hospital bags?
False
Forums » Family and parenting » Pregnancy and birth » hospital bags?
|
hospital bags?
posted at 8/7/2009 6:37 PM BST
|
Total posts: 953
First post: 2/3/2005 Last post: 20/11/2009 |
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 
 |
|
|
Re: hospital bags?
posted at 8/7/2009 8:39 PM BST
|
Total posts: 3441
First post: 26/1/2008 Last post: 17/11/2009 |
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 |
|
|
Re: hospital bags?
posted at 8/7/2009 8:56 PM BST
|
Total posts: 5729
First post: 6/8/2004 Last post: 22/11/2009 |
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:) Hold on to your hopes and Dreams |
|
|
Re: hospital bags?
posted at 9/7/2009 5:17 AM BST
|
Total posts: 15562
First post: 26/1/2005 Last post: 28/10/2009 |
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.
This is where all the ex foodie baggers hang out - come join us :)
http://rhubarbcrumbleandcustard.freeforums.org/index.php |
|
|
Re: hospital bags?
posted at 9/7/2009 7:37 AM BST
|
Total posts: 2122
First post: 24/5/2004 Last post: 20/9/2009 |
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 |
|
|
Re: hospital bags?
posted at 9/7/2009 8:54 AM BST
|
Total posts: 5469
First post: 22/5/2006 Last post: 26/10/2009 |
In Response to Re: hospital bags?: We've been told to pack everything for a weekend away with baby. So enough clothes for a couple of days, nappies etc. Posted by sticklebacker 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...
|
|
|
Re: hospital bags?
posted at 9/7/2009 2:18 PM BST
|
Total posts: 1394
First post: 4/10/2003 Last post: 23/10/2009 |
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. |
|
|
Re: hospital bags?
posted at 9/7/2009 3:24 PM BST
|
Total posts: 4158
First post: 27/6/2005 Last post: 22/11/2009 |
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. Jeremy Osborne: Stop pissing on my bonfire. Mark Corrigan: There is no bonfire! Jeremy Osborne: That's because you keep pissing on it! I hate the new bag !! |
|
|
Re: hospital bags?
posted at 9/7/2009 3:27 PM BST
|
|
Total posts: 4158
First post: 27/6/2005 Last post: 22/11/2009 |
Oh and a camera so you can get lots of pics of the baby when they are tiny.. they change so quickly.
Jeremy Osborne: Stop pissing on my bonfire. Mark Corrigan: There is no bonfire! Jeremy Osborne: That's because you keep pissing on it! I hate the new bag !! |
|
|
Re: hospital bags?
posted at 9/7/2009 10:13 PM BST
|
|
Total posts: 2124
First post: 23/2/2004 Last post: 24/8/2009 |
Not that I should really be in this forum  but I have spent some time in hospital recently and the air is really, really dry - my skin suffered.However someone had recommended taking in some of my fave body butter and I got OH or one of the nurses to massage it into me for the few days after my surgery I wasn't capable of doing it myself. It made me feel nice and soft and pampered and unsmelly and it was nice to smell of something familiar. Also I would have looked like a reptile without it as my skin was really struggling not to dry out. Someone else has suggested lip balm - I would say this is an absolute MUST for the same reasons. Good luck ladies, hope to join you properly in here in 2010 
|
Forums » Family and parenting » Pregnancy and birth » hospital bags?
Forums
Who's online?
We have 572257 discussion board members
In total there are 206 active users online, 1 members and 205 guests
Promotions