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Original poster

Hospital bag- what do you wish you took?

34 replies

Peppaismyhomegirl · 12/05/2016 21:54

I've done this before, I really should
Know but my mind has gone blank and I'm to frazzled to think, so,
What do I need? Aparently the after pains are bad on your second?! Someone also told me stool softners?! Anyone got some tips for me? So far I have tenna lady pads and baby grows Confused

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Psycobabble · 12/05/2016 21:56

Well clothes that fit my ds and more than one outfit oh and an actual change of clothes for me may have helped . Grin I'm useless haha hang in there for more helpful responses !

Original poster
Peppaismyhomegirl · 12/05/2016 22:02

See i only have one outfit, so your helping! Also, do summer babies need the whole vest, baby grow, hat, shawl malarkey to leave hospital?! That's seems really warm? My first is a winter baby so I'm all confused.

OP posts:
Psycobabble · 12/05/2016 22:10

Yay ! Well we had to stay in a couple of days and the thought never crossed my mind that could happen haha plus the little set I had brought for him was to small !!

I'm not sure as ds was a winter baby ?! Maybe a few vests and baby grows then ? Not sure on the hat though

Stool softners sound good I wish I'd known they were a thing back then shudder Shock

Junosmum · 12/05/2016 23:49

I wish I'd taken more sugary drinks and clothes to go home in!

icklekid · 13/05/2016 07:17

Take vests and baby grows and a hat. Ds was born in summer and he wore them to come home in. Just a vest in hospital as was so hot though. He didn't really need a blanket or cardigan at all though. I don't think we used the hat to be honest although I'm sure others did...

BeauGlacons · 13/05/2016 07:24

They turned the heating off I the hosp on May bank holiday and a cold snap started.

Four paracetamol. They gave them like sweeties when the pain wasn't bad and then said oh, you've had four doses in 24 hours you can't have more until 6am so I was awake all night. I'd have taken a dose at home. Afterpains.

Anti-bac cleaning wipes.

Clean shirt for dh - baby evacuated meconium as he was put in his arms

Warm top in case they turn the heating off and it turns cold.

NoSpamPam · 13/05/2016 07:36

juice carton with a straw freeze some so you have some cold for later
moisturisers lip and skin
slippers
something better than flipflops that's waterproof for the shower
someone to help me bathe and massage me
definitely expect to wear maternity clothes and to have a 5 months preg belly after
snack bars as i was hungry after and had to send dp away to buy food
as a result he wondered off to the pub that bastard asshole and i had to wait ages.
bring electric hand fan

Hensintheskirting · 13/05/2016 07:39

The midwives will be able to give you painkillers for after pains and stool softners. You may need to ask but don't bother taking your own.

SmallBee · 13/05/2016 07:40

Ooo hand fan is a good tip!

I was in labour for a WHILE on the ward so I was glad to have packed a kindle, phone charger and loads of snacks.
Oh and some really fancy lovely smelling shower gel for afterwards. It made me feel like a person again.

Dolly80 · 13/05/2016 07:46

I took a variety of size clothes for baby, two sets in tiny baby and two in newborn size.

I wish I'd taken:-

-Another outfit for myself.

-More drinks, I was offered plenty of water and tea in hospital but would have loved to have had more choice eg juice or something fizzy.

-More snacks, something savoury to go with the cereal bars, dried fruit, chocolate I had packed.

-More maternity pads

(I didn't take stool softners - I did eat quite a bit of the aforementioned dried fruit though!)

MyBreadIsEggy · 13/05/2016 07:57

FOOD!!
After DD was born and I WA smoked to the postnatal ward, I was given the "meal" the person who had the bed before me had ordered....a floppy sandwich, the size of a postage stamp Hmm

MyBreadIsEggy · 13/05/2016 07:57

WA smoked??

Was moved.

shelbTa · 13/05/2016 08:18

Place marking, this is a useful thread!

weechops · 13/05/2016 09:33

Definitely take more pads/pants/pj bottoms than you think you'll need! If you're bf (or maybe even if not) you will get big gushes of blood. I leaked through so many pads and trousers, dh had to do an emergency asda dash for me!

Nappies for baby. Muslin cloths to pop under baby's head so when they're sick you don't need to change the whole cot.
Actually take more vests/babygro's than you think you'll need too, they can be sicky little buggers!

Your phone charger Smile

I'm sure there's loads but they were my essentials. Doing it all over again with baby number 4 in December!

Tangoandcreditcards · 13/05/2016 09:36

Spare socks for me.

I gave birth whilst wearing my socks (was speedy), they got covered in womb slime and I forgot to pack a spare pair.

Salmiak · 13/05/2016 09:40

Straws - the g&a really dried out my mouth. This way dh could hold a cup and I could drink during contractions.

A box of chocolates and a thank you card to give to the midwives when you leave

Original poster
Peppaismyhomegirl · 13/05/2016 11:30

Thank you! This is all brilliant! I was in and out with my first didn't have beds available Hmm but this time I'm off to a lovely midwife unit where they have promised me I can stay in a bit after to at least register the fact I've had a baby so this is all great stuff. Thank you!

OP posts:
Mouthfulofquiz · 13/05/2016 11:39

I had a baby yesterday - and the best thing I took with me was decent toiletries. After all that effort, a shower, hair wash, nice moisturiser and clean clothes to go home in, felt amazing.

ElspethFlashman · 13/05/2016 11:39

God yes food. I finished at 1am and hadn't eaten all day!

I'd pack several sandwiches in the bottom of the bag next time. Oh and full fat Coke.....you need something refreshing.

Best thing I packed was fluffy bed socks. Labour took so long that my feet were freezing and those bedsocks were a life saver.

EvansAndThePrince · 13/05/2016 12:02

Breast pads! My hospital didn't have any and I was pouring milk bloody everywhere.

Twoseventhsaweasley · 13/05/2016 12:38

Lots of big pants and lots of maternity towels so that you can wear two at a time. Your second baby might be bigger than your first, so aged 0-3 months clothes could be useful. A couple of changes of clothes. Snacks and drinks for your birth partner, you could be there some time.

I ended up staggering out of our house with DS2s head between my legs (sorry if that's TMI). I was not wearing any shoes and DH did not put my hospital bag in the car. I was in no fit state to know what was going on.

DH brought the bag in when DS2 was about 7 hours old. The hospital were very kind and we managed. In DS2s first pictures he has got on some lovely little jamas that look mini scrubs that the midwife lent to us. My experience shows that you will cope even if you forget something. The hospital will lend you things and a friend or family member can always bring things to you.

itsatiggerday · 13/05/2016 12:47

Pants you don't mind binning after. Dressing gown-useful for relocating mid labour to delivery unit through the corridors; 12hrs into labour I did not want to dress again. Also good for going to the shower the next day. (Can you tell the labour didn't go to plan?!)

Books. DD was sleepy the day after but there was a lot of waiting to see drs.

itsatiggerday · 13/05/2016 12:59

Forgot - check your outfit for coming home against the weather forecast or jnclude layers. I froze in a cotton skirt and floaty top in 9deg....

sidonie1 · 13/05/2016 14:23

I would definitely agree with sneaking paracetamol in - I had terrible afterpains when I breastfed and there was never anyone around to get drugs from. I tried to get some when they did the drug trolley rounds and save them but a scary midwife made me take them there and then when I had no pain. I've always been a sucker for rules but intent to break them this time...

BeauGlacons · 13/05/2016 19:44

twoseventhsaplenty just goes to show that all you need is love x