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

[Bellyrub1980]

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

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?!

Why do you need a pen?

I'm refusing to take towels. Hospitals are full of towels! And they take up too much space. I'll bring a facecloth though, and travel size toiletries from Boots.

I'm also inclined to wear a hospital gown during labour - I'd rather their clothes get destroyed than my own nightie! Has anyone else done this?

We were instructed to pack 3 cellular blankets. Will we need that many?

Flannel is a very good idea.

annarose pen is because your expected to write down feeds as proof they've happened but the hospital won't give you a damn pen or paper to do so. At least that was my experience.

You need a pen because you'll probably have to write in the feeding /nappy change record.

Take a towel! We have tiny baby sized towels only. You may be begrudgingly given one for your post birth shower but you won't be given one on the PN ward, where I work anyway. Would be fine to labour in a hospital gown but they are long and flappy and gape at the back so not great if you're planning to be quite mobile.

Cellular blankets are always getting weed and poohed on. OP remember a blanket to pop over baby for the way home.

Oh and annarose if your hospital doesn't supply blankets then you'll easily need 3 - DS got through 6 in 24hrs. They can be very sicky initially.

Nipple cream! Someone else said it but just to reiterate. I also found the Medella brand of nipple shields (try a pharmacy) really helpful when starting BF. The MWs don't like them but they can help get you through the first two weeks when it can really hurt when baby latches on (then nipples desensitise and you can chuck them).

Basically for my first I took everything but the kitchen sink, with this one I'll take practically nothing out of sheer laziness and a determination not to spend more than one night in hospital. Take what makes you feel comfortable having checked that you'll be allowed that much by the hospital first.

I only work on general wards so am shocked they don't supply towels on the PN ward! Sod it, if I end up staying in longer than one night DH can always bring one in the next day - its more the post-labour shower I care about.

Some cheap slippers you can just leave in the trash can (if you don't want to bring hospital germs home, I never thought of that myself) or as mentioned for showers, flip flops. Eye mask for sleeping if you need it to be really dark.

Yep I would just take newborn and not bother with tiny baby. If baby is tiny as someone mentioned they can wear newborn anyway and tiny can be brought in or just worn when home.

I think I worked on x3 everything main . So x3 baby vests/ babygrows,x3 changes of clothes for me.

I had 3 bags. one with all of my stuff and one with all the babies stuff in one with odds and sods in for both me and OH.

In my bag there was:
pj bottoms x2
Baggy nightshirt to wear after delivery in case of catherter x2
vest tops with buttons done the front to bf with x2
black underwaer 4pk x2
nipple pads
maternity towels
flip flops to walk around ward in
towel as hospital ones really small and stiff
travel tolietries for shower
leggings and top to go home in

Babies bag:
nappies
cotton wool
nappies bags
vests
sleepsuites
hat
blankets for going home in

odds and sods bag:
water
snacks for labour or on ward after
book/tablet
phone and charger
camera

ended up staying in for 5 days as both me and LB had problems after so glad had packed more than needed. Oh took dirty stuff home and brought in clean stuff or extra pads etch when needed.

At the end of the day, pack what you feel comfortable with. I am someone who likes to be prepared