Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Hospital bag(s).... Bit excessive?!

34 replies

Bellyrub1980 · 07/10/2014 08:18

So I've finally completed my hospital bags! Slightly concerned I've over packed Confused

I've packed 2 carry-on size suitcases. One with all my stuff and one with all babies stuff. And then a rucksack for DP's stuff, magazines, snacks and drinks.

Excessive?!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
dancestomyowntune · 07/10/2014 08:21

It depends on how long you anticipate being in. What have you packed? Doesn't sound particularly excessive to me.

purplemurple1 · 07/10/2014 08:26

Sounds very excessive to me, I went in Friday evening and home on Monday. I took a 30litre rucksack for Labour and straight after birth (hot water bottlew snacks, spare clothes, shower stuff, babies first outfit) and a small holdall for my stay (a few more outfits each, pants etc for OH as he stayed as well, chargers, change for parking). Things like magazines, real food we just brought at the hospital/nearby.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 07/10/2014 08:26

Nah sounds okayish (unless youve packed daft stuff like hair straighteners and a manicure set).

BikeRunSki · 07/10/2014 08:27

Bear in mind that you won't have a lot of storage space. If you drive, the baby stuff can stay in the car until it is born. Your DP can take stuff you no longer need home, and bring in clean nighties etc if you are in for a while.

Original poster
Bellyrub1980 · 07/10/2014 08:28

Here's a rundown of what I've packed:

My Suitcase:
Labour nightie
Tankini
Straws
Towel
Maternity pads
A few breast pads
Disposable knickers (1 box)
Great big cotton knickers (6 pairs)
Vaseline
Gentle body wash
Toothpaste
Toothbrush (for me and DP)
Hair band and grip
Anusol
Water spray
Deodorant
Moisturiser
Hair brush
Pyjamas with front opening top
Jogging bottoms and nursing top to go home in
Nursing bra

Baby's suitcase:
3xtiny baby vests
3xtiny baby sleep suits
3x newborn baby vests
3xnewborn baby sleep suits
1x thin cardi
1x thick cardi
2x hats
1x mitts and booties
1xpack micro nappies
1x pack new born nappies
1x pack cotton wool balls
1x pack Huggies pure wipes

DP rucksack
1x tshirt
1x spare pants
Deodorant
Magazines
Energy drinks
Snacks
Spare towel

OP posts:
Original poster
Bellyrub1980 · 07/10/2014 08:30

Feel like I've doubled up on baby stuff as I have no idea if she'll be 'tiny' or 'new born' size...

OP posts:
mommathatwearspink · 07/10/2014 08:33

That sounds absolutley fine to me. I took two bags (one for me and baby, one for DP) as well as a basket of food and drinks (sounds ridiculous but I was so glad I did as the hospital food was awful.
I did stay in a private room though so storage wasn't an issue.

ByTheWishingWell · 07/10/2014 08:34

That does sound like a lot, and you really won't have much storage space. A labour bag is a good idea- your DPs stuff should fit into that. He's unlikely to have much time to read magazines!
For your post-birth bags, rather than one each for you and baby, I'd have one with the stuff you'll need for the first day after baby's born- a couple of nighties, a couple of sleep suits, your toothbrush. Pack all the excess stuff for a longer stay in the second bag, then it can stay in the car unless it's needed.
Congratulations! Thanks

Lookslikeimstuckhere · 07/10/2014 08:35

Sounds fine to me, I had about the same and still needed DH to go home and get extra stuff when our stay was extended. Good luck!

ShadowStar · 07/10/2014 08:36

The list of what you've packed doesn't look excessive.

In fact, I'd think that only 3 baby outfits (assuming baby too big for the tiny size) is a bit on the optimistic side. Both DS's tended to wee as soon as the nappy was off when new born. That plus nappy leaks often meant plenty of clothing changes in a day. But I guess you can send your DP for more stuff if you're in for more than a day.

fairgame · 07/10/2014 08:41

It sounds like a lot. My local hospital only allows you to take one small suitcase so check that you are definitely allowed that much.
Maybe take one set of each size clothes for baby and send dp to get the baby stuff after. You don't need cardi's for baby maternity wards are roasting!
You don't need hats or wipes and unless your expecting a very small baby then newborn nappies will be ok.
I took all newborn stuff and ds ended up needing tiny baby. I just sent dp out later, ds was fine in the newborn sleepsuit for a few hours and they show you how to make the nappies fit smaller babies. If baby's really small then they will give you a few nappies til you get some.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 07/10/2014 08:43

Only thing id say is to get some giant black cotton knickers that you can just bin if they get wrecked. Disposable knickers arent good at all

hatsybatsy · 07/10/2014 08:46

I think you'll struggle to store 2 carry ons next to your bed once on the ward?

personally I'd slim it down. I'd have one bag for labour and straight afterwards - with maybe 2 outfits for each of you? Also not sure you need quite that many pairs of pants for you?! And I think I'd just plump for the newborn size nappies and clothes at that stage?

Then when your dh goes home, he can always swap stuff over for you and bring in any extras that you need?

HTH?

middlings · 07/10/2014 08:51

YY on the binning of the disposable knickers. Get thee to Tesco and buy a pack of cotton granny pants. Seriously, you'll thank us for this advice.

Don't worry about the tiny vs newborn thing. Just bring in the newborn ones. If they're a bit big, it doesn't matter!

I don't think you need the mitts and booties either. And bring either the cotton wool (this is what I'd bring) or the wipes. You don't need both.

And I have to say I laughed at your DH's magazines Grin. He's not going to get to read those.

Original poster
Bellyrub1980 · 07/10/2014 08:51

Very mixed responses there!! Some saying perfectly normal amount and done saying very excessive.

I've had a rejig and managed to squeeze it all into one carry-on size case and a ruck sack... So I feel a bit better about that.

If I pack the stuff for labour separately to the stuff for post labour it would add on another bag just for the sake of it. Can't really see the point in that? This way it's all in one bag with DP's stuff in the rucksack.

I've put the stuff I'll need for labour right on the top.

I've got 6 pairs of huge cotton black knickers! Wink

But worried I don't have enough baby clothes now though!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Bellyrub1980 · 07/10/2014 08:53

I would never have considered magazines but on this very forum I've had several people recommend magazines (for me and DP I assumed) as labour "can get very boring".

OP posts:
Original poster
Bellyrub1980 · 07/10/2014 08:56

Ok... Think I will ditch the tiny baby size and the micro nappies. That would free up a lot of space. It's only really wishful thinking on my part that I'll actually need them!! The truth is, I don't think our family has ever produced a baby under 9lb...

And the pack of baby wipes are gone now.

OP posts:
elQuintoConyo · 07/10/2014 08:57

That sounds like a huge amount of stuff to me! I took one small carry-on case:

washbag
two cheap cotton nighties
5 pairs pants
matrnity pads
phone charger
book pen

for baby:
5 vests 0-3
2 sleepsuits 0-3
nappies
wipes

Hospital provided X-amount of nappies and maternity pads, once they'd run out you had to use your own. It was very hot there so ds didn't need anything warm to wear, we kept warmer clothes in the car for going home (December born).

I wasn't allowed and food or drink, other than water, in case of emcs. I was fed copiously once I'd woken up after ds's birth (gammon with roast new potatoes, veg puree soup, bread roll, yoghurt).

We had a ton of storage space. Local hospital, not private. I would sugest though that anyone who brings you a massive gift, thank them and ask them to take it home with them and drop it off at a later time, we had 3 bags of stuff - very gratefully received, but needed 2 trips to the illegally parked car and I could barely walk Shock

Another hint is to leave out extra stuff - jammies, baby clothes, nappies etc - on your dining table, so if anyone nees to go to your house and pick them up, you aren't trying to remember and describe what drawer they are in!

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 07/10/2014 08:57

We took a deck of cards last time and they were well played with! I was contracting regularly enough and painfully enough to be kept in, but it bloody dragged out!

Boysclothes · 07/10/2014 08:58

I'd say you need to add the following...
Earplugs
Flip flops (for potentially grim shared showers)
Dressing gown and post birth nightie in case you end up catheterised etc
Antibacterial wipes (see above re showers)
iPod and dock if planning music in labour
Flannel (great for hot foreheads and necks in labour)
Personally I'd also take one or two cheap pillows if you're planning an active labour.
PS I'm a midwife and of the school of thought that you take everything you might possibly need...better to have it and not need it than other way around!

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 07/10/2014 08:59

This time round ive managed one flight bag for me and baby inc snacks etc, but also have the carseat separate with the nappies and baby milk sort of wedged into it. Ive packed.nothing for dh as he will jusy grab his toothbrush and a deodorant as we leave the house.

Boysclothes · 07/10/2014 09:00

Oh and yes a pen! Essential.

Flingmoo · 07/10/2014 09:02

Bring nipple cream if you're planning on BFing!

Pisghetti · 07/10/2014 09:03

I took about three or four magazines and read them all before I gave birth as did my partner (in at 9am on a Wednesday, birth at just after 8am the following morning). They're worth taking - if you don't get a chance to read them fine but if things are going slowly (particularly if you have an epidural) you'll be glad of a distraction as it can get booooring....

WhyOWhyWouldYou · 07/10/2014 09:07

In my experience hospitals reccomend a labour bag and a post labour bag so you can have just one smallish bag in labour (with one newborn outfit and stuff for DH), this won't get in the way on labour ward then. Then when you move to post labour ward DH/DP can run back to the car and swap the little labour bag for a holdall with all your postnatal stuff. Also keeps your bag as decluttered as possible.