What are you putting in your labour bag?

[RoseberryTopping]

35 weeks here and starting to get bits together for my labour bag, so far I've got spare mascara and lip/cheek tint, face wash and some shower gel!
This is my 2nd baby but can't for the life of me remember what I packed first time.

What's everyone else got?

I'm 32 weeks and have already started to pack as I'm a bit of a worrier, 'Just incase'. This is my first baby and so far I have, toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, face flannel, shampoo, conditioner, some Pj's and a hand held mirror as I'm intending a water birth. Plus a small hair brush, hair band and a little bit of make up. Breast pads, Maternity pads, and a few pairs of knickers. Oh, and flip flops.

All the toiletries are mini sized.

My MW said to pack as if I was going away for the weekend as you don't know if you'll be in for longer than a day or not.

This is the list my local hospital recommends:

For you:
Maternity notes/birth plan
Mat pads (thick ones) x2 packs
Old/cheap/disposable knickers x5 pairs
Breast pads
Nursing bra
Dressing gown
Slippers
Old tshirt/nightie to give birth in
Toiletries, hairbrush, toothbrush/paste & makeup
Lip balm (lips can get dry with gas & air)
Wet wipes (good for cooling down & freshening up)
Spare socks
Flannel or water spray (to cool you down during labour)
Plain massage oil
iPod or similar
Energy sweets/drinks (to keep blood glucose up during labour)
Spare set of clothes
Hair bands
Snacks

For birth partner:
Camera
Mobile phone with all the essential contacts
Spare change for car park
Snacks

For baby:
3-4 baby grows
3-4 vests
Hat
Muslin squares
Pack of nappies
Cotton wool
Clothes to go home
Car seat

However I am going to split this lot into 2 or maybe even 3 small bags so I can just bring in one bag with the things I'll need during labour and have the baby's stuff and things I won't need (e.g. toiletries, change of clothes) until after I've given birth in the other bag(s)
I'll leave those in the boot of the car and DH can fetch them once I've given birth!

Why do you need a mirror for a hospital water birth?

Nope. Honestly.

And I have had two waterbirths. At the point there would have been anything to 'see' I was busy and it was underwater.

And the midwives have one.

See I would find that list from the hospital far too much to take. I remember thinking I needed absolutely everything with my first but hardly any of it got used.

Going to have a sit down tonight and think about what to pack, thNks for the inspiration!

From that list I had:

For you:
Maternity notes/birth plan
Mat pads (thick ones) x2 packs
Old/cheap/disposable knickers x5 pairs
Breast pads
Nursing bra
Dressing gown
Slippers flip flops
Old tshirt/nightie to give birth in
Toiletries, hairbrush, toothbrush/paste & makeup
Lip balm (lips can get dry with gas & air)
Wet wipes (good for cooling down & freshening up)
Spare socks
Flannel or water spray (to cool you down during labour)
Plain massage oil
iPod or similar
Energy sweets/drinks (to keep blood glucose up during labour)
Spare set of clothes
Hair bands
Snacks

For birth partner:
Camera
Mobile phone with all the essential contacts
Spare change for car park
Snacks

For baby:
3-4 baby grows 2 baby gros (Figured DH would be going home to see to the older DCs so could easily collect more if I stayed in)
3-4 vests 2 vests
Hat
a Muslin square
handful of Pack of nappies
Cotton wool
Clothes to go home
Car seat

Also:
Flip flops in case the showers are not spotlessly clean.

Ear plugs and eye mask for when the baby decides to take a lovely 'long' sleep during visiting hours and you want to sleep too.
Magazines for when the baby sleeps and you can't.
Phone charger.
Labour snacks.
Middle of the night feeding snacks.

Vodka.

I'd swap the vodka for some southern comfort and that'd be ideal!

I hadn't thought about flip flops but I think they'd actually be really useful.
I remember also being eternally grateful for a sports bottle of water, I was too all over the place to be drinking from a cup and G&A made me really thirsty.

What snacks are good? I want something that can just stay in my bag, not that I'd have to remember to grab.

Cereal bars maybe?

Chocolate, crisps, anything full of bad sugar?

I've got a few Nakd bars in my bag as snacks, they are small enough to nibble on, not crumbly and keep you going for a while.

Depends on your tastes, Dr Kargs are full of good energy, anything that won't make you feel more sick than you might be feeling already during the labour.

I like some chocolate brownies for afterwards, they are not as easy to keep though. Also those fruit and nut bars and possibly a small (or large) box of very nice chocolates (with D3 I actually did make the most of the rest in hospital and sat there with magazines and chocolate while I was waiting to be given the all clear and then for DH to come an get me!).

39 weeks pregnant with DC2. Packed maternity bag today, feeling very proud of myself...

Just read your lists and realised I had forgotten nappies. Obviously expecting a child that doesn't poop! So thanks ladies!