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.

Champagne! That's what I'm missing

Thanks again for all of the replies. Good idea to wear the yoga pants.

upahill If you are, then I am also mega vain, and CANNOT eliminate mascara or concealer. I don't care what anyone says

Am still a bit confused about some things - like whether I will need a towel for the baby. If not, then definitely don't want to bother bringing it!

Seems really that in terms of how much you bring in, two small carry-on suitcases plus a tote and snack bag isn't WAY WAY over the top ... although perhaps I could forget one towel, wear the yoga pants and stuff the tote into one of the suitcases. That's if I leave out the champagne!

I don't think your list sounds over the top. All useful.

As for make up, I was in for four days and I very much enjoyed having mine with me. If you wear it normally, take it as it's a great booster (though I am sure some puritans will come on and say you shouldn't be worrying about appearances at a time like that yada yada yada)

Banana..... I know you haven't asked for this bit of advice and it has been covered as a topic before but if it is an option and you can afford it consider a private room.

I felt like a queen having an ensuite private room with the baby by my side, papers being delivered, brews being brought rouns and watching tv. Ok reality soon bites but it was nice while it lasted!!

Banana - I didn't have a baby towel with me. I had to ask to be shown how to bath DD as they wouldn't have bathed her as 'routine' & I was in 5 days!!. Hospital had towels to use anyway! Was one less thing to pack. But I know some hospitals don't provide them, ours even provided baby wash which I was a bit about as I thought it was generally recommended that you use just plain water!

I whittled mine down to a very small wheelie bag, with a separate bag inside that could be taken home once baby arrived - all terribly organised! Then I helpfully laid out all the spare stuff (like nappies, baby clothes, sanitary pads etc.) in the empty cot at home so that if I gave DP a list of stuff I might need (if I was in hosp. longer than expected say) then he could go straight to the cot and it would all be there. Ms. Smug of Smuggington was I, in my organisation.
Labour started, we eventually went to hospital, with my small wheelie bag, plus two LARGE rucksacks of crap stuff for DP. Then the next day DP brought in THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE COT to the hospital, just in case I needed it so that wiped the smugness right off my post-delivery face. We were like bloody pack horses on the way home that night!!

NB if it helps, I had a list of things to add to the list before we left the house
I had a 500ml bottle of water in the freezer which we took out as we were leaving - that ice water was just what you wanted.
I also added my pillow and my camera to the things to pick up in addition to everything else that was already packed and ready.
Went to hosp by cab so had to take it all in . Couldn't lift the bag I had so much shit
Snackage very important though

Best of luck with it all

Jetli Very helpful!

upahill Sounds blissful. I am actually booked in for a private room. Unfortunately I've been told it's first in, best dressed ... (not sure whether my yoga pants will cut it after all).

May take the baby towel after all ...

Thanks champagne very good idea to have a list of last minute stuff.

From what I remember from the dim and distant past they told us at ante natal lessons what stuff we needed to bring (They never mentioned masacra and lip gloss though- that was pure genius on my part I have to say!!)

Your Midwife should be able to tell you what the hospital will provide in the way of towels and stuff.

You won't need a towel for the baby as you won't be bathing them while you're there. Just take one towel for yourself.

I fitted in everthing into one bag, just took the bare minimum really. The things I really missed were yummy fresh fruit but you can hardly buy that in advance. Snack box with biscuits/museli bars in.

My favourite thing I took was a mini sized Sanctuary Body Wash which I used when I had my first shower after giving birth, it was such a treat and smelt so lovely and I felt all my fatigue and tension from the labour just melt away.

Flannel is a good idea! Bottle of water also. Hair bobble/scrunchie for during labour if your hair is annoying you.

A (carefully-wrapped) peppermint teabag in case you need a caesarean, the post-surgery trapped wind can be excrutiating.

And yes, that could mean YOU! They can happen to anyone. I don't know why women are so blasé and leave hospital bags to their DPs to sort out. Emergency CSections can be pretty traumatic for the dads too, they can't be expected to go home afterwards and pack everything perfectly.

everything people have said is pretty spot on, and regardless of all of this, it only takes one sparky little MW commenting on how much/little you have with you in the wrong tone of voice and your carefully planned bubble of packing contentment is burst anyway!
I've got a labour bag to have with me (incl toiletries and a change of clothes for baby), and a post labour bag to keep in the car for later (i realise you don't have this option). My only comment to add to everyone's is - don't forget you could move around the various wards quite a lot more than you think - so DON'T cart around LOTS of bags because it's more to remember.
DO take some plastic bags for dirty washing etc.
DON'T take pale bottoms for after.

PERHAPS ask your DP to pack your hospital bag for you. He's the one who will be diving into it for various things so he needs to know where it is, not you. you don't need another excuse to shout at him-- lose focus

And don't forget your Yellow Book! It has been known to happen.....

One thing I would say is not to stress over it too much. I spent 3 months deciding what to pack in mine and getting it exactly right, but when it came to the day, the baby came out so quickly that the bag was still in the car when she was born ... and it didn't matter one little bit!!!

Think the policy in some places now is to NOT bath a newborn. Sounds odd, but they have their own special gorgeous smell and you will want to treasure it forever...

(Getting broody at memories of newborn scent...)

Lixanismapolium that was me too! I went shopping for all new stuff, dressing gown, nighties, tankini for waterbirth etc. Was only in 4 hours and DS was born, with me wearing hospital gown, and out again in another 4 hours with all the snacks etc untouched in the unopened bag!

My twopenneth on the subject is, don't pack anything nice to go home in. I packed my lovely grey maternity trousers,and smart top (!) but didn't think at all about how much I'd be bleeding, and just wore my PJ bottoms home.

Don't faff about with disposable paper nickers from Mothercare, Primark do packs of 6 pants for less money. Much more comfortable and equally as disposable.

In all the chaos of leaving for the hospital and packing the bags, don't forget the baby car seat, like we did!

We had an enormous hold all plus a huge bag of snacks and energy drinks plus the baby stuff was in the car. I ended up in hospital for 6 days with DS so it was just as well! More stuff got brought in each day! Don't worry about it.

The best thing I took was a hot water bottle and travel kettle. It helped alot with contraction pains and also with afterpains that you get if you are bf.

Have u got a trolley-type case/bag, which could make matters easier, as one of you will probably not be in the right frame of mind to carry much! Also, for when you leave, if you're feeling wobbly, DH might have to carry baby in car seat and you don't want to be carrying heavy bags. (Sometimes you are escorted out by a MW and they insist on carrying baby to the door for you - we most of mine did!)

Otherwise I think you got it nailed!

I loved having all my toilettries (except shampoo) and makeup, not only out of vanity (why not?) but also cos you will probably feel shite and look shiny and punch drunk! Why not pamper yourself on such a special occasion! and then there's the photos....

I would bring HUGE granny knickers! A couple of sizes too big. Maternity pads are enormous and meant there was no room left for my bum. Also, you really don't want anything tight around your bits and if you have to have a section you won't want the top of your knickers on your scar....

PJs + nightie - yes
underwear and nursing bra - yes
long vest & yoga pants to labour in birth in (if out of pool) - would you not travel to hospital in the yoga pants - most suitable for early labour. in late labour you'd take them off and be left with the long vest.
bathing suit???? might want to wear a bra in pool so take spare but bathing suit not useful
towels x 2 - yes
change of clothes for wearing home - yes
flip-flops - yes
toiletries (pads, shamp/cond, makeup, lipbalm) - yes - although small bottles best - not sure why you need make up
slippers - yes - do you need slipper AND flip flops?
socks - yes

For baby:
Sleepsuits x 2 - yes
Vests x 2 - yes
hat and socks - why socks? sleepsuits have feet? hat for going home, hospitals are hot
cardigan - unnecessary hospitals are hot - unless you think for travelling home?
towel - unlikely you'll bath him/her there
nappies and cotton wool - yes
blanket - not sure you need?
ALSO NEED CAR SEAT / COAT TO GO HOME

For DH:
change of clothes - not sure he needs maybe just clean top in case he cuddles fresh baby - will be be able to stay there - maybe then something for him to sleep in?

Snacks (fruit juice, fruit, snickers, crisps!) yes - recommend "crunchy bars" - not the chocolate sort etc

Also just in case take some windeze or deflatine tablets as if you have c section the trapped wind can be sooo painful!
For sanitary pads TENA lady incontinence pads are way better than any maternity pad as they are v thick and wide.I swore by these with both of my births.

I took 3 vests and 3 sleepsuits and had to get DP to bring in 2 more of each the next morning, as those first meconium poos are more explosive than you might think, and she did a fair few in the 24 hrs post-birth.

A little hat, socks and gloves/mitts...yes the wards are hot, but their extremities do get cold as they learn how to regulate their own temperature.

Lavendar oil for bathing afterwards.

Make-up? hmmm not sure you'll have chance for that...

I wore make up to come home. It felt so good to be up, dressed and with a little eye liner, concealer and barrier cream lip gloss. That takes up very little space in your bag, if you want them.

Also just remembered parazone wipes (in my toiletries bag) for toilet seat And sink.
But hey I'm a bit over the top like that!

I took
baby sleepsuit x 1
mittens x 1
hat x 1
all in one x 1
newborn nappies x 5
me top and trousers to get changed
hair band, hair comb
clean underwear
cashmere socks
bottle of drinks
2 packet of biscuits