Come and look inside my labour bag...

[PotatoPolly]

Double checking what's in our hospital bags, and so far I have the following:

Mine:
2 x nighties
2 x 10packs of boots huge maternity pads
5 x huge black knickers
Slippers
10 x breast pads
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Moist toilet tissue
Shower gel
Nipple cream
Sweeties

Baby's bag:
Pack of nappies
Pack of wipes
2 x ready made milk with teats
4 x bibs
3 x hats
4 x short sleeve vests
3 x sleep suits
Coming home outfit
3 x socks

Anything else you would recommend?

Oh and car seat and blanket will be waiting in the car

Bottles of water and some snack bars.

An outfit for you to come home in?

Definitely some savoury snacks - I was starving afterwards.

Oh and some mints in case your sick in labour

Food and drinks maby some frozen box drinks as cool/cold water in hospital is like gold dust always always warm and more breast pads if I were you

More pads and pants for you, just in case you are kept in

Sports bottle to drink from?
Muslins?

I'm also bringing ribena this time as I didn't feel like drinking plain water last time.

A towel for the shower in case you stay in

Flip flops, essential if you end up using the showers at the hospital.

A bottle of water to pour over yourself when going for a wee after birth, can help to minimise the stinging.

More maternity pads. Always more maternity pads!

Lansinoh if you want to try bf and witch hazel to put on the maternity pads for a bit of relief!

I say more knickers. You might want pjs too if you get kept in.

I had my baby this week and the first wee they make you do in a bed pan so they can measure the volume. I thought this was just because I'd had a catheter but there were signs in the loos telling everyone they had to do it

I would say ditch the baby bibs to 1 and socks to 1.
They don't need socks with sleepsuits anyway as feet covered.
Add a muslin cloth or two incase baby is sick/ to use over shoulder when winding etc. better than a bib

I took kindle/ book also. I know people say you don't have time but 2 days in hospital after birth can be boring. My babies both just fed or slept in my arms in hospital and rarely Cried at this point so I read the whole da Vinci code in two days!

Phone charger. I got a lot of use out of mine when stuck on post natal ward for four days. I second flip flops - a necessity in minging hospital showers!

I'd lose the baby socks and only take 1 hat.
Might be worth having a few more vests/sleepsuits in the car in case you are kept in.
Don't worry about the breastpads as your milk won't come in immediately.
What about some lounge clothes/cardi to wear over nighty? At my local maternity ward they don't bring food to your bed so you have to wander across the ward to get it.

Maybe a camera, unless you want to take pics on your mobile.

I found jelly bellys really great to eat during labour. Give you a little bit of energy without actually having to 'eat' something.

The rain cover for the car seat- forgot that to our detriment the first time!

Cotton wool / pads for nappy changes - i know some hospitals don't provide them.

A portable speaker for music during labour - I didn't - but I know plenty of mums who did and used it.

Magicool water spray for cooling down during labour.

Your own pillow as hospital ones are pretty thin and uncomfortable.

Energy drinks and a straw.

I just took night gowns but wish I'd had a few pairs of pj bottoms. And food, lots of it!

Cotton wool instead of wipes, & more breast pads...I found there wasn't enough in the world!!!!!

More big granny nickers, I had to sendy MIL to get me some more! Magazines on the off chance that you get some time to relax!

more snacks as they won't give you food in labour apparently! hair brush, make up for pics. change for vending machine. coke incase you feel sick. pj's with trousers unless you're gonna have well shaved legs :p

You don't need bibs, maybe one. You only need one hat. If the sleep suits have feet, you don't need socks.

I don't understand the two bottles of formula really either. If you are planning to ff and your hospital doesn't provide it, you need far more. If you are planning to bf, every hospital I know provides formula for medical emergency/need. If it's a 'just in case', can't you leave a few bottles in the car?

I wouldn't take a whole pack of nappies. Again, I'd have a few in your bag and leave the rest in the car. Even if you stay in, your DH will be coming and going and should be easy enough to collect them and not clutter up the labour room.

For you, some clothes and some flip flops.

Oh yes, and hairbrush and hairbands if you have longer hair.

Id say a pillow, too. Many others were jealous of my pillow.
Water bottle with a sports cap - easier to drink at any angle whilst in labour.
A note pad to jot down times of feeds, etc. I needed to write all down as my brain was mush.
I cried as I hadn't taken my makeup and looked so bloody white, I looked dreadful. I'll be taking a small selection of makeup this time. perhaps a bit vain

Lucozade helped me! Straws really handy for when in labour...birth partner can help you have a drink.

Tens machine?

Paracetamol ?