Hospital bag anything you wish you'd taken?

[Htaylor182]

This is what I have so far. I packed an awful lot with my first and was home within 4 hrs and basically didn't get to even use it. Only 33 weeks but sis in law due same time as me has gone into early labour so its given me a kick up the butt just incase something does happen. Plan on getting the rest of the stuff tomorrow as I can hardly walk now so don't want to leave it too late. Is there anything you wished you taken, or that came in handy? How many outfits, nappies etc did you take for baby?

Towel
Swim top
Nightie x 2
Birth plan maternity notes
Oil
Magazine/ipad
Water/drinks for partner too
Light snacks for partner too
Birth ball
Breast pads
Spritz for bitz
Dressing gown
Pjs
Slippers /socks
Lip balm /deodrant/makeup
Makeup wipes
Ear plugs/eye mask
Toothbrush and paste
Maternity pads
Underwear
Mat Bras
Lounge clothes
Phone charger

Baby
Nappies
Water wipes
Sacks
Hat
Blanket
Baby grows
Sleepsuits
Mits
Bibs/Muzzys
Pre made formula
Going home outfit
Carseat

Take paracetamol for afterpains!

And change for vending machines. The restaurants/coffee shops in the hospital might be closed when you need a snack.

What is Spritz for bitz? The only thing you need to use on your vulva is water, anything perfumed will sting like buggary!

Also ditch the birthing ball, as they should have them if you’re on a birth unit/MLU.

Also what is the oil you’re taking? Some trusts don’t advocate using oils as some are dangerous in pregnancy.

I’d also ditch using bibs on a new born, muslins are easier and more practical to use.

Also I don’t understand the need for ear plugs, you need to be able to hear baby cry.

Also take the pre made formula bottles with the sterile teats if you’re formula feeding as it’s much easier than faffing around with sterilising bottles on the ward.

I’d also take a mini fan or a water spray as a fan is usually hard to find.

I’d also ditch the scratch mittens if the babygrows are the ones that turn over to cover baby’s hands.

I’d also take a sports water bottle as they’re easier to use than a glass/cup in labour, and take extra hats as they get dirty quickly.

You also need a blanket to cover baby once in the car seat, as you’re not suppose to put them in a coat/snow suit whilst strapped in a car seat as the straps can’t be secured properly.

If you plan to BF I’d also take a BF pillow, and nipple cream.

I also don’t advocate taking your own paracetamol, any medication should be administered by your MW!

I would advise taking some peppermint cordial as it can help with trapped wind and bloating which is common afterwards.

I don’t understand the need for ear plugs, you need to be able to hear baby cry. Little can still hear baby cry/ whimper/ snuffle with ear plugs in but can't hear other people snoring!

Also 33 weeks! Watching with interest!

Massive yes to drinks with sports bottle caps.
I spent most of my time lying down and couldn't drink from anything else!
Agree with lots of food.
Energy drinks.
Flip flops.
Blankets for baby.
Own pillow from home was lush.

I haven’t read the thread so apologies if someone has suggested this. The best thing I took was a 3m phone cable (from eBay) as it meant that my phone could charge and be used while I was in for my very long induction!

Thanks everyone! It's really useful to have a thread like this as it's just the little bits you forget, hair ties etc! The 3 m cables are fab we got some from the tiger shop as my plugs too far away from my bed atm lol.
Spritz for bitz is a healing spray it's the only thing i could use to actually have a wee last time, water didn't cut it for me it was too painful to pour over. I did only have grazes though and not stitches but have got it this time just incase I have the same trouble as it was awful having a wee. Ear plugs didn't cross my mind to have till someone mentioned they'd wishdd they'd took some whilst staying in, same with the eye mask lt feels like were packing to go on holiday but it's not like it is one! A painful one perhaps ha. Snacks and drinks I remember we didn't take near enough, or change for parking we were a bit under prepared for that. I didn't realise how thirsty and the boost of energy I desperately needed. Lucozade tablets is a good shout. I'll find out about the birth ball, I've got a peanut shaped one not a round one so I'm not sure if they'll do them up the hosp as again I used that with my first for an active birth so I could move about in different positions. Eek all getting very real!

I took 3 pairs of pjs for my first and 4 with my second and it still wasn't enough so I always tell people to take extra jammies!!

A couple of reusable bendy straws

I found it very hard to drink without a straw during labour with my first and I was constantly thirsty.

As lots of pp have said - lots of snacks/food! You may miss meal times, not like the hospital food or be in for longer than you expect and awake at all hours.

Hope all goes well x

Shower gel and shampoo for post birth shower (preferably something with no perfume in it), felt like a new woman afterwards
Hairbrush! I was so so sweaty and my hair was basically one giant knot afterwards, had to get DB to bring me one and it was a godsend.

Just to be different... woolly cardigan / hoody. You might never need it, but I would have been miserable without one.

The room where I gave birth to DC2 was bloody freezing. I wore a tank top and cardigan for the whole time I was labouring (nothing on the bottom, like Donald Duck ), and only took off the cardigan for the final 5 mins of pushing. The cardigan went back on for DC2's first feed!

I was lucky enough to get a private room afterwards to sleep rather than the postnatal ward, but it was freezing too. I wouldn't have been able to sleep with only one thin hospital blanket for cover, so I was never so grateful for cardigans...

Even if they have a birthing ball, you might want to take a pump of you actually want to use theirs. They couldn't find me an even vaguely firm one or a pump of their own - and a partly deflated birthing ball is pretty useless.

The other one worth adding is a tennis ball - your partner / midwife can use it to massage your lower back during contractions which I found helped a lot.

To the poster above saying don't bring paracetamol the midwives will give it to you - I'd pack it. In a busy postnatal ward is busy, drug rounds were sometimes very late and a supply of your own can save you hours of pain.

Cutlery! The hospital I was in had a room where you could make tea/coffee, toast, get cereal etc, but it never had quite enough cutlery, so I got DH to bring some in.

I packed too much last time anticipating a long hospital stay after my first c-section but they discharged me the following morning! All I actually needed and used was:
Pyjamas
Change of clothes for next day
Pack of huge undies
Pack of maternity pads
Phone charger
Breastfeeding pillow- absolutely invaluable to me for a few weeks after the section.
Lucozade sport
Snacks- I was starving after fasting before the surgery, surgery was delayed etc and all they offered me was toast so glad I took a big bag of snacks!
Toothbrush&paste
Shower gel
Deodorant
Hairbrush
Spare pillow

Baby:
Three babygrows
Hat
Jacket
Blanket
MyHummy white noise toy (worked wonders and meant I actually got a little rest)
Pack of nappies
Pack of wipes
Car seat stayed in the car till we left.

That was honestly it. The hospital let us pay by card for parking which was also good since we rarely carry cash.

More food and snacks than you think you need. I was only labouring in hospital for 4 hours and DP managed to eat nearly everything. I was left with jelly tots and some shit healthy oat bar things through the night, I was so spaced out on gas and air I refused the toast the midwives offered immediately after giving birth and hadn't eaten all day so I was ravenous from 11pm until breakfast. Pack yourself a treat for the long waits between meals on the ward, I wish I'd bought myself a big box of fancy chocolates or something.

Flip flops! If you need them use the shower you will not be wanting to stand around on those floors barefooted.

Also, I ended up staying in hospital for 3 days after birth, I wish I had more of my own comfort food to snack on whilst waiting around...

Nipple cream haha my LO butchered my nips at the start!

Definitely snacks. And I wish I’d brought more sweeties/crap and less dried fruit/fucking cashew nuts!!

My labour happen so quickly that I left in my slippers and forgot my shoes. And my water keep on breaking to the point the ambulance nearly flooded and I left the hospital in socks. A few hours later. Didn't end up using anything in my bag besides a change of clothes and wash stuff. So I would bring extra or at least flip flops.
Socks in February ( pink fluffy ones) was no fun.