Hospital Bag - done to death but please tell me if I missed anything?

[LittlePeaPod]

I am having a CS and consultant says i will be staying in for at least two days. Please could you let me know if I have missed anything? maybe I have gone overboard

My Bag:
-birth plan & pregnancy medical notes
-books, mags, news papers etc.
-breast pads
-dressing gown - what kind? Light weight or warm?
-pyjamas, nightdress (front button) and slippers
-disposable panties or cheap cotton panties
-pillow and feeding pillow
-nursing bra (one cup size larger than pregnancy or get measured at 38 weeks)
-healthy snacks and sweets/crisps/juice and bottled water
-cane f clothes
-laundry bag for dirty clothes
-hair bands, hairbrush, soap, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, make-up, tooth brush, toothpaste and dark coloured towels
-maternity sanitary pads
-pad/pen to write down notes/feeding ties etc.
-phone/camera careers etc.

Baby's bag:
-6 front button all in one any grows
-6 muslin cloths

• 6 bibs

-4 cardigans -6 hats, mittens and socks -car seat -water wet wipes -nappies, nappy cream and apply bag -Aptamil ready made baby formula - 2 starter pack (in case BF goes wrong) -infacol for feeding -snowsuit for going home in (winter baby) -3 swaddling/baby blankets -soft toy/comforter for our DD

DH bag:
-book, mags, papers etc.
-change of clothes
-list of contact numbers to let people know when she is born
-camera and battery/charger
-lots of loose change (parking/snacks/sandwiches etc.)
-toothbrush

Ah ok buttons down front would solve the issue I had!

Bugger about the codeine nancerama! I remember thinking it's not doing very much - until I forgot to take it!

You sound very prepared, but honestly you will never need a quarter of that stuff. If I were you:

My Bag:
-birth plan & pregnancy medical notes / bring that
-books, mags, news papers etc. / you will never get to read these. One magazine max. You will never be able to concentrate on a book
-breast pads / too early
-dressing gown - what kind? Light weight or warm? / light, if at at all, hosiptals are very warm
-pyjamas, nightdress (front button) and slippers / you won't wear them
-disposable panties or cheap cotton panties / good idea
-pillow and feeding pillow / no point
-nursing bra (one cup size larger than pregnancy or get measured at 38 weeks) / good idea, but can easily go bra-less on the way home
-healthy snacks and sweets/crisps/juice and bottled water / very good idea for a long birth -those yogurt health drinks are perfect
-cane f clothes / ???
-laundry bag for dirty clothes / if needed a plastic bag will do
-hair bands, hairbrush, soap, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, make-up, tooth brush, toothpaste and dark coloured towels / toothpaste is all you will need or want - unless meeting relative in the hospital
-maternity sanitary pads / *very necessary
-pad/pen to write down notes/feeding ties etc. / linked to your first suggestion
-phone/camera careers etc. / you only need one, given to partner

Baby's bag:

Two baby grows, the smallest nappies possible, an all-in-one and a large blanket, and a taxi home. You will need the stuff suggested over a month period, not for the hospital visit.

-6 front button all in one any grows
-6 muslin cloths

• 6 bibs

-4 cardigans -6 hats, mittens and socks -car seat -water wet wipes -nappies, nappy cream and apply bag -Aptamil ready made baby formula - 2 starter pack (in case BF goes wrong) -infacol for feeding -snowsuit for going home in (winter baby) -3 swaddling/baby blankets -soft toy/comforter for our DD

DH bag:

What every is needed to keep him going for two days in a hospital
-book, mags, papers etc.
-change of clothes
-list of contact numbers to let people know when she is born
-camera and battery/charger
-lots of loose change (parking/snacks/sandwiches etc.)
-toothbrush

Good luck

Breast pads?

You won't need to take your own towels, use the ones provided by the hospital. That way you wont need to worry about stain removal either. The hospital ought to also provide baby sheets and blankets. take one of your own if you like but no more. Hospitals are tropical so it is unlikely your baby will be wearing a cardigan in there, or a hat for that matter. One cardigan to go home in will suffice. Your baby will categorically not need a soft toy.

Your DH is unlikely to need a load of stuff for himself. Unless your hospital rules are out of the ordinary, he will be sent home at night time. He can change his clothes at home. Having one change handy in his car might be a good idea in case of baby sick/poo related incident.

6 vests and babygrows is probably excessive. Obviously if you are having a CS you will be in longer, but just pack three changes of clothing and then get your DH to take the dirty ones home and bring the clean ones in. Same with nappies. No need to try and fit 5 days worth in your bag. Just keep the remainder of stuff in the boot of DHs car.

I did take in a pillow from home. I was so glad of it as I like to sleep with two or three and there was only one on the bed in the hospital. Feeding pillow probably not required in hospital though, use a bed pillow if necessary.

I would strongly suggest ditching the formula. Having it to hand might make it harder to get breastfeeding established. If it becomes medically necessary (say your milk takes longer to come in) then the hospital will give you formula milk. You only usually need to take your own milk in if you intend to formula feed from birth. And even then some hospitals provide it for you.

Thank you again. Can you tell I am a new mum to be.

With regards the breast pads. I ore someone said it was too early but I am already having to wear them as my boobs have started leaking already. Will this stop or should I take them in just in case?

If you are already leaking then perhaps stuff a few in round the sides of your case so you have them if needed. It's easier to go braless in hospital though, makes it easier to get the hang of bf if you aren't having to faff with nursing bras.

Thanks Kat.

Mostly all covered, but I ebf Ds and had to start Infacol from about day 3-4 as he got vv colicky. So definitely have some at home. ( or Dentinox)

I would also consider a sleep mask and some "unhealthy" snacks - if ever there is a time that you deserve chocolate

I disagree with the advice on formula milk and think it's worth taking your own, so you're in control of giving it to your little one if it's medically advised. This is based on the bitter experience of having my little one forcibly fed with hospital formula milk when he was diagnosed with dehydration at 4am in the morning! Next time I'll make it clear that my newborn is only to be given milk provided by me - whether that's formula milk or expressed colostrum I've provided.

You can feel quite vulnerable after birth, and I would never assume that hospital staff will understand or account for this. Providing formula milk has (sadly) become a political issue on postnatal wards. Having some formula milk in your bag won't damage your resolve to breastfeed - it just gives you more options when you or your baby might need them. Don't hesitate to use it if you need to - just make sure YOU decide. And good luck!

Pretty much all been covered but maybe slippers? I didn't have a cs, so not sure how much you'll be moving about. I took a cheap, soft pair, much like slipper socks but ballet pump style. Easy to slip on and off and don't take up much room.

I second the stretchy bra idea. I wore mine in hospital and have worn them to sleep in, ever since. Dd is 7mo, now! Comfy, easy to manoeuvre to bf, no hard/rough bits to keep away from baby and they wash and dry quickly.

Oh and make sure you have more maternity pads than you think you need. My hospital didn't provide any. Don't necessarily need to take them all in with you, but have them handy at home/in car for dh to fetch you. He'll thank you for not having to send him to a supermarket for them!

Good luck!

Amazing how different we all are. I'd say slippers, nightdresses, bras, breast pads, toiletries etc are absolutely essential!! Especially as you're staying in. I stayed in for 4 days and by day 2 I wanted to be human again so looking the best I could in the situation was part of that.

Also, without your own nightwear you'll be condemned to a hospital gown!!

make sure your slippers are properly non-slip, hospital floors are really slippery.
A bag for your laundry/worn clothes.
Mints! if you are given any drugs for nausea you will have a really dry mouth.
Ward can be funny places, hot in the day and really cold at night so maybe have a bag with a hoody/dressing gown in the car. Also some drugs and adrenaline crashes can make you a bit cold and shivery so you will prob want a hoody/jumper anyway.
You seem to have missed out going home clothes for you too??
(I have had no children yet but plenty of hosp stays and different drugs)
Good luck x x

Straws. Sounds ridiculous but I was unbelievably thirsty while feeding and trying to get DH to feed me always resulted in water everywhere.

Also the best tip someone gave me was to make sure the sleep suits are stripy. You're so worried about if the baby is breathing and you can see stripes moving easier than block colours.

I love that last suggestion - stripy sleep suit!

Am making notes...!

DD is 2 weeks old and by far the best thing I included in my hospital bag was a tube of Jaffa cakes!

Marking place

I had a nice travel pack of Liz earle toiletries and made dh give me hot cloth facials while i was in the bath on delivery ward. That was definitely worth including! I didn't feel like eating much before the birth but the unhealthy snacks were great afterwards as the hospital food was rank.

Lansinoh nipple cream. You can get it free on prescription so I am asking my gp in advance! The breast pads are handy to stop the cresm getting on your bra. I also found a dummy a godsend for ds (although useless for dd) and nipple shields meant I kept going with bf (large boobs and flattish nipples make it hard for a small mouth to latch on).

Normal sanitary towels were nicer than maternity ones. There is a bit less blood with a c section. Soft waistband and big pants so they don't rub your scar.

I wouldn't bother with pillows, hats, socks or mitts. Well maybe a hat for going home. Also wouldn't bother with infacol, nappy cream. Hospital has blankets but have one with the car seat.

Snacks are good idea and a drink bottle. I took cordial as I don't really like water. Dry shampoo is great in hospital! Don't waste much money on nursing bras, there is no way I could have been fitted accurately in advance. I favour vests with built in soft support (m and s do them in black and white with their other lingerie vest tops). Comfy for sleeping and hold breast pads in place.

I only took four nappies which wasn't enough as I had to stay overnight and I had to ask for some more mid change in the middle of the night, they said no initially then eventually took sympathy and gave me some.

Thanks again...

I will make sure that I take lads of nappies... God forbid I run out like you did Catellington.

marking my place as been making lists myself today! thanks all for the good ideas so far...

Shamelessly bumping. Really interested in hearing about any further tips..

Seperate stuff within bag into smaller bags for ease of finding.ie:

• baby vest, babygrow and hat for baby to first have on after born. If your busy for whatever reason and can't help then dh/ nurse can find all together.

• going home stuff in another

• general stuff in another. Seperate wash bag

• leave as much as possible in car ie car seat, spare nappies/ spare clothes etc.. Max 10 nappies with you. Once you have used half dh can go and get the others.

Remember that when you leave you are likely to not be able to carry much so your dh with have all bags/ car seat with baby etc in.

I recommend just a handbag size with valuables ie phone/ kindle/money/ anything you want to find quick at any point like lip balm. This can easily be locked in cupboard or moved with you. Then the actual bag just a small hold all with shoulder strap, with seperate smaller bags inside to make it easier.

Oh and you don't really need things like shampoo and conditioner seperate. Just take a travel shampoo or 2 in 1 with both. You only want to wash basically so can condition etc when home.

Slightly vain one- If you are a makeup type of person. Get eyelashes/ eye liner dyed a few weeks before. Then it lasts 6-8 weeks so you don't feel you need to put on make up before baby pictures ;). Same with leg etc waxing if you usually shave to save bending down for a while

Artandogo really like the idea of dying lashes etc, i don't wear much make-up but i always like my eyeshadow & lashes mascared before leaving the house. Having to faff with make-up is a pain in the arse in hospital so may do that