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

Dark towel for after showering
, flip flops for in the bathroom/shower cubicle.
slippers for walking about
Big black pants
Maternity pads/sanpro - big soft ones

Mobile Phone for mnetting whilst trying to stay awake for night feeds

Lots of juice and toothbrush and toothpaste. Lots of babygrows and muslin cloths. NO candles, music or meltable food - labour wards are roasting and all my goodies melted. Ear plugs and an eye mask.

Don't pack 2 bags one for labour and one for after and let DH decide which one to take home while you get settled on the ward.

I packed 2 bags, one for me and one for ds
Definitely need more nighties than you think. I was conscious in labour that I only had 1 more clean one in bag so couldn't get changed out of the sweaty nightie I had on.
If you run out of maternity towels the hospital should have them.
Didn't need breast pads but nipple cream was great!

Disposable knickers and a massive cheap t shirt. I had a xxxl men's white t shirt to wear while giving birth and kept a nice clean nighty to change into after a shower. T shirt got very erm messy!

On that note, some lovely smelling shower gel and shampoo for afterwards. The showers after giving birth to my DCs were the best of my life. Felt like a million dollars.

Lovely smelling toiletries. The post labour shower is just wonderful. I felt like a million dollars.

Also giant disposable knickers and some jumbo granny pants.

A plastic beaker that you can fill with warm water to pour over your bits during post-natal wees.

Earphones with which to listen to Radio 4 (or audio entertainment of choice) in the boring bits beforehand and in the long nights while snuggling and breastfeeding.

Fill a 500ml bottle with squash or cordial to make the hospital water taste less awful. Makes it easier to keep your fluids up.

comfy pjs, toiletries, lots of big high waisted cotton knickers that will not bother you if you have a c-section, and thin maternity pads and savoury snacks - everyone kept bringing me cake so when I had DD I took in some Dr Karg Crackers. Socks - birkenstocks and shower flipflops and dare I say it mascara and lip gloss so you don't look to haggard if you have visitors. Plus a good book.

The baby just needs vests, babygrows, cotton wool and a few nappies and a hat if it's winter.

Also pack it yourself well in advance I had to ask DH to bring me stuff the first time round and his choices were inappropriate (he bought a size 6 t-shirt from when I was really skinny and had no boobs).

Ear plugs and an eye mask is you want any chance of sleeping, hospitals are bright noisy places

There are lots of things to take to hospital but the most important for me were
Snacks and drinks because I was so hungry
Old t shirt to give birth in
Comfy clothes to go home in
Make up and toiletries so you look normal again
Bath sponge (this was my best friend in the bath for piles so you can sit down on it also put cold water onto sponge and put onto piles this is instant relief from pain)
I also got a baby wash with camomile in which helps stitches heal quickly
Hair grip last thing you need is hair in the way before and after birth
Nipple cream because your nipples are going to get really sore when breast feeding
Loose fitting bra because you dont want your nipples getting squashed I think thats what caused mastitis
Stock up on maternity pads you will be surprised how many you use and for a few days you will use 2 at a time
socks because your feet get really cold in delivery
Mobile phone to keep people updated

I liked glucose tablets in labour for a bit of energy but without filling me up. The carton of ribena was not such a good idea when I threw up purple vomit 15 minutes later. I packed e bags, all labelled so my other half could find them easily. One for me in labour, one with essential baby bits and one for if we had to stay in the ward for work while with extra clothes for me and baby. As others have said you don't have much room for bags so I left the last week in the car until needed.

Mini juice cartons and water as labour and maternity wards are heated to sauna temperature levels!

A spare t-shirt for your DP or birthing partner, and a snack for them too. DH was so nervous he sweated buckets during my labour. Luckily I had packed one of his tshirts, intended for use by me in labour (never had the chance to get changed).

Moist toilet roll/ kandoo type flushable wipes-it is horrid wiping your bum after giving birth, but those make it manageable.

I'd say forget the disposible pants - just take some old normal pants - much comfier.

Make sure you have newborn essentials for baby (including clothes and nappies and wipes) - don't leave them in the car as we did!!!

Flannel, soap, handcream, moisturiser.

A water spray for your face.
fluffy socks for labour.
Refillable water bottle with sports cap.
NIPPLE CREAM!
Baby wash - I used it in the shower as it's mild on the sore bits.
Maternity towels, nappies, nappy cream, cotton wool.
At least 3 pairs of old/cheap high waisted pants, fabric not disposable.
Hair brush & hair band.
Mobile phone & charger.
A small blanket for baby for night-time.
Baby clothes.
Towel.
Cheap (ie disposable) flip-flops to wear in the shower.
Something to read, music & headphones.
Spare t-shirt & underwear for birth partner.
Cereal bars.
A soft pillow. Use in labour, after, and sit on in the car ride home if you have stitches.
Slippers or slip-on flat shoes.
Nightclothes for after.

BIG bars of chocolate - for a well deserved reward!

most of mne have been covered already, only to add:

A pen! You will write out your name and address over, and over, and over, midwives always seem to be offering you a running out pen. Take one, easier.

Every charger for equipment you're taking along

Facewipes, just easier to freshen up if you are unable to get to the shower (not mobile for at least 12 hours post both births)

Dried apricots, very good for iron levels.

Another one... Change for the car park! Nothing worse than realising you don't have any change.

With dd1 (11 years ago) we took a Polaroid camera. Not needed these days with digital!

Liking a lot of these suggestions though. Going to make a nice list!

Definitely lansinoh if planning to breast feed. If not intending to breast feed (i do myself but know not everyone does), then formula, bottles, I assume sterilising stuff (?)

A long nightie, preferably one that does up the front, or at least some sort of dressing gown, maybe a fleece one with buttons like grannies wear

I was wearing t shirt and jogging bottoms in labour. Didn't care at all about my dignity in the middle of that process, so that was fine... but then I ended up afterwards in a hospital gown, with a catheter in, kept having to go to the toilet to clean up, made a mess of the gown, had nothing to change into. All I had were t shirt and trouser-type pyjamas. If I'd had something long enough to cover my bum it would have made a big difference on the ward.

Pack baby vests & sleepsuits in a couple of different sizes. DC was bigger than expected (9lb 3) and didn't fit the vests. Luckily the babygro just abut fit her so she was ok for the night I spent in hospital.

Also, when buying nappies, double check the sizes. I accidentally bought premature baby nappies (even more laughable considering the size of her!!). Have to say, I know they don't have a fanclub on MN, but I was so pleased to see the Bounty rep so I could use the free sample nappies!!

I think the most important thing to have in your hospital bag is a camera to get the first snaps of your beautiful baby. For my first I got a few very intimate snaps of my boyfriend and our son and he took some of me so we will definitely be doing the same for our pending arrival.

Also a pack of full briefs from Asda or Primark! Just in case the maternity pads leak or you have to have a c-section, they go right up to your belly button and are incredibly comfy as they don't bunch with the extra big towel in x

Bendy straws
Wet wipes
Flipflops for the shower
A naice all-in-one wash thing (hands, body, hair) I took a l'Occitane shea butter one
chocolate

Towels from home so much nicer than hospital ones
Phone charger as you'll take 50 million photos.
Loads of sanitary towels.
Cheap knickers.
Slippers.
Jogging bottoms/t shirt for going home.
Full pack of baby vests and sleep suits.
Pen/paper - I wish I'd had this to write down what the doctor told me when ds1 had to have extra tests at birth. When dh arrived I couldn't remember all the details and felt overwhelmed.

Food etc I would get someone to bring after - I had lots of healthy lovely snacks in my bag but all I wanted was to eat mars bars