Another novice question regarding.. Things I'm likely to forget to put in Hospital Bag?

[RL20]

I'm 29+6 and over the next few weeks I'm going to start putting my hospital bag together. I know the basics and with all of the leaflets/diaries/books I've been given, it's hard to not take it all in!

But what did you add into your hospital bag that wasn't necessarily a need, but was really useful for you?
Either for you or baby.

Thanks!

[alien11]

I was only in hospital for 3.5 hrs before dd arrived so didn't need a lot but here's what I would pack

Nursing nightie x 2( in case one gets messy)
Dark towel
Nursing bra
Outfit for going home ( I had packed sweatshirt and joggers but then miracle heatwave @ end of sept cue quick repack and I came home in a maxi dress-heaven!)


Carton drinks
Contact lenses/glasses
Face wash/wipes to make you feel slightly fresh after
Shower gel-mild
Lanisoh (sp?!) cream - miracle stuff!
Snacks- choc,crackers,snack bars,fruit
Hair band/grips
Make up inc moisturiser for hot hospital,Vaseline
Hair brush

For baby

I had cotton wool but would use water wipes if had no.2
Baby sleep suit - at least a couple that are footless and some with feet ( never know the length of baby, my dd was very long and had big feet!)
Vest
blanket
Scratch mits/socks
Hat
Car seat

Phone charger
Camera

[HoldenCaulfield80]

I hadn't realised how much water you retain immediately after birth and was horrified when my feet wouldn't fit into my shoes as I was discharged! Were I to do it again I'd make sure I had a nice pair of BIG leggings, a long cardie and some very loose/giving shoes for schlepping around the ward and the journey home.

And newborn babygros. In my head DC was going to be MASSIVE so I'd only brought 0-3 months stuff. She was 7lb 12oz and absolutely swam in what we'd brought in.

[toffeeboffin]

Lipbalm. Food. Moisturiser. Gum. Spare change.

Don't take a book (ha) or candles like I did - unsurprisingly they didn't get used. (and probably won't for the next 18 years!)

[worriedmum100]

I think I had 8 "sandwich bag" outfits but needed DP to bring more as DS puked up a lot of bloody mucus. He was fine though I hastem to add! It's quite common with c-section babies (so I'm told) because the mucus isn't squeezed out in the birth canal .

[HulaHoop12]

Lots of big knickers. Bigger the better. I got ginormous granny pants from M&S, DP and I laughed at them. Haha, I doubt I'll wear those. I ended up wearing them for about six weeks, lucky I bought two packs.
Also plastic bags for yours/ your baby's dirty washing, you'll be amazed how quickly it's created! Agreed on the big snug cardy, I wrapped DD up in mine while BF on our first night, was lovely. Good luck, very exciting!

[flowerygirl]

Definitely food you like. Crisps, chocolate, fizzy drinks. Although the food was pretty good when I had DD1.

I don't know why but top of my list for my next is tops with sleeves. I packed strappy nursing tops and I felt so grim I just wanted sleeves and to be wrapped up in a big blanket.

The outfits in sandwich bags is very clever! I packed way too many clothes for me and the baby.

Another tip would be bring a bigger wheely case than you need, as you always bring home more (gifts etc) and you end up with loads of little plastic bags of stuff all over the place. Good luck! x

[indecisivedoctor]

Clothes for you post delivery! I hadnt thought of this and was in for a week. DH had to video call me in front of my wardrobe whilst I tried to direct him to suitable clothes to bring in. It was flipin hot in there and I still looked pregnant so my summer mat clothes would have been ideal ( December baby!).

Good luck x

[BauerTime]

My top tip is leave some change in the car well in advance if you need it for parking at your hospital. And stick a few quid in your bag too just in case you need it. You never know when you might need to send someone down to the shop for a mint aero or a bottle of cheery coke.

My other top tip is that as well as packing an extra bag to leave at home in case you end up having a long stay and need more supplies, separate the non-essentials from the must-haves and consider leaving some in the car if there is too much stuff.

Things that you are not sure if you will use such as make-up and a kindle don't need to be in the hospital bag if you discharged after 6 hours and if you get put on a ward with others you wont have much space and too much stuff will drive you mad.

I think that its important to remember that you cant prepare for everything so don't try. Pack as if you are staying one night and anything else can be brought in later if need be. Just organise it at home. I left everything I thought I might need in the crib so that DH knew exactly where to look when I sent him for it.

[GoooRooo]

I took five baby gros for DS and used three I think. I was only in over night. If you stay longer you might need more but presumably your partner might be able to bring them in at visiting hours for you?

[RL20]

Bigblue- that's hilarious! I'll try and make sure there are no other bags when I put the hospital bag by the door!

Worried- that is a good idea! I know everyone's different and in your circumstances your little one got through lots of outfits, but how many would you recommend taking?

[worriedmum100]

My mum had a really good idea which was to pack a complete baby outfit (vest,baby grow, hat etc) in plastic sandwich bags do all I had to do was pull out a bag rather than root around for different bits. I was in 3 days after an EMCS and DS was very sicky and brought up a lot of mucus. I got through all of the outfits I packed and more!

[bigbluestars]

None of it is really crucial.

I found that out to my cost. I had my hospital bag packed and ready for several weeks prior to my first child being born. I felt very prepared.

On the day my labour started OH grabbed my bag and we headed to hospital. It was only in the delivery suite when I asked for something that OH realised he had picked up the wrong bag by mistake. In his haste he had grabbed a similar bag that we had taken to Turkey some months before.

The midwives creased up as he pulled out the entire contents of the bag- a pair of flippers, a mask and a snorkel.

The staff were great, managed to find me everything I needed, including nappies, baby clothes, socks, vaseline for my chapped lips.

[RL20]

Wow thanks everyone.. I think I've caught up with everyone's posts!
I'm going to write a list later on today (after I've been back to sleep for a bit. Been awake since around 3.30am because the cat felt like rearranging the kitchen so it seemed!).
The list will be a mile long! It's handy to know what other people ended up using that weren't originally on their list. I'm sure it will help! Thank you

[PooersMummy]

Sorry it was called 'cool it mama' not hot mama!
I got it from mothercare online.

[PooersMummy]

I had the nct hydrant - great for keeping hydrated during labour and after my emergency c section.
Also hot mama facial spritz - as it had menthol and citrus it was refreshing and the menthol kept my skin cool for a while after application.

[BumpAndGrind]

Just refreshed the thread

I see my tip has already been mentioned... it's a good tip

[BumpAndGrind]

It means you can do very last minute packing without actually having to think straight.

[BumpAndGrind]

If you are going to pack what you can in advance, make a list of the stuff you can't, phone charger, toothbrush, etc (stuff you can't pack away because you use it too often)

Put the list in with the already packed stuff then just check the list and add the things you need just before you go.

[cherrylola]

Put yellow hospital notes on your list!!!

[cherrylola]

My top tip is, when you've packed your bag full of all the things you will need make sure you write a list of all the other things that you use everyday so can't pack and stick it to the front of the bag so it can easily be grabbed and items gathered within a few minutes. Mine went along the lines of;
Phone charger
Fresh drinking water
Make up bag (not that I could be arsed to put any on but hey, I wanted to have it!)
Yada yada

I also added to the list with essential things to do before leaving the house before going to hospital in a hurry;
Leave cat loads of food and water
Unplug wotsit doodah etc

This was as much as a reminder for me as for DP.
It was mainly for DP. I won't lie
It did mean that there were no panics and nothing was forgotten

[cherrylola]

I found a snickers that DP hadn't got round to eating and had shoved in my handbag. TOTAL GODSEND in the middle of the night after labour when there's no one around and you're stuck on the ward not sleeping but absolutely bloody starving!!!

[minipie]

Marking place!

I would add : plastic bags! so that you can wrap up any clothes that get messy with bolidy fluids of one kind or another.

Hat and cardi for baby, it's warm on ward but cold outside, and if the baby is small they'll do best wrapped up.

Water wipes are fine for newborns and much easier than cotton wool and water.

Spare contact lenses if you wear them, and glasses.

[OccamsLadyshave]

I had to send exp home for 0-3 babygros because dd wouldn't fit in the newborn ones I'd packed. 10lb 8oz and long!

And definitely food. I was only in for one night but the food doesn't appear at the times you need it. Also exp ate half my toast!

[LovelyBranches]

Gas and air made my throat dry and my lips chapped-they bled because of it! I would pack lip salve and drinks with straws-Capri sun and Ribena are good.

Maltesers are good because they melt in your mouth if you have a contraction. By the end my midwife was giving me lucozade tablets (very long labour) so you may want to consider that.

Pillows are a must, the plastic flat pillows in hospital are horrible.

Lansinoh (I don't know if that's spelt correctly) was a lifesaver for cracked nipples.

[LetMeDriveTheBus]

Defo a hairband and one of those fabric alice bands to keep hair fully away from your face/neck. Great in labour and then breastfeeding afterwards.

Sports bottle.

Pack of snickers or other high energy food for afterwards.

Earplugs.

Nice smelling toiletries to revive yourself afterwards.