What did you pack in your labour bag?

[zap]

Ok so I know I am only 15 weeks and I know this is my 4th so I should have this down pat by now but I always over pack my hospital and labour bag so thought I would start a topic and hear from all the lovelies on BB! What did you find essential and what was a waste of space!

[Danielle_NZ]

Totally interested in this... again with number three I should know better lol but so can't remember what I used and what I didn't

[*Efjay*]

Haha, number 5 here.. but yep always over pack.
this time..

*Coming home outfit for baby
*2 or 3 changes of clothes for me
*a good stash of undies for me
*8 Cloth pads & wet bag( & *maybe* a pack of disposables as i haven't done cloth PP before)
*2 or 3 pairs of cloth breastpads
*Cloth nappies
*wipes
*towel ( i never take a towel but really, the hospital ones are so tiny, I think this time I will take 1 of our bath sheets)

ummmmm thats about it I think? its a new hospital for me so im not sure what they supply so I guess I should add a few singlets/hospital clothes for baby also.

[zap]

I always see outfit to take baby home in do most hospitals provide baby gowns? I have always packed baby clothes.

[*Efjay*]

I have only birthed in 1 hospital & they supplied singlets & gowns for baby so I never bothered with anything but the coming home outfit.

[zap]

Ahhh so I am wasting my valuable packing space!!

[krystals]

Keep in mind I've only done this once, but this is what I ended up using... (not packing, I way overpacked!)
* Comfy comfy pj pants and slippers (the hospital didn't allow bare feet)
* Dressing gown (my mum actually went and bought one for me)
* Ten thousand pads...well not quite, 2 packs, I was in for a week and hubby may have gone to get more
* Disposable wet wipes for toileting
* Undies, undies and more undies....the Rio 6 pack in high cut were awesome as they were really loose and non constricting and I didn't care if they had to get thrown out.
* Feeding tops
* Favourite shampoo and conditioner (not essential, but lovely after a big day - or two)
* Toothbrush, paste and mouthwash... oh, mouthwash how I love you
* Big towel
* Going home outfit for bubs
* Camera
* Bra big enough to fit basketballs in (In my case, I went up to a 'G' when my milk came in!)
* Nursing pads

I also took, but didn't need
* Changes of clothes for bubba
* Magazines, drinks and food for labour... (WHA?????)
* Anything that at the time I thought would make me look more human...

[MrsBexie]

Yeah I barely pack anything and barely used anything!! LOL. But I went home the day of labour too so I didn't need stuff to stay in hospital with.

*5 pairs of cheap undies (in case I bled on them or got yucky stuff on them)
*camera and charger
*phone charger
*toothbrush and toothpaste
*2 pairs of yoga style pants
* 2 t-shirts and 2 nursing singlets
*swimmers (for the bath...NEVER used them!!!)
* bras
*1 pack maternity pads (didn't use these until we were home cause hospital had mad thick ones!
* 4 pack powerade (LOVED the red ones in labour... even if I threw it up!!! It was sooooo good to rehydrate me cause I didn't want water!)

For bubs:
*thick blanket
*muslin wrap
*1 outfit for cold weather
*1 outfit for warm weather
*socks and a beanie
*nappies and wipes

I barely used anything as I said, I took more stuff like makeup, hairspray etc... but honestly that does not even matter!! LOL

[Raupe]

Oh, I remember a great thread on that!

My List for Labour, Hospital and Beyond

[Honeybee]

* Magazines, drinks and food for labour... (WHA?????)

Heh heh heh - I packed this stuff too - loads and loads of food and drinks. Didn't touch any of it.

Took way too much stuff last time, I'm trying to cut down this time as well.

[Cherished]

I'd find out what the hospital provides and go from there. Our hospital provided 'everything' for baby including nappies, blankets, the works! All we needed for DS was a take home outfit and a wrap. I took heaps of stuff for dh & I though LOL I thought I was getting really carried away but both dh and I like to be comfortable and he said we were paying a lot to birth at the hospital so we can darn well take what we like I doubt I will remember everything I packed but here is what I can remember at the moment.

* Music
* Battery candles and plastic cups to put them in.
* Crystals to assist in the birth and good vibes
* I didn't need to take oil burner or oils as they were provided in the room
* Water spray bottle which had sage soaked in it (for cleansing the room)
* Blow up kick board to use as a floating support in the bath
* Egg shell overlay mattress! (yes I'm serious)
* Snacks and powerade for the labour. And next time I'll take more food for dh to eat during the 4 day stay
* Our own latex pillows

Some people suggested that the mood setting stuff was a waste of time but I was glad I had it all. Get your support person to set it all up. I had a few breathers in between contractions and was happy to be siting in a nice room which was relaxing and smelt good. Although our birth was really quick I think I'd be extra happy I bought all that stuff if it was long and I there were large gaps of time to fill in. We also used the candles and the music back in our room after bub was born as the music calmed DS due to listening to it loads while pregnant I guess and the candles were great instead of putting the main lights in the ceiling on (which were in bubs eyes if he was awake and looking up). The mattress was worth it!!!!! Everyone knows how uncomfortable those hospital beds can be. We had a family room which has 2 beds joined together so that you and your dh can sleep in the same bed. We have the most comfy bed at home so we grabbed the eggshell mattress we have on our spare bed at home here and took it in and far out the difference was amazing. We stayed there for 4 nights so wanted to be comfortable and my body was sore enough without making my neck and back worse by having to sleep on the darn hard hospital bed. Plus we were co-sleeping in the hospital so you need to fill in the 'gap' that a pushing the 2 beds together creates and the overlay did that. Haridryer for me was a must. I have a bad neck and it gets a chill on it and aches like crazy if there is any breeze or aircon blowing on it when I have wet hair. Regardless of that I didn't want to be sleeping on a wet pillow if I couldn't dry my hair

I'm sure you'll remember all the regular stuff. I was told to bring BIG black undies but could have done with regular ones I think, maternity pads aren't 'that' huge IMO. I would also take less clothes and less maternity pads, I think 2 packets is enough.

[luna moth]

Labour bag - All in separate ziplock bags, I had:
* Massage oil, clary sage oil, massage tool
* Arnica tabs, Rescue Remedy, Ventolin
* Boardies and small towel for hubby
* Bag of snacks for hubby, inc almonds, dark choc coated blueberries, nut bar, instant miso soup etc.
* TENS machine
* 2 x maternity pads, 2 x nanna panties
* Shawl for Rebozo sifting, Sarong for same/to wear around the place
* Lip balm, hair pins, headband and hair ties
* Empty 500mL bottle, drinking straws and powerade powder.
* Hat, outfit and wrap for baby (as instructed by hospy, but then they provided it all anyway)

Hospy bag:
* Undies (I took 10 pairs and used 2)
* Brand new PJ pants with shirred waist. Awesome.
* 3 x breastfeeding singlets
(took breastpads but really didn't need them, as I left before my milk came in)
* New, soft lovely trackies
* Toiletries - toothbrush, hair product, deodorant. Didn't need anything else
* 1 pack surfboard pads
* Eye mask for sleeping
* Baby stuff - 3 x disposable nappies, 3 x Wondersuits, hat. Next timewould also take a face washer, as hospy didn't provide these.
* Comfy shoes for walking home!

[sconeonamission]

I think I'm going to have to re-do mine!
I was in for monitoring after having a fall yesterday, and realised... I'm going to need socks! and maybe something light to keep me a bit warmer (I'm a cold fish). Last time, my body went into shock, so I was in and out of jumpers coz first I was cold, then hot, then cold, then hot. Got annoying until it settled down.

[DANNIIM]

Some hospital don't provide for baby so maybe just check.

[Shanti]

Thanks for this thread girls! Even though this is bub #2.... I have forgotten what I will need!! now it's coming back to me.....I remember packing so much last time that I didn't need also!

another thing that hasn't been mentioned (I don't think?) is money for snacks from the ladies that come around with the trolleys of goodies etc..... (some hospitals anyway).!!

[Frantelle]

Umm I can recomend taking snacks, drinks and a change of clothes snd some toiletries for Dh. After my marathon labour I didnt need the food but he sure did and there was no way he was leaving me to go to the vending machine


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[lissy]

This is my first so all I have to go off is the list the hospital gave me. From the looks of things my hospital doesnt supply anything for bub so we have to take everything. Lol its a long list.
Other thing is the hospital is VERY cold, even the midwives mentioned it, so things like dressing gown & slippers etc. would probably be a good idea for anyone birthing from now on.

Maybe call the midwives & ask if they have a standard list to start off with?

[Shanti]

Umm I can recomend taking snacks, drinks and a change of clothes snd some toiletries for Dh. After my marathon labour I didnt need the food but he sure did and there was no way he was leaving me to go to the vending machine


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I agree, what i meant was $$ for your hospital snacks during ur stay. Unfortunately i had to stay 5nts in hossy.
We bring snacks for labour definitely!!!!