Hospital bags help for mum and baby....

[LG1979]

Hi ladies, this may end up a long post but could you take a look at my list for my baby bag and my bag and tell me if I'm missing anything? It looks a lot but it's not really when they're in their bags.

Baby bag:
Babygro/vests - 4 first size and 4 up to 1 month
Sleepsuits - 4 first size and 4 up to 1 month
4 Bibs
4 pairs first size socks
4 pairs of scratch mits
3 hats
1 jacket (for coming home)
2 blankets
1 shawl
1 teddy (for cute pics)
20 size 1 nappies
Pk of wipes
Nappy bags
Cotton wool pads
Talc
Sudocream.

Mummy bag:
Tankini (for birth hopefully)
Old nighty ( if not in birthing pool)
2 pairs pjs
Dressing gown
Slippers
Big Pants
Nursing bras
Socks
Pk of breast pads
Maternity towels x 20
Toiletry bag
Chapstick
Hand fan (incase it's a really hot room)
Flip flops (been advised to take for in shower)
Bag for dirty clothes
Fruity sweets
Coming home clothes
Phone chargers
Brush
Hairdryer

I meant 8 sleepsuits and 8 vests!

Agree with everyone about ditching bibs etc

Buy some moist toilet tissue for you. You're just going to have to trust me when I say you won't want to use dry stuff post birth

I'd take a few bibs - otherwise you will be changing babygros a lot when they get that delightful orange colostrum spit up on them!

Cash! I was hungry a lot so would tootle to the vending machine or used to buy TV time! Both my children fed for the first 24hrs so I just got comfy and watched TV!

X

Definitely go for integrated scratch mitts rather than separate - they just don't stay on.

Also YY to ear plugs / sleep mask.

Take some snacks or money for snacks for DP, hospitals often supply food for mothers but no one else.

Congratulations

No talc! Talc + Nappy cream = hard to remove paste....

I can't imagine you'll bath the baby. I was in 3 nights with my first, and dc2 was in 8 nights. Neither got bathed till they were a couple of weeks old at least.

The MW and nicu nurses did not approve of wipes. Cotton wool and water. Or cotton wool and vegetable oil to get the meconium off. You can buy tiny bottles of oil, though I decanted some from the kitchen into a clean urine sample bottle.

I took a travel changing mat and used this in the perspex cot while doing nappy changes.

If you usually wear contact lenses i would recommend taking your glasses as well.

I planned on breastfeeding but my ds was born with a severe tongue tie and couldn't latch on. We ended up formula feeding in hospital and then at home bottlefeeding with expressed breast milk and formula. We were eventually able to breastfeed but this wasn't until the tongue tie separation had been carried out at 2 weeks. If i have another child i will take one of the starter packs of formula that are presterilised to the hospital just in case.

I would cut some of the packing but have an additional bag for the car with extra nappies and extra clothes for you and the baby, plus snacks and drinks - then you'll have it all ready if you or the baby need to stay in, but won't need to store it all by your bed.

Two top tips for someone who unexpectedly stayed in for a week:

1. Frozen drinks (like Capri sun) which will melt slowly. Wards are bloody hot and as a bfing mother I was chronically under watered and under fed!

1. Tea tree oil and an old water bottle. When you wee post birth, put warm water and a drop of tea tree oil in the bottle and pour over yourself as you wee. Gets rid of the sting, especially if you have stitches. It was a tip I saw on here and the best thing ever post-nasally!

Glad I read this thread...have packed my bags fit almost due third baby and realised I left the little folding change mat out. Considering my first DC peed all over my bed during newborn checks, I think I'll add it in...

I'm sure I've forgotten something else, hope I'll be out quickly again and it won't matter!

Blimey! I have just started getting things for the hospital bag (maternity pads etc) and it seems I might be woefully underprepared going by your list OP! I was thinking one small size sleepsuit (expecting baby to be 8lb plus) and a couple of vests and suits in the next size. And a blanket......

toodles off to revise list

Pack a bag for DP/DH and pack whatever you want if it makes you feel better. I had a home birth and packed extensive bags as I knew if we transferred in it would be an emergency... And it was!

I was so bloody grateful for the vast majority of the stuff I brought as it ended up being a long haul. DH had a change of clothes and toiletries and he ended up staying with me so we were pretty grateful. Fresh breath is appreciated. I packed in to little laundry zippy bags and that was good for DH being able to find things easily as I had labeled everything.

I don't think I dried my hair as it was so hot but after a few days I was bloody grateful for straighteners. By the time I got to hold my baby I didn't look half bad.

We went through a lot of baby clothes too. At one point I just send DH home and told him to empty her drawers in to a bag. We didn't use it all but I was grateful for it.

Disposable changing mats. I used mine plenty more than once
Flip flops for shower (floor likely to be wet)
iPad/kindle to read in middle of night
Little radio and headphones
Def ear plugs and eye mask
You might need more than one blanket - my boy was sick on his within a few hours so we had to use towels to swaddle. I like the large Muslims for this.

YY to nipple cream!

Snacks for you and DP - hospital food is unsatisfying. Large bottle of water with sports cap. Lip balm.