Hospital bag(s) - am I taking too much stuff?

[bananapeanutbutter]

Bit of a silly question but just packing up my hospital bag and so far, following all the MN lists of stuff to bring, I seem to have filled two small carry-on suitcases (with baby stuff, my stuff plus change of clothes for DH), plus a bag of snacks, and a tote bag with towels and flip-flops (hoping for water birth). Feels a tad ridiculous to be marching in with all this stuff for potentially just one night...? Will I even be able to fit all this stuff in the labour room? How much did everyone else take in?

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Hello, this thread is a little old; for up-to-date recommendations, take a look at our hospital bag checklist.

Hi,

I had a water birth with both my boys.

May i suggest that you drop the yoga pants as not practical and opt for a big t-shirt or vest top. Also, drop the PJ's as you need easy acces with changing towels and throwing away disposable knickers etc... It's also easier with a nighty preventing any leaks as you can pop yourself straight on the maternity mats which they give you after the birth to stop any leaks onto clothes and sheets etc...

I wore a t-shirt bra in the water both times as a swimsuit is extremely impractical for obvious reasons. Blooming Marv do one by Carriwell.

Lansionoh Nipple Cream... just wack it on because they are gonna get sore and just incase purchase some Medela Nipple Shields if you incurr any damage due to bad latch on. I used them for 48 hours with my first just so that they could heal. I breastfed both boys for 8 months and none of them suffered with nipple/teat confusion. That is a load of bol*%$s.

Other than that you should prob add some energy drinks for yourself with a straw so that you can take quick sucks inbetween contractions.

I would also pack some energy bars that you can take quick bites from and some banannas too.

Oh and pop to Boots to get a bottle of Arnica tablets which encourage natural healing after the birth. When you get home use lavender oil and tea-tree for bathing which will be very soothing and healing if you incur any stiching on and around your 'bits'. The Midwife usually suggests this anyway and so will your Healthworker

Drop DH's change of clothes, you're the one whose been doing all the hardwork but do pack a button-down shirt for him to wear as it is easier for him to have skin to skin contact with his newborn afterwards. He could pack a toothbrush if he really wants to.

Have you decided whose responsibility charging the mobile phones and cameras is? And have you made a list of those you would like to contact first after the birth?

Just a thought.

Good Luck and hope some of the above helps you out x

I was listening to Madonna's 'Like a Virgin' (on ipod speakers) when Jimmy popped out and had flashing floating ducks to amuse me and they certainly did coupled with the effects of gas and air!!!!

Bring a watch / travel clock if you are going to be induced. I didn't, thinking there would be clocks everywhere but there wasn't and it would have been handy to know the time. I was induced and alone overnight (males were sent home at night on this antenatal ward) and I usually use my mobile to tell me the time but this was buried in my hospital bag. Time become quite elastic when you are in labour and 'out of it', and it can be useful to know how long since you last saw a midwife and if they return to check you when they said they would!

For the love of god dont do what I did, which was listen to some dippy bint on BabyCentre who said that Always Night Time were the same absorbency as maternity pads and more comfortable - they arent! Cue blood averywhere and much embarrasment

Good luck!

Not sure why you want towels? Both hospitals I went in were more than happy to provide them. I would also not worry about too many toiletries etc and make up. I realise you will want to make your self feel more human afterwards, but to be honest, I was always in and out of the bath in 5 mins after the birth, didn't fancy wallowing in that water for long. Didn't want to wash my hair as too sore and no soap because it stung on the sore bits!!! Not for first day or so anyway.
I was also far too tired to worry about make up or what I looked like, changes of clothes etc... more important to be comfortable and clean IMO.
Good luck#!

"For the love of god dont do what I did, which was listen to some dippy bint on BabyCentre who said that Always Night Time were the same absorbency as maternity pads and more comfortable - they arent! Cue blood averywhere and much embarrasment"

also try and work out which way up the maternity pads go! can't believe I got it wrong with both babies!!!

My hospital provided nappies, baby clothes, baby blanket and (adult)towels - might be worth checking about these to save you bringing them.

My hospital didn't have towels for me, but did for DD.

Ditch at least one towel. You don't need two for you and one for the baby. I'd take one large and one small. Dark colours if you can.

Wear the yoga gear in with you. Take one nightie or pj, not both. You can also wear the yoga gear if you've not used it for the labour (as others have said, you probably won't have it on most of the time. Just if yu go for a walk to get things going...). Any additional nightwear can be brought in if you need to stay in.

Ditch the slippers. Always v v hot in labour wards. Flip flops and some socks will be fine.

The things I used were : lip balm, shampoo, towel and socks (pus maternity pads, obv).

As well as all the stuff above take some lucozade tablets (DH kept shoving them in my mouth when i was getting tired and they helped) and a comb! When i finally got chance to have a shower the following day, i had no comb and consequently looked like worzel gummage until i got home and could comb my hair through!!
Also my ipod was a godsend as played my own music in the birthing room on some little speakers(until the batteries ran out...so probably take some spare batteries too if this is your thing!)
Good luck!

Hair-grips or a hair-band to keep it off your face in labour...

I took in three bags too - one for during labour and immediately after birth, one for baby and one for if i stayed in hospital. Took far too much stuff but at least i was prepared .

The things I was glad I took for during labour were toothbrush and toothpaste (was horrendously sick during labour), a cheap nightie to labour in, socks and some water. That's actually all i needed. Afterwards I had a wash and got changed so would recommend some facial wipes and normal toiletries and another nightie

I ended up staying in hospital for 2 nights and just wear different pyjamas. In fact went home in a hoodie and pj bottoms with ugg boots.

Take lots of maternity pads and some big comfy pants rather than disposable pants which are horrible and big in. (well they did on me)

Took far too much stuff for baby - just need some nappies, some vests (as hospital is so hot) and they provided blankets and then something for her to wear home.

Good luck with the birth

right i packed one bag of my things :-

packed maltesers ( the best thing i packed packed a small pot for me and dh ) i ate mine after birth with a hot choccy was yummy )
towels for down there
old pants
disposable pants
breast pads
a couple of old and new nighties
lucozade tablets ( really good to keep up energy)
bottles of water
music cd just incase
polos to keep fresh breath and they r yummy
packets of crisps etc
feeding bras
socks
pjs
spare clothing
nightgown
flipflops - a must
slippers
flannels
toiletres
towels
book and mags
sure there was more cant think @ the mo

a bag for baby
hat, scratch mittens
coat
snowsuit
3 sleepsuits
a couple of different outfits
socks
tites
booties
jumpers
cardis
baby wipes
nappys - 1 packet
teddies - to go in crib
blankets
bodysuits with short sleeves
bibs
bottles
dummies
mussies
tops

prob more things cant think @ mo

I did the 2 bag system - labour + post-birth stuff in one small sports bag, and o/n stuff in a small suitcase, the idea being to leave that in the car (although in the event I was on an antenatal ward o/n so I had both with me). This meant I could get easy access to labour stuff during the birth and faff around with the suitcase once on the ward and a bit more settled - well, in theory - I forgot to put anything for the baby in the labour + post birth bag and DH had to rummage around in the suitcase for a sleepsuit etc!

You don't need slippers as well as flipflops. Nightie rather than pjs. Definitely take water/sports drinks in a bottle with a sports cap - I drank loads during labour and all the mws could provide was horrible-tasting lukewarm water in a plastic cup.

I took 3 large bag - sort of suitcase sized.... And all I used was 1 set of baby clothes and drank 1 lucozade.

Was in for 36hrs only despite emergency c section.

Oh and used bath towel for shower. plus 1 pair of knickers.

But take as much as you want as long as it makes you feel comfortable.

I'd bring all the stuff again just in case.

Don't think anyones mentioned this, but mobile phone charger was a must for me.

Camera! DH took some amazing photos in delivery room immediately after DS was born (see my profile pics for my favourite) and I'm so glad the camera was in the labour bag rather than the overnight bag which was still in the car at that point.

If you have long hair, make sure you have hairbrush and plenty of bobbles, clips and headbands, and also make sure you have showed your DS how to tie your hair back properly. I kept having to get DH to do this for me during labour as I hated sweaty hair on my brow (you can see my headband in the photo!)

Magazines and paper - nobody will have the concentration for a book, but I enjoyed DH reading out silly little articles to me to take my mind off things between contractions.

Take a couple of pairs of undies and tshirt for DH at least - my labour was long enough and the hospital hot enough that DH did need to change twice - once part way through labour and then once after DS was born.

Plenty of cash for vending machines, trips to shop etc. for your dh.

Small bottle of olive oil is really good for the baby - helps get nasty meconium poo off and keep skin soft and supple.

I took loads of new knickers for myself as M&S were doing some ludicrous 7 for £5 deal and I loved having new knickers that I could change with each pad change after birth so I felt really fresh and clean, and they were so cheap that it didn't matter if they got wrecked. Much nicer than old baggy elastic ones!

Our hospital told us one bag only as they only had small bedside lockers but I think that was just a security thing - once on postnatal there was plenty of room for my stuff so long as I didn't mind it being on a side table rather than locked away.

Oh and one of thos ridiculously expensive Evian water spray things was lovely!

When I had my first child, I packed two bags, one for labeur and one for after. My friend told me to put a couple of straws in the bags.. and I think it was one of the best advise given.. as it's really not fun trying to drink when you are lying down...especially after a C Section.

I packed a big bag - I was told to bring a pillow because hospital didn't have enough - As it happened we left things quite late and were rushing in and I told my DH to leave the bag in the car and just get me into the hospital as fast as possible. Once we were in I didn't want him to leave and go and get bag so I didn't use any of it. They wrapped my DD in a hospital towel ( which we still have). And then I finally let DH go and get the bag ! So truth is you don"t really need any of it !

I have for me:
PJs + nightie -why both? just take one
underwear and nursing bra -yes fine
long vest & yoga pants to labour in/give birth in (if out of pool) -wear these to go to hospital in
bathing suit -no just don't bother
towels x 2 -i took one brown one
change of clothes for wearing home -yes
flip-flops -yes
toiletries (pads, shamp/cond, makeup, lipbalm)-yes but wouldn't bother with hair wash stuff
slippers -no
socks -yes

For baby:
Sleepsuits x 2 -yes
Vests x 2 -yes
hat and socks -yes
cardigan -yes
towel -no. what's this for?
nappies and cotton wool -yes
blanket -yes

For DH:
change of clothes -no!

Snacks (fruit juice, fruit, snickers, crisps!) -yes fine

ok?

i did 2 bags.

weekender holdall type thing (very nice leather one given to me by colleagues as i left!) had my stuff in plus one set of baby clothes and a nappy.

then in the car was a changing bag with extra baby things including blanket plus the snacks.

I had 2 bags. One packed for labour/delivery one packed for postnatal. We left postnatal bag in car until it was needed. I also left stuff out at home that DH brought in to me over the next couple of days. (I stayed in hospital for 5 days) He took home dirty stuff & I had fresh stuff to wear & for DD to wear after she pooed all over her first couple of sleepsuits! Best thing I did as it stopped me having to explain what stuff to he had to bring!! Also left a packed changing bag in the car with extra baby bits in case I ran out (which I did after about 2 days!)

I think your list is quite good. Although like people have said maybe the swimsuit isn't necessary. Also you will be constantly having to pull trousers up & down for internals & would be easier not to bother IMO! I second whoever said lucozade tablets! Also encourage your birth partner to have snacks with them. If you are in labour in the night nothing will be open & actually you might not want them to wander off in search of food should they get peckish!

Congratulations & Good Luck!

Banana I know its hard to imagine but you won't be that concerned about your legs ( which I am sure are lovely). You'll want to be comfortable. Maybe find a t-shirt that is quite long.

Its only a suggestion in the end you make sure you do what you think is best. Its your birth.

Hmm, I packed: 6 sleepsuits, 6 vests, top and trousers, hat and jacket for Ds (used the lot as we were in for 4 days and from birth he was one of those skinny leggy wriggly babies who wee down the legholes of nappies) = plus nappies, wipes, nappy bags, baby oil, baby powder etc. For me I had: change of clothes, about 3 nighties as well as baggy t-shirt for labour, washing stuff, two towels, plus another bag with snacks, tape player, walkman and tapes. This was one big and one small holdall and I lugged everything to hospital by myself on the bus (single parent, was sent in to be induced, mum and friend joined me later).
What I forgot: anything to read, was climbing the walls with boredom a lot of the time.

I know this is going to sound mega vain but if you wear make-up take some. Even if it is only a bit of concealer, lip gloss,mascara and blush.It takes seconds to put on but the photos the family take are around for ever!!!

(guess I'm going to get slated but I'm soooo glad I had my eyebrows waxed and tinted and everything else waxed before hand + the make up. Once I freshened up I felt tons better.

I misread 'shamp/cond' on your list as 'champagne'. Was thinking that sounded like a great idea!

We took in a flannel, too. Was perfect for when I was pushing: DH held it to my forehead (this was noon in July heat). We somehow managed to lose it in the delivery room though, which was a shame as I ended up with a canula and catheter and so couldnt shower and had to give myself a bed bath with a crappy j cloth...missed my flannel then...