Baby prep - so many questions!

[frsttimemama]

Hello!

I am 35 weeks today and baby no 1 is due on 3rd October. I have started to get my hospital bag ready and I have quite a few (possibly silly) questions, if anyone could help, please!

I wasn't panicking at all, until my MIL and SIL started telling me I could be 3 weeks early, accompanied by several stories of friends and others that have done so with baby no 1. (SIL answers ambulance calls and has delivered several babies)

Hospital bag - When should it be ready?
Snacks - When do you put those in and what should I take?
Car seat - When should I put this in the car?
How long am I likely to be in hospital for? (min and max time?) A lot of threads recommend packing extra JIC but, how is there room?
Should I have a separate bag for baby?
Is there anything which isn't on the generic lists for hospital bags, which you would recommend as a must have?

I would also really appreciate any tips or advice on what actually happens when you go into labour as, it's baffling me a bit.

Sorry, if I am being daft. I'm completely new to this as, I don't have any nieces or nephews etc and I think I may have slightly gone into panic mode Can you tell?!

Thank you in advance xx

I'm planning a home birth but preparing for hospital just in case.
I'm 37 weeks and just started packing bags today.
Bag for me - pads, clothes, food, toiletries.
Bag for baby- nappies, clothes etc
Bag for dh- mostly snacks do he doesn't eat mine.

No one can tell you how long you will be in hospital. Both my dds it was over night then home.

Car seat is already in the car... Although the car doesn't fit all 5 of us so need to buy a new one at some point.

Get it ready ASAP, you do never know and it would be awful not having anything ready and feeling unprepared. Statistically most people go over DD on a first though so I wouldn’t panic.

I was in and out the same day, but many people arnt so I would prepare for an overnight stay just in case.

Something comfy to wear after birth
Pads (you will bleed - a lot)
Old granny knickers (same as above)
Shower gel (that first shower after birth is epic)
Outfit for baby
Nappies
Healthy snacks (hospital food is crap) bring food for your OH as they will not be given any food at all. I brought fruit, nuts, water... ended up eating none as my labour was quick. You might not be so lucky - maybe some sandwhiches?
I laboured in a dressing gown... some do it naked (up to you) or in a big tshirt

That’s all I really needed to be honest. Then just what you would bring if you were staying in a hotel overnight (without make up hair stuff etc because you honestly won’t give a shit lol)

Put car seat in ASAP too as you can’t bring baby home without it.

Essentially you labour at home as long as you can, if you go in too early they will send you home (that would suck) download the contraction counting app, it will let you know when you need to go in, the contractions will be close together. Depending if you want pain relief or water birth etc your labour will be different. I didn’t have an epidural just gas and air. If you want an epidural you will need to go to the consultant unit not the midwifery unit. Think about what drugs you want / research them.

Stay calm! It’s not as bad as everyone makes out. Really focus on your breathing, remember your body was MADE TO DO THIS. Try and stay on your feet as long as possible - that’s what I did. I firmly believe that gravity helped me! You will feel when it is time to push. Your body will automatically push!

Good luck OP XXXX

Have car seat in the car at about 38 weeks or, have your OH practice putting it in so as he is ok with installing it when it comes to bringing you home.

I had my bag packed at about 36 weeks and left in the hallway in case we had to make a dash to hospital

In hospital bag I had nightdress, pads, towel, flip flops and toiletries for me. And for baby just 1 outfit; vest, babygro, hat and mitts, cellular blankets * 3, about 10 nappies, cotton balls, a plastic bowl for water (for changing nappy as no baby wipes allowed in my hosp) so just the basics which I thought I'd need for the labor ward

I then had a suitcase in the boot of DH's car with spare nappies, spare underwear, extra pads, toiletries, plenty of spare clothes for baby, snacks - anything I thought I might need really. DH would just run out and grab bits as I needed them, rather than us bringing a whole load of luggage in with us!

I put baby's outfits together and folded into clear sandwich bags so vest, babygro, hat, mitts, bib so they were easy to find and for DH to just grab when required.

Lip balm, moisturizer, plenty of water were a must! As were the always ultra maternity pads (mummy nappies!) as you could remove by just ripping the Velcro like sides (particularly good for post c section!)

Invest in some cooling water spray from boots. That stuff is a lifesaver if the hospital ward is hot and stuffy!

Second having a bigger case in the boot of the car with more supplies. Makes it easier to just keep a small case at your bed as space can be tight. Plus I'm prone to overpacking so I could indulge my worst impulses.

I was induced on a Tuesday, c section on the Thursday, home on the Saturday so you could be in a while. If you have any PJs etc that you wouldn't be happy to throw out, leave them at home. Strictly supermarket/primark stuff that you won't miss if it gets ruined.

Giant black cotton briefs rather than the disposable ones. Very comfy, especially after a section.

Good luck, you'll be fine!

Wow, thank you so much for all of the responses! I really appreciate it xx

Little while for me to go yet but placemarking as this will be super helpful!

Dry shampoo, phone charge and headphones are the only other things I would add to previous lists.

Snacks I had cereal bars and wine gums.

Definitely an extra bag in the car or easily accessible in the house. I stayed about 40 hours after my csection at a hospital and then did another 3 nights at the community hospital, hubby got a few bits from home for me during that time and took laundry home so didn’t every have more than a small overnight bag of stuff with me.