Packing hospital bag. How to do this please? Silly question I'm sorry

[Mybellyisaneasteregg]

I had this same problem last time, so I didn't bother to pack one at all (not even the baby things) and had to scramble to pack it in the last minute so I packed it very poorly and suffered for it in hospital as it didn't have what I needed :(

So I assume it must be a silly question as nobody asks it.

I have started sorting and washing baby clothes and will buy nappies and breast pads, all the disposable items to pack as well, that part will be easy.

But what do you do about your own clothes and toiletries as you obviously will be needing them for the next few weeks so you can't pack them up. So do you just leave instructions for your dh about what to pack in the last minute in case you can't do it? Which leave only a half packed bag, is this what everyone does, have a half packed bag? or is there some other way that I am missing?

I'm packing a small ones that I use on holiday, clothes I'd leave although tempted to come home in pj bottoms and xl t

I packed big pants, nursing bras, dark PJs, socks, outfit to wear home (leggings and long t shirt), maternity pads and toiletries (I used some travel bottles and decanted shampoo etc into them). I made sure that I had clean clothes folded up at home for DH to pick up if I needed them. Oh and I packed a big dark towel for the post birth shower and an empty sports bottle for the post birth wees.

But what I don't understand is how you can pack it as I will be needing to use the pjs, bras, maternity clothes (don't have that many) over the next few weeks. Do you just take them put of the hospital bag and replace them after they have been washed? Is this what you do?

I will put flip flops and a towel in now though. Thank you for that :)

Buy miniature toiletries so you have duplicates (and don't have a massive hospital bag). Either little travel bottles you can decant some into or those overpriced (but handy) travel sizes you can get in places like Boots. New toothbrush and paste.

Bras- aren't your nursing bras different to your maternity ones, at least some of them?

Clothes - I had massive XXL t-shirt from ASDA or somewhere rather than a maternity top and added trousers at the last minute.

I had different bras ready for nursing rather than the regular underwired ones I wore whilst pregnant. I did buy some dark PJs and a dark colored nightshirt (wouldn't normally wear but glad I had it as had a catheter for a few hours post birth) specifically for my hospital bag. Think I picked both up from Matalan or Primark.

I have some small shampoo bottles saved from a hotel that I can decant into, thanks.

This is my second pregnancy, so i have 1 breastfeeding bra that currently fits from my first pregnancy and have bought another, so only 2 in total, don't want to buy more yet, as I know my size will change. I don't fit normal bras anymore so just went straight into breastfeeding bras. I only have 2 pyjamas so I can't really sacrifice one pair to the hospital bag either.

I think I will do my idea about rotating clothes into the hospital bag and then replacing when washed. I think that is the only solution for my clothing situation.

I just bought some cheap (prob £5ish) pjs from Primark in size 16, but with dark trousers with stretchy/drawstring waist and loosish tops for the bag, and jersey trousers and a t-shirt for coming home. I didn't really care about looking pretty for the ward or the 10min drive home. These were not maternity things, but were big enough to cope with a postnatal tummy. I had what I thought were big pants, a size up, had to send DH for bigger ones (post-CS and mat pads). In all honesty I don't think I worried about bras as I initially had to strip to the waist to manage bf, I don't think I wore one. Anything you forget can always be fetched/bought. Admittedly my first baby was born at 36 weeks so I had only recently packed it.

I have a half packed bag sitting on top of the baby's chest of drawers. Next to it are all the toiletries I need and I add to it as and when. I have treated myself to some lovely shampoo and conditioner and moisturisers. I have huge nightgowns and pants packed already along with maternity pads and so on which I don't intend on using pre labour. New toothbrush etc too. Phone charger is there.

I have a list on top of all the extra things we need to pack before going to hospital - deodorant, hairbrush etc so I don't forget.

I also have books to read as I might be in for a while getting induced!

I have a before bag, baby bag and after bag as I will be in hospital for a week after the birth. Dh is going to being the after bag once we have an idea of how I feel post labour. That will have laptop, proper clothes, etc.

Now I am writing about it I feel quite excited :) thanks for posting about this as it has cheered me up no end.

Oh I went to primark for the cheap stuff. Was great for the humongous pants but i was disappointing in their nighties and found better ones that buttoned up the front in a local store. I figured there is no point trying to be too glam on the underwear side for a while after the birth? I will have a spare bra too to change into post labour. I can't imagine not wearing a bra in labour I hate being braless. Will be wearing one of Dh's old huge t shirts for labour.

If you needed something cheap bra wise asda had a great range.

Either go to boots and buy some travel sized toiletries or primark or boots sell little containers you can put some of your toiletry products in.
I bought a spare toothbrush as well so I don't forget to pack mine (judging by last time I was in too much pain to be packing and DH well... Let's just say he doesn't even know what half the things look like)
As far as clothes go-
I would suggest a nightie (buy something in a dark colour from primark- you won't be missing anything) and I also bought a dressing gown as if you are staying on the ward you'll often encounter other people's visitors and dressing gowns are an easy way to retain some modesty when nosey parkers rip open your curtain
Don't forget some easy access bras if you plan to breast feed- something comfortable that you can sleep in to keep the breast pads in place.
I'm chucking in a coming home outfit for myself. Also consider some
Flip flops for the grotty excuse for showers and maybe slippers and socks if your feet get cold.
Buy cheap things so you won't miss them if you pack them now. Primark is great as others have suggested.

I buy travel sized minis or decant stuff into those travel bottle that they sell. Then I buy some cheap nighties for the hospital stay.

I usually wear the same thing to the hospital home again, if you do that you just need to keep your bag on the side somewhere so you can throw in your phone charger, bra and other bits as you're going out the door (tbh I pack the bag and leave a list just inside of all the last minuet bits left to go in), with DC2 I remember using the time between contractions to go through the list until someone took it away from me, zipped up the bag and sent me out to the car as we were!

I only packed enough for 12 hours, thinking that H would be going home after that and could pick stuff up.

Phone charger. Batteries or charger for camera.

Last time I had a list sitting on the top of things that still needed added e.g. glasses, snacks. I remember having to swap clothes around too.

I'm packing my bag at the minute and have bought some mini toiletries just to be handy, but I'll still need a list for the top (specs again!). It's a bit of a faff I guess.