Hospital bag

[Merlin333]

Im packing my hospital bag but its seeming to be quite a squeeze fitting everything in!! Did you put baby stuff in a seperate bag? if i have it all in one there is no room for dressing gown and i have also been told to take my own towel and a pillow dont wanna turn up looking like Im off on a 2 week holiday!!

Usually you pack your own bag, I'm packing the changing bag for the baby. And having my own small wheelie suitcase (primark sell them cheap) or bag for myself.

So far I've managed to get everything in my wheelie case. Bought a light cotton dressing gown from Matalan as maternity ward will likely be boiling and anything thicker will be too hot. Will carry pillow, snacks, notes etc separately. ..

I looked like I'd packed for a month holiday but didn't bring anything in until after the birth - OH was holding me up and had no free hands! It all went rather quickly - sent home 9am at 2cm, born 2.30pm...

Had big holdall for me (including snacks/drinks) and rucksack for little one.

Would suggest change of clothes for OH and definitely bring a straw for grabbing sips while on labour - got a bit dehydrated which meant providing the necessary post birth evidence all still working took a while.

I had one bag for me and one for baby. I stayed 3 nights after the birth and DH needed to bring some extra baby clothes in.

This is slightly off topic but make sure that your birth partner understands that they will need to be able to retrieve any item in the bags in 60 seconds or less. When you're in labour and you need something quickly it will really irritate you if you have keep saying where everything is.

My other tip is that your birth partner should practice doing up the poppers on the sleepsuit. My DH got a bit stuck with this.

DH had to go and buy some smaller baby clothes as although the growth chart had her at well over 7lb she was a long legged thin 6lb 11 so at 2 weeks is still in Tesco tiny baby sleep suits with the feet unpicked! I bought 0-1 month and some newborn which ate still huge.

DH also had to go and acquire me some dinner as I only reached the ward after dinner time. Savoury snacks also handy

I am packing two bags. One for me and other for baby.

Definitely pack 2 bags, even if you have space, I was really glad I did because it helped us both finding things. I also just used the changing bag (although had to stay 3 days so had to use stuff people brought in as gifts). I second the thin dressing gown thing, dark colour to hide blood - same for towels.

I'm having an elcs so I'm packing a 24 hour bag (rucksack) that can hang on the bed or go at my feet as I remember from last time how stranded you feel when you have to ask a midwife for everything during th first night. Then I have a 3 day bag for DH to bring in the morning after the birth with all the other stuff I might need that's bigger and once I can walk around again I can retrieve the stuff I need. Obviously it's different for me because I know I won't have a labour and I know I'll be in for at least a few days.