Hospital bag advice

[AliceRR]

I’m nearly 33 weeks, due on 10 Feb

When should I aim to have a hospital bag ready for?

And what should I take?

So far on my list:

Change of clothes for me, something comfy
Pyjamas or a night shirt (what does one wear to give birth??)
Underwear
Sanitary towels?
Breast pads?
Bottles of water

Baby nappies and wipes (I plan to use reus) a how many?
A couple of vest and a couple of sleep suits in newborn for baby
Do I need a bottle if I plan to breastfeed
Blanket
Car seat obviously

I’ve also read to take:
Snacks
A squirts my water bottle to use for the first time I pee!
A book or tablet or something...

Hair bobbles
Toiletries
More than one pair of pyjamas/clothes for you - you are likely to bleed.
Big pants
Thick socks, your feet get cold giving birth.
Phone charger
Cotton wool pads
I took a jug to pour water when I needed to pee.

I took three outfits for baby including hats, vests and mitts.
A baby blanket
Car seat
A coat/snowsuit depending on weather

Take more than newborn size too, my babies were each over 9lb and went straight into 0-3 months.

If you're using reiseables then I'd take quite a few as you never know what the facilities to wash them will be like.

I just gave birth last week and your list looks pretty good, make sure you take loads of maternity pads though and also shower gel, toothbrush/paste, face wipes, deodorant etc for yourself. Once you give birth having a nice shower and teeth brush feels like heaven! Muslins for baby, warm blanket for taking baby home. Ill have continue to think...

Also my waters went at 36 weeks exactly so don't leave it too late, I was half packed luckily!

I would also suggest having your birth partner physically pack the bag with all your labour stuff, so that when you are shouting for a drink, a hairbrush or whatever, they know where to find it quickly.

I wore a nightshirt in labour but was offered a hospital gown. I packed a bikini top because I was hoping for a water birth.

Ask your midwife if the hospital provide formula, mine did, if not get the starter packs from the supermarket because you won’t have facilities to make a bottle/sterilise. They are expensive but much easier in the early days.

I would take a cardigan type thing to put baby in to go home the midwifes will probably tell you to take a coat or snowsuit off because it’s not safe.

I had a separate bag in the car of stuff in case we stayed in- spare nappies/clothes for both of us/big maternity pads

An old towel to put on the floor the first time you stand up

Sanders/flip flops for going to the toilet/shower I found slippers way too hot even in November the ward was hotter than the sun

Don't worry about taking something to give birth in, use their gown to get messy! Take a sports bra or crop top if planning to labour in water if you are self conscious. Might be easier to take disposable nappies for hospital, though if you take cloth take a bag to store dirties. Depending on what you are being told size wise, you may need smaller or larger (thank goodness for 24 hour supermarkets, dad was dispatched to locate small baby sized sleepsuits as the newborn ones drowned her (she was term +2). Take food, also check out catering at the hospital, think unhealthy greasy stuff, you won't be fancying a salad in my experience.

I would say have a bag ready from now. You'll likely have time to put in odds and ends before leaving, but definitely have pads and things bought and ready.

Take 0-3month clothes as well as newborn, you never know what size they will be!

Don't bother with breast pads, your milk won't come in for a couple of days.

Have one or two night dresses for after the birth. If you are planning on breast feeding make sure they are buttoned or similar.

Have something comfy to wear home. Nothing tight or too fitted, a skirt or dress if possible!

Big knickers that you don't mind throwing away, or disposable briefs.

I don't think you will need multiple bottles of water, you should be able to refill whilst at the hospital.

Don't forget your phone charger.

I way over packed my bag, and still needed my husband to bring things from home. You never know how long you may be in for so as a rough guide I would say have babies bag, your bag, and a small bag for your husband. Then have another bag that you can just leave in the car with extra stuff in case of an extended stay. You probably won't use half of it though!

Make sure you bring deodorant- the antenatal wards are very very warm. I was sweating the bit out and had to text my sister to stop at Tesco on her way to visit to bring me some Sure!

Thanks ladies

Some things that hadn’t even crossed my mind!!

Can’t believe I forgot toiletries 🙈

I wasn’t thinking I’d be able to wash nappies but did consider I might take disposables just for the hospital. How many. And how much formula?

I have no idea what the hospital provides and what I need to take (so assuming I need to take everything)

I feel like I’m clueless about this. Have no idea what to expect about the birth, well, some idea obviously but thought MW would have discussed birth with me by now.

I don’t even know things like when I should go to the hospital - as soon as my waters break or as soon as I think I’m in labour or when I am some way along?

That’s a different question but I just feel a bit unprepared and lacking in guidance (if not for you lovely ladies obviously)

I heard from a friend they advise you take a sieve if having a water birth 😝

I packed a mist spray and it’s the only thing that got me through the birth, every time I got too hot or needed to relax for a second my I said ‘spray’ and oh sprayed my face and chest. It was a game changer for me.

I had my bag ready from 35 weeks as I went away for the weekend at that point. Haven't read what other PP have suggested but from your posts I would suggest separate bags for you and baby (and dp if he wants one), big water bottle for you, hair nibbles, lip balm. Take those small bottles of ready made formula that come with a teat, hopefully you won't need them if you plan to breastfeed. Also take a few different sizes in baby clothes because you won't know what will fit until they are here.

Bobbles that was meant to say. And take a plastic bag to put dirty/soiled clothes in.

I would defo use disposable nappies and wipes for hospital, meconium poo’s are sticky and not sure is easily washable!

I took tena disposable pants in, nice high waist and comfy plus fine for afterbirth and no messing around with pads.

The small disposable milk bottles come in a pack of 6 I think, they’re all ready with sterile sealed teats. I took one pack in but tried breast feeding at the hospital so didn’t use them there but were there just in case.

I also took fybogel to have after birth to ensure my own first poo wasn’t too traumatic

I survived on lucozade sport drinks throughout labour! You'll need loads of maternity pads rather than sanitary towels. They'll be useless in the beginning.

Birth chat with midwife is usually 36 weeks. They would normally expect people to have done antenatal classes / NCT etc by that point so would have some idea. Most of its available online though. In terms of labour - they generally say not to go in until your contractions are at least 3-5 mins apart - they may well send you home otherwise!

Folding changing mat - life saver as there is no where else to change them other than the bed!

I'd forget the reusables and instead pack disposable nappies and a packet of water-wipes. Meconium will stain the nappies and there will be no where for you to wash them/store them.

I pack moist toilet paper. It's quite soothing on your bits if you have stitches/haemorrhoids. Apparently Andrex ones are the most reliable for being biogradable.

Food. You need food.

If you plan to breastfeed you will need unscented toiletries.

Vaseline. Gas and air dries out your lips

I took both cloth and disposable nappies and wipes. I used disposable nappies for the first couple then cloth after that. The meconium came off fine, the liners just needed a bit of sunlight if I recall correctly. I didn't really use the disposable wipes at all because they are so much worse than cloth and they annoyed me. I was in for 2 days and just kept them in the wetbag. I think I sent a bag home with DH at some point but it would have been fine if I hadn't.

Again some things that hadn’t occurred to me like I scented toiletries!

I didn’t know maternity pads existed...

The facial mist is a good ide

I haven’t had any classes. We decided not to do NCT and I have missed out on nhs antenatal classes and the stork walk hospital tour because no one told me about them until a friend (also pregnant) mentioned recently and now they are booked up!

I have an appointment with MW on 31st so maybe should ask her then but I always feel like I’m taking up too much time as they seem to want to do quick checks and then send you out

ME:
Pyjamas/Button down nighty
Joggers/T shirt
Maternity dress/Leggings
Flip flops
Big knickers/Bra
Maternity pads
Breast pads
Towel
Phone charger
Money
Magazine/puzzle book
Hospital notes
Dirty washing bag

TOILETRIES:
Shampoo/Conditioner
Brush/Bobbles
Dry Shampoo
Face Wipes/Moisturiser
Lip Balm

BABY:
Cardigan
Muslin cloths/bibs
Formula starter pack
Nappies (10+1 in each packed bag)
Cotton wool/wipes
Coming home outfit
3 x Packed outfits
Blanket

That was my hospital list! The packed bags for baby consisted of a vest/onesie/hat/nappy in zip lock bags that were easy to grab out of my case. Also took snacks and lucozade

Maybe say in advance you want a birth options chat as you’ve not done any classes so they can ensure there’s enough time or make another appt. most of the info is available online though if you google!

Just bring a small pack of disposable nappies for hospital- pampers do a smallish pack of 20 or so which will take up v little space and will do you until you get home.

Reuseables are great but I think brand new Mum + meconium + antenatal ward + post birth recovery would result in a bit of a baptism of fire!