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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Did you take a towel in your labour bag, and did you use it?

25 replies

NoTeaForMe · 06/04/2013 17:24

That's it really-a towel takes up quite a bit of space and last time I took one in but didn't use it. Should I take one? Don't they provide towels in hospital anyway?

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rubyslippers · 06/04/2013 17:27

yes i did - for the bath i had after delivery

i forgot my wash bag tho so ended up with a sliver of soap from one of the MW's but that's a whole other story

RandomMess · 06/04/2013 17:28

I don't remember, but I certainly had a shower and need a towel to get dried afterwards...

StitchAteMySleep · 06/04/2013 17:29

Yes I did both times and both times I used it to have a shower after the birth. The hospital did not provide towels. I also took an extra pillow the second time to help with feeding position as you only get two.

MrsHoarder · 06/04/2013 17:29

No. hospital provided them. About 20 as I was induced and could only have the bath for pain relief.

pumpkinsweetie · 06/04/2013 17:29

I would take one, as the hospital normally provides hand towels which aren't as lovely as a huge fluffy one and of course you will be needing the hospital one for your hair x

Longdistance · 06/04/2013 17:31

Yes, a black towel. And yes I used it wheni scooted off to have a shower to clean up, as was pushing for a quick discharge to go home.

MissLolita · 06/04/2013 17:36

I took a lovely new black fluffy (but very cheap) towel and used it as you do only get a hand towel and although the first shower after was wonderful it was somewhat disconcerting as I got covered in black fluff! Next time I will just take an old towel!

minicreamegg · 06/04/2013 17:53

I'm going too this time, when I gave birth to DS I asked for towels and I was given 2 white towels just abit bigger than hand towels

Original poster

NoTeaForMe · 06/04/2013 17:55

Ok. I'll pack the towel, I must have used one last time as I was in the hospital 2 days after giving birth...!

They just take up so much space in a little bag! Starting to pack my bag and thinking about what bag to take, bag last time was too big and in the way, but will be in a bigger room this time (different hospital!)

How many maternity towels did you take? Did your hospital provide any? Last time I used about 800, my waters broke and I was in hospital 12 hours just waiting for something to happen, used at least 750 of the towels then. Afterwards I didn't use too many. There were some provided but once I had used them I used the ones we took in, and my husband re-stocked me! Wondered if the hospital would have given me more had I asked or whether it's something you have to take. Guessing it differs between hospitals actually?!

OP posts:

butterflyexperience · 06/04/2013 17:55

Yes & yes

sjupes · 06/04/2013 18:00

No, hospital is full of lovely fluffy ones, also maternity pads were provided at mine.

WestieMamma · 06/04/2013 18:01

I'm taking 3 bags so it doesn't look like I'm moving in. 1 for labour and the immediate aftermath, 1 for the baby, and 1 to be left in the car for husband to bring in afterwards.

bonzo77 · 06/04/2013 18:06

Yes, manky old very thin beach towels that took up hardly any space. Bigger than the hospital towels and I stayed a few days each time and showered a lot! Regarding pads, I used the hospital ones till they took catheter out and my own after. I only used about 6 per day max, but I had CS both times and as the midwife explained, they give you a good scrape out!

atrcts · 06/04/2013 19:39

I was given an NHS incontinence sheet to lay on until the second day when the catheter was out and I was mobile again (after spinal/forceps/episiotomy). No one offered me pads but I had taken my own. The only thing they offered was advice to not use normal ST's but to use big thick maternity pads, which at first I thought was a bit over the top but soon realised the wisdom of it! I took a smallish towel and used the hospital smaller ones as I didn't have anywhere to dry a big towel (there was a small rail on the back of a locker but it wouldn't have coped with a bath towel).

stargirl1701 · 06/04/2013 19:40

No. The MLU had towels.

catinboots · 06/04/2013 19:42

Yes - I had a bath in labour And a shower afterwards

colditz · 06/04/2013 19:46

Yes and yes, dark coloured one.

Radiator1234 · 06/04/2013 20:09

Yes both times and used them both times. I asked the hosp this time if they had towels and they said they only had small ones. I didn't take a dark towel (don't have any). Towel did get covered in blood but not end of world I just washed it when I got home. Flip flops for the shower is another good tip (more practical than slippers).

ProtegeMoi · 06/04/2013 20:10

I took one and used it.

The hospital ones were all rough and scratchy and I'm a bit of a hygiene freak anyway when it comes to using other people's towels.

Plus like others have said they are tiny hand towels and there always white so you then have to carry it through the ward looking like you've just cleaned up a murder scene.

festive · 06/04/2013 20:11

Yes but didn't use them, the hospital had loads. But will be taking them again this time as things may have changed.

LikeCandy · 06/04/2013 21:37

I took one but asked the m/w if they had towels and was provided with 3 huge white NHS specials - a bit stiff but sparkling clean - and it saved me washing the one I'd taken!

MrsJohnDeere · 06/04/2013 21:40

Yes and yes.

Took a big cheap navy one. Better than the horrible tiny white scratchy ones that the hospital provide.

I bled an awful lot both times and felt more comfortable d,Inge with my own than handing back a blood covered hospital towel to a mw.

MummyPig24 · 06/04/2013 21:43

Yes I took a towel. A purple one. I had a shower soon after dd was born, I can't remember the hospital providing a towel.

Anifrangapani · 06/04/2013 21:45

Leeds general infirmary had towels. Liverpool womens didn't.

carrielou2007 · 07/04/2013 08:18

Your hospital should give you info on what you need to take. For example, I've have four ops in eye hospital and told specifically not to bring towels they are provided they don't like wet towels hanging about. My local MLU specify you DO need to bring towels. I had both dc in diff hospital (induced) then transferred to local MLU same day to help with bf and my towels were still wet they gave me some. Never been given mat pads though.

I've hot two bags again this time, one for me, one for baby. Also go carrier to leave in car with extra nappies/pads/pants/clothes just in case I need to stay in linger than z day as yes my two towels go take up a lot if room!!

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