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

A fan if you are planning a water birth as it gets very hot in there, wet wipes, flip flops, towels, maternity pads (no one ever tells you about this but definitely need lots of these), all the essential new born baby clothes, nappies, loose nighty & comfy clothes to wear after.

big knickers and maternity pads

Whatever you think you need, I would recommend packing it a good few weeks before your due date. I went vastly overdue with my first two kids and was induced both times, so with my third, I was utterly convinced the same thing would happen. "I don't go into labour naturally" was my blasé opinion, "so what's the point in packing a bag before I get an induction time".
Cue me crawling round the bedroom in transition phase of labour, frantically trying to think what I might need whilst in hospital.

There's a lesson to be learned here!

I think everything has already been suggested. My only advise is to pack it early.

advice, not advise, but I don't know how to edit my post :-)

Biscuits, could not have managed without the biscuits, they kept my spirits and energy up, and also helped me stop feeling sick all the time (just nice plain rich tea).

Make up and the little things that make me feel human, after labour the last thing I wanted to do was walk out of the hospital with my new baby feeling rubbish about myself.

mobilephone as it is best way to inform other what you need, remind them to fetch or update news etc

magazines or a book for all the waiting around, snacks for hubby and all the usual necessaties

I always pack a puzzle / crossword / suduko book and my kindle as there is a lot of sitting about after the birth. The hour or two waiting to be signed out is the longest.

For the baby - A few nappies, wipes, a few vests and sleepsuits, a little baby blanket, a baby brush as my babies always have masses of hair and a feeding cushion. I never bother with outfits as they wouldn't get used.

For me - nursing bra, spare pants, loads of maternity pads, shampoo, shower gel, facewash, hairbrush, jammies, husband's teeshirt to give birth in, chocolate, mobile phone for ringing family and friends and taking photos of the new baby and a pic of my other babies that I prop up on the nightstand. I don't bother bringing a change of clothes as you only have the clothes you came in on for the journey down and the first 3 minutes in the hospital so they are fine to reuse.

For my OH - food to keep him going during the labour though the midwives have always given him meals, shorts and teeshirt for the birthing pool and lots of change for the parking as the car is parked for a long time on hospital grounds.

Thinking about this has actually made me broody. Oh no!

Ohhhh, more knickers than you might think

ear plugs! snacks!! drinks you can be left a bit without them and get a bit peckish

change for phone /phone card as i couldnt get signal
book/magazines
camera
warm socks
plenty of towels
delightful and sexy disposbale knickers!! ha! and maternity and breads pads
comfy sporty type bra as your boobs might be sore you dont want wire ones digging in
make up if you wear it - nothing like being caught of guard when a load of people trapce in you look like poo! ha!
plenty of nappies
(bottles -some hospitals dont provide them only the milk if you are bottle feeding)
smellies - toothpaste/brush shampoo/conditioner etc
cotton wool as they dont use wipes until babies a bit older x
comfy clothes for you and baby (a few of each) i was told i was going home and had to be kept in so make sure you have enough for a few days if needed x

Snacks for sure, lip balm for the dry lips due to boiling hot hospital wards!! Another suggestion is a larger bodysuit or sleepsuit than newborn, my son was so big that it became clear that he wouldn't fit into the one we had packed!!

The postnatal ward is quite warm so I would say comfy clothes that you could layer if you wanted to.

Larger size outfits for your baby as they might not be a teeny tiny newborn :)

I massively underpack, mainly cause l went to Labour 3 weeks early but also l had to stay in hospital for a week and thought l will be out hours after birth (silly me!). If l were to pack again l would remember:
-toothbrush and toothpaste

• flip flops and dressing gown (thin)
• phone charger
• shit loads of sanitary pads (l took one!!)
• food (cereal bars, dried fruit, oatcakes, crisps, chocolate)
• kindle
• magazines
• headphones

Anything else missing can be brought over later. And of course the above is on top of usual stuff (nappies, muslin, baby cloths etc.)

I think all the normal items are covered but its often the essentials like 'your knickers' which are forgotten. Also some good skin and face moisturiser is a good idea due to the air conditioning drying out the skin.

I think the most important thing to pack in a hospital bag is nutritious snacks as I was starving and hospital food is terrible with small portions!

Ha ha this makes me laugh! Mine contained snacks, my birth plan, a TENS machine, my diary, books, my phone, music...all the things to get me through labour. My daughter was born within two hours and my birth plan may well have been written on toilet paper for all I got to follow it!

A TENS machine, massage oil, i pod with playlist, lavender oil, nightie and a birth plan, none of which you will use.

Seriously the most useful thing I packed was 2 bottles of Lucozade Sport and wish I had packed more, it helped to keep me going while I pushed for nearly 3 hours and was easy to drink from the sports bottle.

anti bac hand spray
and value granny knickers . We all pack pads etc but was nightmare having emergency c sending hubby to try and find size 20 granny knickers. Luckily tesco had values ones reduced to £1 for 2so he bought load and i treated as disposable

Pads! Change of clothes, breast pads, babies outfit, camera, ipod - toiletries

Lots of snack-type food as usually when it's meal times you are either asleep, feeding or just don't want to eat as the food is so disgusting. I had my visitors bring me sandwiches and cake as you need to eat lots when breast feeding!

I also took antibacterial wipe for everywhere as the wards never seemed to get a good clean as they were so busy. Money for TV card to get you through those long night feeds.

Lots of spare knickers and Pj's / nightwear, a camera and some lip-balm.

I massively overpacked. One thing I didn't take was drinks and snacks, and when you're up all night feeding you get ravenous! I was STARVING!

Pack fruit and drinks
Big knickers - don't forget to try them on before you go too!
Slip on shoes
Yy to a thin dressing gown, it is hot in there but a dressing gown when you are walking to the loos will help you feel less exposed.