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Original poster

Unusual hospital bag items

62 replies

Haahoooo · 06/03/2014 08:58

I'm packing my hospital bag for the birth of DC2. Have all the basics but would love to hear about unexpected / unusual things you packed in your hospital bag. Interested both in things that came in handy and things that made you wonder 'what was I thinking??' (just because they'll make me laugh Grin).

I have one of each from my first labour: ended up being very pleased I had packed a bottle of apple squash (couldn't bear the thought of water), but really wonder why I packed quite so many toys (??!) for newborn DD1...Confused

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Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal · 06/03/2014 19:48

I haven't given birth yet (pregnant with DC1) so don't have much to add but I have read on here about toilet wipes or a roll of luxury quilted toilet roll as the paper in hospitals can be a bit like sandpaper which will hardly be welcome after giving birth!
I will be adding a water/sports bottle or straws and lots of snacks to my bag for me and DH who is diabetic and likely to get very grumpy if we have a long wait with no food!

Mummytobe2014 · 06/03/2014 21:03

I have brought some andrex toilet wipes for hospital, have had to use them and can confirm they were very pleasant so can see why they are essential after labour!

Writerwannabe83 · 06/03/2014 21:06

Boogles -I am 30 and still have my blanky thing that I can't sleep without, Grin

I am already starting to fret over how I'm going to sneak it into hospital with me Grin

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 06/03/2014 21:11

I took a bucket, cleaning cloths and disinfectant sprays (I'd heard terrible things about the bathrooms) Hmm I used them to clean the facilities every time I went to the loo or had a bath. The hospital staff didn't appear too impressed

Original poster
Haahoooo · 07/03/2014 08:12

Taking lots of notes - some good tips here.

Slightly emotionally wondering if I can sneak in DD somehow... Never been away from her for a night yet Hmm. I guess I'll have things to keep me busy though!

OP posts:
HannahG315 · 07/03/2014 08:43

I've got a mini bottle of Prosecco! Apparently a glass of wine is much better than some lousy paracetamol in early labor.

Also nutri-grain bars and choc buttons. I read high energy snacks- like cereal bars and flapjack- are essential to give you strength?

PenguinsEatSpinach · 07/03/2014 10:38

Hhhmmm, that is true. But I'd have thought maybe more a glass of red whilst you are still in the at-home stage? By the time you are ready to be admitted, I would have thought wine, particularly bubbles, would be pretty off putting? I did have a nice glass of red and a bath at home in early labour with DD2.

Let us know if you use it!

Trooperslane · 07/03/2014 10:40

Me too writer!

The tea lady eyed me suspiciously Blush

HannahG315 · 07/03/2014 11:34

It's actually in the fridge for the stay at home part of labor in all honesty. But still.

And a glass of bubbles is my favourite thing! Personally I think a mini bottle should be the not magnum size bottle Wink

Bubbles in a bubbles bath sound better

PenguinsEatSpinach · 07/03/2014 11:51

At home is a good plan. If you don't have it before, you can have it when you get home. Smile

Just be careful with bubbles if you get a tender tummy. Personally I haven't either time but it's quite common. I shall be shopping for a nice bottle of red I think in case I labour over night again. A nice glass of red wine really did take the edge off for an hour or two. Much better than sodding paracetamol!

HannahG315 · 07/03/2014 12:05

What do bubbles do to the tummy?

Sod it, shall I just crack open the brandy Wink

PenguinsEatSpinach · 07/03/2014 13:11

Oh nothing themselves. I just meant that, of you get an upset tummy (a lot of women do in early labour) bubbles on top might aggravate things. Smile

I am sure a brandy would be similarly relaxing. Grin

mewkins · 07/03/2014 13:20

Flip flops. Some of the hospital showers you really really don't want to walk into in bare feet (and if you have swollen ankles they may be the only thing you canwear anyway).

Also loose fit tops- not necessarily maternity - and comfy trousers. There is very little point un taking jeans in.

Coveredinweetabix · 07/03/2014 13:54

A roll of bin bags. Not only could I put grotty clothes in them but I could use them to vomit into. I vomited copiously during both labours & all they provided were those grey card kidney dish things which mainly acted as a spray system & shot the vomit everywhere. I was then given a bin but, once I had the drip & epidural, it washard to hold the bin at the right angle. A bin bag, though, worked just fine.
Having read masses of posts about constipation, I took a massive bag of prunes & ate the lot. Not sure I'd recommmend that! Getting to the bathroom very quickly when you've just had a catheter removed & you don't actually know where the bathroom is was not a pleasant experienxe!

elliejjtiny · 07/03/2014 16:59

I filled some sports bottles with water and froze them so had lovely cold water when I was in the baking hot postnatal ward.

Boogles91 · 08/03/2014 22:38

Hehehe its great innit writer. :D i will get it out soon as im in there as hubby doesnt have any say in it then :p the name of it is just something my mum and dad got me sayin when i was growing up lol :) x

Lozmatoz · 09/03/2014 08:46

A couple of flannels - different colours! One to soak in warm water for your foof as helps to relax you and a with the stinging pain, and one for cold water for someone to wipe your brow. The latter turned out to be wonderful as I was so unbelievably hot.

Food too, my hospital (north Manchester) no one came to explain that if I wanted breakfast I had to walk down a few corridors to make me own. Pretty appalling, I was starving!

Germanwife · 09/03/2014 09:36

Spare T-shirt for DH.

Packed one of husband's T-shirts for me, as I slept in them whilst pregnant and didn't think I'd fit into my usual PJs after birth.

However, DH ended up using it. He was so anxious during the birth that he sweated buckets.

I didn't bother with a dressing gown. Couldn't fit one in my hospital bag! Just packed a long cardi to wear instead - ward was baking hot, can't imagine I'd have used the dressing gown.

Mummytobe2014 · 09/03/2014 10:20

I was wondering about a dressing gown i have a pretty thin one but everytime i have been to hospital for appts its always hot and the nurse said bare that in mind when packing ur hospital bag! I havent packed it so think i will leave it out.
My dp is smaller than me so his tshirts for my use r out of tge question lol but good idea to take for him.

neversleepagain · 09/03/2014 11:44

What I found handy was having a toilet bag. I packed a small bag that I could take with me when I needed the loo. In it I packed huge maternity pads, wet toilet wipes, quilted toilet roll, Detol wipes to clean the toilet (there was always someone elses blood on the toilets, nasty) and a spare pair of pants.

I was very thankful to be moved to my own private room the day after my c section.

expatinscotland · 09/03/2014 11:49

I brought my own pain relief for my second two.

PretzelPrincess · 09/03/2014 11:51

Things that were useful-
Spare top for DH
Flannel to cool myself
Flask of ice (against health as safety for hospital to provide ice)
Straws
Sandwich for beginning of labour and food for DH
Biscuits/snacks
Knickers
I took a few bits of makeup just to feel human
Phone charger(I love my labour pics-DH kept my spirits up)

GingerMaman · 09/03/2014 11:54

Definitely take in your own pain relief. I begged for paracetamol for 12 hours and then was given them when the doctor finally arrived!

GingerMaman · 09/03/2014 11:55

Next time I would take a small clock to record times of DD's feeds.

PretzelPrincess · 09/03/2014 12:27

Oh I also packed my dignity...really should have just left that at home Confused