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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Hospitals bags - your most useless contents

56 replies

broodylicious · 01/06/2015 19:41

So there's lots of talk about hospital bag contents all over the web. Great big long lists of things that are apparently essential. I thought it'd be a bit of fun (and possibly help ftms) to start a thread that lists the items you were told to pack in your hospital bag but proved totally useless and redundant.

For me, it was a specific outfit to labour in; got to hospital, clothes came off because it was just too ruddy hot. Who cares about dignity when your bits are on show to a total stranger or five?!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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BlueBananas · 01/06/2015 19:43

Make-up - I genuinely thought I'd make myself over before having pictures taken! Bless!
I see lots of these lists saying take snacks too - who the fuck has time to snack?!

Springtimemama · 01/06/2015 19:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

siblingrevelryagain · 01/06/2015 19:48

Ditto iPod or magazine. Who has time (or concentration) either before or after?

Face spray/lip gloss (you can't nuzzle a new born with gloopy lips!).

I disagree about the snacks though-if you get forgotten in a side room and don't get breakfast a flapjack might just save your life, esp if breastfeeding. Same for cartons if Ribena.

Lottiedoubtie · 01/06/2015 19:49

hairbrush
Magazine

LillyBugg · 01/06/2015 19:52

Ha ha yes to the labour outfit. I remember after DS was born I looked down at myself and couldn't remember how my trousers and pants had come off and also found that I appeared to only be in a rather blood stained bra. Still don't know how I got undressed. I laboured quick and clothes were not high on my list of priorities.

Artandco · 01/06/2015 19:55

Loads of time for book/ kindle, mine just fed constantly and slept on me and I was so happy i couldn't sleep anyway. Baby on chest sleeping or suckling, kindle in hand, maltessers in front of me ( well that's hour I spent the night I stayed in!)

Baby going home outfit - what's that? Surely they just go home in whatever you have put them in when you get permission to leave? You have hardly dressed them in rags on ward! Put in car seat as they are, add blanket, go home!

Shampoo/ conditioner/ shower gel/ body lotion/ spritzer - huge long list of toiletries. Just take one all in one shampoo and body wash. It's not a spa, get clean and fresh and home asap

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 01/06/2015 19:58

Snacks, magazines, iPads etc. By the time I was dilated enough to be at hospital I was in no fit state to eat/read etc! A contraction every 2 mins lasting a minute and a half doesn't leave much time for snacking and recreational activities.
'Going home outfit' for baby. I put her in a sleepsuit when she was born and she went home in that (we were only in a few hours).

SpaghettiMeatballs · 01/06/2015 19:58

With DC2 everything was useless. Was rushed to delivery room, leggings ripped off, threw self on cushions on floor and baby came out!

Pointlessfan · 01/06/2015 19:58

I ended up staying in hospital for 2 weeks and I used everything in my bag and ended up taking home even more stuff that I'd asked DH to bring in!

EducateTogetheralumnus · 01/06/2015 19:59

Essential oils! Of a variety of flavours. When I think of the money I wasted! Used the lavender a bit in the bath after I had DD1 but the rest of it went into the bin.

ShootTheMoon · 01/06/2015 20:04

A spritzer bottle to spray calming, essential-oiledwater if I got too hot in the birthing pool - something I saw advised on here.

I wasn't allowed in the bloody pool because of my blood pressure and if DH had sprayed water in my face I would have punched him. Hard. In the nuts.

Original poster

broodylicious · 01/06/2015 20:05

Yeah going home outfits - WTAF?! Ridic.

OP posts:

Whatabout · 01/06/2015 20:08

Tens machine, did absolutely nothing. A straw / straw bottle, never needed it.

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 01/06/2015 20:08

I guess it all depends how long you stay in! We got there at 9am and were home for 8pm, i barely even opened my hospital bag!

WhyAspoonCousin · 01/06/2015 20:10

My kindle and it's waterproof cover for the birthing pool!

Mrscog · 01/06/2015 20:11

Lol spaghetti,eatballs that sounds just like my DC2 labour too!

Imscarlet · 01/06/2015 20:11

I left in my jammies and dressing gown. I seriously was so afraid they would change their mind (section) that I was out of there like a speeding bullet.

HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs · 01/06/2015 20:12

Magazines - plural! As if I had time to read even one.
Nail files, because apparently I would be filled with desire to give my baby a manicure within moments of its birth. I saw the unopened packet in the drawer yesterday and laughed at myself.

LillyBugg · 01/06/2015 20:17

Ah see the straw in a bottle was absolutely essential for me. I could barely communicate but I was able to scream 'WATER' at fairly regular intervals at my DH. I was on a bed in stirrups so a cup was hardly practical. The gas and air really dries your mouth out.

MrsDumbledore · 01/06/2015 20:21

The thing is it depends how the labour and birth pan out and how long you are in hospital.

With dd was induced and in labour for a while, so used the nightie had taken in for labour and the music playlist. With ds, arrived at hospital 10cm so I don't think the bag even got opened until i was in recovery after theatre! Was in 2or 3 nights both times so did use snacks. Had no concentration span for books though!

Hellohellohowareyou · 01/06/2015 20:21

Dressing gown, got that sent home with DH when I realised how hot it was on the ward, not looking forward to that again in 3 weeks time!

magazines/kindle
Tennis ball for DH to massage my back
DH took his ps vita in and didn't even switch it on

Stoneysilence · 01/06/2015 20:22

Not strictly a bag thing but I cringe to think I had a Brazilian wax at 39.5 weeks in 'preparation'...Mani and Pedi I was glad of though, it was a while til I had the chance for one of those again...

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 01/06/2015 20:23

Stoney I did the same and am doing it again this time!

RolyPolierThanThou · 01/06/2015 20:29

It depends on your labour really and you cant predict iT.

wuth ds1 I didn't have my hospital bag. I was booked for a home birth and was in the hospital for a scan.
The scan had them worried and I was overdue so wasn't allowed home.

I ended up labouring in hospital for over 50 hours. my sister dropped off my bag for me about 24 hours in. and then, due to complications I was kept in fir a week.

dh ate all the flapjacks andcereal bars id packed during the 50hr labour and I was glad of the gatorade in post natal because I was too weak to get out of bed.

dh had to go out and bring me more underwear and nighties because I only packed one.

And i loved having nice toiletries to use during my depressing week cooped up in post natal.

Ds2 I had a quick 2hr labour and was discharged after 6 hours so the only thing that came out of that bag was a onesie for baby and clean pants for me.

cookielove · 01/06/2015 20:30

I was in hospital for 3 days before I gave birth (trying to delay it) I had no hospital bag just my hand bag as I didn't think they would keep me in, I had been in and out of hospital the weekend before so all I had was my hand bag! I read alot. And had lots of things brought in. Ds stayed in the nicu for 10 days so apart from cooing over him I was on my phone !

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