Trying to be sensible and get this done instead of leaving it to the last minute plus need to go out and buy what I actually need (I'm 31 weeks, have a feeling this one is going to pop early) have googled and seen all sorts of different lists telling me I need different things.... like a sieve, really do I need a sieve?! I was planning a water birth but even so....
Then I'm reading you need tiny baby clothes, newborn clothes, 0-3 clothes in case I have a porker. Baby will need a hat/Baby wont need a hat, Bring a blanket/Baby wont be allowed his own blanket and will have to use hospital stuff. Aaarrghh.
I am not going to breastfeed, I know its best and the midwives will try and force me too, but I have made my mind up. Do i need to bring bottles or will the hospital have this?
Same with nappies, pack my own or will they have them?
I know people also say you wont care about your dignity when you're in labour but I would like to try and keep the top half of me dressed if at all possible, I know I would feel more comfortable less exposed. Again with the water birth would prefer not to be completely naked if possible.
Any ideas of what I can wear??
This is all SO CONFUSING!
Any advice is gratefully received.
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Pregnancy
Ok, panicked FTM - What do I actually need in my hospital bags?
LJHH · 18/06/2014 11:06
I have a cabin sized suitcase too, and my list was basically the same as yours. I'm going to take one of my own pillows (due to a pp scaring me re other people dribbling on hospital ones :) )
And some paracetomol, my best friend kept yelling at me that I had to pack some so I just did as I was told
Picked our car seat up from MIL's where it had been in a box waiting and now it's just sat in the middle of the spare room looking scary! The prams staying there but that's all good to go as well, eeekk
Good luck with everything 
I'm the queen of overpacking, I'd rather take everything and feel better knowing if I need it, it's there.
Glad I'm not the only one!
I forgot about towels!
In no particular order - leave a change of clothes for DH in the car. He might need something to change into - he'll probably sweat like a pig, not to mention wind up holding a vernix- and meconium-covered baby. This doesn't apply to ELCS, because your DH will be given scrubs if it's an elective section.
I expect to be in for 2 nights as mine will be an ELCS. It is booked for the 9th of July so the hospital will be sweltering - maybe I can persuade them to let me out earlier.
Last time I totally over-packed. Took a small wheelie suitcase and a hold-all and my 6 foot body pillow, and a couple of carrier bags. I felt like an idiot - DH had to make 2 trips back to the car when we left with all the stuff, before coming back to carry DD in her car seat. The trouble is that nappies, maternity pads and breast pads all take up a lot of room, and that's before you've started on clothes/toiletries/flipflops/towels etc. I was v lucky and got a side room last time (it's luck of the draw - I asked when I arrived and a room was free, but it easily might not have been) and you could barely move without knocking things over in it. My parents and DH went completely OTT bringing food/magazines/flowers etc, and there are hardly any surfaces - one tiny bedside table and the windowsill, that was about it. We were balancing stuff on the sink and there were open packets of M&S food everywhere, and then an orderly arrived bringing a tray with pork chops and mash and ice cream and we had no idea where to put it. I forced myself to eat it because it felt rude not to, but it was the last thing I wanted after all the M&S cake/crisps/cous cous salad/prawn cocktail etc. 
Then it was kicking-out time for DH and we tried to stack everything I might want on a bedside table the size of a laptop ( I was still bed-bound at that point so if it wasn't on the bedside table then I couldn't get it. I had to ring for a MW to change DD's nappy). I had a jug of water and about 4 glasses, my phone and DH's phone (I didn't have a smartphone and wanted to have access to MN!), magazines, grapes, chocolate, my Kindle and god knows what else. I knocked my phone off in the middle of the night and just had to leave it on the floor. My bed was full of body pillow, me and DD! A hospital single bed is not really built to accommodate a 6 ft pillow. I'm leaving that behind this time.
Take empty carrier bags to bung dirty clothes in - your DH can take them away as you use them. Might also be useful to have extras to take rubbish away! (See aforesaid M&S food cartons)
I'm making DP do an emergency run to Argos for crucial (they aren't, I just really wanted it) baby supplies in another county today. So I'll think I'll hit him with the YOU have to pack, or at least help me, the hospital bags tomorrow
That does make a lot of sense though, he can never find anything and it drives me insane. I definitely don't want my DS in towels until I'm able to find his clothes!
More than 1 pair if bottoms for you just in case of any leakage.
Not just money but change for tv card things or vending machines.
My ds and dd were ff from birth I had to take those mini cow and gate ready made bottles put a box of them in car and maybe 4-5 in bag. Your dh can top you up.
Even thought not Breast feeding a good support bra and Breast pads are a good idea your body doesn't know your intentions. 
I used wipes straight from the off with no issues although wasn't warned about first poo 
that was a shock.
@cheshireeditor
I'll take some baby wipes from my stockpile, I've got nearly 60 packs so reckon I could spare one
I had four bags...
First was labour bag and contained nightie for labouring, first outfit for baby and 2 nappies, some snacks, a sports cap bottle of water, a few maternity pads, a change of clothes and my wash bag.
Second was the 'daddy snack bag' it contained vast quantities of snacks for my bottomless pit DH!
Third and fourh bags stayed in the car until postnatal. Basically one bag for me with night clothes, maternity pads, fresh clothes etc and another bag for baby (I used our changing bag) with muslins, vests, Babygrows, a carry pack of nappies, blanket.
There was probably other stuff in the bags but I can't remember now. 
I also put everything in little ziplock bags so DH/hospital staff would be able to find it easily. DH thought I was mad/hilarious but It turned out to be well worth it as I ended up with a spinal and it was him and the midwife who had to find everything at 3am!
We were in for 5 days so I did use all my bags!
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Large water bottle - like the ones you have for cycling, that way you can drink at any angle - I was laying down for 12h with epidural.
I also grabbed hot crossed buns on my way out the door at home - they were wonderful after delivery. Much better than the normal toast they offer you
Also choose something simple like a sleep suit for first outfit as dad will most likely dress him. I didn't and feel guilty that my poor hubby who had never dressed a baby let alone a newborn after being awake for 2 days had to struggle with this nighty type thing my mother had bought. Oops.
Oh and my hubby appreciated all the snacks I took to keep him going.
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