes for me and DH. In fact, I'm over-prepared this tie round, and probably won't need any of these things this time!

I wish I had stayed at home - 2nd time round I did .

Erm, I wished I had got a private room. It was so hot and noisy and I was so worried about my baby waking others too. I hadn't a clue what to do with him and felt completely helpless. At least in a private room I could have been clueless and useless in privacy!

Take a pillow for sure. And get someone to bring you in some fresh fruit. The towels are a good idea too.
I'm really hoping to stay at home this time.

I just had DC2 a couple of days ago and despite promises to be discharged within 6 hours had to stay overnight.
I sent DH home to get my portable desk fan. He came back with it changed into shorts. You cannot imagine how hot it is in there. I would not have been able to sleep without it.
Lots of ladies were a bit bed bound and I think I heard a couple asking for bedside bins so take an empty carrier bag with you to put all your bedside rubbish in. Sound ridiculous but if you are a tidy freak there is nothing worse than sitting in your own detritus.
Actually take two empty carriers - you'll need a dirty laundry bag for the baby's and your stuff.
Even though this was my second child I underestimated how many changes of clothes they need. In 24 hours she got through 3 sets of vest and sleepsuits and her lovely swaddle. I had packed one and a spare set and no spare swaddle so again had to call DH to bring more supplies in.
Finally fruit fruit fruit - fresh chunks of pineapple and soft prunes. There was a lot of white bread in hospital so the fruit mitigates the effects of this which you will be SO grateful for.

I am coming back to tell you I cannot believe how much I needed that fan. I know it is OTT but we were roasting. It was a tiny little clip on desk one (7") so you can sneak it in via normal bag without feeling like you are bringing the kitchen sink in with you. All the beds have loads of spare sockets above them and the staff don't mind what you plug in (mobile charger is a nother good thing to take)

Lip balm esp if you have had gas & air - mine took a week to recover!

Flash wipes

Coke

Flash wipes

oh and FLASH WIPES as the bathroom was like an abbatoir.

Consider a homebirth...dont have to worry about any of this stuff.

Breastfeeding tops!

I excitedly packed some pre-pregnancy clothes in the excitement of having something 'new' to wear post-baby...they were very tight (didn't realise how long it takes for the bump to go ) and clearly struggled to breastfeed and had my belly on show

I second the rubbish bags too - great idea!

You might be able to get a 6-hour discharge, if that is a good option for you.

I took my own pillow and was thankful for that, but then I have a little comfort thing of rubbing the edge of the pillowcase so probably more a personal one.

Hairties as I needed to tie my hair up in labour and hadn't brought any and had to use a bit of rubber cut off a rubber glove which was not fun to get out of my matted hair afterwards.

I think if you feel lonely a journal might help or a mobile phone - to text, or even access the internet? Dependent on signal obviously.

a private room withou a doubt

Just searching for tips on my hospital bag as I start to pack for DC2, and came across this thread which has been really helpful, but just wanted to add that my experience of a private room with DC1 was horrendous - I was so lonely. Yes, I could sleep relatively easily, but I had no clue what to do, was confused about what to do with the baby when I needed the loo/go for a shower. Spent hours by myself and was very jealous of all the chatting mums when I walked past the ward!!

Posh loo roll - so your first post birth wee/poo isn't made more traumatic by scratchy NHS SANDPAPER loo roll.

Has anyone said cheap flip-flops for the showers? Invaluable! Oh and food, food, food, food, food!

Cutlery and a mug - not provided in Polish hospitals . Nothing worse than seeing your food sitting there staring at you and not being able to do anything with it!

More chocolate.
The Telegraph crossword instead of the Indie one as the Telegraph is easier. Something a bit lighter weight than Albion by Peter Ackroyd. I read the same page about 20 times.

private room
iPod
dominos on standby
plenty of snacks
cold drinks brough in by DP in a cool box

private room, no question or

left immediately

bumpy

Big box of choccies.
For me, not the MWs.

a fan. It was so bloody hot. (DD1 was an August birth)

The magicool spray helped a bit.

other tips I was given by nct pals included take large cotton wool pads for wiping your downstairs bits as hospital loo roll can be a bit rough.

eyemask thingy.

Drinks and snacks.

Mobile phone charger as well as mobile.

Hopefully with your DC2 they'll let you go quickly.

More baby clothes than you think you need!! DS2 was born at 4.37am and I went home on same day (about tea time) - I took 4 vests & 4 babygros but needed more, and got DP to bring some when he picked me up

Food. Food food food food food. Labour with DD was quite fast and furious, but still managed not to eat for 24 hours. Could easily have eaten six rounds of toast. Had tried eating cereal bars at home, which I could barely do, do texted DH at 3am the following morning (DD born at tea time) to bring food in the morning. Which he did. Cereal bars.