hospital bags?

hi girls

i know all the books say you should have your hospital bagged packed by 32 weeks 'just in case' but i never quite got round to it oops

does anyone have any realistic ideas of what to take in? got a few tips off other websites, but if i take ideas from all the websites im going to end up taking 2 family size suitcases

ive got it down to 2 bags, 1 labour bag and 1 bag for afterwards.

obviously i know baby needs baby grows nappies etc, but any idea of quantities?

what kind of clothes will i need for afterwards, sounds really stupid but will maternity clothes be a bit baggy?

the midwife mentioned a cold compress for down there while the head coming out to cool the burn, do i take this myself?

what kind of snacks/drinks would you put in labour bag?

someone else mentioned a jug to pour water down there while having first wee afterwards to take away sting, its so confusing i dont know what i need and dont need !!

can you tell the panic has set in, arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

help please

hi girls

i know all the books say you should have your hospital bagged packed by 32 weeks 'just in case' but i never quite got round to it oops

I've been meaning to get down to this as well, specially after a friend of mine went into labour early and that shook me up a bit!!

Drinks and snacks wise: My midwife recommended them isotonic drinks! I'm going to take some lucozades I think. M/w said as well choc is always a good option so I'm going pack some of them small multipack bars of choc for quick fixes and dried fruit.

Clothes: Bring maternity wear, takes a while for your stomach to go back to normal! You'll feel it to you get lots of cramps when your uterus shrinks back to normal size.

Quanities: Have no idea really, I'm just guessing. Most hospitals supply the nappies for you whilst your staying but pack around 10 they are small and compact so they wont take much room and your oh can always get some more if needed. Pack maybe 5 onesies as you don't know how long your going to be there and they muck things up quickly, again, if you need more, you can get the OH togo home and get some!

I'd take your own cold compress and jug.

x

I've come back here to share some wisdom.

Right first things first........how long do you plan to stay. You can stay anything from a few hours afterwards to up to 48 hours. Should anything occur that keeps you in longer perhaps a c-section then you OH can run home and get you more stuff i say take bare esscentials.

I took way too much stuff. I slept all the way through my labour after having diamorphine and by the time i woke up i was pushing so i didnt need anything at all. I ended up sleeping in my top that i wore in and nothing else i was naughty and delivered in it too so didnt use anything i took to labour in clothes wise as by the time i got there i didnt want anything on my belly not even baggy shorts!

I didnt listen to music or the telly but my other half played on his DS. He'd have been bored rigid if he didnt have that.

You will need something to put on after you birth because i didnt have anything they gave me a hospital gown which was alright but not very comfy.
You def need a going home outfit for baby including at least three nappies for a short stay of 6 hours because neave opened her bowels big time with meconium after her birth. So that will include wipes and bags.

Def take something to shower with afterwards because that was amazing for me, to have a shower and use my own stuff i felt great after that, i dont think i got sweaty but this was february and it was cold.


I hope that helps. Obviously if you plan to stay in longer you'll have to think about stuff in greater detail but they fed me after and i had water and tea served the whole labour.

Marina:)

We've been told to pack everything for a weekend away with baby. So enough clothes for a couple of days, nappies etc.

I'll also be adding a bottle of champagne, 20 Cartier Menthol and a Bacardi Mojito mixing kit LOLOLOLOL.

A friend recommended some maternity underwear, a bra thing with flaps to put nipple pads (lovely) and the comfiest, granniest knickers (as the fanjita will be a bit sore apparantly) so no g-strings or lacy nonsense.

MrS says we'll be doing mine this weekend. They think I'll deliver early so I need to get everything sorted.

I haven't given birth (and I have no intention of doing so - sorry Mum's-2-B, I have no intention of going through actual pain for anyone ) but a couple of friends who have and a S-i-L have all sworn by taking a spray can of Evian water. (You know, the ones that you can use to "set" your make-up)

Hospitals are hot- God knows what they were like last week - and being able to spritz your face (and fanjita) with something cool and pure would be bliss.

Good luck

TillyBob

This is exactly right. Some people go completely overboard, and look as if they're going on a fortnight's cruise when they come into hospital. You probably won't get through most of what you bring in, especially all this labouring-clothes nonsense. Who wants to be changing outfits when you're trying to push a baby out?
I took several pairs of Primark granny knickers a couple of sizes bigger than my normal size, and I went through every last one of them. They were also nice and comfy.
I also took a few breast pads but shouldn't have bothered, as your milk takes a few days to come in, and the colostrum isn't plentiful enough to leak.
I've also heard of some people putting everything into plastic bags and labelling them up so that they can bark orders at their OH to pass a baby vest, or a sleep suit, etc, etc, and he can easily identify. If you have the time and the inclination, fine, but if your OH needs that level of instruction, then are you really sure he's ready to be a Dad??
Lip salve was a life-saver. I took in several small bottles of sparkling water as I find it quenches my thirst like nothing else, and I knew I'd get dehydrated (which I VERY much did with gas and air).
Your own toiletries make the post-birth shower much nicer. Flip-flops for showering in. TENS machine if you're planning to use one.
I didn't bother taking in a jug for the first wee after birth - the hospital provided that without me even asking. Slippers to keep feet warm.
If you think there's a chance you'll be staying in overnight post birth, it can be nice to have your own baby blankets, but def not necessary if you want to save space.
Perfume! It is nice to smell like yourself after your shower.
Just thought of another - hair ties and pins. My hair flopping onto my face while in labour got right on my tits. Funny the things that you notice/annoy you...

I packed mine at the weekend - I put clothes (big t-shirt for labour, pjs & slippers, big pants, and some comfy clothes to wear to come home in) and toiletries for me in one bag, and nappies (10), clothes (3 babygros, 3 vests, scratch mitts, hat, socks) and a blanket for baby in another bag. I put a book in then realised I probably wont get time to read a book for about the next 5 years and took it back out again!

Just need to get a little jug as recommended above, and pack a few drinks and snacks, probably cereal bars and chocolate for energy.

Hope I haven't forgotten anything important. If all else fails will have to send out OH on a mission to fetch whatever I missed.

I would take some very big cheap high waisted pants !!! Just incase you have a c-section and you cant wear anything that rests on the area. I only had hipster style big kinckers in my bag and these sat right on the stitches, and my partner had to pop to tescos to buy me some high waisted pants so i could be comfortable.

Def pack your maternity clothes because they wont be loose when you go home!!!! Takes a while for the stomach to go down.

I took 2 bags, one for me, one for baby.

This was my bag, the only thing i didnt have was high waisted pants. I was in 3 days and had everything i needed and didnt feel like id taken too much.

3 x nighties - one for labour, two for after.

1 x PJ bottoms and 1 vest top.

Nursing bra and knickers.

Maternity pads.

Breast pads - brilliant to have!

Maternity leggings and top for going home. Flip flops for wearing home.

Shampoo, wash stuff, toothpaste and brush. Hairbrush and Bands,lipsalve, cleansing wipes.

Towels, for shower.

Juice drinks, water and fruit and nut bars (jordans type ones)

Some music cd's.

Dressing gown and slippers.

One thing i wish id packed and never was Lanishol nipple cream. Def takes this if you are planning on breast feeding.

For the baby:

Muslin (about 3)
Nappies
Blanket
3 baby grows
3 short sleeve vests
Outfit to wear home
Couple of hats
Scratch mittens (but i didnt use these)
Cotton wool balls.

And that was everything.

Oh and a camera so you can get lots of pics of the baby when they are tiny.. they change so quickly.

Not that I should really be in this forum

Not to mention the gushing blood and orange gunk that will be coming out of it as well.
Marina:)

Oh God - maternity pads - has anyone mentioned them??
Take the motherload, as you will be going through them at a rate of knots. And your regular, bog-standard super-sized brick won't be up to the job - they will need to be specific maternity pads. With wings.

Why am I reading this thread eating my breakfast

Nice!