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...

Your midwife will tell you what the hospital provide. Mine had an a4 print out with what they provide and a suggested packing list. All hospitals are different but the local midwifes will know.

I live in a different city to the one I’m planning to give birth in so my local midwife isn’t familiar with what they do at the hospital I plan to go. That’s why I also missed out on the antenatal classes etc. It’s quite annoying but I suppose it’s what you get for wanting to give birth someone other than your local hospital (we actually live almost equal distance from both as we live sort of on the border of two cities but prefer the one we’ve chosen)

Ah I see. That's a pain. You could maybe phone the maternity ward and ask.

If no luck with that I'd just pack all the items you might need in a separate bag marked as 'extras' and leave in the car (mini pack of formula with Pre-sterilised teats, straws, lots of water bottles, snacks, juice etc.).

I would labelled all the bags with a perm marker so i could send DH to the car with clear instructions eg bring in the 'Day 2 bag' and a can of Diet Coke from the 'extras' bag.

I am a bit of a Monika tho 

Oh my hospital provided towels so I didn't pack in my main bag but I did put two in my 'extras' bag just in case they ran out (I read a post about a hospital running out of clean towels!). They weren't needed tho.

I am a bit of a Monika tho

I am too!

Towels! Yes. Do I need a baby towel too - I don’t think they get you to bath baby immediately but not sure 🤔 That’s another thing I haven’t bought yet anyway!

Mine didn't - they advised not bathing baby until the white coating had mostly come off his skin.

I wouldnt bother with baby towels for the hospital. If you have a couple of normal towels in the car they could be used for baby if for some bizarre reason you do need to bathe them.

As I say tho my hospital provided towels so I didn't need any

I didn't bath baby until he was about a month. Used water and cotton wool to clean him (particularly under his neck where milk tends to collect) but not a full bath so don't worry about towels for baby

I took some sports energy drinks to see me through labour and they were amazing when 8 couldn't eat. I'm no athlete so had no idea of they would work. My 14 hour labour would have been awful without them.

Will add energy drinks 🥤 to the list!

I haven’t been drinking caffeine during my pregnancy (other than what’s in a hot choclate but don’t think it’s much) so even a Coke would keep me going, I imagine!

I'm planning on a c section and found this to be a good link :

www.babycentre.co.uk/a1052200/what-to-pack-in-your-caesarean-hospital-bag

Are you staying in over night? You'll need more if you are. Take glucose sweets to suck on as you won't be hungry in the throws of labour but you will still need some energy. Take at least 3 nighties that way the midwives can examine you easily also childbirth is a messy business so you'll need spares. Something really comfy to travel home in for you is also important. If your beast feeding you'll need a couple of nursing bras and if not go with a couple of soft sports bras.

I don’t know whether I’ll be staying overnight. I really don’t know what to expect 🙄

Maybe I need to pack more for me!

I have some nursing bras as I’ve been in maternity/nursing bras all through pregnancy

Pack for a few days definitely as you don't know how long you will be in for.