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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Hospital bags...help!

13 replies

excitedmummy2be · 04/09/2010 20:08

Im just in the process of getting everything ready. This is my first PG. I have everything ready except my hospital bag. I dont know why, but this seems overly complicated to me! All the stuff Ive read talks about packing disposable knickers, socks because youre feet get cold(??), snacks, mp3 players, cooling spray, ice, something to give birth in, something to wear after blah blah ARRRGHHH! Do they think im going to be there for a month?!
Any of you ladies been there and done it and can advise on the essentials that I will actually need and what you found invaluable? Please help!!!

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zapostrophe · 04/09/2010 20:13

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LittleSilver · 04/09/2010 20:17

If you do a search you will see this thread has been done lots (not a criticism, just suggesting you might get some info while you wait Wink). I'll just say what I always post; you don't need a quarter of the crap things that people say you do. Mine is packed and contains birthing nightie (same one have birthed DDs1-3 in so special!, flip flops, mat pads, toiletry bag, feeding bra and x2 babygros and a few nappies. Small holdall and it's sorted.

I personally can't think of anything more irritating than cooling spray when in the middle of labour.

mp3 player? Why???? Do you want to be worrying the whole time about where it is?

Wigeon · 04/09/2010 20:18

I think "packing the hospital bag" is very over-hyped!

I think essentials are:

Outfit for the baby - babygrow and little hat

Nappies for the baby

Something to wear afterwards in case what you are wearing gets a big, hm, mucky.

Probably nice to pack snacks for DH / DP but to be honest mine wasn't really in the mood!

Wash bag for a nice shower afterwards.

Remember that if you are having a relatively straightforward pregnancy and then labour you won't be allowed in hospital until your contractions are pretty intense, so I found that I didn't need anything really.

Julezboo · 04/09/2010 20:19

Forget disposable knickers, not very comfy. Get BIG knickers from primark/tesco for cheap enough that you can throw away.

Ice? How lol

Snack, yes, take plenty, and small cartons of juice with straws or a sports bottle so you dont have to struggle with sipping from a cup whilst lying down/on all fours.

I have never laboured, Section twice and from memory in my bag I had...

For Myself.

5 x Big knickers
2/3 nighty
1 x PJ's
Slippers
Flip flops for shower (they get yucky)
Maternity pads
Breast pads
Camera
Change (for car park mostly)
Phone charger
Pillow
Socks (although never needed them but will be packing them again this time.
Arnica Tablets
Windeze tablets
C-Section Belt
Squash

For Baby
4 x sleepsuits
4 x vests
2 x scratch mitts
2 x cardigans
1 x hat
10 x bibs/muslin squares
Wipes
pack of newborn nappies
2 blankets

DS2 was very sicky so we used all these and more!

Carseat and pramsuit in car (or somewhere at home where DH can find it easy!)

I also had a bag packed at home with spare big knickers, PJ's, sleepsuits, vests which DH could just grab if we needed it. I also had to send my dad out for prem sleepsuits as he was tiny so may put a pack of them in as well this time!

Plastic bags for gifts, gt DH to take a bag home each time he goes to the car otherwise one of you will be like a horse carrying all the presents down to the car lol

Wigeon · 04/09/2010 20:20

Oh, yes, maternity pads. I personally didn't need breast pads until my milk came in 3 days after DD was born but no harm popping a few in the bag.

taytotayto · 04/09/2010 20:22

got to agree, cooling spray oh my god you wont even think about it when the time comes. i took way tooo much. this time when the time comes im only taking a nightie for the labour and another clean one, wash bag and some nappies and coton wool and baby grow for the little one. didnt want food and was sooooooo excited when dd was born i couldnt even feel the cold. good luck xx

clareanna · 04/09/2010 20:22

Hi lucozade energy tabs are good during labour. Socks too! Paper pants or big cheap granny knickers. Dark coloured towel for shower if you're squeamish...
Nappies, cotton wool, couple of babygros and vests etc.
If you forget stuff the hospital has lots of supplies and people can always bring things in for you. I took a book for afterwards- I'm a bit of a bookworm though. I wad in for 4 days in the end so people bought things in for me.
I also had my eyelashes tinted (!) so I looked half decent in pictures too Blush

LittleSilver · 04/09/2010 20:25

Mmm yes, I do recall looking fondly at my perfectly-pedicured (not by me) toes during labour and admiring them. So did my mum and the midwife. So, yes, forget the bag, book a spa day instead.

bessie26 · 04/09/2010 21:07

DD came 6 weeks early, so all the stuff which was going to go in my hospital bag was still sat in carrier bags in the nursery!

The things I asked DH to bring in for me were:

  • maternity pads
  • breast pads (although I didn't need them - I don't remember leaking until a few days later)
  • big pants (I got cheap ones from tescos - couldn't bear the thought of wearing paper ones)
  • snacks
  • 2 nighties (one to give birth in, another to wear after you've cleaned up)
  • shower gel/shampoo etc, you'll want to get cleaned up & the bath I had after giving birth was the best one of my life Grin
  • clean clothes to go home in
  • camera

Good luck!

notnowbernard · 04/09/2010 21:15

4 or 5 nappies (if you need to stay in longer someone can bring more in for you)

Sleepsuit and vest for the baby

Blanket for travelling home with

Wash bag (with all the normal stuff you'd take for an overnight stay, inc shampoo and cond)

Comfy clothes to go home in

LOADS of maternity pads

Pair of PJs/nightie

Something old and tatty thatyou don't mind chucking for labouring in

Disposable knickers (they are suprisingly comfy!)

Mobile phone and camera!

Personally, the LAST thing I wanted to do during labour was eat... or be sprayed with 'cooling spray'... or listen to music/whales/waterfalls or somesuch

saoirse86 · 05/09/2010 12:42

My mum keeps telling me I should make a CD of songs to play when in labour and for the actual birth. I know she thought this was important during her labour but it clearly didn't work that well as I was born to 'how I'm missing my old man'!!
I've told her I'd only use any CD's to chuck at her when she makes any similarly ridiculous suggestions during my labour!

lal123 · 05/09/2010 12:51

Just to say to check with hospital- I took in maternity pads/nappies/wipes etc - but they supplied them all so I used theirs. Also re towels - I used theirs, why get my own nice fluffy ones ruined?

ReshapeWhileDamp · 05/09/2010 12:59

PILLOWS! You must take a couple of pillows, in cases you'll recognise so they don't get mixed up with the hospital ones. They are great for propping you up in bed for breastfeeding, maybe during labour too (I certainly found them helpful) and are nicer than the hospital ones if you stay overnight.

You should be aware that although you hope you'll be home in 6-8 hours after birth, you might have to stay in a night or two if there are complications, so I'd always overpack, just in case.

If there's a chance you and the baby will stay in longer than one night, you will need more than 2 babygros, believe me! Grin OK, I was in for 8 nights after DS, so that was extreme, but you may find that your baby wets through the babygros almost every change (until you get the hang of the nappies, but sometimes newborn babies just don't fit the newborn nappies very well). I had to keep sending DH out for more babygros! Also nappies.

As a rule, you tend to be given a few maternity pads, some nappies (like, 5) and you're put in those disposable knickers with a pad after you've showered after the birth. (This was my experience anyway, in the JR.) That will last you half a day to a day.

Front-opening nightie is nice if you plan to breastfeed, and even if not, it's great for skin-to-skin without being entirely naked on the postnatal ward! Grin

I did use my cds, but a lot of people find they just forget to. I completely forgot to use any massage oils, and I brought a lot.

Camera with lots of memory is a must, so is a charged phone. Most maternity wards now let you use your phone.

As you might have gathered, I over-packed (and boy, was I glad, because I went in 2 days before EDD for a check-up, was admitted with hypertension and stayed in until 8 days after the birth!) but I did find home comforts very - comforting! I had some favourite photos in one of those A4 clear plastic envelopes, which went on my locker and were nice to look at when I was feeling a bit down. You labour more effectively if you feel safe and homely, so try to think of something you can bring in which would help with that, like a cosy pillow. And ask if you can dim the lights in your labour room!

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