hospital bag...

[kiki22]

When do i pack and what will i realistically need??

first time and don't wanna miss anything or end up with a load of stuff i don't need! help x

Lots of cheap, big black pants from Primark.

A straw.

Your own pillow.

Pack one bag for labour and a separate one for you and the baby so you're not rooting through nappies to get to your labour stuff.

There are loads of useful threads with ideas on this subject, as well as suggestions of what not to take

a straw i like that :)

is it bad i'm 35 + 5 and haven't even thought about my bag

Not too bad, at least you're thinking about it before 'term' although I will do my second one at the same point as my first - 26 weeks so will start digging stuff out at the end of this week.

I like to make sure I have everything ready even though I'm planning a home birth...

Absolutely do not pack any thing you really don't want to be photographed in, as it's bound to be what you end up wearing for pics of you and your lovely new baby (I was photographed with lovely new DS in a crappy blamanche-pink nighty which said "under this I'm naked" So inappropriate!).

Apart from the tens machine I really don't remember anything being particularly useful in labour, sorry!

However, next time I would definitely take and ipod or some other way to listen to music I love as it would have helped.

For the ward afterwards, pack some food and drink for the ward - snacks that'll won't go off in a hot environment.

If you hate heat, a hand held fan might be useful as they keep the wards really hot!

Is your partner a tea / coffee drinker? DP says he'll definitely bring a flask of coffee next time as it's a long night for the partner, they're not delivering a baby or on any drugs so time can drag. Caffeine helps of course, but disappearing off to the coffee machine might not be a very helpful thing to do at the time! (Having said that DP says he left the room several times to get coffee but I'd had so much gas and air I didn't even notice).

If it's any help, Stockport PCT have a leaflet with this in:
"For you:
 2 nightdresses (consider your method of feeding)
 1 old nightdresses or t-shirt for the labour and birth
 2 nursing bras and 1 box of breast pads (if breastfeeding)
 2 well fitting bras (if bottle feeding)
 Several pairs of old knickers (or disposable knickers)
 1 bath towel, 1 hand towel
 Dressing gown and slippers
 Toiletries
 2 packets of maternity pads (not tampons or regular sanitary towels) We do not provide sanitary pads

For baby
 Formula milk if bottle feeding (pre made cartons of milk; your chosen brand, to be stored in the fridge). We do not provide baby milk.
 1 large bag of cotton wool balls. We do not provide cotton wool balls.
 Nappies (enough for up to 8 nappy changes a day)
We do not supply nappies
 Baby Towel
 1 top and tail bowl, or 2 single bowls; 1 for washing baby?s face, 1 for washing baby?s bottom. We do not supply these items
 Baby clothes including baby grows and scratch mitts"

You will pack more than that, but that is at least the bare basics. The one thing they don't mention is food...I'm packing cereal bars, frozen yog, lucozade, dextrose tabs and sweets for DH.

I agree with the tens machine, if you're planning to use one. That list is pretty comprehensive, but I'd add little extras such as hair bobble (hair in my eyes was vv annoying), lip balm (dry lips from G&A) - it was the little things that made a difference to me. Plus a camera (with full batteries), phone and charger and lots of change for the car park. Flask for DP is a wonderful idea - will add that to my list this time!

gawd the neighbours will think i'm doing a runner size of the bag i'll need!!

I have a list for three bags, Mine, DP and baby's

Mine:

Night dress (for labour)
Maternity wrap dress/nightdress thing x 2
Silk Nightdress for recieving guets
Fluffy Dressing Gown
Toiletries
Bridget Jones style pants
Maternity pads
Lucazade
Travel Hair Dryer
Make up bag
Pashmina
Slippers
Fluffy Bath sheet, Hand Towel and Face cloth
Tens Machine
Book
MP3 player and docking station
Nursing bras
Phone and Charger
Homopathic remidies
Scented candles
Cashmere Bed Socks
Cashmere Jumper
Bath Oils,

Baby:

Baby grows
Cardigans, booties and hats (knitted by nanna)
Nappies
Blanket
Johnsons baby toiletries
Baby Towel
Tiny Ted (for snuggling)
Home Coming outfit
Baby Wipes

Daddy:

Old Pj's for labour
a couple of changes of clothes
Bath Sheet, Hand Towel and face cloth
Toiletries
Laptop
Snacks
Camera
Slippers
Change
Snacks
Drinks
Lapop
Phone and Charger

xx

Scented candles, cashmere, and a laptop?? Are you giving birth at the Ritz?

fuckityfuckfuckfuck I will deserve them to say the least. Oh I wonder I that could be arranged birth at the Ritz (afternoon tea to die for) LOL. xx

I'm giving birth in Glasgow royal if i take laptop candles and docking station they'll be nicked within 5 mins lmao.

I don't want to take to much as tbh there can be some right dodgy people in the royal and wouldn't want to 'lose anything' I've known a few people who have 'lose phones watches etc there.

I'm only 10 mins drive from the hospital so my mum can bring up anything i need post labour clean jammys more baby clothes and things and take away used things

kiki22 if it's any consolation I'm pretty sure the security on the labour ward (in any hospital) is tighter than on a normal ward, so there's less chance of stuff going walkabout.

I recently had my fourth, and here is what I used:

Labour bag: Cloth cap (to keep my hair out of my face/neck - it's the only thing I still had on in the end but very worth it for me), heating pad (wish I'd taken a spare, wasn't able to resset ours and the heat was wonderful on my back), large water bottle, snacks, birth plan, camera. Used their birthing ball and a few of their pillows for positioning.

After bag: Comfy underpants, large pads, dressing gown, nappies, wipes, a couple size comfy outfits for baby (I'm glad I did this as he was bigger than expected and didn't fit into our usual newborn outfit), snacks, going home outfit for me (lived in dressing gown until then as I had IV in elbow so couldn't put on normal clothes). Wished I had an extra water bottle and pain killers for dealing with the after cramps better.

The one different thing I'll be packing this time is squishy easy to eat food - I packed cereal bars last time then got v dehydrated and into ketosis (sp?) and it was impossible to eat them - so I'll be taking smoothies etc this time, maybe some porridge sachets (i should check there is a microwave) Good luck.

One MW recommended "frubes" to me...stick 'em in the freezer and take 'em out as you're about to go in. If nothing else they will probably stay nice and cool whilst you're in labour and will help keep any drinks etc cool. If they're still ice-poppy all the better...

motherofallhangovers u ever been to Glasgow nothings safe lol

Been to Glasgow but not the hospital thankfully!

I come from a rough part of London, I have grown up never carrying a handbag or wearing flashy jewelry, dressing like a boy for protection when I was a teen, always being aware of who is around you on the street (particularly avoiding the clients of the crack dealers on my road for many years till they were busted recently, thank goodness) and being careful about where I carry money etc.

However I must say theft of stuff in the hospital while giving birth to DS never occurred to me! Glasgow must be worse then, it's official!

Still it's a nice image, the looks of surprise when you turn up with candles and cashmere comforts, no?

All my bags stayed in the car when I had DS2-no time to get them. But after the birth some Parazone Wipes for the toilets came in handy.

Yummymummyyobe1 I don't mean that as a dig to you by the way! If only I had had all that stuff at the birth!

(Not sure when you'll get the time to read the book though.)

Hi motherofallhangovers no offence taken at all. I need a few little luxuries after all as they say "i'm worth it"

parklingbaubles I would not stop at the toilet I would want to clean everywhere.

xx

oh oh I found the following site for pre packed maternity bags:

www.maternitybagexpress.com/

yummymummyyobe1 I took my hairdryer and GHDs to the birth of DD. Couldn't use them in the end though as the noise would have seriously annoyed all the other mummies and babies on the ward, plus, there was no obvious place to plug them in and do hair. Def take make up though - for the newborn photos.

In reality, I can't see how you will able to read a book.

Taking a better nightie for after the birth is a good idea. I looked like a rag bag with DD. Will add one to next hospital bag list now!

Cannot believe how much stuff people are packing! In my hospital you're out in 6 hours unless there are complications!

motherofallhangovers Glasgows not that bad to be fair but your only in a private room for delivery and back in the ward within an hour so spending most of your time with 5 other people, they have nowhere to lock things away and you never know who else you could be in the ward with. A friend gave birth there 3 years ago and had a junky in the ward who had nothing for her baby and 'accidently' used other womans nappies etc and asked to 'borrow' clothes for the baby!! theres always the chance i might end up in with someone like that :( If only i was rich

I asked how quickly they'd recommend we go home and was told it varied a lot. If BF then they like to make sure you're properly latching in Stockport PCT...especially if it's DC1. So, I think it's fair enough to assume 12h, that way family members have the chance to get stuff and bring it to you if you are in longer.