Hospital bag essentials

[soulful]

Hi ladies

Just preparing myself in advance....

Can anyone recommend:

• What essentials I should pack in my hospital bag
• What would be 'nice to have' in my hospital bag

Many thanks in advance!

[~Kim~]

hey hun, if you do a search you'll find heaps of threads, but here is a thread I started.
Hope it helps some

[JordieC]

There are lots of threads but one thing I was so glad I took last time was my own toilet paper! Much softer and nicer than hospital stuff!

[jakodai]

There are lots of threads but one thing I was so glad I took last time was my own toilet paper! Much softer and nicer than hospital stuff!

Ooooh! I am so doing that!! Especially with everything that will going on down there, I think soft toilet paper would definitely be a bonus!

There's a list on a website that I stumbled across that seems to cover most stuff. That I can think of, anyway...

[briggsy's girl]

one "nice to have" item (if you have it) is a portable DVD player to entertain you at night, or a cd player/ipod for music. those middle of the night feeds can be full on to stay awake for (i was on pain meds from c/s so struggled more than with normal tiredness) - and FTA TV (if available) is just crap!! DH bought in the DVD player and we got through a season of CSI in the few days i was in hospital! DD would feed for up to an hour at a time so it was an ep a feed! lol

[LaDeeDa]

Sustagen primas - trust me on this

[Muffy]

MUST have
- few changes of knickers and pyjamas!!!
- Maternity Bras and breast pads
- maternity pads!!!!!!!!

Camera with an EXTRA set of batteries.. trust me i learnt the hard way!!!!

[Taurean]

I'm yet to pack my bags but so far I have three little piles throughout the house to pack - LOL. What to pack for bubs will depend on your hospital as what the hospital supplies seems to vary quite a lot. My hospital supplies pretty much everything for bubs but I want to use our own baby clothes (I'm not a fan of the hossi ones) so I'm packing bubbies nappy bag as well.

My three little piles I have so far include the following:
- box of tissues. I suffer from allergies and always need tissues and much prefer soft tissues
- maternity pads - 3 packs of 10
- breast pads
- nipple cream
- moisturiser (face & body), shower gel, shampoo & conditioner, deoderant and mouthwash - all are the mini bottles you can now get at Coles, Priceline and pharmacies. They take up a lot less room in your bag.
- hair brush and ties
- facial cleanser and face washer
- Kleenex flushable wipes and soft toilet paper
- toothbrush and toothpaste
- nail file
- Bonds maternity singlets
- other casual maternity tops especially designed for breastfeeding
- slippers
- flip flops
- few pairs of socks
- PJ's
- trackies
- lots of black knickers in a bigger size (to fit those huge mat pads!)
- maternity bras
- camera, video camera, laptop and charges, cords, etc.
- mobile phone charger
- iPod and headphones
- books & magazines
- pregnancy/breastfeeding vitamins
- Metamucil - my lifesafer!!

For bubs:
- I have several Wondersuits and a couple of Pumpkin Patch newborn nighties - not essential at all though
- 2 'going home' outfits
- 2 bunny rugs
- booties, mittens and beanies
- singlets

Labour:
- snacks - museli bars, juice boxes, lollies
- head band/scarf - to keep my hair out of my way in labour
- socks - the midwives warned us that labouring women often complain of cold feet (although the rest of you is hot!!)
- Blistex / lip balm
- music - we'll be using our laptop


I hope this helps!

[Olive]

toilet paper!!!!!!

[Daydream Believer]

Pack some snacks in you hossy bag coz if you are feeding in the middle of the night you may get the munchies
Camera
Book/ipod/DS something to do while bubs is asleep (unless you want to pay for tv in hossy)
your mobile
toiletries (yours & bubs)
trackies
assuming you decided to BF, tops that are easy to feed in
lots of undies & pads
maternity bras & breast pads
Clothes & nappies for bub(if you hossy doesnt provide them) & a beanie
We bought DD a special toy for when she was born & we took a pic the day after she was born with it & take a pic every months or so to see how she's grown

In my labour bag I packed heaps of things, the only things I used was my water bottle (bring you own water though, our hossy's water was horrible)
and those coloured juggling balls to smash together during contractions
and a heat bag (but we had to use the hossy ones they wouldnt let me use mine, to many DP's destroying the mircowaves)

AS well as your own toilet paper take some of those flushable wipes, they are really good if you have stitches