Hospital bag.....

[K8eee]

What do I need to pack? I've just bought our first two packs of nappies (got all emotional in asda ) but how many should I pack in my hospital bag? Also, will night time sanitary towels be ok to use after birth? Or do I need special maternity pads? My mum doesn't see why I would. Also, how many changes of clothes for myself & baby?

I would say yes to maternity pads, I definitely needed more than just nighttime pads.

Changes if clothes - one or two (more underwear) for you plus 4-5 babygrows ? I'm presuming you'll have someone (DH/P or DM) in daily so if you're in longer than that you can ask them to bring more.

I made these lists after I had DD.

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

There are lots of online lists, and threads on here, for inspiration.

What I would say is that (unless you are having a planned section or something, when the split changes slightly) it makes sense to have a labour bag and an if-we-need-to-stay-in bag.

So labour bag has things like toiletries in tiny sample sizes/travel sizes, maternity pads (no way would I have managed with nighttime pads, plus if you have stitches the big thick brick ones cushion when you sit down!), a change of clothes, a couple of babygros/vests/few nappies.

Then you can have another bag all packed with more clothes, larger sizes of shower gel, etc.

I took one pack of nappies and 4 or 5 changes of clothes for the baby. I ended up in hospital for 5 days but just sent DH and my mum out for supplies when I ran out. I am glad I didn't take loads because the ward was so small that there wasn't room for much.

I did however completely forget to take clothes for me and was thoroughly fed up with pyjamas by day 3!

Yes, make sure partner/your mum/whoever knows where to find extra clothes for both you and the baby. It makes far more sense if you do stay in a few days for visitors to collect some dirty and bring some clean than be lugging massive bags about at the end and tripping over stuff (you have minimal storage space on the ward.

Stargirl- Your list is impressive! I'd have used a fraction of the stuff in your hospital bag though. Shows how personal it is.

I didn't have it all with me as it was my first. It's what I accumulated over the 4 days I was in. DH was in Tesco many, many times! I took all the wrong stuff last time...including...a wee bottle of champagne & 2 glasses. I had no fucking idea!

Don't they like to get rid of you pretty soon if you have a 'normal' birth? Hmm I think the bag I have wot be big enough some how I did say to dm that night time towels wouldn't be enough. I think that somehow she has forgotten how bad she bled afterwards

The night time pads aren't good because a lot of the always brands etc have scented layers - not good for your perineum if you have had stitches etc. You are better getting plain basic maternity pads

Also, depending on her age, towels used to be a lot thicker and more cushioning! So maybe it was less of an issue when she had her children?

If you have a reasonably straightforward vaginal birth (including even straightforward instrumental) you are unlikely to stay more than one night. Maybe none. But you'll obviously stay longer after a section or for issues like meconium.

So if I were to pack enough for 2 days for both baby and I? And then go from there?

She was 30 when she had me, nearly 24 years ago I was tempted just to buy some of the tena pads?

Also, suggestions where I can get some open fronted nighties?

I got mine in Primark.

Nighties in primark! Cheap and front opening.

Definitely need maternity pads - tena/sanitary towels won't cut it and they would stick to stitches.

I got some big black pants from primark. Cheaper than paper pants and don't show anything.

The Tena lady pants were brilliant. They did not stick to my stitches. Fantastic.

Stitches where? I have this awful image of as I pull my knickers down a pad pulling all the stitches around my fanny and tearing it open

I had a 2nd degree tear. I never looked so I can't say precisely where. They itched like buggery though so I asked for a cure on MN - Aloe Vera Durex lube. Amazing stuff. Lovely on the stitches straight out of the fridge

I did wonder why you put that down on your list unfortunately I'm allergic to aloe Vera bugger! Do you heal up fairly quickly afterwards? Oh and are the stitches dissolvable or do they need taking out?

Stitches dissolve, thank god! It's for tearing in your perineum. The bit by the entrance of your vagina (on the bottom side).

I used Tena lady pants with at least one (sometimes two) maternity pads on top. Anticipate needing to change the maternity pad(s) every time you use the toilet for a few days following birth. Being able to rip off the Tena pants whenever they need changing and just chuck them away makes life a lot easier.

Pouring a bit of witch hazel onto a maternity pad can have a nice soothing effect. And, on the same line, you might also want to consider a refillable bottle of water with sports top that you can pack with the pads for taking to the toilet. Not wanting to traumatise any first timers, but using the toilet can be a bit of a burning experience for a day or two!

OP, mine isn't the best story.

The MW ran out of local anaesthetic and I felt everything. Initially they took a couple of weeks to heal - dissolvable stitches. But, I never felt 'right'. I saw the GP at 3 months post birth and she referred me to a Gynae surgeon. He redid the stitches. I felt nothing - lots of local used I was back to normal in 48 hours.

Normal lube would work. It's really cool and soothing on the itch. And, designed for that area!

Tena lady pants & lube - both MN tips I'll use again

this is a bit gross and possibly not for "bag" but i had 3rd degree tear and tea tree oil kept it clean and healed really quickly - put it on pad x

I or my open fronted nighties from peacocks when I had my son 5 years ago. Popper fastening too. Much easier than buttons x

Deffffff get maternity pads, normal sanitary towels won't absorb the blood, esp if you have a big loss like I did!!

How long do you bleed for actually?!

The heavy bleeding stage is about three days and about ten days later the bleeding should be more like a period coming to an end (turning brown and reducing). You will probably get through at least one pack of full maternity pads and a couple more of regular big period pads before the first week is over. You need to chance them a lot because of hygiene.

The heavy bleeding stage is very variable. You have a wound inside you the size of a dinner plate where the placenta has come away. I can't remember how long mine was, but a lot longer than three days. I got through a good few packets of the big towels, but that was partly that they were nice cushioning for sore stitches!