just how big was your hospital bag?

[fishym2b]

Am trying to pack mine now. already filled one hand luggage size suitcase but it doesn't all fit, will i be laughed at if i turn up with a full on suitcase?
situtation not helped by the fact i am giving birth in a different country to the one we live in so will not able to come straight home from hospital but instead being put up by DP's work until we get LO a passport.

I had three, fairly large hospital bags....

One for me during and immediately after labour (water, tens, comfy T-shirt/nighty etc., bath towel clean nighty)

One for baby (nappies, baby gro, cotton wool etc.)

One for me if I stayed in hospital (books, wash things, huge quantities of maternity pads and cheap knickers etc.) This one stayed in the car until after the birth.

I don't think anyone will judge you - and you wan't be caring what they think any way....

First time round we had way too much stuff and it really bugged me at times during labour, especially when we were waiting for a room and also when we had to move rooms. Had one main bag (sort of holdall size) but we seemed to have loads of other extra bits too and then had to cart them around - I'm not sure quite why it annoyed me so much but it's one thing I can really strongly remember from last time, so was determined not to do the same again!

So this time, I have forced all my stuff for labour and immediately afterwards to fit into a single bag (same one as before) but any extra bits will be kept to an absolute minimum - probably just one small carrier for snacks/drinks. Then I have a second bag which will stay in the car during labour, and DH will bring it in only if we end up staying in for a while after the birth. Things like nursing pillow will also stay in the car until/unless they are needed.

I wouldn't bring a full-size suitcase, as you may not have a lot of space, esp. on the ward; better to go with a few smaller bags IMO and to leave anything you won't need until later.

better to have 2 smaller bags IMO than one full on suitcase. The staff won't laugh at you but they may well comment on all the stuff you have brought with you.
We had to move around a lot so smaller bags are better but we only live 10 minutes from the hospital so it was easy to make lists and tell DH what else I needed (ended up in for 3 nights after emcs).
Also after having the emcs I was flat on my back so did none of the initial babycare. MW washed and dressed DD and did all the initial nappy changes. I found it really helpful that all my stuff was in one bag and they could rummage through all the baby stuff to find what they needed.
My bag this time is quite compact but feels heavy because of all the snacks I've shoved in and sports bottles with water and isotonic drinks quickly make a bag heavy.
A bag in the car is a good option to reduce what you carry in with you.
Also we arrived at the hospital in the middle of the night when it was humping down with rain so as well as the bags there were outdoor coats etc to be moved.

A rucksack.

I will have two small wheely bags - one for during and immediately after labour (i.e. will have at least one lot of baby clothes/nappies etc for when DH does the initial babycare) and one for after the labour which will stay in the car for DH to bring in once i am settled in the ward. This is what I did last time and it seemed to work well.

Also make sure that your OH knows where everything is at home in case you need to stay in and send him home for extra supplies.

Also we ended up coming out of hospital with ttwice as many things as we took in due to presents and flowers arriving from friends and relatives - if you have visitors get them to help out by taking things home for you (or remember to take some spare carrier bags to carry it back!).

I had three! One for during labour, one for the baby and one for me after labour. The one for during labour was mostly pointless - I had things like a pack of cards and my knitting (in my defense, I was induced which could have meant hours of waiting around but actually meant that I went into full on labour a couple of hours after being induced)

DP was really pissed off as I got moved around alot so he ended up dragging all this stuff around!

I've filled a holdall just for labour, with the stuff on the recommended list. As well as dressing gown, towel and washbag etc for me, we also have to take all the baby's bedding. That's before I've even started on up to 3 days' worth of stuff for both of us after the birth. Don't know how you can be given such an extensive list of 'essentials' and keep luggage size to a minimum.

I tell a lie-rucksack & bag of nappies.

Mine was just an average over the shoulder weekend bag. Sounds like you packed maybe more than you need. What have you got in there. Make sure you put in something for hubby to eat. My dh got snickers bars and he was very glad of them.

We did one big holdall with everything in. The labour stuff was pointless, I was in too much pain to consider books/ CDs/ food/ massage oils, so that wasn't used at all (well I lie, DH ate the food apparently).

The baby stuff and mine did get all muddled up though, so I think I will do separate bags this time round.

Three things I felt I should have brought but hadn't were:

1. My mobile- I ended up staying for 3 days when I thought I would be home quickly, and not being in contact with anyone drove me nuts.

1. Plastic bags for the dirty laundry would have been good- some of the stuff was literally soaked in blood and there was nowhere to keep it until someone could take it home for me.

1. Food and drink- I hadn't realised quite how long it is between meals when there's only a jug of warm water to be had! Again, I didn't really think I would be staying on for days in there, so got caught out.

Just an average holdall. I was planning a homebirth but had a bag with stuff in it ready just in case- good job as I had to transfer in for an em cs. I'd packed an extra bag of things for the eventuality of an extended stay and left it at home so dh could collect it if necessary. I was discharged after 12hrs though so didn't need it.