Hospital bags

[ColourfulOrangex]

Hi I'm due my second child in the next 40 days (not counting down or anything )

I was just wondering what I need in our bags, I don't even remember packing a bag with my son (6)

Any help would be appreciated thank you :)

Clothes and nappies for baby, including a 'going home' outfit if you want one

Car seat

Comfy clothes for you including big pants, mat pads

Stuff for feeding, either nursing bras and tops with access or bottles + formula

stuff to labour in e.g. big t shirt

Water bottle, snacks

phone charger apparently

Our trust antenatal class also suggests a few bits for Dad to freshen up e.g. pants and T shirt, which I guess might be handy if it's 24 hr + (and would be allowed to stay overnight for us so PJ pants)

Stuff to read/ do/ distract

If you have antenatal class at your hospital they might give you a check list?
You might also need
Towel
Hair brush/hair ties
Toiletries

Something that would have helped me massively; a hand held fan. The wards can be really hot and no-one could find a fan from the shops so I was in pain and it was boiling and uncomfortable to sleep in. Definitely recommend taking one

This was mine:

Camera
Maternity pads
Breastpads
Lucozade
Nursing bras
Big pants
Nighties
Flip flops
Dressing gown
Comb
Hair clips
Fragrance free shower gel
Moisturiser
Nip cream
Lip balm
Deodorant
Toothbrush and paste
Music
Phone charger
Change for parking
Baby grows for baby
Face wipes
Tent to wear home
Tens machine
Tissues
Towel
Thyroxine
T shirt for dh
Muslins
Blanket
Car seat

Thank you all :)

I guess it depends on how near the hospital is and how long you intend staying....

For my 2nd DC we arrived at 6:45 am (according to the car park ticket) and we were back home with DD by 10:20 am...

So in that case only bare necessities (less to carry back out) but if you expect it to take a wile, stay longer or a c section then you'll need s lot more stuff....

My NCT teacher recommended bringing disposable incontinence pants instead of maternity towels. Sorry to be gross but it was great advice!

Would always recommend flip flops for the showers!

Big dark towel! NHS ones are like tiny crusty flannels.

I've always used this list as a rough guide
www.hipp.co.uk/advice-centre/pregnancy-birth/getting-ready-for-your-arrival/what-to-put-in-your-hospital-bag/
I don't pack all of it but all the essentials are there. 63 days til edd here also not counting

@putthehamsterbackinitscage how did you get them to discharge you so quickly? Is it just because you had a morning birth? Dc5 is due in August, got told by midwife & consultant at the start of the pregnancy that speedy discharge would almost certainly happen as last 2 labours have been fine as have the dc & they're now backtracking saying I'll be in a minimum of 6 hours...

My 1st I had to stay in overnight as he was born at 6.22pm and they said we had to stay in for 6 hours and wouldn't discharge us at midnight obviously, hoping not to be in long with this one either, ohh flip flops I didn't think of them!

This list is helpful thank you, I found one but it literally looked like I was going to be moving in for 2 weeks

Carrier bag for wet towel/mucky clothes
Change for car park/ vending machines for husband if it's going on a while
Camera

Bernard the policy was something like 4 hours but my DH was on the case and when they made noises about moving to ward from delivery suite, he said no - it was agreed we could be discharged from delivery if no issues. So we left from delivery suite - midwife visited later that day to do newborn checks as no pead was available ...

Was best experience ever... after DD born had a cup of tea, showered whilst DH had a cuddle and got DD dressed and ready to go, he had car seat and bags all sorted 😉 under 3 hours from time of birth to walking out the door...

My midwife told be beforehand it was possible so that was our plan all along...

Clothes for baby (I had babygrows with built in mittens, vests, cardigan/ jacket, hats, bibs. And a special going home outfit).
Car seat (I had a shawl as well).
You may like to take a small teddy and your own blanket, so the baby can be wrapped in his or her own later on, when all clean and dressed (we took a cellular blanket and a small teddy).
Starter pack of formula if you plan to formula feed, or some mums like to have it just in case they need it for any reason (can't help with what is needed for breastfeeding as I chose not to).
For me, I had a couple of long nighties to wear during labour, a tankini for the birth pool, comfy clothes to wear in hospital after the birth. Clothes to go home in (comfy tracksuit bottoms and a t shirt was fine for me). Large knickers (some prefer disposable but I just got cheap full briefs that I didn't mind getting rid of after), comfy bras. Maternity pads and breast pads.
I also brought flannels and a towel for having a shower after the birth. Basic toiletries (shower gel, hairbrush and bands, toothbrush and toothpaste). Also phone chargers, plenty of water and drinks for us both. Change for the shop or machines. Finally a change of underwear, clean t shirt and deodorant for my husband, so at least he could put a clean t shirt on the next day.
The best thing I had was my tens machine though. Really helped me through (though of course not everyone uses one).

Thank you putthe. This is what they've said to me from the start too but as I say they're now banging on about 'policy'. If there are complications with either myself or baby I'm happy to stay but I don't want to set foot on that bloody postnatal ward unless I absolutely have to (horrible experiences last 2 times, first 2 were in scbu so I was discharged almost immediately). I'm fairly certain my stay last time contributed to my pnd. I've an appt tomorrow with perinatal mental health so I'm hoping they'll agree that getting me out of hosp asap will be best all round.

Great points on here I'm now packed :) thank you

Bernards - make sure your birth partner knows the plan and will help force it through.... my DH did that and we were out and in our way as soon as I was ready...

We git home then looked at each other as if to say what do we do now? So I sent him out to get me McDs breakfast

My hospital has signs up saying take your own paracetamol and ibuprofen onto labour ward/midwife led unit as it can be too busy to be able to prescribe individually.

A cool bag with frozen bottles of water in. The ward I was on was so hot!
Phone charger