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.

I messed up that strike out, idiot

LOL at 'lavender oil for bathing afterwards.' Bathing who?

I would definitely add a water spray/atomiser for your face and body to cool you down. Best thing I had. Also powdered sports / lucozade drink. I had it during labour and for a few days after. Dark coloured towels is a very good idea. I totally underestimated how many maternity pads i would need too. Arnica tablets too to help your recovery. That all sounds a bit grim ... just being practical . I would go through it all again tomorrow if I could

Have you thought of a home birth? Much simpler

don't forget food, your appetite can still be quite big after labour, and depending on when you have baby hospital may not have much to give you.

i had my son at 10 pm, i asked for veg sandwich only had tuna, i didnt want it but forced it down, but i was still hungry. i was fortunate husband had thght about snacks. Biscuits sandwiches, drink cartons.

Also i used to wake up very early coz i knew cleaner had done showeroom over. after shower brekkie was not served for another hour or more so i had some snacks to munch on.

But you have a good question i've had 2 still don't know what to wear for labour should i need it. With 1st one i took long nighty since im used to covering up. but i should have left dignity at the door lol. So with second i didnt take labour outfit thght id use hospital gown if needed since they hitch it all up anyway. but i didn't get chance to put that on, had daughter standing up whilst trying to undress for nighgown, baby just couldnt wait to get out lool

anyway please tell me what i should take for labour in case i have a long labour, hopefully it will be short again. nightshirts looks quite modest up to knee, wit buttons so can undo for skin to skin. and i got pjs for after labour since im a pjlover cant get enough of my fluffy pjs

i'm thinking of homebirth partial you had one?

In my hospital, baby stuff is provided, so I never had to take any of that. However, assuming you did need baby things, I would take -

For you -

Nipple cream
Maternity pads
Cheap dark knickers
Nursing bras
Two nighties
Slippers
Flip flops for hospital showers
Loose comfy outfit for going home in
Snacks
Bottle of water
Magazine or something to do on the ward afterwards if you have to stay

For baby -

Nappies
Two vests
Two sleepsuits
Shawl
Coat and hat for going home in

I didn't take a thing in with me. I never expected to be kept in and was sure it must be a false alarm. It wasn't a false alarm, I was kept in and we coped. The bag was left in the hallway. DH had to phone PIL's to bring stuff in for the baby. My advice would be when you pack your bag make sure you take it with you (blush)

Do you have other kids? Will they come and visit you in hospital? (don't know if this is done in the UK) but if so then plenty of books and toys and snacks for them (depending on age etc.)

oh lilybloom. I echo you. I had nothing. Went in a month early, sure I would be sent home. 2 1/2 hours later I had a baby! Actually, I lie. As we left home, DH told me to take a sweater (I was in T-shirt - it was summer) and a book in case we had to wait. That was it.

hi haven't read whole thread so sorry if repeating others. Best thing I took (on a friend's advice) was drinking straws. You spend a lot of time reclined on a bed (especially if they strap you up to a drip or monitor) and it would have been very hard to drink straight from the cup. Also had large bottle of squash made up and frozen so they deforsted slowly and gave me cool drinks. Don't worry about what you'll wear in labour - you won't care! We also downloaded episodes of a comedy show to watch on DPs ipod during my protracted and not very effective induction! best of luck

pack lots of maternity pads you will need them! I also bought pack of 'granny' knickers from tesco and a big pair of pjs so they can just be chucked away after. Much more comfy than paper/disposable.

For both my labours I wore the same black h and m maternity vest- turned up to hospital in tracksuit with the vest on underneath.

Waters broke at mils house where we were staying the night- I was just settling dd1 (yet again) as she didn't like the travel cot- so my track trousers were soaked.

Sent DH home to pick up another pair as only round the corner.. what colour does he come back with??? you guessed it- WHITE..

If you want your DH to bring anything else be specific is my tip!

Trixie 123 is so, so right. Drinking Straws! I have done this birth thing three times now and drinking straws are the only thing I think really essential......... (well, actually drinking straws and a nice big epidural needle.....LOVE those too!).

I laboured at home and by the time i got to hospital I was ready to push but here is what I used. We went home after 5 hours.

Sleepsuit & vest
Hat
Baby blanket
Carseat
Change of clothes for me
Makeup & toiletries (was fully made up 2 hrs after birth, made me feel human again ! I have had many comments on that photo !)
Bar of chocolate
Camera

Everything else I had packed (magazine, change of clothes for DH) was completely extraneous.

The best thing in my hospital bag, which luckily didn't take up much room at all, was a bottle of pure Lavender oil. I sprinkled a drop on my maternity pads after giving birth and popped some on my pillow. Every time I moved, the aroma really soothed me and I'm sure it helped heal my stitches. Tis wonderful stuff!

I personally wouldn't bother with slippers and flipflops. After 2 days of them attempting to induce me I begged DP to bring my cheap primark crocs in and they were a godsend. I found that slippers get filthy if youre shuffling around and they got stuck on my feet so couldn't get them off without fairly ridiculous looking can can dancer moves. I wore my crocs in the shower as well. They're also fabulous for swollen feet as they're pretty roomy. I'd also take straws and cordial, gas & air can make you so thirsty but you dont want to have to move just so you can drink if you're in a comfortable position.

I honestly wouldn't worry about the amount of stuff you want to take. I had a huge suitcase with me. I didn't use everything in it but it was so handy for those first few days at home to live out of. Everything was in one place, big knickers, pads, boob pads etc.

I just took a sportsbag with a few carrier bags stuffed in a pocket. That way you can send the bags home as they fill up with gifts/cards/laundry/Bounty tat.

Just to warn you re a perfectly packed bag (s). For DD1 and 2 I had perfectly packed bags - one for during labour and one for baby/me in hospital. Both times the labour bags were absolutely useless - with DD1 we didn't have time/inclination to open it and with DD2 we didn't even bring it in from the car. WE managed fine both times!

Re bringing in lots of clothes for baby - I brought in 2 changes - figuring that if we needed anything else DP could bring it in later.

Agree with most of the other posters that your partner can usually bring extra stuff as required.

Bare minimum for me was:

• maternity pads (yes lots of them!)
• cheap cotton underwear
• nursing bra
• mobile phone charger
• something to read

Wear the same things home you go to hospital in (easiest to change into a hospital gown when there)

Basics for baby, at least:

• vests x2
• sleep suits x2
• muslins (for mopping up burps etc. these will become constantly draped over your shoulder)
• hat
• nappies
• wipes
• disposable change mat
• nappy bags (also good for dirty clothes)

I ended up in for 2 weeks after my first baby was born so my DH was constantly bringing in bits and pieces but it meant by the time we went home he had to do 2 trips to the car to take it all back!
Don't forget that when you go home, you'll not only have your bags but also baby + carseat to carry.

Both times I had a mid size sports holdall for me, baby changing bag for baby and my everyday handbag which was reasonably large.

My handbag always contains wipes/make-up/deo/cream/tissues/brush/hairbands anyway so all I had to do was bung in a toothbrush and travel sized toothpaste/shower gel/shampoo and I was done on that front.

Managed to fit all baby clothes, nappies, nighties, pads etc...between sports holdall and baby changing bag.

As it was winter, both times, baby outdoor suit was kept in car seat.

I'm really not getting why people bring in pillows? Reckon my hospital staff would pee themselves laughing. I have had many hospital stays and the pillows have never been a problem for me?

Our maternity hospital says to bring your own in. Guess it saves on laundry and maybe makes people more relaxed about bashing/weeing/labouring on them.

Manicmumsday - yes, I had a home birth and if everything is going well in your pregnancy I would highly recommend it. It's just the best feeling, lying in your own bed with your new baby after the birth - no hospital is as comfortable as your own home and I'm sure the birth went so well because I was relaxed.

You do still need a hospital bag though, just in case

Would def echo Partial. A bit off topic, I know, but we had a home birth and it was way easier - straightforward and relaxed using an inflatable pool(borrowed but only half full due to speed of birth!), then tucked up in our own bed straight afterwards. All facilities, food, make up etc on tap. No packing or unpacking.

We didn't bother packing a hospital bag on the advice of our midwife who assured us that, in the unlikely event we needed to transfer, there would be plenty of time to pack essentials and drive to the hospital. Can definitely see why you might want to though for peace of mind.

I took in 2 "cabin" size wheelie suitcases, 1 sports bag full of snacks and another bag of god knows what plus bits and bobs and my slippers and some pillows.
I had way too much stuff, dh was too tired to find anything and they were left untouched. And I wasnt allowed to eat anything.

my slippers were stolen and we forgot the pillows but they were the only "luxury" things I actually used.

If you bring lots of stuff make sure the person who is coming with you knows where everything is.
I must have packed 100 straws and when I really wanted one dh could not find them. (I'm getting a doula next time!)