Hospital bag - what do I need ?

[janmk]

And where is the cheapest place to get things ?? Any tips welcome . Really want to sort over next two weeks .

I'm packing 2 bags - one for the delivery suite containing:

clothes to labour in (old shirt of DH's)
glucose tablets
maternity pads
spare knickers
breast pads
snacks
birth plan (all 2 lines of it!)
MATERNITY NOTES (VVVV IMPORTANT)
camera
mobile phone
nappies
cotton wool
baby grows x2
baby vests x2
baby hats x2
bag of travel sized toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, moisturiser, lip balm)

Bag for post-natal ward (am hoping to go home direct from delivery suite)
spare PJs
small dressing gown
flipflops for the shower
maternity pads
breast pads
spare bras and underwear
book
baby grows
baby vests
nappies
cotton wool

Will get DH to bring clothes in as needed, more maternity pads, more baby clothes, food etc.

Oh and don't forget to put your carseat in the back of the car!

Will let you know if I think of anything else.

kiddicare.com are good.

As for what you need.......HUGE list!

nappies, towels, sleepsuits, vests, blanket, bottle/formula if you're not BF.

Everything for you too..pyjamas, underwear, comfy clothes, toiletries, whatever you want during labour.

I think people generally pack for one night and then DP can bring extra if it's needed.

I had a HB so didn't need a hospital bag as such but I did pack one just in case I had an emergency transfer. It turned out pretty handy because DP could just get whatever was needed out of it once baby was born.

Hi
I found asda good for big cheap knickers as you sometimes end up throwing them away after! Also remember to try and get dark coloured pj's, towels, underwear etc just incase you bleed through (saves the embarrassment on the walk to the bathroom!)
Drinks if you can as once on the ward you could find yourself pretty thirsty if its late at night and not wanting to disturb anyone.

OP also consider checking prices in Boots and signing up to their New Parents club as you get double points on all baby related things.

Thanks - can u buy things like breast pads in supermarkets ? Also do u need mattress protector sheet things for last couple of weeks ??

I have three bags this time

One small labour bag for me. Put in this anything you will need for labour and in the hour or two immediately afterwards the birth:

Old t-shirt, washbag, straw, vaseline, hand towel, oils, snacks, juice, dextrose tablets, one pair of knickers with a pad put in ready, one clean nightie, phone, charger, couple of extra maternity pads, sports socks, pack of cards (ha!), change of socks and pants for DH (it was a long slog last time, a change of socks and pants would have been much appreciated!)

Changing bag for the baby (things to use for the baby straight away)
Blanket, towel, two nappies, babygro, vest, cardigan, hat, wipes.

Having a changing bag means that if you do go on the ward afterwards and need to stay in, you can get your birth partner to load it up with nappies and wipes and a couple of changes of baby clothes so that you're not rummaging around a huge bag trying to find things when baby does a megapoo at 3am

These two bags will come up to the delivery room with me if I end up going to hospital :(

Then -

Main bag (this can be brought out of the car if it's needed - if it's going to be a 6 hour discharge then there's no need to lug it up to the ward, trip over it in the delivery room and then lug it back out again unused!)

Flip flops, nursing bra(s), maternity pads, one nightie, pyjamas (I'm not a nightie girl, even after having a baby I like jimjams), knickers (oversized apple catchers, cheap black ones from Primark), spare baby vests, spare babygros, nappies, socks, carrier bags (for putting dirty things in), thin dressing gown (not a thick one, PN wards are ridiculously warm), more snacks, more drinks.

Is it just me who packs a bag for me and then a separate one for the baby, instead of a delivery room / post natal ward split?

granule I did a bag for me and then a bag for baby, with both my children I didnt get changed for the labour just gave birth in what I was wearing!
Maternity pads and breast pads can be bought from supermarkets and pretty cheap to

If you'll be spending any time on an ante-natal ward, take earplugs! There were women texting and calling on their mobiles ALL BLOODY NIGHT when I was waiting to be induced.

Ooh - an eye mask as well, because there's a bloody light on all the time!

Baby wipes for you to use as toilet paper

A complete must!

Don't forget lipbalm! Lifesaver if you're in any length of time! Phone charger also.

I put babys first outfits (hat, vest, babygro, mitts and a nappy) in sandwich bags labelled according to weight in my bag, woul have worked well if I hadn't have had a tiny baby! H could find the stuff even in all the panic.

Also check with MW what is and isn't provided. Our area is no longer providing formula if you intend to bottle feed. This time I'll be taking some expressed colostrum in with me as back-up to mnake sure I avoid the problems I had last time.

Hiya,
Most of my hospital bag has come from primark cheap cheerful & if I bleed on everything I won't worry too much.

You can't beat it for things like pjs, flip flops/slippers, dressing gown - light weight one - baby wards are ridiculously hot! What else.... Oh my big knickers are from there, strapless bandeau bras for £3 instead of nursing bras till I no my size, towels to bleed on, hairbands, bikini (I'm planning a water birth) & even there baby stuff is decent! yep primark pretty much covered it for me