Hospital bag......again!

[NoTeaForMe]

Hi all,

Right I have written my list of things to pack in my hospital bag but thought I would double check it on here first! I am 32 weeks, I think I will pack it this weekend - maybe a tad early (will be 33 weeks!) but we are moving house about the time the baby is due so feel that we should have the bag packed and ready out the way of the rest of the packing!

Anyway -

For me -

cheap black knickers - I bought 2 packs from Primark, full briefs so if I need a C-section they should go over the scar I think.
2 nighties - 1 to labour/give birth in and 1 for after/spare!
1 pair of PJs. I will be in hospital 12-24 hours minimum, so these are to sleep in really.
feeding bras - how many?
outfit to come home - can I wear maternity over the bump jeans?
dark towel and flannel
camera
change for parking, phone, vending machine
phone
maternity notes!
travel shampoo, conditioner, shower gel
toothbrush and toothpaste
lip balm
hairbrush and hairband
deodorant
face wipes
some snacks was thinking...granola bar, maltesers, polos, ribena, straws?!?!
breast pads - how many?
maternity towels - How many?
Lansinoh nipple cream
carrier bag for dirty washing/rubbish!!

For Baby -

3 newborn vests
3 newborn sleepsuits
1 pack of newborn nappies (27 in the pack, is this reasonable?)
cotton wool or wipes? If cotton wool will the hospital provide this do you know?
1 bib
1 muslin
scratch mittens and hat
snowsuit
cardigan
nice blanket
car seat!

Baby is due October 14th, hence the snowsuit!

Sorry its such a long post and list, thanks for reading and for all your help!

wow! your organised 1'm 31+2 and have just started putting the babys bag together, I packed wipes and cotton wool, but only 10 nappies will that be enough?

Ha ha, I havent packed it yet Roo just written a list! I am 32+4 and will be packing this weekend so will be 33+2/3 ish. Like I said we are moving house so need to oack up the whole flat, thought it would be a good idea to get the hospital bag sorted!

I'm so glad someone else has posted this!!

I am in the same situation, will go through my list later on and see what else i need!!

I have packed about 12 nappies

1 pack of wipes, (hospital most probably provide cotton wool? otherwise i'm taking some too)

breast pads - um a packet maybe...

maternity pads.. umm so far i have packed 1 pack of ten bigguns. and 1 pack of 10 thinner ones. but i am packing more bigguns too lol

first pregnancy so i have no idea whats best!

I'm 34 weeks and have mostly packed mine but still have a few last things to add in.

In addition to your list, I also have put in arnica (in the hope this will help!) and plan to add a water jug/sipper top water bottle on advice that this helps when going for a first wee....

I've put in one pack of maternity pads but might add another one.

The other things I'll add when I get first labour signs are my i-pod and speakers etc.

Good plan to put a muslin or two in - I'm going to add that to my list!

What do you think the chances are that we don't use half the things we pack but still wish we'd brought other things!

Is there anyone out there who isn't doing this for the first time and can advise us first-timers?!

flip flops are a good idea, as you can take them in shower etc, without having to walk back in bare feet / get slippers wet!

i took cotton wool both times, not sure if hosp provide though.

maternity towels, i got through about one every 30 minutes - 1 hour in first day or so.

also, both my ds's were very sick (mucousy) the first night, and we got through about 3 sleepsuits that time. i know this isn't all babies, but i was quite surprised.

hth

This is my 2nd pack and I haven't really got a clue what to put in it. First time I don't think I forgot anything as such, and I don't think there was anything I didn't use.

I however packed 0-3 vests and sleepsuits as well as newborn as advised at ante-natal class, however my dd was born 5lb 13oz and nothing I had packed fit her, so DH had to nip off and get some tiny baby bits, but DD wore and oversized sleepsuit till he returned.

I didn't pack the car seat, DH bought it with him on collection day, certainly no room in my bag for that.

I have packed 24 maternity pads. 30 breast pads. 15 nappies.

I have packed a baby towel too.

I have leggings for coming home in.

Everything else on your list is pretty much the same as mine.

We were told not to use wipes just cotton wool and water, cotton wool wasn't provided as far as I am aware.

I'm pg with no 4.

I'm 30 ish weeks (I think!)

I'll be taking

1 nightie for birth
pj's for after
5 pairs of knickers
big pack of large pads
slippers and socks ( my feet have gotten cold during labour in the past)
usual smellies (toothbrush, makeup, etc)
towel
box of breast pads
couple of bras, I have breastfed the others but wear M&S underwired t shirt bras. I have a fairly ample bosom, currently 34HH, and find the shape feeding bras make my boobs v depressing. The M&S ones are very stretchy

Clothes to go home in will be maternity stuff. When bfeeding I wear a vest under my normal clothes. Vest goes down with bra, normal top goes up and I have found it the easiset way to be discreet.

For baby

5 x vests
5 x babygros
half pack newborn nappies
wipes
cardigan
hat & mittens
blanket

I had dc3 at 5:55am last time and was packed up and ready to go by lunchtime so I'm trying to keep stuff to a minimum this time around.

If I have to stay longer I will give DP a list of stuff to bring in.

Can I give a bit of advise if it is your first? As soon as you have cwtched the baby for a bit and given a feed, go and have a shower.

I have always had my mum and DP as birth partners and it has meant that my mum has held the baby while DP has helped me shower and most importantly have the 1st post birth wee and poo. IME it is much better and less painful to get these over with asap!

Car seat is only on my list so we remember that at some point it needs to get to the hospital in order for us to get home!!

I started off thinking I would take 0-3 month clothes too but when I looked at the labels for the newborn clothes they are up to 10-11lb so surely I will be safe just taking these?

OK, I will take both packs of maternity towels, that will be 24. 15 pairs of breastpads and I'll take some nappies out the pack!

Slippers/flip flops was on my list don't know why I didn't type it, which one is best?

You've got a very good list there. The only thing I would add is slippers and a dressing gown.

I would maybe take a few more muslins as well.

I think it is best to plan on wearing maternity clothes to go, I didn't and I couldn't fasten my pants!

I used a few breast pads but didn't really leak until about 3 days when my milk came in.

Maternity towels - I would say take about 10, but I got given some in the hospital so don't worry about running out.

I also got nappies and cotton wool, though I would take you own to avoid having to find someone to get you one. I would probably take a pack of wipes because cotton wool can be a bit fiddly. Just see which you prefer when it comes to it.

With DD 1 I found I didn't have enough vest or sleepsuits for her, her nappies would leak and we could get through 3 in one morning! I also needed more than 3 nighties/pj's as my pads leaked a few times. If I were you I would have ready packed extra bags of stuff for you and baby at home for DH to just pick up and bring if needed. I didn't and my DH is hopeless at this, he brought a pair of shorts and cami top when I said I needed another nightie (a non maternity set!) and he brought the wrong size sleepsuits even though these were unpacked in a wierd cupboard downstairs he still managed to pick these instead of the obvious ones in the nursery draw washed and ready!

Where I was they had cotton wool, nappies and maternity pads but you needed to ask for them. I would say 27 nappies is enough. What about nappy bags, made my life easier and less messy. I didn't need breast pads until my milk came in which was on day 3 when I was going home anyway and I found the disposable ones awful so switched to the washable ones which were comfy. With the sanitry pads I would say I had to change mine every hour due to the flow and to not feel grotty so you need a lot! I was at a birthing centre and had a bath every night so take something nice to put in the bath if appropriate (I wished I had). ALso, sorry for TMI, but take some wet wipes you can use after going to the loo something that is unscented and gentle I couldn't handle using loo roll down there as felt too sore.

Glad you're not adding the car seat in your bag.

Some newbaby especially next, only go up to 7lb something, as they also do a upto one month range.

OK, well I have double checked and the newborn bits we have are up to 10lb .... so what do you think?

Nappy bags have been added.
Dotty can I use the wipes I take in for the baby or do I need something else?
Socks have been added, and I always get cold feet so should have thought about that!
Dressing gown....ok, I'll stick it in!

Anything else?

The one thinkg I would add to all your lists is lavinder oil. Great to go in bath if you need stitches.

You've got me worried now as I'm 32 week's and haven't started packing yet. This is my seconed, and I'd say don't pack to much as even after a forceps delivery I was only in just over 12hours so didn't need half the stuff I'd packed. Although an additional bag ready to go at home is a good idea espicaly if you OH isn't good at finding things.

But will I be having a bath at the hospital I presumed that a shower would be it.

I know I will stay in hospital at least 12 hours, poss 24-48 as I have GBS and they need to monitor the baby after birth.

Anti bacterial wipes (you may want to wipe down the loo/shower)
Towel - hospital ones either cover nips OR fanjo and not often both
You own pillow (hospital ones tend to be flat as a pancake)
Flip flops (to wear in shower and round the ward) so havianas good
i pod

Can you tell I have done it before?

10lb should be fine, shouldn't need any 0-3 hopefully.

I had a bath in the delivery room not sure if that is standard, but it was only showers on the wards.

I had a bath before giving birth and was planning one for after, before we went to ward, but didn't go to plan as went to theatre then straight to ward so missed me much needed second bath.

Might want to pack an extra pack of (large) sanitary towels/maternity pads.

Pack at least one or two 0-3 month sleepsuits (my DS was 8lb9oz but VERY long - legs wouldn't fit in newborn size).

Take 2 feeding bras, and a couple of muslins. Dressing gown or a big cardy.

Apart from that your list seems great.

My hospital bag was too big! I would suggest that you have a labour bag with a few bits for baby and another bag in case you stay.

I was in labour for 48hours in hospital for 24 of those....I had far too much stuff to carry around. Was only in for 4 hours after his birth. Wish I had packed a bag and left it in car.

I packed 2 - that way we didn't have to lug loads in with us but if i ended up staying in longer i didn't have to worry about dh bringing the wrong things. I took a mixture of sizes of clothes for baby and def maternity clothes for after.