Ok, panicked FTM - What do I actually need in my hospital bags?

[LJHH]

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.

waffling you make a very interesting point there. My mum Is a midwife and has been doing talks with senior management about self administering pain relief after birth. Jesus I mean if you were at home you would just get yourself 2 paracetamol 30 seconds after the first twinge. But you have to wait ages for some snippy midwife to bring you some just because you're a patient.

Definitely take paracetamol with you!

I always take flip flops to wear in the shower, just in case it's not super clean (which to be fair it often isn't, same as trips to the loo), in the past I have put the flip flops in the bin before going home.

Snacks for the birth are good and some treats to keep you going if you finish giving birth in the middle of the night and the only thing available is a sandwich that was made some hours ago. The same treats/snacks come in handy for if/when your baby wants a feed in the dead of night.

So far I have only used a hat on a baby in winter, the other 2 were fine without, I haven't packed a hat this time.

Fibogel is also good, it helps you to 'go' without putting any strain on your stitches.

This time I am making a pile of stuff that I might need bringing in later, that way there can be no confusion for DH when I tell him what I need.

Goodness I didn't take much at all, and I was there for five days pre-baby and 2 days post-baby (slow induction, diabetic so kept in for 48 hours of monitoring).

• iPad and phone with charger (loaded with books and movies)
• couple pairs black track suit bottoms
• couple of tshirts
• big baggy nightie
• 1 x 0-3 month body suit and 1 x cardigan
• toiletries
• nappies
• pads
• underwear

That was it! My daughter was initially put in clothing from the special care baby unit and the body suit was massive so next time I'd take a newborn one (she was 9lbs7oz). Also we really could have done with two; I just hate to overpack and always travel very light!

Have only skimmed this thread, did anybody say a camera? And somebody who can use a camera - my partner was rubbish, I have shaky out of focus pics of the baby until I could take over. Pick have some video footage of my son which makes me gooey, holding him in my arms and him looking up at me then all around taking his new world in.

Snacks, I hadn't eaten all day so made my way through tins of food.

Tons not tins.

the term snapping back i found to be misleading. i didnt know my belly would still be huge, so clothes in a bigger size.
toiletries.
flip flops.
i ended up naked in labour as you just get so hot.
food.
camera, phone, charger.
a good tip i read on here was to pack 2 bags, one for a short stay, one for longer.
clean pants and socks for your dp.
eye mask, earplugs.

Just a warning on the snacks front - I wasn't allowed to eat anything at all, and I wasn't allowed to drink anything other than sips of water (so no sports drinks).

As DD arrived in the early hours, I wasn't fed till breakfast time - 36 hours after I'd last eaten....

If you want to FF you need to take everything with you bottles, formula, cleaning stuff etc as they won't supply that.

They don't supply any nappies or anything either.

I didn't take enough clothes and felt grubby so I'd take a set more than you're planning.

Slippers/indoor shoes

Nappy changing mat - they won't have one of you give birth where I did, nor anywhere to change baby - I had to do it on my bed

Lots and lots of proper maternity pads!

Only listing things I forgot.

Take more rather than less, you can always take it home w no bother

Food - nothing available to buy in the mat wing when dd was born, and then awful awful hospital meal in post-natal (even though the menu made it sound really nice) - thankfully we had brought cake and galaxy :-)

oh - our hospital supplied sterile bottles / teats on the post-natal ward but not milk. Although i'm guessing in an emergency they would have been able to find some.

Make sure your towel is dark coloured (and your Pj bottoms are dark too), there is a lot of blood afterwards, and in my hospital you had to walk a way to the nearest shower.

I would second the made up bottles and teats, and have lots with you. I couldn't breast feed due to medication that I am on so all three of mine are bottle fed. For the first two the hospital supplied the milk but the policy had change by the time DC3 can along and we had to have the bottles with us. Each bottle has to be thrown out an hour after it is opened so at the start they were drinking little and often so we went through a lot of bottles. Mothercare and Toys r us had them on the shelf. It was also nice for my first week at home to not have to worry about sterilising

I packed two bags, one for labour and one for the post natal ward which we left in the car until I was transferred. I also had a box of extras at home with extra maternity pads, clothes for me and the baby, nappies, wipes etc to make it easy for DH if I needed him to bring something in.

Something I forgot was baby shampoo and towels for the baby, when DC1 was born the midwife wasn't impressed that I didn't have them with me when she came over to teach me who to bath him - as he was 5 weeks early she was lucky I had anything with me, I only packed the bag the night before.

It seems to vary so much from one hospital to another it's worth asking your midwife what they provide. Mine provides pretty much sod all except the midwife, bed and drugs!

For labour a flannel was my friend - sudden hot flushes can happen and a cold flannel was heaven.

I personally packed separate bags for me and baby, to save rummaging through a giant bag for a nappy and change of clothes if you have a middle of the night meconium explosion.

Also a small towel/hair wrap as well as a big towel. No one wants to dry their hair with a towel they just bled all over!

Soft toilet paper or wipes... seriously... around these parts the toilet paper can be used to write letters home on and when you are freshly tender that wasn't fun at all.

Thank you!
So so helpful :)
The websites just tell you the practical things you would need but not actually things you would want (ie, lucozade & lip balm, your own towels and pillows etc) have my next midwife appt next week so will ask her what hospital will provide.
I already have everything, went a bit mad in the asda baby event, (apart from formula, will wait to get that incase he doesn't agree with what I buy then I'm stuck with it) so it's no problem for me to take stuff anyway.
Think I will def get some of the ready made bottles, they are a bit pricey but I can see why they would be a massive massive help, have a load of money off vouchers for kiddicare anyway. My DP seems to think one pack of 6 will be enough but will get more just to be on the safe side...

Take a pillow from home in a distinctive coloured case. NHS ones are flat, hard and covered in other peoples dribble!!

@whatisaweekend
"Bring your own pillow" just shot straight to the top of my list

toweling type dressing gown
arnica tablets
natracare maternity pads
bottle of water - save empty bottle after labour for pouring water onto your bits when you do a wee!
Breastfeeding bra in a much much larger size than you think necessary at least 2 cup sizes bigger and nursing pads as I think milk still comes in - prob would depend how long you stay in hospital??
A good bag with compartments so you can find things
PJs that look like yoga/ loungewar/ clothes for when you are making trips across the corridor to the loo

Pick out a coming home outfit, I let my Husband choose and I couldn't get my backside in the trousers - felt really frumpy and uncomfortable not glowing and glamorous.

One pack of six bottles will not be enough, that isn't even one day worth for a new born. I would think 7 bottles per day, more if you are feeding on demand as once the bottles are opened you only have 1 hour before you have to throw them out. I also could have been unlucky as I have been in at least 48 hours after each birth.

I'm following this list eagerly as I have already packed my bag (32+4) but feel a bit of a wally as DH keeps ribbing me over how/what I've packed. It's our first and I am of the view too much is better than not enough.

I hav a carrier bag in labelled "During" with my old nighties/pjs, socks, d/gown, slippers, lip balm, old t-shirt in. I then have a bag labelled "After" with my new nighty, new pjs, breast/maternity pads, vest tops, leggings, old knickers etc in. I have a toiletry bag full of hotel shampoos etc I have collected over the years along with toothbrushes etc and then have packed baby's stuff into the changing bag. I feel proud of myself when I see it all packed.... Then I see on OBEM or when we did the hospital tour the people with tiny bags and I have a small/medium size suitcase with it all packed in and feel stupid and like I'm packing far too much

@mrsnlw
I'm going to end up with far too much stuff too I know it! I'd rather drag it all there (well DP can do the dragging) and feel prepared rather than only take a few bits and worry I had left something crucial behind. I guess it can just stay in the car til needed. Don't feel stupid or care what other people think, I won't be!

I didn't take the right stuff and it didn't matter. ds1 was induced at no notice so had nothing with me.

Then ds2 was meant to be a Casaerean, got turned and the I went in to labour in the middle of the night. He was born v quickly and I was discharged within 6 hours, dh still dragging the full 5 day suitcase!!

One tip is if you wear a nightie or T-shirt to give birth make it red or at least a dark colour. Then when you are passed a bloody baby you won't notice any mess.