I am relying on your help - hospital bag

[firstpregnancy2014]

Today I absolutely panicked when realising its only two more pay days till my due date Im almost 28 weeks pregnant and going to start getting bits for my hospital bag

Ive had abit of a cry this morning, im 21 and my mum suddenly passed away 7 weeks ago. This is the kind of thing that i need her help with and feel completly clueless. I know she would have been amazing at this.

I know its early but I want to get abit organised!
I rarely get weekends off from commitments so tomorrow im off shopping- what do i need?

Im thinking maternity pads- any reccomendations?
Pyjamas from primark? or a nightie? Have to buy new as at home i sleep in inappropriate oversized tshirts
Toiletries? what kind?
I feel so lost !!

Hiya.
Firstly, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your mum, what a sad time to loose her :-(

I've got 2 bags, 1 for me and one for baby

Me:
2 x nighties (if you end up with a c section you will have a catheter so can't wear pjs)
1 x dark lightweight dressing gown
1 x pair flip flops (yuck showers)
10 x pairs dark pants (or disposable)
2 x nursing bras
Going home outfit
1 x shower towel
Toiletries (mini ones including some ear plugs)
2 x packs maternity pads (boots)
10 pairs breast pads
Snacks and juice cartons
Maternity notes

Baby:
Pack of 24 nappies
Pack of water wipes
Pack of nappy sacks
3 x baby grows
3 x vests
1 x hat
1 x cardigan
1 x pair mittens
1 x pair booties
1 x bath towel
Car seat is strapped into car

Just saw you asked what toiletries:
Mini Shampoo
Mini Conditioner
Mini Shower gel
Mini Deoderant
Mini pack face wipes
Laninosh nipple cream

I found boots maternity pads to be the most comfortable, used about 6 packs in total.
I took 2 x nighties and 2 x dark pyjamas, was in hospital for 36 hours after the birth but glad I took so many as bled over the nighties and ended up wearing black pyjamas home from hosp. Socks as my feet were freezing and flip flops for showering, the floor was quite grim. Lightweight dressing gown and about 8 pairs of enormous knickers (primark)
Toiletries - toothbrush, toothpaste, mild shower gel (not a strong smelling one), shampoo, conditioner, flannel, hairbrush, bobbles.
Lasinoh and breast pads (I liked the lasinoh pads too although they are expensive compared to some others) if you're planning on breastfeeding.

Blanket and muslin cloths for baby too

Hi op, h&m do breastfeeding vests that are really good and reasonably priced. I'm not taking bras to hospital and using these instead because of comfort and also they can accommodate changing breast size too.
Agree with pp about seperate baby bag and your bag. I've packed two towels for me too- one for labour and one for after. Large plastic bag to take home washing in. Slippers. Paracetamol. Drunks and bag of sweets.
Not packing a dressing gown. Just dark pjs and cardi.
Good luck! Don't panic, they have loads of things there too and your partner could fetch things if you need to stay in.
Oh and get the thickest maternity pads you can find, you'll appreciate the comfort after

Another FTM here. Sorry to hear about your mums passing. Here is what I have got so far, all packed and ready by the front door and I'm only 32 weeks.

Pjs from primark for post birth
Travel size toiletries, the usual shampoo, conditioner, body wash, mini deo
Lots of knickers, both normal and disposable
An inappropriate oversized t-shirt for labouring (tbh i probably will end up in the nude or whatever I arrive in the hospital wearing)
Breast pads from asda
Boots maternity pads (highly recommended by friends n family)
Joggers, tshirt and hoodie to come home in.
Towel

I'm also taking my iPad, pillow from home, camera and MP3 player.

For baby I have

Nappies, size 1 and 2
Wet wipes
Cotton wool
2x vests
2x sleep suits
Hat, scratch mits and booties/socks
Cardigan
Blanket
Coming home outfit inc jacket, trousers, t-shirt

If I have forgotten anything then DH will have to get someone to bring it to me.

Hope this has helped.

Hi OP, so sorry to hear about your Mum.

Great advice above, I second all of it. I would also say that if you are comfy in your big oversized t-shirts then take one in for labour. I don't know what your birth plan is but I wanted to use the pool but am quite self conscious so wore one of DH's sleeping t-shirts (he's 6'2" and I'm 5'3" so you can imagine the size of that on me!). But it was what I felt comfortable in...

Definitely handy to have yours and baby's stuff in separate bags - not ideal to be searching around under your pants and maternity towels to try to find a nappy when baby is screaming and has poo all up their back!!

The things I was most grateful for during labour were my lipsyl (got very dry lips, especially when using gas and air) and frozen bottles of water. I put half a dozen bottles in the freezer then as I packed up to go into hospital just pulled them out so I had plenty of iced cold water to sip on during labour (the sports bottles are great so you can drink whilst lying in all sorts of positions without spilling it everywhere). I was in labour for 45 hours though so needed quite a lot of it.... .

Just pick up a couple of bits each week as you do your shopping, then you feel like you're getting somewhere but not spending loads in one go.

Good luck!

This is all great thankyou so much! Feel like im being abit over prepared doing it at 28 weeks but i am hoping to add to it weekly
Also next on my list is christmas shopping- as i certainly dont want to be doing it in december with a newborn !!

I have just started at 30w so it isn't massively too soon (I had my first at 36 weeks).
I wouldn't bother with disposable knickers, they are not very good, just get cheap supermarket granny pants in black for holding up pads. I was also provided with all blankets for in hospital, and would rather use these at first as you don't have to worry about washing them if a nappy leaks or baby is sick on them, ditto towels and bleeding (they gave me a towel to take to the shower, and there was a bag in there to put the wet towels in so no-one had to see if you managed to bleed on it). You will want either a blanket or snowsuit for taking baby home in as it will be November and could be cold.
YY to the not-strong-smelling shower gel - I took tea tree and mint thinking it would be pleasant, even having had an EmCS it burnt my bits!
Don't worry too much about the Christmas shopping just yet - your baby will be a few weeks old before then, and you can go in the week when it is quieter and treat yourself to a nice coffee out somewhere. And there is always online shopping if you don't want to leave the house!

Phone charger, camera charger.
Bag of savoury snacks.
Flip flops for shower.

A tip if buying post-birth pyjamas and planning to breastfeed - find something with button top for easy feeding.