WHAT SHOULD I PACK IN MY HOSPITAL BAG???

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Iv been having abit of what i thought was leaking called my midwife and she said that everything seemed fine and that i may just be havin some heavy discharge, HOWEVER im not convinced and wanted to pack my hospital bag early im almost 30 weks so i would have to do it shortly anyway. iv sen loads of lists just wanted to know if any mums had any knowledge on what you should actually pack for me & baby?? thanx :-) xxxx

You need something to wear in labour - will get very messy. Something to wear after birth - will also get quite messy. A dark towel - will get messy. At least 6 pairs of pants - will get messy. A nursing bra - shouldn't get messy. a lot of MATERNITY sanitary towels - think how many you think you'll need and double it. Then write down exactly what you've bought and where from so dh can go get more - things get very messy and you'll want to change them often.

A flannel, hair brush and toothbrush would be good. Also makeup for after the birth if you wear it.

Drinks and snacks and money.

Your phone/camera

For the baby - two or three babygros and vests. A cardi for wearing home. Nappies.

You may also want slippers or flip flops - may get messy, your own pillow, music, books, essential oils etc. Push to come shove (ha ha) though the midwifes will find whatever you need and your other half or your mum can always fill in the gaps. Good Luck - hope you don't need this stuff for another 10 weeks though!

TENS machine.
Magazines/books for the slower bits.
Your absolute favourite snacks - my first food after DD was born was a Rowntrees raspberry jelly in a pot and I will NEVER forget it.
Your pregnancy journal/notebook if you have one, so that you can write down the details form the labour asap, otherwise you'll be amazed what you will forget.

Good luck.

lol Northerlurker!! After dd1 was born I could not beieve how heavy the bleeding was - naively thought it would be like a normal period

second the dark coloured towel - was fully prepared with dd2!!

thanx so much thers so much stuff mags say you 'should' take and i would have ended up with about 12 bags going into hospital! iv got 2 front opening nighties and a pj set and a nightie 4 actual labour do you think i will need than that (was planning on going home in the pjs) do u think i should bring clothes aswell i doubt ill fancy wearing jeans after that ordeal hahah xxx

Just take your fave maternity outfit for coming home - those jeans with the horrendous stretchy front panel are great post-natally!

oh and as for the birth plan can anyone explain this?? i have no idea about any of the pain relief etc i just want a normal hospital birth lying on my back with some gas and air to send me abit doolally dont want an epidural although i wouldnt rule it out as i havent experianced birth before lol! any suggestions? xx

I wore trackie bottoms to go home after dd1 and jeans after dd2 (was a fair trek to the car and wanted to look a bit dignified even though I was walking like john wayne ).

I had 2 strappy nighties & a robe for after delivery which was enough...

Pack yours and the Los stuff separately ie Los stuff in carrier bag within bigger bag iyswim.

MW asked my DH for babygrow for my LO after birth and he didn't have a clue!!

I also packed stuff for labour separate from being back on ward iyswim. Stuff for labour ie flannel for birthing partner to wipe your face with etc,hairband to tie hair back (got really with my hair in face), one nappy & baby grow for LO after birth.

Also helpful tip was a disposable changing mat ie from £ shop for changing Los bum while in hosp...

I wore the same clothes out as I had worn in, wasn't much different in size!

I recommend disposable knickers (Boots do them, probably lots of others) cos things DO get very messy and it's ever so easy to peel the lot off and chuck it all away.

I bought a very cheap 4-pack of pillows from Argos - very useful and didn't care if they went missing (they didn't but I still use them at home for support, bed-barricading etc. 1+ year later)

Hypnobirthing CD if you do it, and a CD walkman of course! (Heartily recommend it)

'a normal hospital birth lying on my back' - is actually just about the hardest position to give birth in because you are basically pushing up hill. I've done that twice - first time because I didn't know any better and the second time because we were in a hurry to get her out and I just needed to be in the position that was easiest for the midwives. Third time though I was kneeling up and it was about a thousand times better. Being upright and active - walking about, using a birthing ball (space hopper thing basically) will help with the pain and will help your labour to progress. An epidural would also help with the pain but may slow things down. Read through the birth announcements thread on here - people often put in a lot of details and it might help you see what you would want to aim for. Being flexible is great - but it's your body and your birth experience - it's amazing and miraculous - there's nothing 'normal' about it. Far more wonderful.

DON'T LIE ON YOUR BACK!!! (Unless you want to of course, sorry for the shouting!). I only have a sample of a few to quote from, but feel strongly that active labours with an upright delivery position are easier and quicker. (Though I'm sure there will be someone/millions who disaree )

Seriously though, kneeling whilst holding on to the bedhead gives you lots of support isn't tiring and lets gravity help.

x posts northern!

Exactly anotherfinemess

would try and stay upright for as long as poss (gravity will help bring baby down so theoretically easier to push out!) rather than laying down, but see how you feel at the time.

With both my births the plan went out of the window but it helped get things straight in my head jotting things down beforehand. babycentre.co.uk has a useful template with suggestions on what to include.

yeah ill have to look into this alot more seems theres more than jus the way u see it on the telly haha so so nieve lol!! do u have to write down a birth plan iv never really herd of 1 before i read something about it in a mag ?

Re birth plan I just had G & A the 2nd time (first had epidural)and just wanted to lie there with no extra pain relief.

However once in labour had a compulsion to be on feet, it was like I had to do be on feet walking!! So be prepared for that!! However still didn't need more pain relief as the walking around really helped iyswim.

link here

same as you simpsons - my plan with dd2 was to use aromatherapy massage & birth ball but ended up walking miles & using breathing techniques (and also couldn't bear to be touched!!)

did your MW not explain it (birth plan) to you at your booking session? She should have.

no she didnt :s i have an appointment this wednesday tho i will ask when i go just wanted to know what it was really

You don't have to write it down - but it's a really good idea to have some notes about what you would like and to get informed about some of the major issues. Discuss this with your birth partner too - so they know what your wishes are. It's things like do you want the midwives to say the sex or do you want to look for yourself, will your partner cut the cord, pain relief options - but you can put in other things too - like no medical students - or loads of students if you don't mind. You can decline vaginal examinations or ask for only female attendants or to give birth in water if possible - loads of different varietions which when you think about it may or may not be improtant to you. Doesn't mean you'll necessarily get that sort of birth because birth is unpredictable - but the more you know before then the better chance you have of having the sort of birth you want.

just wondered how many sanitry towels and stuff ill need im planning on breastfeeding so i wont need bottles fingers crossed x

I would recommend big huge cheap pants, not disposables, the thought of paper pants after stiches or a section doesn't bear thinking about.

Decent length nighties that are not too see through, I was all ready with my winnie the pooh ones until I realised they were half way up my arse and were a bit too thin to hide my nipples and stuff, on the ward with visitors traipsing in and out you might want to be a bit more covered.

Cheap flip flops for in the shower
money for phone
soft flannels
Good luck xx

Hospital will have bottles anyway (not that you will need them if you BF)

Deffo deffo take flip flops for shower after birth etc.

Also take some vaseline as A) your lips get dry when in labour and B)it is fab for using to clean baby's first poo which us like tar!!