Hospital bag tips please!

[ALittleTinyTea]

I'm 33 weeks pregnant and am thinking of packing my hospital bag over the next couple of weeks.

I really want to buy a lovely bag, one with wheels. Not super expensive but I need a new travel type bag anyway!

I also need some tips on what to pack as I've had a look online, and on every list I can identify things they've missed!

Can you please tell me what type of bag you took to the hospital, what you packed (not obvious stuff of course but things I might not necessarily think of), and what you wish you had packed?!

Small chance I may need a c section, but am still keeping all digits crossed for a MLU birth. We'll see!

Thanks

what about a bag like this? you can carry or wheel it. www.aliexpress.com/item/Trolley-Travel-Bag-Hand-Luggage-18inch-31-5L-Rolling-Duffle-Bag-Waterproof-Vintage-Travel-Suitcase-with/32680845768.html

in terms of hospital stuff, i think this list has most of the things you need on it. i can't think of anything else off the top of my head :)

www.babycentre.co.uk/what-to-pack-in-your-hospital-bag

Thanks @sleepismysuperpower1

Anyone else any tips? How many nappies?!

Don't forget to have change for the car park!
I had a charged tablet and headphones along with plenty of downloaded shows, snacks, straws, slippers, a soft towel, maternity pants, pads, nipple cream.
We were advised make a little note for our car with dhs phone number saying we were in labour ward as it was OK to drop off outside the maternity unit, put the sign in, go upstairs and then the partner could go back to park the car. Just in case the parking isn't close enough.

I didn't get any of my snacks or drinks as I wasn't in labour long enough, but did end up being transferred to hospital so the slippers and entertainment were definitely useful.

I just used my nike gym holdall bag.

Things I packed beyond the obvious. (I ended up being in for 7 days so DH brought in stuff)

Tube of lanisoh for BFs

Straws (so I could drink without too much effort. But this time I'm taking my water bottle that has a straw built into the cap)

Vaseline (put on babies bum from the off. Makes that first tarry nappy tonns easier to wipe off)

Lip balm - hospital is like an airport with horrible dead air and my lips were forever drying out

Trashy mags - didn't have the headspace to read anything that required effort once on the post natal ward.

Mini tube of squirty cordial cos hospital water they were intent on me necking tasted rank

Didnt use most of what I packed! But glad I had it all anyway.

My DHs biggest tip is to take only one bag! I had one for me and one for baby, thinking that would make it easier to find everything. But ended up being rushed from the antenatal ward to delivery room, and DH was running along behind with both big bags, plus my shoes I had taken off and a coat... it would’ve been quite comical at any other time!

For afterwards, I was glad to have a puzzle book and pen, plus a notebook, I kept a note of when baby fed which was great cause time doesn’t seem to behave the same way when you’ve just had a baby. Also an eye mask as the ward was really bright and I found it hard to sleep.

I took my make up which now seems really ridiculous to me (I didn’t even think about putting any on!)

For baby I didn’t take enough clothes (just Baby grows and vests are fine), as we stayed a few days and the 3 I brought got dirty.

Was really glad I took snacks and water for both me and DH. Especially during labour.

Ooh also change for car park.

Good luck!

We took a little wheely suitcase, and DH brought his backpack too. And maybe we had a plastic carrier bag of an assortment of snacks too. We had quite a lot I think, but DH was staying the night with me too so there was a few things for him too. I don't think I forgot anything, but was told by multiple midwives and read on lots of threads on MN to take loads of snacks as people often get hungry and that it's good to keep your energy up throughout labour, so I did this, and ate hardly anything so I wish I hadn't bothered taking so much. I went into hospital at around 10.30pm and had an assisted delivery at around 9.30am the next morning. In that time I only managed to sip water now and then and ate a few pieces of sweet popcorn. I was vomiting on and off until about 2am. I did have some of my fave chocolate immediately after everything was done (stitches etc) and that was lush, so I'd recommend taking some of your fave choc.

I had hand luggage case for me:
• button down nighty (Tescos)
• Evian 750ml water in the freezer - brought to hospital it was amazing! Freezing and little bits of water to sip as it defrosted!
•Face cloth/flannel
• Lip balm
•Tankani top for bath/pool
•Mothercare maternity pads with wings (24 pack)
•Witch hazel so good for down below - soak on some sterile dressing and put on your sore bits.
•Lansinoh nipple cream (I got sample size in Bounty pack)
•BF pads (Lansinoh great for big boobs)
•Pack or 2 of full brief black Primark pants
•Bed socks
•Slippers
•Plenty of snacks - BF makes you really hungry
•My hospital provide ready made bottles of formula but if yours doesn't maybe bring some in case of BF issues?
•2 pair dark stretchy pj bottoms (make sure come up to belly button)
•2 pj button down tops
•nursing vest top (means you can take pj top off if too warm)
•2 nursing bras
•dressing gown (I had a fleecey one which took most room in my case but my iron levels were so low I got cold and could use this at night as a blanket! It was December)
•travel size shower gel, (shampoo and conditioner I had no time to wash and dry my hair waited until I got home)
•hair brush/bobbles/grips
•phone charger
•toothbrush/toothpaste
•Face wipes and moisturiser
•Deodorant
•Dark towel
•Going home clothes (maternity clothes! DP can bring these in for you have them sitting out)

Baby bag:
•6 baby gros (Next have built in scratch mitts and socks)
•6 vests (bodysuits)
•2 blankets
• 6 muslin cloths
•Going home babygro
•Would highly recommend a knitted cardigan - coats are impossible to get on a newborn and these are nice and warm
•Hat
•Sample size Bepanthen/Sudocrem (Bounty pack)
•Water Wipes/ Cotton wool
•15 newborn nappies (Tescos or Asda own are the best. Pampers stick to their bum)
•Extra soft towel (if baby has first bath in hospital)

Think that's it 🙈 We were in 4 days so needed extra baby clothes brought in!

However many pairs of knickers you are thinking of taking, double it. I had 6 pairs and had slow leaking waters so went through those in about 4 hours (I was induced in hospital)

Had to send dp to primark to buy a few more packs

I will add:
•baby socks
•Soft bibs
•Vaseline

Revisit it if you go overdue. I packed it at 35 weeks. My night clothes didn't fit me at 42 weeks, my bump was massive.

Can I massively reccomend cloth wipes? Even just flannels or microfibre cloths, instead of baby wipes! People always have a really hard time wiping off meconium in my experience (as a midwife - I’ve done my fair share of meconium nappy changes!) but we cloth nappied from the start and it was no problem at all with cloth wipes and a bit of water! Meconium is entirely water soluable so they can just be thrown in to a 60 degree wash and then used for whatever you like afterwards.

I’d also massively reccomend Natracare pads. They are organic cotton and actually absorbent, rather than the plasticy kind where the blood just seems to sit on top. They are also one of the few brands that don’t make me itchy or sore, which is the last thing you’d want if you have stitches!

@TheHalfBloodPrincess I came on to say the exact same thing about pants! Though in my case it was the unexpected post partum bleeding that caught me out. Similarly bring a few sets of PJs - you may want to wear a set during labour, and a couple of sets for after in case any accidents.

@8daysaweek I’m still using mine 15 months later. Love a pair of big comfy knickers

Don’t overthink the bag. I brought far too much stuff and we couldn’t move in our cubicle! Essentials were:

• earplugs/phones so you can get some sleep
• something to put on for birth
• pjs
• flip flops
• light dressing gown
• underwear
• outfit to go home in
• nappies, cotton wool
• lots of baby clothes (we underestimated how many he would go through)
• phone charger

Not sure how you want to feed the baby but our hospital provided formula if you wanted it. We combo feed and took lots of stuff with us and didn’t need it. The hospital also procived plenty of towels and pillows. If you want your own take them but no necessary.

I'd also take flip flops for the bathrooms, a nice comfy tracksuit or some loungewear and aswell as lip balm some face cream. Hospitals just dry your skin out!!!!

I found a hold-all good with things in different compartments xx

Another one saying don't overthink the bag. If you go to a MLU you will look ridiculous with a weeks worth of stuff when the likelihood is you might be discharged the same day.

You need to pack what you would take with you for a normal night away from home, but some extra underwear, some maternity pads and a few snacks.

I would then pack whatever you are planning to use as your baby changing bag with nappies, wipes and a few changes of newborn clothes and take that too.

When you go into labour set out some clothes/socks/knickers/night clothes you would be happy wearing if you need to stay in longer, leave them somewhere obvious so that it's easy for your DP/mum etc to scoop up and bring when they visit if you need extra.

I say this as someone who had two MLU births both which ended in a transfer after the birth and overnight stay due to meconium in the waters. First baby I took a wheely suitcase. I looked ridiculous.

Second I just took a medium sized weekend bag and the baby change bag and felt that was about right.

I was in for three days - During the UK's "Beast from the east" snow days!
induced wednesday, gave birth thursday morning, went home Friday evening

• Big pants
• maternity pads - boots ones were my favourite
• comfy lounge pants a couple just in case of leakage

• vest tops - it was warm in there

- breast pads - again I like boots ones - I had washable ones throughout my pregnancy but as soon as he was born they were not sufficient.

• phone, headphones, charger
• eye mask - lights went on about 6/7am and didn't go off until about

11pm, And for baby

• babygrows - a few in different sizes - newborn was still massive on

him, 7lb1 so he was pretty average sized

• Vests
• Hat - hospital gave him a knitted one - we had cotton ones
• scratch mitts if not inbuilt in the baby grows
• Muslins

the only thing i wish I had taken was a big towel or towely dressing gown - but one you don't mind being ruined.
My first shower after giving birth made me feel faint and trying to wrap a teeny tiny hospital towel around myself to sit on the floor was awful

Things I wished I had with me when I had DC1 and will definitely be taking this time:

My own towel (hospital one was miniscule)
My own pillow (same as above)
More and bigger black pants
Flip flops for in the shower (it was gross)
More snacks
My own supply of painkillers
Kindle/tablet and charger
Lip balm
Face moisturiser

I am taking a hand luggage sized bag for me and changing bag for babies things. I am also going to take a carrier bag with snacks and drinks (this can stay in the car until I've given birth and will then send DH to get it) as last time I was in for a few days and the food was awful.