What to pack for induction during covid 19!

[staceymarieox]

Hello!
I'm booked in on wednesday for my induction! I will be 39 weeks bang on! I've started having cramps but as of yet nothing to signal baby wants to speed things up, just that hes head down and fully engaged!

Just wondering what I should be packing, and how much of it? Due to coronavirus, the antenatal ward I'm on do not allow any visitors at all and once I'm checked into the ward I'm not allowed to leave either. My partner is allowed in once I'm transferred to the labour ward which will be once they break my waters and have available midwives or if my waters end up going spontaneously.

I have been told it could be up to a week I'm in for, or it could go really fast and be out in a day or so, but it's making me a bit lost over what to pack for the best and being anxious over not having my partner is just further setting my mind back!

The babys bag is packed and car seat is ready, and OH will bring those once I'm in labour. However if you think theres anything I'm missing off that bag please let me know! I've seen so many conflicting lists!

Babys bag.
-nappies
-wipes
-3 sleep suits
-socks x2
-scratch mitts
-blanket
-hat
-jacket
Have also seen cotton wool, which i have ready but just haven't added yet!

For my bag so far I have
-night and day clothes (but trying to keep minimal for space!) So potentially 4 days worth
-underwear
-flip flops for bathroom!
-slippers
-toiletries
-nipple and maternity pads

• dressing gown

-phone and tablet plus chargers -snacks and drinks (also wondering about food I can eat cold e.g pasta, sandwiches) -book(s) -maternity notes.

Really racking my brains after that and I'm sure theres obvious stuff I'm missing!

Any help would be fab!

Does baby need vests as well as sleepsuits? X

Also, ear plugs for you and some form of entertainment? Inductions can take a while! X

I'd add a towel for the shower!

Muslins for the baby bag?

Yes a towel (dark coloured if you have one)
An eye mask and ear plugs in case you find it difficult to sleep on the ward (I did)
Hair bobble / headband or something to keep hair out of face
Water with sports cap

Your own paracetamol (you’ll be able to keep on top of your own doses better), nipple cream, definitely headphones and ear plugs, maybe a sleep mask as they keep the wards so bright, vests and a couple more baby grows (and explosions and you’re out!) and Id go for cotton pads as there’s less fluff. Good luck!

I was admitted to the antenatal ward last night and am kicking myself for not packing a proper bag! I would add eye mask and ear plugs to your list. Good luck!

I was sick during my induction, probably the drugs were making me feel a bit odd, and I didn't have a second pair of comfy trousers/ dress, so I'd make sure you do have some spare bits, I doubt it will becc cc'd easy to was stuff, and if you are there a week you ideally want enough fresh clothes not to have to worry about it.

Lip balm, lots of heavy breathing in labour will make your lips so dry lol and a fan, good for labour too as you get really got or at least I did. Headphones! When I was waiting to be induced on the ward, there was some very strange noises coming from the woman across from me that I would really rather have not heard during the night 🙈

Really hot*

I would also pack a few more bits for baby incase you have to stay a little longer than expected as you ain't aloud visitors after baby eaither so no one can bring you in anything spare also what I have done is put stuff in zip lock bags so not everything is getting any air in them soon as you open the bag etc! This is how mine looks! X

Thank you all for responses you've been so helpful! Really obvious stuff like a towel I missed too so good job I asked!

@Maincat wasnt sure if I needed vests to be honest I did initially have some packed in his baby bag but obviously hoping that I would be coming straight home after unpacked them! I'll pop some in my case as a safety net!

@mamaof2girls that's an amazing idea! Will definitely be popping things in like that! Thank you for the idea!

@Robs20 I know the feeling of not packing properly I waited so long hoping I would spontaneously go into labour that I only half assed my packing thinking it's still weeks until due date and then last tuesday they told me they can get me in on the 22nd and I was like yeah awesome let's do it and then realised I had no idea what I actually needed 😭 hope all is well with you and you get to be home soon!

Also to make it easier as I had a epidural last time and couldn't get to the suitcase to get her outfit out and trying to tell my oh where everything was a night mare so each bag has a baby grow. Vest. Socks. Mits. Hat and bib. So it's just grabbing a bag and everything is in there! Feel so organised this time tbh doing it this way! X

Oh and the covid thing I would pack some antibacterial gel or wipes for your room and the ward. You’ll be encouraged to stay in your room for the birth but I’m not sure you’ll have your own bathroom on the ward etc?

@mamaof2girls aww yeah that's also another fab idea! I love how on the ball you are! My brains like mush! 😂 been telling OH exactly what's in the baby bag and all I'm getting is blank looks! We actually hadn't bought muslin cloths, but have loads of bibs and when I was trying to tell him about the muslin cloths it was like I was speaking Spanish to him or something 🙄 bloody men 😂😂

@coffeeorwine definitely gonna pack some wipes! Joked with the girls I work with saying I'd take my dettol with me, because when not pregnant I'm quite an obsessive cleaner and love my products, but didn't actually think about the bathroom! I'm pretty certain I'm gonna be on a ward with 3 others and it'll be a shared bathroom situation as side rooms on the antenatal ward are currently used for suspected pregnant covid while they decide if they need to be more labour ward or the specific covid ward but as they have their own rooms they wont be in our bathrooms but scary thought that any of us could have it and not even know 😷😷😷

Aww don't worry we didn't have muslins to start with when we had our first so only had bibs in hospital. Wasn't till we got home and someone gifted us some I was like oh my god these are amazing so I have made sure to actually stock up on them this time around. So the bags are defo handy as your oh only needs to grab a bag and everything is there to dress the little one. I wrote on all mines aswell and even though it's oh second time he's like do you think am that stupid I don't know what's what am like just incase 😂😂😂! X

@staceymarieox I’m sure they’ll be keeping it immaculate but if you’re sharing you never know if people are being as careful as you are! Good luck!

Right think I've just about finished my case, just got a towel and a few nighties in the dryer now! I've tried to wedge as much in as possible so when I take a larger handbag it should just be laptop and smaller things so it doesn't look like I'm taking my whole house!

Also started having cramps and back pain now, unsure if it's from being busy or things starting! I had them last night too but then they stopped! Anyone know what happens if I go in and things have started already? I haven't had any waters go just watery discharge and no mucus plug or anything so hoping it's my cervix starting to be ready! Can just imagine OH face when I have to come back home soon after leaving because things have started on their own 😂😂 especially after my nagging!

Put a pad on to make sure your water isn't leaking my first I was leaking and had to go in to see if it was the waters and it was so I started noticing that at 3
Didn't actually go to hospital till about 10 at night they sent me home told me to come
Back in 24 hours since I noticed the leak but 3 in the morning the contractions started. If you feel like things has started there self they will tell you to stay at home as long as you can and count contractions etc i ended up going in around 11 in the morning and they just kept
Me in as was due to be induced at 3 anyway if nothing happened itself x

Yeah I'll pop a pad on now to keep an eye on it! I thought it happened last week, but she just told me discharge so I assume that's what it was last night but it was a little bit more and was clear mainly but also slightly cloudy at times 🤷‍♀️ the discharge stopped too last night when the cramps did but was reluctant to call about it because at time it was nothing and I had already phoned about movement and kinda had a shitty tone off the midwife I spoke to who just asked me to chew ice and lie down to get him to move even though I had tried loads of things prior to calling in as I do have quite a stubborn/lazy baby in there!

Haven't timed cramps yet as they are super irregular, but theres no stomach tightening which I have had previously which I think was more BH.

Think unless its gets unbearable or I have more discharge I'll hold off until i go in tomorrow as they may keep me in like they did with you! X

Good luck for today! X

Wrong thread! Sorry!

Good luck today @staceymarieox

I have reported my own post so it's deleted as it was meant for another thread! My phone is on the blink

@mamaof2girls thank you! Think labour started a little yesterday in the end too! So hopefully wont be a long stay! Good luck with everything! :D thanks for all your help! :D

@ChampooPapi thank you!