Sone body tell me what to put in my hospital bag...please?

[MrsHelsBels74]

This is my second baby, am 34 weeks pregnant & just cannot seem to get my head round the fact that I'm going to have a baby fairly imminently.

I'm aware I ought to get my hospital bag ready but every time I try & think about it this kind of fog descends & my brain refuses to co-operate.

Could someone give me a kick up the arse & help me out?

Here goes:
For you:-
Toothbrush and tooth paste
Maternity Pads
Face wash
Flannel
Deo
Hairbrush and hair stuff
Hairdryer/stragihtners if at all bothered?

Nighty/Pjs
Something to start labour in
Comfy clothes for dotting around hospital in
BIG knickers x lots!
Comfy Bra
Breastfeeding bra?
Socks
Slipper
Dressing gown

Baby:-
Newborn nappies and wipes
Newborn all in one wash
Cotton pads
Vets
sleepsuits
coming home outfit?
little jacket of in carseat
Blanket
Hat
Scratch mits

Ipod?
Reading material?
Birthing ball?
Extra Pillows?
Food (snacks)
Drink

Extra Towels
Il keep thinking...........x

thanks for that list, just marking my place to refer back to it!

Great list above, think all was covered. I'll be copy and pasting that MSIMW
Extra pillow is a great one- you need to be comfy and not lying on a crunchy hospital pillow!
Drinks and snacks.

Thank you

Stuff I used the most-

*fluffy socks (feet got very cold in labour)
*lip balm
*phone and charger (afyerwards)

Stff I didnt use
*flip flops
*much of the clothes I packed for me and dd
*snacks - no appetite

Tip I got from MN - Parazone wipes (or similar) for the hospital loo. Really glad I had them as well as I had to get DH to wipe down the loo in the bathroom in the labour room before I could use it (boak).

Also, moist loo roll (Eg Andrex washlets).

Flip flops for using in the shower - can also be used instead of slippers and take up less room.

Some plastic carrier bags to put dirty clothes in - DH can take home easily if you are in for more than a day.

Camera
Mobile (and charger)

Something to keep you cool. Spray or fan or ice!

Just another quick question. Do you have to use maternity towels or can you use maxi sanitary towels?

I think you're supposed to use maternity pads because they show if an infection is starting. I guess because they're less absorbent. nice

Easy list
-pillow
-clothes/pjs for you
-maternity pads
-lots of spare nickers
-clothes/pjs for baby
-snacks
-washbag
-something to read
-nappies
-wipes if you are using them
-coat and hat for baby
-possibly a blanket

• a few breastpads

-phone charger

I hope this time I only manage to take this myself, as last time I took soo much stuff I neve used

A water bottle with a sports lid so you can have it close to you in bed when your feeding and don't have to reach for water and move the baby if you've got a good latch. As soon as my milk arrived I had instant raging thirst as soon as the baby started feeding.

I was glad for the massive maternity towels (sold with breastfeeding stuff I found). They add a little extra cushioning which is very helpful.

The big Boots maternity towels are good ( didn't squish in at the sides iyswim) and Boots also do slim maternity towels that are good to use after the first 10days or so.

The Mothercare towels are not so good, as they squish down to a long tube shape v easily (not comfy post-birth).

Change for the chocolate machine ;)
Reading glasses if you wear them. My eyesight went to pot I was so tired after a few nights ahem, .... rest

If you've had a straightforward pregnancy and have a straightforward birth you're not likely to be in very long with a second baby. I was admitted at 8pm, DD born 11.16 and I was discharged by 9am the next morning. I had a quick shower but then had a proper soak in the tub and washed my hair at home. Friends of mine that gave birth in the morning didn't even stay in overnight second time round.

Definitely took less stuff than I did the first time:

TENS, maternity pads, big knickers, breast pads, flip flops/slipper socks, change of clothes, lip balm and drinks for me and 2x sleepsuits, 2x vests, nappies, wipes, blanket etc for baby.

If you do have to stay in longer your DP can always bring in anything you need after the event.

My DH was in charge of camera, phones and change/money, just to make him feel useful :-) oh and driving!

Oh, and best wishes. Don't worry about the brain freeze - I couldn't get my act together to pack my bag until I was 38.5 wks :-)

Thanks everyone. I'm kind of thinking about a home birth but obviously I'll still need supplies in whether they're packed in a nag or just in the house!

Hels I had a homebirth last time and packed my bag as a "just in case" for admission into hospital. It proved to be invaluable, even though I stayed at home.

Despite me telling DP where all the baby stuff was, he'd forgotten so we used the baby's hospital bag to get us through the first couple of changes/feeds/ days... We camped out in our bedroom and everything was to hand.

Ditto with my "hospital bag" ... It had everything I needed, including things like drinks and snacks so I didn't have to move further than the end of my own bed. Also, DP would never have found half the stuff I wanted to use amongst my drawers/wardrobe...

When I finally get round to packing my bag this time, I'll be packing it with a view to using it at home too

Things I found most useful were bendy drinking straws and moist toilet wipes

if your planning to breastfeed, Lansinoh, its brilliant i credit that and the midwife who brought me some with managing to feed dd. Its also suitable as lip balm and great for dry skin between tiny baby toes :)