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Original poster

what did you regret not packing in hospital bag?

154 replies

Waterfountain97 · 08/05/2018 19:05

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 😌

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N2986 · 09/05/2018 14:13

More dark PJ's, big mahoosive knickers (Emcs), flip flops and hand sanitizer. I was very unprepared for my first. Oh and take a range of baby clothes sizes. My first was tiny and I'd taken newborn clothes and my second was enormous and I'd again only packed newborn clothes

N2986 · 09/05/2018 14:18

Bottles! (Pref ready made ones) I couldn't breastfeed but had stupidly been sure I would so I had to send poor dog round our big supermarket at midnight to bring them to the hospital for me, as the mws wouldn't give me any even though they had them, and poor DD was starving.

Oysterbabe · 09/05/2018 14:47

That's one well trained dog.

FutureFairyCrayon · 09/05/2018 16:10

If you're likely to have an overnight stay, then EARPLUGS. My dd slept through, but bloody hell what I wouldn't have given to have been able to block out, or at least muffle, all the other babies/parents.

Bettyfood · 09/05/2018 16:12

Clothes that fitted the baby properly. Turns out 0-3 months is bigger than Newborn, and even an 8lbs baby still needs a Newborn size.

grasspigeons · 09/05/2018 16:12

a microwave meal/cuppa soups
I didn't get fed for 24 hours

Bettyfood · 09/05/2018 16:18

Yes yes food. I have never been more ravenous in my life as when having newly given birth and breastfeeding. Sausage rolls, pies and huge bars of chocolate were consumed on top of hospital meals and continued when I got home. I still lost 2 stone of the baby weight in the first two weeks. Neither DD lost weight in the first few weeks of bf with all that going into the milk!

4mogirl · 09/05/2018 16:29

Not sure if it’s been mentioned, but a top that you can breastfeed in. It’s a faff trying to establish feeding at the best of times, never mind when you have to lift the whole tshirt up, or wrestle it down. You can buy nursing tops with holes discreetly cut, very useful if you are planning on breastfeeding. I did buy them, but left them at home, had to get husband to bring them in for me.

HoneyWheeler · 09/05/2018 16:36

I looked up a lot of these videos on YouTube and I found them really helpful, especially Emily Norris.
I took a little aerosol of water (happened to have it from an event, otherwise would have just used a spray bottle) and it was a blessing as my legs were SO hot after delivering.

A drink bottle with a straw so I didn't have to tip it up to drink and I could keep filling it up.

Makeup wipes - I ended up being asked to take off my makeup before my EMCS, plus they were nice and cooling.

I wish I'd remembered flip flops for the shower.

Don't forget your notes!

Zillcat · 09/05/2018 17:01

We were in for 5 days so needed extra everything for myself and twins. Wish I'd prepared more spare clothes for DP to fetch in. Things I needed but hadn't organised-
Thin night clothes and Deodorant for the after birth sweats that nobody warns you about.
Extra large Tena pull up pants to miss the section scar - had a size that sat right on the wrong area.
Bigger size flip flops as my feet were swollen and I hadn't tried them on beforehand 🙄
Muslins, Muslins & more Muslins.
Spare clothes for DP.

Lweji · 09/05/2018 17:17

Oh, ear plugs to cancel out noise from other mums and their visitors.

A reminder that the baby's nappy should be changed regularly. It just wasn't on my radar on the first day. Blush

sunshinestorm · 09/05/2018 17:26

Proper gigantic maternity pads
I stocked up on packs of boots pads which were labelled 'maternity pads' and said on the package they were suitable for bleeding after birth.
Wrong! I bled straight through one within two minutes and had to ask for a hospital pad when a midwife came in. She got all huffy and spoke to me like I was a pupil who'd not brought in their homework, and that I couldn't just get things for free. I was an emotional and vulnerable wreck having just given birth as well.

Chuffingchuff · 09/05/2018 17:29

Again for more food! Not necessarily for while I was in labour but after.

blinkowl · 09/05/2018 18:11

Pack more nighties than you think you need as labour might go on for ages and they might get covered in blood / sweat / whatever!

Don't pack any you wouldn't be happy having new baby pictures in

blinkowl · 09/05/2018 18:11

*by nighties I mean whatever you feel comfortable labouring in.

DeeElle88 · 09/05/2018 21:40

Food food food!!!! And I also forgot my face wash...which I'm sure would have helped me to feel more like me again. And though this may not be for everyone, I was really glad I had some little pre-made formula to fall back on. Really helped when DS started loosing weight and we couldn't be discharged till his weight went up.

isthistoonosy · 09/05/2018 21:51

Lots of maternity towels (in for a week and no where to buy any) and DVDs as no internet to watch TV on my ipad.

I packed loads though, snacks, drinks, change for the parking meter, books, money, snacks, drinks, loads of clothes - even for OH,

blinkowl · 10/05/2018 00:01

Oh yes, food! They said they were going to get me tea and toast after I gave birth, but - nothing. I was hungry after labouring for a whole day, I could have really done with tea and toast.

But they were too busy and I got nothing at all despite asking several times over the next 4 hours. It was late at night so nothing open.
DP managed to get me something eventually.

Laurel543 · 30/05/2018 07:35

Peppermint Oil

I had an unplanned c-section and had the most awful trapped wind afterwards. It was way worse than the pain from the incision. I was on the maternity ward for a few days and the midwives says that peppermint relieves it but they don’t have anyConfused
My DP brought in peppermint tea but it didn’t make a difference.
With I got home I had hot water with a drop or two of peppermint oil in (plus honey otherwise it would have been vile!)
A couple of hours and a few cups later and the wind disappeared. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Wish I’d known beforehand and got some oil from a health food shop. It’s a tiny bottle and not expensive so not a biggie to add to the bag just in case.

I thanked myself every day whilst in hospital that I had followed advice and included loads of ‘contingency’ stuff in my hospital bag. I had BIG knickers, food, maternity pads, stuff for the baby, changes of clothes etc and I used it all. Was not planning a hospital stay but ended up in there for 4 nights. I was so very glad I had the basics for a couple of days until DP could get home for supplies.

allthekingsshoes · 30/05/2018 07:37

A dummy

Laurel543 · 30/05/2018 07:39

@Lweji
Oh god, me too Blush
A midwife came and held the very fractious baby for me whilst I went to the loo and told me sternly when I got back that he had at least 2 full wees in his nappy.
I was so out of it after the C Section and trying to fed him that it hadn’t occurred to me to check his nappy!

sausagerollsontheside · 30/05/2018 10:04

Bottle of squash

My own pillows

quarterpast · 30/05/2018 10:18

Just had my fourth baby and I've never managed to takes enough pj bottoms or knickers. Even if you think you'll be in and out anything can and does happen and so my advice would be take lots more of those things than you think you'll need. Also, my babies have always spent their first night in hospital sicking up mucousy goop so take lots of muslins and baby gros too.

Kb12 · 30/05/2018 10:21

Food. I ate a massive bar of chocolate throughout the night and I was still hungry.

Emmy2018 · 30/05/2018 10:51

Definitely snacks and food. Although I had some cereal bars I ended up having a c-section so was stuck in hospital for longer than expected. Luckily visitors came to my rescue with grapes and chocolate cookies! Also worth remembering that husbands/partners won't get given any food when you are in hospital so they need a whole supply of their own Grin