Hospital Bag - what to pack

[ktwiltshire]

Ok so i have packed all the things i can think of for me and baby, clothes, nappies, PJs, maternity/sanitary towels, pants, towel, bathroom stuff, etc etc. but im pretty sure that knowing me I will get there and realise that I have forgotten something or that i really want something.

Is there anything you guys can think of that is usually forgotten, or really nice to have?

Shoes My mum left with mine after the delivery and didn't bring them back when I was going home. The midwives thought I really had lost it.

I took some nice mini-bottles of my favourite face scrub, body wash, shampoo and conditioner. Was lovely.

Ohh and I bought a cheap pair of new slippers so they were all spoungey when I stepped into them

KT, assuming from your name you are delivering in Wilts - Bath, Salisbury or Swindon?

Flip flops are great for showering in as the bathrooms can be quite grotty. It really depends on how long you are thinking of staying in for post delivery - I took things like bottles of squash and savory snacky foods as there were no facilities for anything apart from toast/curly edged sarnies between incrdibly bad meals in Bath. Also a few easy frivolous magazines to read during feeds/baby sleeping as Icouldn't concentrate for long as I needed to stare at DD regularly

Flip flops for the shower, maybe?
A pillow in a cheap case.
More sanitary towels than you think you will need.
A hairband if your hair gets in your eyes (this can be v v v annoying when you are in labour and boiling hot).
A couple of spare flannels (your partner can put them under the hot or cold tap as appropriate and use them for your back or your head).
Clean shirt for your partner.
Oh, and a fold-up changing mat for the baby. I forgot this for DD1 and she did projectile poos all over the place.

I would take some of your own painkillers, as paracetamo just dont cut it.

bottle of juice, lucozade all the way for me.

comfortable clothes for wearing home.

snacks.

Camera
( I'm packing eyeliner and lip balm so I look vaguely alive in the photo's)

im taking a little makeup bag so i can actually look nice when people come to visit.

im going to be in the hospital for a good week as theyre going to try and induce me (i will be 37weeks) which probably wont take and i will end up with a csection, also i have SPD so im staying in the hospital until ive seen the physio, which knowing my hospital could take a few days!!

slippers, good idea, i was thinking that today as i was going big pants shopping!
i will take my own painkillers in, as im on seriously strong ones and dont want to be without because the Drs are getting arsy with me.

ive picked up a couple bottles of energy drink (sports type, not caffiene)
ive got lots of sanitary towels and nappies in my bags, and a huge stack at home so DH can bring them in as needed

keep the ideas coming, thanks girls!!

I would check whether they will let you take your own painkillers... on the PN ward I was in they would not even let me take my own prescripton medication (thyroxine) I had brought from home and insisted it had to come from the hospital pharmacy!! Do others have a different experience of hospital policy on this?

this link has some ideas

JAcksMyBaby - that's worrying.

I'm on prescription meds.

I better check it with midwife on tues.

Armadillo - they were fine about getting it from the pharmacy BUT it did mean a delay while they faffed around... not disasterous with the medication I'm on but obviously could be a problem if your medication must be taken at certain times... however if you make sure they know as soon as you go in that you will need your medication and when, I'm sure they will be able to sort it out. (Or, they might not have such a ridiculous policy in the first place... good idea to check in advance.)

Take your own drugs but let them know.
When I had DD1 I was on meds for my high blood pressure. They ran out and I needed a dose in the hospital and they did faff getting it. Plus I had to ask - they didn't check my notes and know what I was on.
IME in hospital you have to be partially responsible for communicating what you need anyway (as notes can be wrong etc).

Im being induced (although its unlikely to work) so i will have a chance to go through what painkillers im on and when i normally take them before we really start things. i go on the ward at 9am and dont usually have my next dose until 12/1pm so hopefully they will either let me take my own next dose, or get me it from the pharmacy.

I will check with midwife on hospital policy as one of mine has to be taken 3 times a day.

I had ds at same hospital but wasn't on meds then so don't know what their policy was.

Good thing you posted that though otherwise I wouldn't have known to check

Take some arnica, it'll help with the healing/bruising and also a shower gel with a hook (advice taken from MNers) so you don't have to bend down to pick it up (especially after a cs)

An old teeshirt or nighty to give birth in, that you can just chuck in the bin afterwards (I really wouldn't have fancied washing it afterwards, covered in god-knows-what)....

Flip flops - or any shoes without backs - are good if you have a section as you can't bend to put shoes on, or lift your leg up to do it either!

IIRC the horrible tubi-grip sock things they give you after a c section mean you can't wear flip flops though, so I'd go with ballet pumps or slippers you can just slip your feet into.

Im already wearing surgical stocking as im on bed rest, im figuring slippers will be fine for the ward, might send DH out to get some version of crocs if i want something more!

Good call re crocs! Might get some for this time round.
Poor you re bed rest, that must suck .

FOOD!
Stuff that's light but will give you energy.

Re prescription medicines - I know they say you aren't allowed to take your own, but after my experience of not getting my meds when needed and thus having inadequate pain relief for SPD for 24 hours after birth (it was telling them that my vagina etc was just fine that convinced them I wasn't exaggerating), next time I'm keeping them with me and I will happily scribble on my notes to say what I've taken.

All I used was loads of fruit, chocolate milk, and malt loaf, and a couple extra-large T-shirts and a couple babygros and hats, and mobile and charger, plus a pack of Primark pants - and we were kept in for 3 nights.
Was wearing large t-shirt and stretchy skirt and sandals, which all survived to go home in.

i was able to take in neurofen and paracodal 2nd time i didnt leave them with the midwifes kept them i bag they can not stop you from doing this.

i just turned them down when they offered and took my own its your ow human right to do as you please they can not refuse you.

otherwise just ask partner to bring in for you at visiting times, offering paracetamol to someone after childbirth and 10 stitches is barbaric in my opinion.

.

sorry i do just mean pain relief not prescription medication should have made that clear

Your probably already on something stronger, but the strongest pain med available over the counter is dihydrocodeine & paracetamol.

I assume you've packed a full set of clothes for you to wear going home - and ones you can easily get on?

A friend of ours took in an iPod touch for the games to keep herself amused whilst hanging around waiting!

Dressing gown?

i am going to go 'in' in my going home clothes, theres very little thats comfy for me to put on, trousers anyway because of the SPD, so i figure if i can put them on when i go in, they will be good for the way home.

im on the maximum dose of codeine, so a lot. with any luck i wont need that much after the birth, but i going to try to make clear when i check into the ward what im on now, and what i expect to be able to take if i need to after, its prescribed and OKd by the obstetrician anyway for now.

ive been on bed rest pretty much since 24 weeks or so, youd have thought i could have finished packing or at least my list, but my brain isnt good at planning ahead at the best of times!!

im planning on taking my laptop in (ive got lots of films etc on there, taking headphones too), i know theres the risk of it being stolen but im pretty sure i will go mad otherwise, and i dont fancy paying out a fortune for the paytv they have in the hospital!