daddy hospital survival pack - ideas anyone ?

[Jemima1988]

I am planning on making a surprise survival hamper for my boyfriend for when I go into labour ........... I'm wanting funny bits and some essentials and maybe a few little gifts

Any ideas?

[eatscakefornoreasonwhatsoever]

Ban him from eating stinky food. Seriously.

If you want something nice for when it's all over, how about a chocolate cigar hidden in your bag that you can present him with in honour of his new daddy-hood?

Otherwise I will second the deodorant, clean pants, socks and T-shirt, some chewing gum, lots of non-stinky snacks and a sports drink (same for you) and a camera so he can take pictures afterwards. Make it a survival kit - not a goodie bag. He will be too distracted to enjoy it, I promise :)

I can ask my DH what he found most useful if you like? We were there a while and luckily had packed him a daddy bag.

[weebairn]

I bought my DP a book on being a dad and a beer and a bottle of daddies sauce (har har) and a card saying thanks for being a support during pregnancy and labour which I sorted out beforehand, gave him after the birth was over.

Yes I would have withheld it if he'd been a complete twat during the labour Luckily he was a superstar.

(He got me champagne and soft cheese!!)

This time he says he is making a box of nice things for our toddler "from baby" to give to her after the birth. Hope I get champagne again… :)

[WhyOWhyWouldYou]

Bellyrub - because (sorry for tmi but) i projectile vommited the second i hit established labour, soaking myself, the midwife, the bed and quite a bit on the floor too (was in hospital already due to complications). After that even the idea of food made me sick, until a few hours after labour.

The midwives informed me its actually fairly common to throw up in labour and a lot of women get like i did about the idea of food.

[eatscakefornoreasonwhatsoever]

Right. I asked DH, but he was fairly useless and said he couldn't remember - he did say anything for entertainment purposes was a waste of time. The clean clothes were good because hospitals are hot and he was sweating like a ...actually I won't use his analogy. It was a bit blue.

He remembers the chocolate cigar though! :)

[Bellyrub1980]

Ah right! Good old nausea/vomiting rears it's ugly head once again!

[MrsWombat]

A clean t shirt, deodorant, mints, small bottle of Pepsi, and a few snacks.

[Eastpoint]

Get him some snacks & a clean t-shirt. I struggled carrying my own stuff in when I was in labour - I think you need as little as possible so you don't have to think about it all.

[ToAvoidConversation]

I've been in hospital a few times with HG. Both times I hadn't planned on being admitted that day so once I didn't have a bag and the other time I managed to cobble something together whilst throwing up.

We're re-packing my bag today incase we end up admitted again. Apart from all my bits & bobs I'm going to include a change of clothes for DH as last time he had to sit all night in his suit as he had come straight from work. A toothbrush and some personal washing stuff (I can't stand the smell of deo so he has to shower on his return from work), snacks and some juice for him. Means he doesn't have to leave me which he hates. We have the same phone and a charger has come in useful a few times.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

There isn't always a lot of space in delivery suites and postnatal wards to have goody hampers strewn around - so think of it as the equivalent of your hospital bag and make sure it all fits into a small satchel-type bag.

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

I had a phone charger that would work for him and packed t shirt pants and socks. I bought him an easy to read book and a pack of expensive snacks. Had a little purse of change for vending machines in my hospital bag. DH mainly ate at Costa while I was in hospital while I made do with less exciting hospital food.