32 weeks pregnant with 1st baby, please tell me what to pack in my hospital bag?

[MillyStar]

Please could someone give me a list of what to pack in my hospital bag, i've printed a few off the internet but i think you lot real life mums will know best!

I need to go and buy what i've not already got this weekend and get packing x

Hi,

I would say the essential things from my experience are:

for you:
maternity pads
disposable knickers/old knickers you don't mind throwing away
breast pads
maternity notes and birth plan if you have one
slippers (I would recommend ones so you can wear in the shower)
nightgowns/pyjamas (that you can breastfeed easily in)
hairbrush, shower gel, toothbrush etc
Magazine/book
comfortable maternity clothes to go home in

for the baby:
babygrows (you'll need more than you think)
newborn nappies
baby wipes/cotton wool pads
muslin cloths
car seat (not in the bag obviously)
blanket

and a camera. I hope this helps :)
Good luck!

• A roll of soft toilet paper
• Luxury shower gel

toilet paper wipes (the wet toilet paper, not sure what it's proper name is!)
Some snacks
camera batteries

Depends really how long you're planning on staying in for

Some change - I was in labour on a ward for 3 days so DP needed money for the vending machines etc as he (obviously) wasn't fed by the hospital. I was also in for 3 days post-birth so needed change for the vending machines and to get TV etc.

I'd also recommend several dark towels.

If you're feeling really organised I'd have another bag (or a pile at least) to leave at home with more of the essentials (nightgowns, pads, baby clothes etc) in case you end up staying in longer than you planned (although chances are you won't need this!). I did this on the spur of the moment a couple of days before I had DD and was so glad I did because I ended up being in for a bit, and it was one less thing for DH to think about - he just brought the whole lot in and didn't have to worry about finding me appropriate pants :)

Lip balm! If you use G&A your mouth can get really dry, a mini tub of Vaseline Lip Therapy helpd me no end.

Oh and yes to extra babygros. I was only in for 10 hours after DS2 was born, but he kept throwing up mucus (nice!) and we got through 4 babygros in that time - had to get DH to bring emergency spares when he came to pick me up!

Thanks ladies i'll print this thread out x

Have a bag for labour with your stuff for that in (plus a pair of pants with a pad already stuck in) and a clean nightie/washbag in there too. A straw and lipbalm are handy to have in there, along with dextrose sweets or some snacks. Have one outfit for baby and a nappy in there too.

Then have your main bag with the rest of your hospital stuff in, and all the other baby stuff (extra clothes and nappies) which your birth partner can go and get for you from the car if you need to stay in - that way they're not rooting around a huge bag to find something you need in labour, and it's one less thing to take back to the car if you don't need to stay in!

In mine I've got:

Labour bag:
Pants and pad(s)
Lip balm
Flannel (for cold water)
A straw (can't hold the G&A, the MW or DH's arm AND a drink all at once, a straw makes it easier to drink in any position too)
T-shirt for birth
Clary sage and peppermint oil
Wash bag
Purple hand towel, main bath towel (pink and purple - don't take your fluffiest white one!) tucked through handle
Nightie
Nappy, babygro, vest and one blanket
(need to get dextrose sweets and some cereal bars, throw in phone and charger at the last minute)

This sounds like a lot - but it all fits into a small bag apart from the large bath towel which fits in the handle.

Main Bag
Maternity pads
Lots of knickers (cheap black Primark ones, full briefs in a bigger than normal size - not disposable ones for me)
A few babygros, vests, nappies and wipes
Flip Flops
Change of clothes
Nightie and pyjamas (I'm a jim jams girl even after birth)
Nursing bra

I don't take breast pads, milk doesn't come in until day 3 so chances are you won't need them until then, and I have no intention of staying in that long - I was in long enough with DD thank you very much (36 hours post birth)

Flisspaps is right about the two bags thing.

With DD I packed a bag for me and a bag for the baby with 3 days worth of stuff in. Each

Just in case we were in for a while

turns out I came out after 12 hours

How the midwives laughed

This time Im packing for a day and a night for me and baby in one bag, and more stuff in the car if needs be.

Im actually going to pack my bag this weekend I think (30 weeks), so this thread is joggin my memory. Cheers for that

OMG, I haven't even thought about all this - I'm going to print this out too some great tips on here...... Although I have to say it sounds like I'll need a suitcase never mind a bag :)

Not a very nice one to think about, but worth getting in some kind of natural laxative (eg prunes), and drinking lots and lots of water, as you may well find you get extreme constipation after birth, which can be very serious indeed.

Patience, extra sleep in case you need a bit more sleep, sanity, assertiveness, courage, endurance and love!

I hope you have a wonderful birth and a lovely baby! xxxxxxx

Also get your dp to pack your bag as they will then know where everything is and will stop the arguments in the labour ward when dh is pulling out 0 - 3 clothes for an 8lb baby and then telling the midwife we don't have any clothes suitable (or is that just us?!)

I also took done paracetamol with me so wasn't having to wait for mess when I was in pain (naughty but worth it!)

Some not done, meds not mess!!!

Snack food for if you're stuck in there for a while unexpectedly!! I had a big pack of snickers bars - excellent for slobbing out keeping your energy levels up :)

Just to add to what pootle says, not only did I get DH to pack the bag we had a sort of lesson as to what all my creams etc were. It's not like I have lots of complicated stuff, but I needed him to know which one was Vaseline for dry lips, which was hand cream etc. (my DH thinks any sort of moisturiser, let alone one or two for different things, is pretty much akin to witchcraft ).

Better he knows in advance than is passing me shampoo for dry lips or something in the middle of a contraction . I'm not sure he'd want to see my reaction in that situation!

Bumpology is right about constipation.

Second time round I took in lots of little cartons of apple juice with straws on. The constipation the first time was no laughing matter and apples have lactose in. Also, gas and air made me very thirsty, so it was nice to have my own drink supply.

Oh good call on the apple juice cartons

What is the reason for taking maternity pads? Don't the hospitals provide them or are they just basic quality ones?

Most hospitals don't provide them I don't think. Well, when I had DS they gave me some at first, as I'd had a spinal for my stitches do was immobile after the birth, and they were having to come and change them for me so they used hospital ones but that was the exception rather than the rule.

And by golly were they bulky compared to the ones is bought!

Ah, I see. When I gave birth abroad pads were provided as needed. They were not fab, but they did the job well.