Packing my hospital bag today...any major must haves? Suggestions please.

[mandoo]

After lots of pains and braxton hicks yesterday I got the fear that I would have to ask DP to pack my hospital bag. The thought runs chills though me to be honest!

The bag is being packed today by yours truly....phew!

Obviously you'll need clothes for your LO and yourself. Comfy nighties for you - better than pj's if you have stitches etc and easier for the mw's to examine you before and after the birth.

Dried fruit for afterwards to get your bowels moving again. A book/magazine to read afterwards. Lots of maternity pads. Breast pads. Lansinoh if you're breastfeeding.

I would recommend packing a bag for the labour, and another one with further supplies of clothes, pads, snacks etc for the post natal ward. I squeezed everything into one bag and it was huge. Much better to have two smaller ones so that you can take one in and leave the other in the car. Remember that maternity wards are always stifflingly hot - a light dressing gown would be useful but don't bother with a thick one.

I did the baby bag yesterday, am gearing up to do my bag and also a bag for DD1 to take to GPs.

Don't forget your moist toilet tissues and plastic jug

Can someone please tell me what's the deal with hairdryers? I was in a private room last time but I doubt that's going to happen this time. Is it ok to use a hairdryer on the ward or do people get pissed off with the noise?

Flip flops for the shower
Toiletries - I forgot my toiletry bag with my DD and had to have a very sad post birth bath with a borrowed bar of soap!
Take loads of knickers and PJs for you - I went through 3 pairs with bleeding
Take your own pillows and towels - dark colour for towels
Chocolate!

Towel because it's nicer to have your own. For me my must haves after all the usual stuff were, phone charger, rescue remedy, not necessarily for hospital because they will have some if you ask but ice packs for lady bits a must for relief. Lasinoh, anusol, facial wipes and moisturiser. I'm sure i'll think of more.

Not long had my tour of the hospital and they suggested to freeze some bottles of water for labour, a pillow in a dark case in case it gets muddled up, more maternity pads than you think you will need, not paper knickers, some snacks, a supply of change if you are using bottles as there is a lockable cupboard and that the parking is dire and you don't get a pass until you are in established labour even if u go in for a elcs or induced! And like others have said 2 bags, one for labour and the birth (babygro, hat, nappy etc) and one for afterwards. I got my OH to pack mine so he knows where stuff is even though I put the stuff together. Also I've put in some cheap croc type things for the shower.

why not paper voodoo? I have always forund the a godsend although very unappealing.

However many maternity pads you think you need, triple the amount.
Flipflops for shower.
Towel

Massive, black Primark knickers. Cost about £2.00 for 5 pairs.

Snacks
A straw.
Lipsalve (G&A is bloody drying)
Change for the car park - our hospital didn't issue any kind of pass so DH had to run out at 12am to put money in the meter.

Definitely have one labour bag and one post-birth bag.

Something to do with size! Senior midwife said some are fine, others are tiny or illl proportioned and they find they cause women discomfort or worse- rip! I've not used them, both previous dc's I just bought cheap packs of knickers in a bigger size and have done same again this time :)

A hairband of some description to keep hair off your face during labour. Drove me nuts!

Oh must check what size I bought. Bought loads of cheap knickers in primark in huge sizes too but liked chucking the others in the bin everytime i went to the loo.

Green and Blacks chocolate
Magazines
Ipod
Ear plugs

Brian (love the name btw!) she said it was the leg holes! I've bought cheapies from primark etc that I don't mind binning.

Snacks (crisps, fruit, chocolate) and some drinks. I got out of sync with meal times when I had my first DC and got very hungry.

I reckon my hospital bag was half full of food for the next two DC!

I also bought a cheep primark dressing gown to wear for the birth that I could then bin after. Also more nappies than you think you will need. Some form of alarm so you can wake up for feeds as the baby wont wake up intially. Easy access top for breast feeding (if you're planning to). Squash drink of some kind.

Which reminds me after the birth I went to sleep for hours and then all staff where horrified I'd not fed the baby for so long! You need to be feeding around every 2 hours to start (if not more!).

I started this thread back in august when I was packing mine. It has everything you'll need to know on there. :) www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1273747-I-have-started-to-pack-my-bag

Excellent. Thanks to all. It is my second time but I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything essential, like the green and blacks choc Perry [hwink]

If you've ever had even a mildly traumatic experience in a hospital, take a scented room spray with you, to help to cover up that medical smell that all hospitals seem to have. You want to be able to concentrate on labour and making happy memories, rather than remembering nasty things that have happened before.

As someone who ended up with a cs here are some just in case...... Slip on slippers and shoes . Lots of breakfast type bars if you don't want the painful walk to the breakfast room. A mirror. A clock. Peppermint tea / capsules.

Well judging by this list, I'm going to need my holiday suitcase! [hshock]

Tea Tree oil - It was recommended to my in my first pregnacy and i used for DC2 and will be for DC3 when he/she arrives.
You can put it on your maternity sanitary pad, it helps stop infections and feels nice and fresh and soothing on any tears you might have.

Just had DC4 so down to 6hour stays now. Definitely take flip flops as the showers are always yucky.
-So flipflops
-warm, wooly socks as my feet are always freezing in labour.
-stretchy hair band as fringe drove my nuts first time.
-cereal bar in case you just miss breakfast.
-Yes, yes, yes to cheap cotton knickers instead of disposible paper ones. Primark or tesco value do them for £4 for 5pairs or something so not only are they cheaper but they are so much more comfy. Im fortunate never to have needed a CS but I can see the papar ones would rub right where the scar is. Plus legs are tight and they make you itch.
-The little travel toiletries from tesco will save you space in the bag.

Good luck

Individual small bottles of water, and straws so you can be passed a sip "hands free"! Good idea up thread to freeze them too.

I took arnica to stick under my tongue every couple of hours to keep swelling down and thus aid smoother "passage"... (That's the idea apparently anyway!)

I bought the L'Oreal anti-aging wipes as they left me feeling moisturised without the faff of rooting around looking for moisturiser.

Good luck with it all.

I would say a spritzer bottle filled with water. When I was in the post-natal ward last time it was so hot and I ended up feeling so clammy with a greasy face. Something like that would've been lovely. Or a fan.