Pregnancy and Baby Advice Thread: From Conception to Birth, and Beyond!

[JoeyJoJo]

Ahhhhh im really dreading packing my hospital bag(s) but i know i need to get on it! Need to start buying bits and pieces for it too. I've been putting it off if im honest lol I know as soon as they're packed i'll be constantly stressing that i've forgotten to pack something important

 

[sarah_lou1981]

Ahhhhh im really dreading packing my hospital bag(s) but i know i need to get on it! Need to start buying bits and pieces for it too. I've been putting it off if im honest lol I know as soon as they're packed i'll be constantly stressing that i've forgotten to pack something important

It's honestly the biggest thing I've stressed about! Most of my stuff is in, it's just the bits I need to buy. So tomorrow night I'm putting it all in, zipping it up and ignoring it until the day we go to hospital!

 

[Dubchick81]

I'm not into homeopathy so will prob give the arnica tabs a miss but the cream is supposed to be good - will definitely consider that I need deodorant for my toiletry bag and mum has offered to lend me a lightweight dressing gown so I don't have to take my big fluffy one so at least that is sorted. It's pink but I guess I can deal with that lol

Other that that, I need to wash a pair of leggings and my button front maternity top, pack my massive tshirt for labour and sort out a spare headscarf and some pins so that I can tie back my fringe.

And scale back the amount of baby clothes as I really have packed too many

Am not sure u can use cream for risk of infection... Hense the advice for the tabs...
I've used the cream in the past n it dies speed up the recovery...

 

[JoeyJoJo]

This is what I've got so far:

HOSPITAL BAG - ME

CLOTHES

Dressing gown

Nighties x2 (for before and after)

Backless Slippers

Socks

Underwear

Spare bra/nursing bra (2 pack)

Towel(s) - black

Comfy shoes

Going home clothes (Vest top/T Shirt & Pants/Leggings)

Hubby's trunks (waterbirth)

TOILETRIES/RANDOMS

Mobile phone/charger

Change for telephone/vending machine/c.park

Maternity Pads

Maternity notes & birth plan

Snacks & Drinks (lucozade, polos, fruitella, cereal bars etc)

Bottle for washing (below)

Water spray

Handheld Fan/spare batteries

Bio oil (massage)

Hot water bottle

Tissues

Nursing Pads

Camera/charger

Mini toothbrush/paste, deoderant, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner

Lip balm

New shaver

hair ties/headband

babywipes

witch hazel

Painkillers

Nipple cream

Eyemask/earplugs (loud, bright ward)

Plastic bag for dirty clothes etc

makeup/hairbrush etc (handbag, seperate)


　

　

HOSPITAL BAG - BABY

CLOTHES

Blankets(s)

Towel(s)

Muslin clothes

Socks/booties

Mittens

Hat(s)

Babygro's (mixture)

Jacket/snowsuit

Bib(s)


TOILETRIES/RANDOMS

Fold-up changing mat

Disposable bottle(s)

Ready made milk

Cotton pads/balls

Nappies

babywipes

Dummy(s)

Nappy bags (scented)

 

[JoeyJoJo]

Let me know if you think I've forgotten anything as Im super paranoid that im gunna forget SOMEthing!

 

[sarah_lou1981]

See I've pretty much got most of that so maybe I'm not doing as bad as I think. I might sound thick here but why a hot water bottle? And I never thought to take my own painkillers but makes sense if the midwives are too busy.

 

[JoeyJoJo]

Hot water bottle I got off my SIL's list (shes due in a week or two) and im not actually sure whether to take mine or not either. I presume its for all the ache's/pains during and after labour?

 

[sarah_lou1981]

Hot water bottle I got off my SIL's list (shes due in a week or two) and im not actually sure whether to take mine or not either. I presume its for all the ache's/pains during and after labour?

Ive seen it on a few peoples lists and often wondered. It's probably good for back ache. I always use my wheat bag if my back hurts, although I haven't since I've been pregnant because I didn't know if we could.

 

[Dubchick81]

On yer back am sure it's fine??

I can't imagine midwives filling hot water bottles. Can b hard enough to get painkillers sometimes....

 

[missy1978]

I never even thought about painkillers! As long as the midwives know you have them it's a good idea I would say. I was gonna say a wheatbag might be easier but no microwave in hospital - doh! What about the self heating pads you can get? They are a bit steep but it's a one off...

 

[sarah_lou1981]

I never even thought about painkillers! As long as the midwives know you have them it's a good idea I would say. I was gonna say a wheatbag might be easier but no microwave in hospital - doh! What about the self heating pads you can get? They are a bit steep but it's a one off...

Could be a good idea. But then if I decide to have an epidural I might not need it. I think I've had some in the past so might still have some left x

 

[kezzalicious30]

Bloody hell I never knew how much stuff went into a hospital bag! :-0 xx

 

[JoeyJoJo]

lol Theres a self-serve kitchen at my maternity unit so im sure theres a kettle to put on/use for hot water bottle

 

[JoeyJoJo]

Bloody hell I never knew how much stuff went into a hospital bag! :-0 xx

lol Neither did I until i started/kept adding to my list haha

 

[missy1978]

It's a minefield lol! I had no idea until I started reading up and panicked big time!

 

[kezzalicious30]

Lol you'll need a suitcase never mind a bag xx

 

[missy1978]

Lol you'll need a suitcase never mind a bag xx

Mine is actually in a suitcase at the moment, am attempting to downsize to a bag lol! xxx

 

[kezzalicious30]

Mine is actually in a suitcase at the moment, am attempting to downsize to a bag lol! xxx

Lol I bet u don't end up downgrading cos I'll prob add more stuff ;-) xx

 

[Dubchick81]

Ha ha... But don't forget.. baby stuff is TINY and bed clothes are thin n light so don't take up much room.. and you only need a night r two... Just have a second bag packed n left in the boot of the car for the BF/OH's to bring in if needed for a longer stay

 

[Guinevere]

See I've pretty much got most of that so maybe I'm not doing as bad as I think. I might sound thick here but why a hot water bottle? And I never thought to take my own painkillers but makes sense if the midwives are too busy.

I didn't bother to take painkillers in with me (though stocked up with easy to take paracetamol for early labour at home) with the thought process that regular prescriptions are usually given on time (heaven help anyone disturbing the drug round!) so if I needed quick access to anything on top of that it wouldn't be the mild things you can buy but the prescription only strong stuff.


I also took a suitcase with no shame (with 4 separate bags within it - for labour, for baby, for me after & for DH) - you'll hopefully be leaving with a precious baby... so ease of hands/wheels rather than being a pack horse/bag lady is better! & as it happens the spares were handy as we all ended up staying in for a few days.


& jelly babies were the perfect in-labour snacks - just the right combo of carby/starchy & sugar. Only after I thought perhaps eating babies was a bit dubious, haha...