hospital bag????

[nadinetd]

Hi
I am going to start packing my hospital bag but not really sure what i need, i know the obvious maternity pads, night dress, etc but could you tell me what you took or anything that you took that helped make life easier, sorry to waffle on, gettting nervous.
all the best
nadine (this is my 1st can u tell)
xxx

i wrote down my phone numbers as all where on my mobile and ws not meant to use it

two flannels one for face one for bits

took a bit of make up just made me feel a bit better after with my face on

lots and lots of change

i also kept quite a bit of change in the car for dp to park with

hope some of them help

thanks they are all great ideas god this is all nerve racking stuff x

Books and magazines! I was stuck in hospital for 2 days prebirth and 4 days afterwards and when I was feeding at night or she was sleeping in the day I got soooo bored.
Plus food, chocs, biscuits, anythign for a quick sugar rush if you have forgotten to eat.

Also a decent change of clothes, (well, trackies and Tshirt) as I hated wandering the hospital half dressed in a nightie.

I actually packed 3 bags, and was bloody glad I did.
1 for labour with everything needed for birth and immediately after (2 nappies, bodysuit etc)
1 in case I had to stay overnight as well with change of clothes for me and her, more nappies, books.
AND an emergency bag, in case I had to stay longer, which stayed at home until I told DH to bring it in and had more books, snacks, clothes, pads and stuff to do me longer. I hoped I wouldn't need it but am glad I did. I asked him for a blanket from home for the baby one day and he brought a towel!

Sorry, waffled a bit, hope you can pick something useful out of that lot!

books, magazines, knitting, whatever. the worst part of birth is the boredom in hospital. also food, hospital stuff is fairly inedible and you may want midnight munchies while you are feeding baby. squash if you dont like plain water. good luck

thanks so much thats a really good idea, my dh would prob bring a towel too, i think ill have 3 bags too x

Lots of panties that you are happy to throw away

A pretty ribbon ( I used this to tie onto my vest straps so I could remember which breast dd was fed from last)

A blanket ( something soft) for baby

Bring make-up you'll be getting lots of visitors

Lotion
shampoo
conditioner
bodywash
Witch hazel and some muslin squares ( you'll want this if you have stitches
Several small boxes of choclates ( as thank yous for the midwives

Don't panic, as long as you have a clothes and nappy for the baby to wear then you are okay!

Everything else can be bought from 24 hour shops if necessary, just pack what you think you would want to make you feel at home.

Oh god, hospital food! It looked so gross, I don't think I ever ate any, I lived on Jaffa cakes and sarnies my DH bought me.

And Squash is a genius idea!

Haven't had him yet but I'm planning on taking some Batiste dry shampoo as it is magical, and you can guarantee someone will want pics of baby while I sit there looking like a sack of spuds in a grotty old nightie with greasy hair. You just spray it on the roots of your hair, rub it in with fingers, leave it a minute then brush it out thoroughly, and your hair feels clean and looks freshly washed (if slightly matte) Plus it smells quite nice too.

Apart from that, I'll be packing

2 nighties (both dark and fairly respectable for pics)
dressing gown
tshirt and tracksuit bottoms
socks, pants and feeding bras
breastpads/maternity pads/lansinoh/arnica cream/paracetamol?
Camera and batteries
pocket sized fan and water spray bottle (it'll be august)
flipflops for hospital showers/a big dark towel or two.
shower stuff/moisturiser/toothbrush & paste/ face wipes/hairbrush and bobbles/concealer blusher lippy and mascara for photos
antibacterial hand gel and wipes
snacks, squash and reading material
change for phone etc
Rescue remedy/Kalms
three babygrows/nappies/wipes/lightweight blanket

I may pack another bag for if I need to stay in, don't like the thought of dp choosing clothes for me, as I know the trousers which fit and the tops which show too much boobage.

Maybe some Arnica to

i remember polishing off a bag of fun size mini snickers...and feeling very happy indeed that i had packed them

i had a natural sponge in my bag, was great for when in labour, dunk it in the jug of water then suck on it, fab for when the Gas and Air drys your mouth

and Witch Hazel is a must

A plastic jug can be useful. Peeing can be painful afterwards, and being able to pour water over yourself helps a lot.

Steralising stuff can be useful too, left at home, but easily accessible. I had to stay in for a few days and was breastfeeding/ expressing, but there was a vast undersupply of steralising stuff in hospital and long queues to get to them. One lass had a plastic box with a lid and a bottle of Miltons by her bedside and missed out on lots of stress.

Ask the hospital if they have enough pillows. Ours told us to take an extra one in, as they never have enough to go around.

Food for your dp/dh in the labour bag. You won't feel like eating, but he may have to hang around for a few hours - mine wasn't allowed (by me) out of the room if a contraction was imminent, so he wasn't going to get to the cafe! Bananas/snacks/ cartons of drinks etc are great.

Ahh memories! Very best of luck on your huge adventure.

Don't forget something to eat for your husband during you giving birth. It could take a while, and you probably don't want him to leave the room.
Also food for you after you have given birth, you are likely to be starving, and with any luck, you'll come up to the ward just when dinner is being taken away
Get him to take loads of pictures of the whole event (journey there, arriving, birth, first time you hold baby etc.), you can always delete them if you really don't want them, but the children will love to see them.
clothes for when you are leaving hospital, don't count on hubby to bring you anything practical or comfortable.
something to read, most babies sleep a lot the first week or so.
Your usual toiletries, as if you were going away on a mini break.
nappies for your baby.
don't bother about clothes for baby, just some all in one night suits and babygrows. Baby won't know the difference.

I hope it all goes well.

thanks so much for all your tips and ideas i will definatly be using most of them, good luck to all of you aswell x