MN Bumpfest: What should mothers-to-be pack in their hospital bags? Chance to win a £50 voucher!NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

In the run up to BumpFest (which is going to be totally awesome by the way) we’re looking to get a better understanding of the experiences Mumsnetters have had around different issues surrounding childbirth.

We've seen from the many threads on the subject, that Mumsnetters have got packing a hospital bag down to a fine art. We’d like to hear what you think are the essentials, and what can actually be left in the shop.

What items did you pack the first time around which you later realised were completely unnecessary on the day? Did you find you overpacked your hospital bag when you were pregnant with your first PFB DC?

Everyone who adds their thoughts to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 John Lewis voucher.

Thanks,

MNHQ

• Maternity pads, a pack of paper underpants for the first couple days, and big cotton granny pants for the rest.

• PJs with bottoms. The midwives looked a bit askance at my brand new, specially selected for the day maternity nightgown and kept hinting that top-and-bottom PJs would be better for the trip between L&D and postnatal.

• Your own toiletries - nice ones. Taking a shower and washing my hair after giving birth was cathartic. There's something really soothing about taking the tangles out of your hair and making it look decent again. Makeup if you want it, but I didn't bother wearing mine.

• Clothes for the baby, packed in the same bag as your own stuff. Never mind the two-bag malarkey. My DH and I packed a separate bag with the baby's stuff and then left it in the car, because we "wouldn't need it until later". Little did we know we'd be in for a very long labour and then another long wait for a bed in postnatal. Poor DD spent the first few hours of her life in a hospital blanket, a sleeveless vest and some scratch mitts until DH could get her bag out of the car. She was born in November!

• Lansinoh. Really glad I had this. Even though we established BF successfully, my nipples still had scabs. Lansinoh helped us get past that part.

A straw was my top thing. My husband looked at me like I was crazy when I packed it, but when I was thirsty due to the gas and air it was a life saver!

Enormous big bath towel, dark colored. For that first shower after the birth.
Big granny knickers you won't mind throwing away.
Newborn sized baby clothes, not 0-3.
Fan.
Big, loose front-buttoning nightshirts.
Camera.
Chargers.
Tissues.
Drinks and snacks.
Arnica tablets.

What not to pack: the novel you are reading. You will probably not need it whilst in labour (learning point for me....)

Ear plugs and eye mask were the two things I didn't't pack and wanted most afterwards

Warm socks, nice snacks, disposable pants and nipple cream. Oh and something for your baby to wear. DS 1 came home in a hospital blanket due to a bag malfunction.

Homebirth emergency transfer to hospital bag:
3x packs massive maternity pads
5x cheap cotton pants a size too big
4x feeding bras (go to bravissimo! Even if you think you aren't a D cup just go and check, save yourself the horror of mothercare and m&s' crappy fitting!)
1 pack breastpads
Juggling ball (squeeze and count through contractions while you are waiting for/instead of drugs)
Sports top bottle of water (drink then reuse to squeeze water over your fanjo as you wee!)
Lucozade sport, oat based cereal bars, dried apricots (you really don't want to be constipated after birth) and high protein can be eaten warm snacks.
Flipflops
Small wash kit with travel versions of your favourite shampoo etc (you can get little kits of empty travel pots in boots)
Mobile phone charger
Weather appropriate going home outfit that is comfortable to feed in and has a soft waist (eg, maternity shorts/jeans and vest top with cardigan or loosely fitting jumper)
Soft pyjamas/nightwear that you can see your boob and feel comfortable while you feed in.

For baby:
2x newborn baby vests
2x newborn sleepsuits
2x newborn hats
1x newborn mittens
Special blanket if you have one
1 pack size 1 nappies
1 pack pure water wipes

• An average baby is 7lbs10 ish, so getting up to 7/8lb clothes are the best bet, if your baby is unusually small large something will get sorted out, no need to stress about it.

You can so tell I've had three babies from that list! I didn't put smart phone down, I guess most people would know they wanted that!

Naice travel toiletries
Sports cap lucozade bottles
MUSIC
Dark coloured comfy separates and LOTS of pants and maternity pads

YY to labelled "first outfit" in clear bag containing nappy/vest/sleep suit/hat.

A single sheet of A4 with your birth plan details on it, which you've discussed with the person supporting you at the birth.

I packed a bunch of stuff I didn't need but not enough nappies. Think I packed about 3 and they don't provide them! You need maternity towels but not hospital knickers. Just buy cheap cotton knickers in a large size. Much more comfortable and probably cheaper!

Snacks, maternity pads, old knickers, shower gel, toothbrush, shampoo. Get newborn clothes (sounds obvious but I thought 0-3 would fit. They didn't) Camera. Drinks.

Definitely snacks. Due to some sort of mishap/incompetence I didn't get any breakfast or lunch the day after DS was born so was extremely glad of my packet of biscuits and the apple I'd saved from the previous day's tea.

Old towels. My mum (who was my birth partner) ticked me off for packing really elderly, threadbare towels but I pointed out that they would be bound to get manky and I didn't want to mess up my good ones.

A book or two, but pick nice books - something comforting and easy-reading - maybe a childhood favourite or a softcore romance, maybe a very cosy detective story. FFS don't pack anything that contains scenes of someone's baby dying, or the horrors of backstreet abortion, or particularly gruesome murders. For some reason I had a Richard Bachman collection, and immersing myself in the apocalyptic horror of THe Long Walk while my head was still fragmented from all the nitrous oxide was not really a good idea.

A Facebook friend has recently posted a list that an elderly relative was given when going into hospital to have a baby - it included knitting and writing materials I forgot my knitting sadly.

It's been said already but snacks. I wish I'd taken more carbs. I ate sweets and drank lucozade but if you have a long labour your body needs more fuel. My advice would be buy one massive bag and pack it. We had two bags that DH and I raked through and they looked like they'd exploded on the floor. I found the untidiness very irritating and unsettling. I was constantly sending DH to the car with stuff - I think was extended nesting!!

One thing that was essential both times was dried apricots. ( for after birth)
The first time I gave birth I had a wooden back massage thing in my bag and a bottle to spray water on my face to cool me down... I didn't use them or pack them the next time.

Get your partner to pack the bag so he knows what's in it and you're not yelling, "it's in the front pocket!" Mid-labour. Have one bag for you and one for baby. Make sure he packs the baby one too, so he doesn't say, "I don't think so" when the midwife asks whether we've brought clothes and a blanket for DS. DS spent the first bit of his life in an nhs towel while I was getting stitched up after a cs.

Naturcare pads-comfiest by far
Disposable slippers-bin when you leave hospital (ikea or posh hotel)
Antibacterial wipes
Appletiser to drink during the night
Dates-to help with 1st poo and for a sugar boost
Fruit pastilles-sugar boost in labour and after

Pack several nighties / shirts to labour it, but do not pack a single nighty you would not be happy to be photographed in. You will undoubtably end up wearing that one!

Maybe a pillow for the hospital, theirs are rubbish. But put it in a colourful pillowcase otherwise it may end up staying there.

Definitely snacks. Not just for labour but also afterwards, you may well be really hungry then. I was repeatedly promised toast and tea after my last birth by a nurse, but the ward was so busy I still hadn't been given anything 6 hours later!

Well actually DP went of and got me something, but they didn't know that.

Disposable changing mats. We found there was nowhere to change the baby apart from on my bed, and you definitely don't want to get meconium on your bed sheets!

Also take twice as many maternity towels as you think you'll need

Flash wipes and plenty of snacks.

Also do two bags, one for labour/birth and leave another in the car incase you have to stay overnight.

A measuring jug.....! Fill it with warm water and pour it down your front when you go for your first wee after the birth... Reduces the sting!

Cotton wool make up pad removers rather than cotton wool balls. Meconium is messy!

Lots of vests, DS went through 5 in 24 hours whilst we got the hang of nappies and little willies that wee everywhere when the see the light of day!

Also brief DH/DP explicitly on things you need.....for our second baby my DH still did not understand what car seat to bring (despite it being IN the baby crib and having used it for a year with DS1!) and when u clarified "yes the maxi cosi one" on the phone, he just rocked up with out elder child's maxi cosi pearl which our 3 year old uses! It makes me rage just thinking about it !!

Make sure you have a car seat.

With DD2 we could have gone home the evening she was born, but we had to stay overnight in the hospital because we didn't have a car seat to bring her home (we'd lent it to someone & couldn't get hold of them).

Granny pants to avoid paper knickers, drinks bottle or juice cartons for labour, camera / phone and charging lead. Change for car park

Looking forward to packing my bag in about six months time. am definitely going to be looking at this thread for inspiration!

Clothes and toiletries for you
Clothes for the baby
Nappies, breast and maternity pads
Snacks

I'm quite a light packer anyway. If you end up having a longer stay you can always send someone home to fetch you more stuff