Hospital bag

[twinklesparkles]

What's everyone taking in their hospital bag??

Due in 12 weeks, its been 5 years since ds was born and I can't remember what I packed back then

For me:
Nighties (for the labour)
Pjs (for the ward)
Underwear and socks
Dressing gown
Maternity/period pads
Breast pads
Coming home outfit

For baby:
Cotton wool
Vests
Sleepsuits
Cardigans
Nappies
Mittens and socks
Baby shawl/blanket and outfit for coming home

Am I forgetting anything??

Hi. I gave birth in September and wrote out some notes afterwards.

Hospital bag (after labour)

Nightgowns (front opening)
Nursing bras
Tena Lady pants
Maternity pads
Breast pads - normal & hydrogel
Breast shells
Compresses (MAM & Lansinoh)
Codeine
Paracetamol
Ibruprofen
Aloe Vera Durex Lube
Lansinoh cream
Lansinoh latch assist
Moist toilet tissue
Sanitary bags
Anusol HC
Flip flops
Toilet bag
Phone & charger
Ecover hand wash & hand cream
Pillows
Lactulose

Hospital bag (labour)
Cold compress
Swim suit top
Camera
Misting spray
Food
Birth ball
iPod & docking station
Straws

Hospital bag (baby)
Babygrows
Vests
Nappies
Bepanthan
Shawl & blanket
Muslins
Hat & Cardigan

All the best.

Flip flops!!!

Also, easy snacks, sports water bottle & maybe cartons of fruit juice/squash?

Hat for your baby?

what sort of snacks and food do people recommend?

I didn't end up eating anything but dp did. Last time we took a few cereal bars with chocolate, haribo, and some chocolate I think. Also took some lucozade sport.

Only thing I can reccomend is a book or something for you to do if you have to stay in at all.

A small fan. I was so hot last time, a fan is top of my list this time!

How many weeks pregnant are you packing your bag?

I'm packing travel shampoo, conditioner and soap incase I end up staying in. Was admitted for a week earlier in pregnancy and was amazed by how much stuff I had to take home after a week of hubby bringing my 'essentials' in! Can't remember if someone already said but lip balm and a moisturiser! It's soooo dry in the maternity unit!

My hospital bag list, which i am just starting to get ready at the moment, gets things added to it whenever i see threads like this! :)

I have the following:

Maternity Notes
Night dresses (in dark colour) x 5
Thick socks
Kindle & Ipod

Slippers
Flip Flops
Travel size body wash & shampoo
Dressing Gown
Lip balm
Hairbrush & bands
Bag for dirty clothing
Nursing bras
Breast pads
Nipple cream
Underpants (cheap ones from primark which i will use as disposable) x 6
Maternity pads
Towel
Face wipes
Make up bag
Going home clothes

For baby:
Sleepsuits x 3
Vests x 3
Newborn nappies
Baby wipes
Cotton wool
Change mat
Muslin Squares
1 x Receiving blanket
1 x Warmer blanket
Nappy disposal bags
Scratch mittens x 2

Cotton hat x 2

Snacks & drinks which i still have to figure out

Thanks everyone

Just adding toiletries to my list, nappy bags,

Did anyone use nipple cream from birth?
Also, the gel pads.. Are they hot/cold ones? I won't have anywhere to cool them/heat them in the hospital.. Or can you buy ones that don't need that?

Its my second child so hoping to come home that day/next day

I just need to get my bag and buy a few bits then ill prob pack in 3/4 weeks ... Way too early :) I'd rather have it packed then pop it in the wardrobe until its time to go, incase of emergency ect

Definitely shampoo and conditioner. Washing my hair in hand soap after a two day induction with hand soap was a low point!

I took malt loaf to eat before I wasn't allowed to eat any more and lucozade sport to drink (was allowed if with my epidural). Next time I will take haribo and Jaffa cakes.

Snacks for during labour: you probably won't want to eat much (unless of course you're admitted for induction of labour and it's taking ages to get going). I really only wanted apple juice - quenched my thirst, quick energy, light on stomach & wasn't too unpleasant when I was being sick. Bananas maybe another good one?

Snacks for after labour: Anything easy to eat one handed, preferably with lots of energy & v nutritious. You may feel like just eating junk, but the more good stuff you get in you, the better you'll feel. I needed a lot of protein so found nuts great between meals. Also dried fruit of some sort - the more fibre you can consume the better, you may not have eaten for some time, could be a bit dehydrated and may have completely emptied your system during labour, so can be a while til you're ready to poo & you really don't want to be constipated (you could always ask for something like lactulose), especially if you've got any tearing or stitches. Watch out cos codrydamol (commonly given as a painkiller after birth) can cause constipation too (one of it's most common side effects). Try and drink lots of water. If you're breastfeeding you'll probably be especially hungry, though I'd imagine anyone after giving birth is v hungry. So pack anything that may see you through to when the next meal is served. And make sure it's stuff YOU like. Mint tea bags are especially good if you're suffering from painful trapped wind (v common after c-sections, but can also happen after a normal vaginal delivery).

I literally packed a huge sports bag full of everything you could think of. I was prepared but all I needed in the end was change of clothes, nappes etc for me and baby
But you never know! So pack everything!

I personally wouldn't take in valuables like kindle. Sadly, thefts happen in hospitals too . I'd take in cheaper stuff, eg personal CD player and a couple of CDs I'd made up on computer instead of iPod (& spare batteries, then you don't have to worry about can I recharge it?), a cheap pay as you go mobile with long battery life rather than a smartphone, magazines/light book rather than kindle etc Hopefully it wouldn't happen to you but I know for me that'd really upset me when hormones etc are already running high.

The hydrogel pads are amazing from the freezer!