What to pack in hospital bag?

[Rachel130690]

Okay not sure if this is the right place to post, but I'm 32 weeks today :) and trying to get organised and get my hospital bag packed. I pre-ordered one online and it came with a few bits and pieces, so far I have:-

-the bag (which is massive and im hoping it's the only one I'll need)

• 5x maternity night pads (how many will I actually need?)
• 4x tomme tippee (i think) breast pads, (do I need more?)
• travel size shampoo and conditioner
• travel size shower gel
• small deodorant
• hairbrush and hair band
• packet of pocket tissues
• a freebie sachet of nipple lotion (will I need this?)
• 8x Huggies nappies (thinking of changing these for a small packet of pampers)
• 8x nappy sacks. Are these really needed?
• 10 cotton wool balls
• 10 cotton buds
• a newborn sleep suit.

Okay to this I'm planning on adding:-

• a nightie to labour in, pjs for after
• socks, slippers and possibly flip flops (not sure about flip flops)
• underwear (cheap ones from primark prob), bras
• lip balm, magazine,
• tooth brush and tooth paste
• food and drink.
• then clothes for going home in.
• sleep suits
• vests
• hat and scratch mittens
• blanket
• towels.

Ok that's everything I can think of, is this too much? Am I forgetting something? Or am I being a bit unrealistic abouts amounts, any advice at all..

TIA Xx

Big pants! Ones that go over your tummy just in case you have a section. (Not to scare you!) I would take more breast pads too!

That sounds pretty good, I would be tempted to take more maternity pads just in case, or have some where your partner or someone can easily get to them if you are in longer than planned.

I found a bottle of water with a sports cap very handy during labour.

I would have a bag for during labour and then one with things for after if you can so things can be found easier.

Congratulations

I always overdo bags when packing and my hospital bag was no exception but personally I'd take a lot more cotton wool balls... The first poos are yuck... Think I was using 10 balls per nappy change.

If you're planning on gas and air, I was always advised to take throat sweets although I never needed them.

I took a whole pack of maternity pads both times myself (although was in 3 days each time). I also took a whole pack of nappys.

I'd take flip flops over slippers personally, better for the shower.

You could always take the bare minimum in your hospital bag and then have a spare bag with extras to leave in the car, I.e. more nappys, cotton wool, pads etc.

I'd take the nipple cream... Better to be safe than sorry on that front!!!

good luck

Okay I'll add big pants onto my list lol

I'll buy another pack of maternity pads and bring them with me. And a sports bottle will be going on my list..

I'll maybe pack the bag I have as a labour bag and see how it goes, thanks xx

Hello! I'm new here, and have stumbled across this thread which is perfectly timed for me - I'm packing my own bag in anticipation of giving birth sometime in the next fortnight or so. This is a great list and great suggestions, thank you! A friend of mine has also written an excellent blog post on this topic that I thought others might find as useful as I did:

goodynuffmum.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/what-to-pack-in-your-hospital-bag.html

Thanks all!

jLo

Thanks so much jLo I'm away to have a good read through it :) xx

I found drinking through a straw much easier than straight from a cup as I was in the pool and it meant I could hold gas tube with one hand and DPs hand with the other.

Also dark trousers/track suit bottoms for coming home in.

As a contact lense wearer I took a case and some fluid stuff.

A nursing bra, obviously for feeding in and if you're ample bosomed like me, please put it on before anyone takes any photos of you and baby. All I can see in my first picture is boob trying to escape!

Best of luck!

Might be worth taking a spare nightie or pjs, I bled quite a bit over my nightie and was glad I had a spare! Don't forget your camera too!

Way more pads (I got through 5 an hour to begin with!)

A couple more newbie babygrows and dont forget vests! Scratch mits unless babygrows have them in the cuffs, a newbie hat (v important!)

A tub of vasaline to slather on baby's bum ASAP!!! Will make first few mercunium poos just wipe off like magic :) Also good for lips as gas and air makes them v dry.

Deffo some pool-side type flip flops for the shower (saves you walking on mucky hospital bathroom floor).

Yes I've updated my list, so I'll be buying more maternity pads. How many vests and all do you think I'll need?

Was also going to pack another small bag with more pjs and stuff incase I'm in for longer or need extra stuff. Which I'll be giving to my mum cause she'll be able to run it in quicker.

Good idea Gnocci must remember Vaseline.

Has anyone used the water wipes instead of cotton wool balls? I assume these would be allowed if there just water.
Xx

marking place

I used water wipes. The main benefit is that they don't shed their fluff and they're pre-soaked so if you need them quickly, you can just release them from their little foil pkt.

Many more pads, for the first two days I was wearing two at a time.

A baby changing mat. Where I gave birth there were no mats (nor anywhere to change the baby apart from banced on the bed but that's because the hospital was dire).

Cereal bars or something to eat (I wasnt fed by hospital until 5pm when I gave birth at 8am and had been on labour ward since 4 previous day).

I used water wipes on DD as there was nowhere to fetch water from, nothing to put it in and nowhere to put it whilst changing her on the bed.

Spare clothes and pjs you may get through a few sets hospitals are mega hot.

Don't forget your phone charger too!

Buy a 5-pack of babygrows for the labour bag and have another spare in the postnatal bag, if you have a car just keep the postnatal bag in there til you need it (you might not).

Camera!

Straws, camera and FAN! Can get hot!

Ps maternity notes also!!!!

That cool spray you get from Boots is amazing in labour! They're doing their own brand 3 for 2 at the moment.

I also had a flannel for head mopping. I just got really hot in labour, so will definitely be packing those things again this time! :)

Assuming your partner is going to be there during labour pack some painkillers for them. A friend's DH had an awful stress headache and couldn't buy any painkillers in the hospital. Also some food for your OH during labour (shortbread is good as it doesn't melt in your bag).

Just in case you have a c-section (fingers crossed that you won't though)- a few more nighties. You have a catheter in for 24 hours after a c-section so you can't wear bottoms. Also, for the same reason, some more nappies. I ran out of nappies as I wasn't expecting to stay in for 2 days after an emergency section, when I asked the midwife for more she was a bit moody about getting more for me. Good luck!

Glucose tablets for energy when you can't physically be bothered to eat!! Dark loose trousers for afterwards.
Good luck!! Xxx

On the "dark loose trousers" front, Tesco used to do some great tracksuit bottoms (wide leg style) for £4 which were great for the first few weeks post baby. Probably still do something similar.

I used disposable pants in hospital (they provided them- kind of mesh granny knickers but kept the pads in place really well) but old/cheap knickers are also fine.