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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Is 2 hospital bags unreasonable?

26 replies

Waffle12 · 07/08/2019 17:07

Hi. I am packing for hospital, and i have a small suitcase for me (cabin size hard case) and the changing bag for babys things. Do u think 2 bags is too much? I don't think I have an excessive amount of stuff, but just couldn't get it all in one bag.

I am very lucky that the hospital I am delivering in this time you get a private room for the whole time you are there. I am not sure of the size, but will be bigger than the cubical on a ward that I had with first DC.
Will 2 bags be frowned upon?
Thank u.x

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happytoday73 · 07/08/2019 17:11

I was told two bags... One had items for during birth (sent home with dad afterwards) others had items for me and baby afterwards. Mum or husband Brought more in if needed...

PotteringAlong · 07/08/2019 17:13

That sounds a lot to me. How much stuff do you need? Nighties, big pants, pads and toiletries, stuff to go home in, a few nappies, 3 babygros and job done, surely?

mynameiscalypso · 07/08/2019 17:16

I have three...a small suitcase for my stuff, changing bag for baby with all his stuff and then my usual handbag filled with bits and pieces that I might want to hand. I know I'm staying overnight so I think I've actually packed quite light...

tokywoky · 07/08/2019 17:17

I've got exactly the same amount as you - small carry on suitcase for everything for me (nighties, pads, toiletries, change of clothes and snacks) and then the baby's changing bag has their nappies and clothes in.
I think you would normally carry around babies changing bag anyway, so the carry on is just for birth things so I don't think it's too much at all!

Youngandfree · 07/08/2019 17:19

Sounds good to me! I had the same and stayed 2/3 nights each time so it’s just as well as I had enough packed. Second time I had a private room so not stuck for space.

randomsabreuse · 07/08/2019 17:25

2 loosely packed organised by what they are way better than 1 rammed bag. I had a backpack for early stage labour anti boredom stuff (was induced so very necessary), holdall for baby and cabin sized bag for me. Blew through all my bottoms and pants in 1 day.

Could have got baby stuff in my bag but way easier being able to direct DH to bag containing everything for baby rather than him guddling though everything and mixing it up.

PleaseGoogleIt · 07/08/2019 17:26

I took 2 bags, I think it's normal. One for you and one for baby.

MadameJosephine · 07/08/2019 17:27

Midwife here, sounds about right to me.

Best of luck

Starlight84 · 07/08/2019 17:27

I will take 2 bags again. One for me one for baby. I have no idea how long I am in for and it saves friends rummaging through my stuff at home. I shall just give them our dirty things daily to take away. I’m having a section and am hoping I will be transferred back to the birth centre for a few nights :) xx

Preggosaurus9 · 07/08/2019 17:29

If you had a bigger bag you would just put everything in one so doesn't matter really!

CrispSandwiches19 · 07/08/2019 17:30

I had the same. I was told to take pillow as not enough. And large bath towels. That bulks things up. I got in 1 case and a bag with drinks and snacks.

TequilaMockingbird0 · 07/08/2019 17:33

Two bags is fine I think although rather than one for you and one for baby I found one for labour and one for post-delivery better. That way you/birth partner aren't searching through shampoo/going home clothes whilst in labour but only things you'll need.
Then a bag for you and baby once they're here, with packing cubes to keep things separate and easy to find.

MoonStarsPlanets · 07/08/2019 17:34

I had 2 bags. 1 for me. 1 for baby. My little one is 3 weeks old now. Definitely acceptable

Nat6999 · 07/08/2019 17:34

I took a small wheeled case, put all baby things in ziplock bags, split in to vests, babygrows, mitts & hats together, pack of nappies & wipes, cream, a blanket, couple of cardigans, baby towel, bibs etc. Put all baby stuff in zipped net in lid, my things in the rest of the case.

Original poster

Waffle12 · 07/08/2019 17:38

That's great ladies-thank u so much. Sounds about normal.

I have done this before but it was 4 years ago and I literally cannot remember what I did last time

Yep I also thought 2 bags separated by who they are for would minimise things getting in a mess, and the towel and tens machine has kind of taken up a chunk of room in my bag.

Thanks all.x

OP posts:

caffeinebuzz · 07/08/2019 17:40

Two bags is fine, but echo the others with the suggestion you pack one for delivery (and outfits immediately after) and one for the stay afterwards. DH went to the car and switched them once they'd settled us into a recovery room on the ward.

I also left piles of stuff out at home for both baby and me, so DH could easily nip home and grab things if we were kept more than 1 night. Luckily they weren't necessary.

Dandelion1993 · 07/08/2019 17:42

I have to admit I find having two bags ridiculous.

I have had two children now. With my first I stayed in one night and my second I stayed in two nights.

Managed to get everything I needed (labour and post birth) in one, small wheel case.

I think people over pack for hospital, one example is my Sil who took 4 outfits in newborn size then 4 in the next size. Just take 0-3 months and if they're too big, just roll the sleeves up.

If you're in for a longer period then you can get people to bring things in.

Original poster

Waffle12 · 07/08/2019 17:45

No-good idea about leaving piles of stuff out for DH caffeine. I was going to advise him of where everything was, but leaving out piles seems like a much better option lol

OP posts:

BikeRunSki · 07/08/2019 17:48

Sounds about right.

Don’t forget to pack a bag for your older dc if s/he will be going somewhere when you go into hospital.

Megan2018 · 07/08/2019 17:50

I'm taking 2 bags - I am being induced and likely to end up with a section so won't be a quick in and out - I could be there for 5 days what with the induction time and recovery.

We live an hour from the hospital and have no family support (all family are miles away/overseas) - so I have to take plenty with me as there is no-one to "pop-in" with extra things.

I am leaving additional supplies in the car though so DH can easily get bigger baby clothes, more nappies, more maternity pads for me without having to go home.

Gustavo1 · 07/08/2019 17:56

I took two bags but rather than one for me and one for baby, I had a labour bag and an incase of admittance bag. So one had my nightshirt, pads, snacks, straws etc in as well as 2 babygros, a hat and a couple of nappies with some travel wipes. The other was more washstuff for me, a couple of baby outfits, book, magazine, ore snacks a dressing gown etc. The second bag was in the car and once I was on postnatal Ward, DH popped out to the car for it. Meant the stuff from labour went straight home to the wash —bin—

caffeinebuzz · 07/08/2019 21:45

@Waffle12 Yes, I figured easier just to be able to say 'two outfits for me and four for baby' rather than try to think about what we'd need in the moment and inevitably forget something. In any case, it was handy to have complete baby outfits sitting out ready for changes during those early sleepless days!

Gustavo1 · 07/08/2019 21:50

it was handy to have complete baby outfits sitting out ready for changes during those early sleepless days!
Definitely this! In fact, I put each outfit that I was taking to hospital into a sandwich bag with travel size wipes, sudocream and a nappy so that I could change baby without rooting through bag. I am an organisation freak though!

Sandybval · 07/08/2019 21:52

Despite having a straight forward pregnancy and trotting off to the birth centre assuming I would be out quickly after birth, I had 3 bags (I took 1 in initially with labour stuff and a few baby bits and left the other 2 in the car), and swapped out as necessary. Good job I took loads as ended up staying for a few days!

randomsabreuse · 07/08/2019 21:53

The things I needed more of were mine - labour is a messy process. Baby clothes was more the speed they can make washing - a well timed wee, couple of voms and that's 3 outfits. Not realising how carefully you have to aim a tiny willy in a nappy was a learning curve too!

Add in that it's a hot sweaty place to be- I needed more outfits in 3 days that I'd take for a week (well a week without a refluxy baby...)

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