So, apart from an industrial sized vat of domestos, fake tan and a manicure set, what is essential for my hospital bag?

[Megglevache]

Message withdrawn

Food!

Clothes for baby (a couple of babygrows, a hat, a little blanket, etc)
For you:
2 nighties
a robe
slippers
Flip flops for shower
earplugs!

I had an emergency c sec first time around and stayed in hosp a little longer than expected so for this pregnancy I am leaving a 'spare' bag at home with extra clothes, nappies, sanitary towels etc in case my husband needs to bring me more stuff. This includes lots of snacks (cereal bars, raisins, dried apricots, and chocolate).I think that's it!

Food and water!

a going home outfit for you that will fit your tummy in, a few spare t-shirts for you-i found baby sick/heat of hospital etc, was nice to have few changes, especially if you dont know how long youre in for,deodrant wipes (see heat again!)hairbands,because hair is so annoying when youre trying to give birth!

thats all i can think of for now....

radio with earphone
own pillow

Don't joke about the Domestos!!

I had ds in Watford General and was begging people to bring in antibacterial surface wipes and some bin bags. It was like being in the middle of a medieval filthy time travelling experiment gone wrong. Yuck yuck yuck!

Chocolate. Books. Don't buy throwaway paper knickers (just in case you were thinking of doing so) as they tear too easily if you use stick-on towels. Ear plugs if you are staying in.

I packed a separate delivery room bag and a overnight bag.

Delivery bag had:

Nightie to give birth in (big old t-shirt)
Robe
Slippers
Bananas
Glucose tablets
Bottled water
Mars bars etc (for DH)
Blanket for baby
Facial wipes
1 nappy for bub

Overnight bag had:

Spare nightie
Day clothes (couldn't wait to get back into em!)
2 babygrows and a hat for baby
Toiletries
Spray disinfectant (for the showers)
Flip flops
A big towel
Sanitary towels
3 prs knickers
Nursing bra

Juice cartons
anti-bacterial handwash

Here's my list(sorry if it's long)

Labor bag checklist
General:
Admission forms/papers
Camera and/or video camera
Cash
Change for the phone/phone card
Extra batteries/battery pack
Gift for a sibling
Health insurance card
For labor:
Birth plan
Facecloth from home (colored, so it doesn't get into hospital laundry)
Watch or stopwatch (with a second hand for timing contractions)
Comforts of home:
Tape/CD Player
Tapes/CDs
For your partner:
Change of clothes
deoderant
After birth:
Address book
Baby book
Thank-you cards/notes
Phone number list
Clothing:
Bathrobe
Loose, comfortable outfits
Nightgown
Nursing bras
Nursing pads
Slippers
Thick socks
Underwear
Personal care:
Body soap
Brush/comb
Dental floss
Deodorant
Hairbands (ponytail holders)
Lip salve/chapstick
Lotion
Makeup/cosmetics
Maxipads
Shampoo/conditioner
Toothbrush/toothpaste
For Baby:
Approved carseat
Diapers for the trip home
Going-home outfit
Hat/cap
Recieving blankets

Gin serves a multitude of sins... disinfectent, nurses bribe and sleeping aid.

Message withdrawn

-Ipod
-Hunk of goat's cheese, crusty bread, red wine (honestly, bring food)
-flip flops to guard against general filth
-some v gentle baby wipes, as those first couple of meconium poos are a shocker to clean up with cotton wool and water!

A couple of sets of clothes for going home in. Forgot to take any first time round so ended up in dodgy outfit seected by dh. Second time bled all over the "outfit" I took (kicked out of delivery suite too soon) so again ended up in dodgy outfit selected by dh! (Both times pre-birth clothes got yucked on whilst labouring.)

A couple of big bottles of water! Hospital were rubbish about bringing it round when I was on the postnatal ward. Mini electric fan was great too and gave DH something to do!

Straighteners and formula

Message withdrawn

I asked DH to bring me "that blue stripy t-shirt" to go home in. He brought me a blue stripy nightshirt.

Definitely something to go home in. Don't rely on anyone else!

Shoes to go home in - I only managed to slip into flip flops to go to hospital so had to go home in flip flops.. in November.. in the rain

Message withdrawn

This thread is fantastic! It's so long ago since I had mine that I was worrying what to put on my list. I'm only 16+5 but I'm going to watch this thread and compile my list from it.

Thanks everybody!

maternity pads
black pants
flip flops
lucozade drink (with a straw so you can still drink when on all fours) and tablets
face wipes
antibacterial wipes (hospital bathrooms in maternity wards are not known for their cleanliness and i also liked to wipe up after myself when i dripped blood everywhere - sorry if tmi)
dark pjs (with vest top for bfing and also cos maternity wards are boiling)
dark towels
dark dressing gown
lip balm or vaseline
arnica tablets
lavender oil to help you get some sleep
deodorant
shower gel, shampoo, facewash
toothbrush/toothpaste
make up for those first photos
hair brush, bobbles, grips, alice band - anything to keep your hair off your face basically
nappies
cotton wool
vests
baby gros
blanket
camera
watch to time contractions with
books/magazines
snacks
change

oh and a hat for baby if not due in midsummer

i've packed a couple of plastic bags to take stuff home in- for dirty clothes, mine and baby's (for dh to take home and wash of course) to carry all the presents I will no doubt be given, or if not then to put over wet ends of all the beautiful fresh flowers we will all no doubt get!!!!