Hospital Bag - best and worst things to pack

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

about to start my bag. Can you tell me the best thing you included in your hospital bag and the most useless?

Over the bump leggings incase you have a c section

Big full briefs, same reason as above

Slippers

Dressing gown

Maternity pads

Toiletries

Everything for baby for a few days

Dont pack:

Disposable knickers (they are rubbish)

Cant think of anything else!

Frozen flannels.... I had weird hot flushes in labour and having one of these on my face was amazing!

PJs for the ward. 1st time I stuck with nighties and felt a bit exposed!

oooh frozen flannels would be lovely!

Jelly babies were essential for me. Only thing I'd contemplate eating and I needed the energy

I'm havinga c section and was told nighties for first 24hrs due to cathetar, sweets for muchies in the nigh esp if u bf.

As mums of teenagers we had a recent conversation about the reading material we packed when we went in to have PFB. For some reason I thought it would be a good opportunity to read Ulysses by James Joyce. 18 years on and I still haven't had time! But I would have liked some magazines or lighter reading material. A lot of it was so boring - if only smartphones and tablets had been invented! Definitely pack those.

Some really loose cotton clothing is a must. After both births the horrendous post birth sweats left me really uncomfortable and tight clothing was sticky and clingy. A magazine is useful, there's too many distractions for a book. A good quality camera is a must too- We used our phones for photos and the first ones were blurry. Also, cereal bars and juice cartons keep you going during and after birth.

Tea bags/coffee and a normal home mug !

Dh has lost our camera somewhere my phones pretty good but its not the same as camera

Tena Lady pants - so much more comfortable than the disposable maternity pants.

At home - Aloe Vera Durex Lube! The most soothing thing ever for stitches after a tear. Store in the fridge for super soothing power

A trashy novel. Preferably one you have read before and love to re-read. And a cotton nightie. Hospitals are warm places.

And a faff free selection of clothes for you and baby.

I also took arnica tablets.

I had a c section and I would say comfortable loose nighties and big underwear!.
Camera and camcorder. Those first few hours, days are so precious. Capture as much as u can (or ask someone else to)
Little nappies and baby grows and blanket.

I also took a nursing pillow, they're so comfortable for feeding baby and proping your arm up.

Good luck and congratulations..... It'll be absolutely amazing. Xx

Thanks all! good tips here - mmmm tetley teabags rather than nhs jobbies. good thinking.

Picked some giant black knickers up in tescos today tres sexy!

phone charger, some make up (photos!) nice snacks eg chocolate, hair bands, lip balm, a big shawl/pashmina

Both labours I've found a sports bottle the most useful thing. In the midst of contractions I couldn't concentrate enough to hold a cup and a sports bottle can be shoved in your mouth in any direction.

Water spray bottle
Snacks (after you have given birth a couple hours later you will be starving!)
Unscented body wash, towel, clean PJs

Best thing I packed last time was the moist andrex toilet tissues you get. Much more comfortable after giving birth. I shall take 2 packets this time though as all the girls in my ward were using mine last time and I near ran out!

Ooh ill

ill add them to the list!

lipsalve - i had super dry lips
peanut butter sandwiches for after it was all over!
some lovely smelling body wash for that first shower afterwards (so amazing)
nightie/pyjamas that open easily for feeding
flip flops
phone charger
camera

Best things were giant knickers (c-section) and my phone/tablet (plus chargers) for entertainment and pictures.

Riders by Jilly Cooper. And a sports cap bottle for squirting water at poor tattered fanjo in lieu of loo roll.....

The best thing during labour was something I bought on a whim - those little mandarin segments in juice you get in the supermarket. In the end the ONLY thing I wanted to eat through my whole labour. Ignored the chocolates, crisps, healthy snacks in favour of them :)

After labour - something to eat the next morning. I was a hospital newbie and had no idea I was supposed to wander along the corridor for breakfast. I had given birth at 7pm, nobody had offered me so much as a cup of tea. By next morning I was RAVENOUS. When it got to 10am I politely asked when breakfast was happening and they were all [skeptica] 'didn't you help yourself?'. I couldn't possibly have loved DP any more when he turned up at 11am with pate and a loaf of tiger bread!

I didn't take moist toilet paper, but wish I had now reading the above. Will do so this time!

Well I took a nightie to give birth in but was told to change into a hospital gown so was pretty useless. I packed 0-3m clothes and really should have done newborn, 0-3 swamps them. My phone charger, face wipes, a little make up and about 20 maternity pads were my best packs