Hospital bag - am I missing anything obvious?!!

[Gemy]

Hello there, I am just getting my hospital bag organised (due on 27th Dec) and this is what I have so far.

Me
1 X Nightdress to give birth in
1 X loungewear tracksuit bottoms for after the birth
1 X matching loungewear top
1 X vest top
3 X massive knickers
10 X maternity/always pads
3 X tena-pants... more (incase I prefer these)
Basic make-up
Make-up removal wipes
Moisteriser
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body wash (I can't remember from last time - will I need an unperfumed etc one incase of stitches etc?)
2 X nursing bras
1 X pair of slippers
MP3 player containing hypnobirthing recording

Baby
2 X sleepsuits
2 X vests
1 X snowsuit
1 X hat
1 X packet babywipes
10 X nappies
1 X jar of sudocreme

Does my list seem horrendously long or seriously lacking?

Do you think - for after the birth - I'd be better taking something that would also be suitable incase of C-section? In this case, what?

I've heard some people take their own pillows and things like personal DVD player/candles with them - anyone done this? Is it a good idea?

i love this thread too. 28 weeks and decided that while it may be too early to pack, i could probably start my hospital bag spreadsheet last nigjht. it one of an ever increasing number of baby related spreadsheets including - get this a day by day breakdown of all mother and baby exercsie groups in the area for after the birth!!!!

tyaca I assume this is your pfb

Agree about the Lansinoh, my nipples got a bit sore and the midwives tried to get some but couldn't!

If I had some in hospital I wouldn't have got so sore.

If you have people coming to visit you in hospital, partner or friend it could be worth packing them a small bag with the non immediate things you will need or extra undies or nightwear. Then they don't have to go rooting around trying to find things for you.

Oh and I was also starving all the time. The best present was bought for me by my sister and was a bag full of treats from M&S. Crisps, dried apricots, cakes, grapes and fruit juices.

The disposable knic were fine with my c section, they didnt catch my stitches. They may not be nice but if you very heavy, pulling them down just gets it everywhere, ripping at the side is easy

Snack size mars bars,
Glucose tablets (if you end up with an epidural they don't like you to eat but will turn a blind eye to these and you need the energy).
I took 3 bags, 1 for me, 1 for the baby and 1 for food. I ended up with a c section and still didn't have enough food - I was starving. Very good luck.

i lived in wrap dreses through pg - those stretchy ones that basically "grow" with you - they were great afterwards with the section stitches, although a well meaning woman in the lift 3 days after birth did ask me when i was due

lots of people I know were happy they took the (bizarre sounding) advice - and took some bath cleaner and a cloth....(obviously a dp job...)

Def take some more sleep-suits and vests. They don't take up much room and the combination of giant meconium poos and amateurish nappy changing on my part meant that we got through them like hot cakes!

Also - do you need to pay for parking. We collected lots of change in a tin in the weeks running up to the due date. This came in very handy when we needed to get as close to the hospital as possible as I could barely walk when we arrived!

Good luck.

defo take socks, nice and soft one
and dont forget hair band, or anything to keep them tidy.
i forgot 1st time, looked like crazy cavewoman after given birth

I am going to be printing off a thread from MN to remind me of all the good advice complete strangers gave me in relation to BF and C sections and sticking that in my bag to read when things get tough

Couple of peppermint teabags in case you end up with a CSection (you never know.) You get killer trapped wind after abdominal surgery and peppermint really helps. Even if you hate peppermint - think stingy wound + breastfeeding contractions + trapped wind, you'd be glad to eliminate one of these .

OK possible daft question here, the toilet wipes sound like a good idea, but was wondering can you use baby wipes instead? or is it that baby wipes aren't flushable where as toilet wipes are?

Number one thing - flip flops - double as slippers and you can wear them in the shower - you will not want to go barefoot in there...
Chocolate and snacks, I actually took a cool bag in last time and DH used to bring in M&S salads so I didn't have to eat vile hosp food. Also, I was starving all the time having thrown up for 24 hrs in labour.
Big nightshirts, front opening, are easier if you have CS - for catheter, and IV, also for BFing.
Take one bottle into the shower... I took a gentle all in one body/hair wash thing, think it was l'Occitane milk. Plus facial wipes, moisturiser and body lotion (very drying atmosphere in hosp) mascara and lipbalm. Comb, hair elastics.

think baby wipes aren't flushable (although have never tried) and also the toilet wipes actually disinfect rather than just clean gently?

Was wondering if that might be the case!
Will get some.

My mum won massive kudos by bringing in photos of me and Mr Speccie as newborns. It was lovely to identify similarities between us and teeny DS - I recommend it.

Also, I was really glad to have my V shaped pillow for breast feeding - there just weren't enough pillows to prop myself up on.

i know the've already been mentioned but if you're looking for dark towels and front opening nighties i found primark best

Snacks for you and DH, not just chocolate as hospitals can be quite hot, I took cereal bars and mini packs of sweets.

Cotton wool

Baby Name book (unless you are definite about the name as we changed ours after LO was born)

Pen and Paper

I also bought a travel spray bottle from Boots which you can fill with water to spray on your face during labour.

Glucose tablets

Lots of huge cheap knickers

Good luck and enjoy it its class meeting your LO mine is only 9wks old and I would do it all again

Have only read OP.

Take more than 10 maternity pads. (I personally found tesco ones the best - always jsut didnt do the trick - sorry if TMI)

Plus, can you take any CDs in to listen during the labour?

And you will need chocolate, and more chocolate and even more chocolate afterwards too.

And I would take an extra pair of Pj's in case you bleed through your spare pair.

Good luck! x

oh oh oh - And I found lucozade tablets soooooooo fab to have during labour as I kept puking up any food I ate and needed the energy from them. Also the midwives and DP were eating them too!

Ahh - Speccie - what a fab idea, I will remember that one!

My DS was born on 27th Dec last year!!
Prob repeating loads here but anyway....

Agree with lots more pads and knickers etc than you think
Lip balm
hair bobbles
face cleaning wipe thingies and a toothbrush/toothpaste to hand - after a good few hours I wanted to brush my teeth and wash my face and couldn't get off the bed so wipes were good - kept them in a separate labour bag so DH can get them easily
Spare clothes for DH - gets hot and sweaty in delivery suite
I wanted clean Pj's/nightie each night as felt really hot on the ward
Flip flops
pillow - someone on MN recommended this last year and although I wondered if people would think I was odd, they were great - leaned on them a lot in labour and then used for BF - smelt of home and nice washing powder!
pen and paper and list of mobile numbers/email addresses for DH to let people know babybutton had arrived
lansinoh - essential!!!!
I also packed all babybuttons things in a separate bag which I am glad about - I had an emerg c-section so when he needed changing the nurse could find all his stuff without having to root through all my knickers!
nice food/snacks for after birth

Can't think of anything else apart from usual toiletries/clothes etc - good luck!!

Not read other posts so sorry if repeating:

breast pads
lasinoh
lip balm (so hot and dry in hosp and lips get dry if using gas and air)
phone no's
change for phone
pen and paper (v useful, pens are like gold dust in hospital)
Lucozade tablets
Flannel
Bed socks (feet can get cold during labour)
More maternity pads (sorry)
Dressing gown
Baby blanket/swaddling blanket
Scratch mits
Dont think your supposed to use babywipes when they are newborn - cotton wool instead
Couple of muslins

dextrose tablets,I loved the lemon flavour!
five packs. Brilliant in labour when you can't eat but need instant energy.

cut up an old towel into photo sized squares, use these as wipes dipped in tepid water for the tarry meconium devil poo. Discard or wash them and use them for burp cloths, and numerous other uses.
Loads of pads. At the start you will need two at a time. Buy disposable knickers or ones you don't mind chucking away.
slippers or flip flops.
towel for you
nice shampoo for you.
TENS machine.
hair brush, toothbrush,
hat for baby
olive oil in a little jar for putting on babies feet if they are dry and wrinkly.
Breastfeeding without tears DVD by Clare somebody. Best advice on how to breast feed ever. Get it now before the birth. I got my copy from the library.
Heaps of good luck and wishing you all the best.

I found my flip flops
Clare Byam-Cook, do you mean? I have her book on Breastfeeding. Glad you mentioned about the DVD as I'd forgotten to pack the book!