Hospital bag... What have I missed.

[OnNaturesCourse]

Labor bag (hold all)
For in labor: Large nightie
Warm socks
Bikini top (aiming for water birth)
After: baggy pjs
Slippers

Hot water bottle
Drinks cup (sippy cup)
Snacks
Deodorant
Face cloths/wipes
Hairbrush
IPad and headphones
Chargers
Body cream
Liners, maternity pads, pants
Newborn : hat, mitts, vest, sleepsuit, bib etc
0-3: hat, mitts, vest, sleep suit, bib etc
Sports bra
Nursing bra

Plan being this will see us through labor and first few hours post birth.

Over night bag (hand luggage case)
Towels
2 x baggy pjs
Large pants
Maternity and breast pads
Nipple cream
Travel sized : face wash, shower gel, shampoo, toothpaste
Tooth brush
Razor
Plastic jug
Plastic bag for dirty clothes
Going home: joggies/maternity jeans, top, zip hoodie
4 x vest tops
2 x nursing bras
.5 pack of size 1 nappies
.5 pack of size 2 nappies
1 pack wipes
Sudacream
Cottonballs
Nappy sacks
Newborn: 3 x : hats, mitts, vests, sleepsuits, bibs and 1 x "going home outfit"
0-3: 3 x : hats, mitts, vests, sleepsuits, bibs and 1 x "going home outfit"
Muslin squares
Blanket
2 x bottles
Formula (unsure if breast feeding)

DP bag (rucksack)
Joggies
Shorts (doesn't handle heat too well)
2 x t-shirts
Swim shorts
Boxers
Deodorant

Is this ridiculous? Have I missed anything?
First timer and I'm clueless

I don't remember my newborn going through 12 nappies a day?

If you have a V shaped pillow, you might want to have that with you after you have delivered: useful for propping yourself up, useful for getting comfortable on the bed, a godsend if you are going to bf

Just a number my midwife gave me so I'm basing it on that. It's my first so I don't have a clue

I've got a long pillow that I use all the time but it's quite bulky :(

I'd add breath mints. Couldn't have cared less about my own breath status, but my DH went through so many coffees. His rank stale coffee breath right by my shoulder made me heave even more than the gas!

Your post made me giggle, I confess I brought 'everything bar the kitchen sink' to the hospital and that enormous bag is still jeering at me from the back of the wardrobe 7 years later, unopened.

Some of the things I packed included:
FlashCards with specific labor massage ideas for DH
An iPod filled with calming labor meditations
Makeup (hah!)
A special birthing robe (easy access) in a cheery cherry colour
High protein snacks
A 3 page birth plan for medical staff to follow

Why these items (and 327 other ones) make me laugh out loud is a tale no pregnant woman needs to hear.

One thing I did use was the mantra 'all this pain, down the drain' over and over. I did a few hours under a warm shower, which helps it make sense. Might work in a birthing pool too?

All the best to you. Preparation is never wasted (I tell myself).

I forgot one, something that actually made it out of the bag.

A tub of cooling/calming round pads (they're moist) with witchazel I think. From the chemist. Can't recall the brand but someone might. Tucked a few between my sore nether bits and the maternity pad for the days after.

My 'just had a baby' waddle was much improved by them.

Sorry not read all replies but wanted to add a suggestion.

If you have a vaginal delivery never mind a c section putting maternity jeans on might not be the easiest task in the world. After both my last two babies - vaginal deliveries - I was really swollen and pelvis was aching. I could barely manage leggings I'd lived in for weeks. Jeans were a no way.

This time I've packed some very soft comfy nice peg lounge trousers from asos maternity.

Oh I always take a pillow from home

Good luck and hope you don't need to stay in for long!

Skittlesandbeer those pads sound good, can you remember where you got them?

I'd always recommend taking some super soft toilet roll for that first post birth wee (or those wet wipe things but make sure they are unscented and not all hospitals like them being flushed).

and prepare to use about 5% of what you pack. I didn't use much during labour (i was more focused on the labour itself) and i was in hospital for 4 days after so DH just brought me in things i'd forgotten/wanted.

We didn't really need bibs until cca 4mo, but went through a lot of hats in the hospital.

You won't need breast pads as your milk won't come in until day 3. Colostrum is produced in tiny amounts, it doesn't leak everywhere like milk does.

Ear plugs eye mask

ineverbakecakes that's not true for all women. My milk came in on day 1, i was leaking like mad in hospital. Every women is different.

My milk never arrived but I think that's unusual

i have heard that getting in some frozen sports packs can be a good idea to provide numbing relief to the sensitive areas of your body that get too hot... ie your privates.

jelly that's exceptional. It often comes in quicker for subsequent babies but rarely for first. Chances are OP isn't going to need pads and she did ask what she could leave out.

but whats the harm in packing a pack of pads? she might produce milk and therefore need the pads, it's not like they are a huge cumbersome product to pack in a bag

I bought a cheap pillow from IKEA that was shrink wrapped, and my own pillow case. That way it fit into my holdall and I just left it there afterwards!

Mouthwash.
I wish I'd packed it. You will probably be sick at some point during Labour and mouthwash easy way to freshen your mouth up if you can't face brushing your teeth.

re the hot water bottle. In my second delivery I had a water birth. There was a trainee midwife observing and she ended up with the role of putting the hot water hose thing on my back every contraction. It was the best pain relief ever(other than the epidural I had with dc1). Good luck op x

All I would say is DARK pjs/joggers/tracksuit bottoms for after birth and lots of maternity pads. I was wearing 2 at a time and went through 2 packs just staying in overnight .

Oh and bottles won't stay sterilised and not all hospitals have sterilisers available. I took those ready made bottles with me as a 'just in case'.

Definitely your own pillow, painkillers (ibuprofen are ok again after birth although it's more with subsequent babies you really need these for the afterpains) and I second the rec for black bottoms - I went for yoga pants as then I felt a bit more dressed than pjs for visitors.

This is what I’ve packed in mine - I’m due on Monday!
Hospital bag:

Clothes:
flip flops / slippers
robe / cardigan
button down pj’s / yoga pants
Nursing tops x 2
going home outfit
disposable underwear and pads
nursing bra x 2
Pants
socks
Post partum wrap

Toiletries:
shampoo & conditioner
body wash
razor & gel
toothbrush / paste /mouthwash
Moisturiser
deodorant
face wipe

Make up bag:
Powder, gloss, blush,
chapstick
hair bobbles/grips, headband, brush
Vitamin & Iron tablets

Breastfeeding:
lanolin nipple cream
Nursing pads

Food & Drink:
water bottles / lucazade still
Tracker bar
sweets

Other stuff:
iPhone / iPad & charger
Maternity notes
Towel
Ikea bag to bring shit home
Baby book
Gift for midwives
Big Sister gift bag

BABY:
Baby socks
Baby coat / snow suit
Car seat & Rain cover
Vest x 4
Sleep suit x 4
Outfit for coming home
Hat for baby x 2
baby gloves x 2
Receiving blanket x 2
Changing bag x 1
NAPPIES x 10

Just a note.......... in spite of suggestions above.

DS1 came at 36.3. Bag was not packed properly. Notes were to hand. Notes, undies, nightie, packet vests got shoved in bag and my make-up bag . It was Xmas Eve and 23 years ago the shops were shut.

Our neighbour sent DH back the next day with baby nighties (they were a thing then, even for boys). Managed with my cardigan and shoes to shuffle about in.

My best friend lent us a car seat to take d's home, not that anyone was bothered. They'd have been happy then if he'd gone home in my arms in the back seat. She also gave us hat and socks and brought mat pads and nappies. Had no idea about wtf were chamillosan or arnica back then.

We survived. DH couldn't buy me flowers because it Christmas Day. Got a veggie roast because that's what last person in the bed ordered. and a visit from evening standard and Fulham Gazette (or whatever it was called then) Bounty people were subtle and lovely in comparison to pressure from midwife and marketing director.

Most important is food!