what did you regret not packing in hospital bag?

[Waterfountain97]

I'm 30+3 and over next couple weeks I'm buying the things for hospital bag so was just curious as to what things people were happy they took things they didn't actually use and things they wish they took
Thankyou 😌

Snacks... snacks and more snacks

A clean t-shirt and deodorant for DH

Some e45 cream or similar for v itchy skin post c-section

Snacks,

This time will be stocking up on lucozade sweets, cereal bats & plenty of snacks

Apart from that I took more than I needed lol

As in extra clothes, make up & even packed lashes

This time will only be packing what I need and a spare bag at home incase o have to stay in longer something OH can bring in for me so is ready and packed at home

More clothes than you think you’ll need (I ended up staying in for four days, and you get so sweaty and bloody and possibly milky that you’ll want to change a couple of times a day. In particular, bras, nursing vests, PJ bottoms/joggers, and long loose nighties or T-shirts that you can easily get off and on when it hurts to put your arms up, and can shuffle to/from the bathroom in.

More size 1 nappies than you think you’ll need (as above); also nappy sacks.

A bottle of squash.

A cup or bottle with a sports cap or long bendy straw so you can easily drink while lying down. (I was catheterised and wasn’t allowed to get up for bloody hours.)

A LONG phone charger cable.

Nice going-home outfits for you and baby.

Bridget Jones style pants for after a c section. Take some.

A bit vain, but I would have brought a different night gown for after, maybe taken some pictures to see how it looked in photos with a big post pregnancy belly. I don't like how I look in most of the photos straight after the birth with my baby.

First baby I pack everything on the list & had two cases & multiples of everything.

Second baby I packed PJs, t-shirt to give birth in, big pants & pads, socks, nursing bra, a few nappies, baby wipes 2 vests & 2 babygrows.

Face wipes, mints/gum, snacks.

Lip balm x 3 (dropped one on the hospital floor, couldn't have picked it up if I wanted to)

Honestly, I didn't regret anything that I didn't take - I regretted all the stuff that I did. My bag was massive, weighed a ton, and I used less than a quarter of the stuff. We won't be having any more - but if we did, I would take a very minimalist approach.

I massively over-prepared when it came to my hospital bag but failed to consider what I might need if I had to have a c-section (which I did) so DP had to go out and buy me massive high waisted knickers that wouldn't rub against my wound.

Lots of knickers and snacks 😄

Food food food.

I had hyperemesis until the end of pregnancy, and after giving birth I was RAVENOUS. DD stayed up all night on night two feeding, and all I had to eat was some rice cakes.

I should have taken mars bars.

Snacks, a toothbrush, shampoo, drinks, clean t shirt for your other half in case it takes a while, big pants and a light nighty/PJs for afterwards (hospital wards can be WARM) and/or comfy clothes to go home in, maternity pads. If you end up in for a few nights someone can bring you anything you need for a longer stay (more clothes, tablet, book etc).

And a hairbrush. The midwife brushed and tied my hair back to get it out of my face a few times during labour (dh tried, bless him, the midwife quickly took over).

And a pack of newborn nappies, cotton wool, and a couple of babygros/vests.

And get the person who is going to be supporting you during the birth to actually, physically pack the bag with everything you've got together!

That way, when you're yelling for a drink, snack, hairbrush, something to change into during labour, they know where to find it.

Pringles and a giant bottle of Lucozade. I hate Lucozade but labour is exhausting and it helped

Lots and lots of maternity pads and slippers!
I had to send my mil out to buy more pants and pads. Lip balm and hair brush and a nice soft towel x

A bit of makeup- I thought I wouldn’t care as I’d have too much else going on and that I’d be happy to look au natural but the in laws came the next day and took millions of photos and I just look ill

I packed a bag I needed in labour with essential items and then another to leave in the car. The car bag had spare clothes for the baby and I if I had to stay in, extra nappies, snowsuit for baby to go home in etc. It meant I didn't look like I was moving in when I arrived in labour and I also didn't have to worry about trying to direct my husband to where things were if I was kept in, he could just nip to the car.

Not a mum yet myself, but after working on maternity wards the one thing that gets brought up a lot is deodorant and a t-shirt for the dad. Labour can be long and hot for dad too if youve got a good partner who will run around after you and he will definitely get a bit gunky if he holds baby early on -just a tshirt and a spray for the journey home really.

Other common mentions are snacks, lip balm and a hair bobble or headband

Food and drink. I ended up not eating or drinking for most of a 12 hour labour. I felt really faint the next morning.

More food and drinks, and a towel so with dc2 I could soak a towel and tie to the bed to use to cool me down or suck on when I couldn't reach the side table. Didn't really use anything else except maternity pads and DP's oldest pants!

I wish I’d taken a towel as the hospital ones are so small, and proper tena lady pants rather than maternity pads. They leaked so much, even though I used two each time!

Fill the car boot with extra supplies of everything you can think off then your husband/partner can top up any supplies when they visit rather than you having piles of stuff in hospital or even worse relying on them to bring the right things in 😬

We did this for nappies, clothes for me and baby, maternity pads etc..