Hospital Bag(s)

[greystar30]

Random question but how big are the bags you're taking to the hospital? I am not one to travel light, mainly because of anxiety (if I am prepared for every eventuality I feel better!) but am worried that my bags are too big when I read about the lack of space in the hospital. I have all my bits in a small wheelie suitcase, roughly plane hand luggage size and then a sports hold-all for LOs bits. DP is not taking a bag. Does this seem reasonable?

Also, (this may be a ridiculous question) I've sterilised the dummies, will they remain sterile in their container or do I need to sterilise these again just before I leave for hospital?

Overthinking everything as usual....!

I do travel light, years of Army service!! But I’m only packing a small hand-luggage sized suitcase for us both. If DH wants to pack some stuff, he’s welcome to, but I’m not doing it!!

I don’t have a great deal, a nightshirt, flip flops, washbag, will pack iPad (kindle?) and charger...and then baby bits. But a) I’m going to a birthing centre and don’t expect to stay overnight-just want to be comfortable, and b) we live a 10min walk from said birthing centre, so hubs can get anything I need and put it in a bag.

If I need to go to hospital, I’ll have emergency kit, and baby will have everything necessary but I’m feeling positive 😁😉

@devilishlygood will keep fingers crossed for you that the hospital is not needed and birthing centre fine!

DS2 I took 2 bags one for me and one for baby. I was in to be induced tho and knew I'd have 24 hrs monitoring for strepB. With DS1 I was unexpected in for a week and didn't have enough stuff. It made the situation way way more stressful than it already was.

This time I plan to take 2 bags again.

How far will you be from home? We were only a short drive so I had a small bag for labour and the few hours after, then a different bag which DH was going to bring back with him when he went home to get showered etc.

2 bags, gym kit bag for me, had snacks and trackies for dp in there too. Changing bag (backpack style bag) for the mini fidget as all he needed was what I carry for him when we're out and about, vests, outfits, muslins and changing stuff.

One hold all n I had too much 😂, I ended in for 3 days for induction and all that I “used up” was nighties for me and a few maternity pads.

I took a shower bag with minis just shower gel, tooth paste n brush, shampoo n roll on with a foldy hair brush n a bobble.
3 nighties, 6 pants n socks (bed n regular I had no clue what ankles I’d have) slippers, light dressing gown, maternity and boob pads, slippers, and a “home” outfit.
Ds had a pack of vests, a pack of sleep suits, pack of bibs, a hat, cardi, small pack of nappies, wipes, two dummies and a blanket (to be on him but take to the dogs so they knew his smell).

Our area provides milk if you can’t/don’t feed and they had wipes you wet with water too. The dummies won’t stay sterile apparently but you can buy wipes or a Milton ball for out and about.

I took a cabin sized suitcase and a tote bag for snacks. I was in 6 days

I have a small hold-all for me and the changing bag for baby! To make it easier for birth partners to distinguish between the 2 if I need them to grab me anything!
I am now having a slight wobble about my induction on Saturday so have started shoving more clothes/dressing gown/spare pjs in a separate hold-all to keep in the car in case I have to stay in! MW says I am likely to stay in 24 hours at least 😭 after the birth and I will have to wait on antenatal ward for a bed & MW to be available on delivery suite! There goes my plans of going in, rupture membranes, having baby and going home 4 hours later like my other 3 😞
I have, however, taken up most of the space in my main bag with towels Cos everyone seems to say you need them nowadays - never did when I had my others!
I do also have a spare little bag with my snacks in and a neck pillow both separate!
Sounds like quite a lot but it really isn’t. Nowhere near as much as a hand luggage size suitcase lol

Thanks everyone and thanks @Lunafortheloveogod re the steriliser, I'll get a travel one to take in

@greystar30 soz forgot to say about the sterilising - most things say they only keep sterile for 24hours! From my experience you will get a cold water Milton tank offered to you in hospital though - been a while since I’ve had a baby so not sure if that’s still a thing - if Everyone had to take sterilisers in it would take up an awful lot of space 🤣
My visitors told me at the weekend their daughter (who works on NICU) uses the steriliser bags at work so maybe that’s the new thing? Would be easier for you to take if you knew they had a microwave available tho!