Hospital bag! Name at least 3 must have items!

[Holly34]

If there was at least three things you have/would put in the hospital bag and was/is really useful, please share this!

I found lip balm to be an important one! (theres nothing like dry irritating lips)

Nappy bags .... Weren't on any lists but came in really useful

V pillow, Tea tree oil, ear plugs

2 litre bottle of water, Fybogel, apples
I was literally TERRIFIED of the first poo. Was no bother.

Water, paracetamol (you an ask for it but might not get it when you need it), a nice big fluffy towel.
Packing mine later and also going to remember:
Phone charger
Ready porridge
Maternity pads
Nappies
Cotton wool
Lip balm
Extra pillow
Nightie with buttons to aid feeding
Slippers
Muslins

Snacks for you
Ear plugs
Decent thick comfy sanitary pads and massive comfy knickers
Wet wipes
Change for vending machines
Phone charger

A bin bag for dirty laundry.
Dark towels.
Flipflops for the bathroom and hallways, slippers get so dirty.

I read another post on here which suggested an ikea blue bag. Just bung everything in there instead of repacking your hospital bag when you leave!

Phone charger and empty current photos on there to make sure memory isn't full
Squirty water bottle - pour it on your bits when you wee and takes some f the sting away
Lots of maternity pads
Your own pillow and breastfeeding pillow
Snacks
Vaseline - ask midwife to put it on baby's bum before first nappy, it makes cleaning off the first poo (sticky marmite) sooo much easier

Oh and definitely your own towel as they're not always provided

Separate bags for you and baby. I had emcs and midwives got fed up going through my things to find the bits I'd packed for her. I'd also had conflicting info about her size and had packed 3 sizes and not taken any of it out of its packaging. This time just the first size and all unpacked and washed.

A cup with a straw that went all the way to the bottom, made it much easier to keep up with fluid intake as didn't need to change position to drink whilst in labour.

Disposable pants, found them more comfortable than the giant pants I bought, can barely feel them and when you are sore that's a good thing.

Flip flops for the shower, although the one I used on the birthing unit was all new and clean. Had I been on the labour ward it would not have been the case.

A straw was the most useful thing I had whilst in labour

1. Nice smelling shower gel/shampoo for your first wash/shower afterwards. Ah, just remembering that first post labour shower, bliss... makes you feel human again!

2. Squash/sugary drink. Really craved it after long labour and didn't really fancy more water. A lovely midwife made me some squash from her personal stash as they didn't have any at the hopsital.

3. Painkillers - ibuprofen, paracetamol, co-codamol. As a PP mentioned, they might not give it to you right away when you need it. My after pains were awful, like real contractions, every time I fed DS.

Disposable pants!!!

Food. After hours on gas and air your throat can be sore and dry, and they offer you toast...

Another vote for nice shower gel, that first shower is bliss after labour and you may as well have something lovely and fragrant to use after all that work. The stuff I used still reminds me of that first day after the birth.

Lip balm!

Dry shampoo for when you get visitors and can't be bothered/have no energy to wash hair.

Witch Hazel
Lucozade sport for labour (frozen)
Phone with charger

Camera

A lot more maternity pads than you think you'll need
A plastic bag with no holes for taking soiled clothing home in
Toothbrush (most essential "feel fresh again" item and the one most likely to be forgotten unless you buy a spare to pack in advance.)

Lip balm like Vaseline! Gas and air, combined with hospital dry air makes for a very chapped mouth!

Squash

Slip on / off shoes, I took crocs which aren't fashionable, but perfect, I even used them in the shower.

Maternity pads

Phone charger

Shower gel

Food. I was starving, v long labour and then got sent to the ward at midnight with a single slice of toast.

Pregnant with my second and this list is just fab!

Lots of snacks! I remember doing that with my first.

A change mat that folds up small. My dd pooped everywhere and I struggled to keep the bed tidy

Flip flops
Chocolate hobnobs and little cartons of apple juice
Massive pants