What do you need to pack? Hospital Bags

[Cassius2]

the libra pads arent nice if u have stiches i used the stayfree ones there soft like cushions lol the libra ones are 2 thin IMO it doesnt matter no one else knows wat u've got on

yep! this is what i found. i wanted the lovely thick surfboard type ones as man oh man it was so much nicer to have cushiony softness...i was extra norti and would rip the top open (like at the front of the pad) and stick ice down in the middle during my stay to help with the soreness!

but after the first week things settled down enough and went to the libra ones....

Jakodai: te he! i was talking about the baby clothes you'll prolly find that you are more comfy in maternity clothes for a wee while so i wouldnt think there is a need to rush out for new wardrobe!

[~Hestia~]

I used those flushable toilet wipes for at least the first 10 days. Highly recommend them, the Kleenex ones were the best. They're also great to use after showering - I was too sore to towel dry down there.

[Janie]

Oh yeah, a hairdyer! Apart from the obvious, so you don't have wet hair, it's really nice to dry 'down there' if it's quite sore. Especially if you have stitches. You just use it on a really low, not too hot setting, and it does the job nicely I used it for the first two weeks I think! I did have an episiotomy though.

[NaeNae]

Thank you all so much for your responses.

I went shopping yesterday and got a few things, the OLNY mat pads I could find were the libra ones so I guess them teamed with the hospitals surfboards that shouldn't be too bad.

I have also created a printable list which I will run off and keep on the bed in the nursery where I am laying out all the things and marking them off once I have them. I will also print off the list and keep it on the fridge for DH.

Just one more question - how many bags did you all take

No seriously I was wondering is it better to pack things separate so a bag for baby, a bag for labour, a bag for hossy stay and a bag for DH ? or would you shove it all in together??

Thanks again heaps

Nae x x

[Janie]

Nae, I had a suitcase for me and DH, another bag for the labour bag, and a smaller bag with bub's things. MUCH easier to have it all seperate!

As for lists, think about doing one of all the last minute things that you can't pack until you're leaving.......much easier to work from a list rather than memory when you're in labour LOL!

[Cassius2]

I was similar to Janie. had separate bags.

although for ease and peace of mind (DH is notorious for forgetting crucial things in critical moments lol) i had a backpack full of labour stuff and DDs bag of stuff put INTO my suitcase so that when the time came DH just had to look for the one bag. in the end i was extra relieved as i had to get my friend to drive me in as i went into labour when DH was 3 hours away. it was good to be able (in my slightly panicked state) to just point at the suitcase knowing that it was all there in one piece ITMS.
but this is just a small thing that i found helped us for our frazzled state of minds LOL!

(i also had a list on the fridge for DH...great minds Nae, great minds LOL!)

[Cassius2]

double post

[briggsy's girl]

naenae - if you're going to warragul, they provide flannel flat nappies - all you need to provide is a cover (i have some of the newborn snibs here - will drag them out for you and bring to baby shower - i think we only used a few. E has only jus started fitting BG's at 10-11 weeks without them being horrifically huge on her.

i took 3 bags - labour, me, baby. i had piles of things at home that i might need - that way i could easily guide DH to grab what i needed

nighties were great at the start - pumpkin patch make really long ones that are awesome.

[NaeNae]

Thanks for the bags inside a bag idea - I love it. Depending on who I am with and where DH is I think that would make things much easier for him (plus it saves me stressing too)

Cassius - sounds like our boys need those lists. DH has lists on his computer for EVERYTHING you need to complete a M.D to be able to read all his stuff

BG - that would be awesome if you have time to dig those out. Can you believe the shower is in 3 weeks I can't it all seems so not real. I can't wait you meet you

Nae x x x

[Tash*n*bub]

Hi everyone,

There really are some fantastic ideas in these posts, I have had 3 bubs and never thought of some of this stuff!!

I just love being in hospital after delivering, it is such a happy environment to be in, especially with all the other mums, although I had private rooms!!

One thing I think of is just to remember yourself and your favourite comforts, you may not use them in the end but take them, you never do know!!

Everyone (including yourself) is thinking of new things for bubby and that is great but don't forget to pamper yourself, you are the one that has just done all the hard work and has the hard work for the rest of your life!! So take some new things for yourself as well!! Because I am sure bub will be well catered for by nanna's and pop's and grandparents, aunties and uncles and all of your friends and family!!

Just don't forget to grab your bag on your hurry out the door...oh what an exciting time it is!!

Good luck!!

[Doing my best]

I haven't read all replies yet, but 1 thing I had to send DH to buy after my 1st night was eye drops.. My eyes were so dry that it was hurting!

[~Hestia~]

I also took 3 bags (baby, labour & hospital stay). We knew exactly where everything was & DH took home the labour bag afterwards. I just used the nappy bag for the baby bag.
FWIW I used Libra, Stayfree & Kotex maternity pads & I preferred the Libra ones. However I didn't have any tears or stitches as some girls have mentioned.

[belonna]

I didn't take much. Three changes of comfy clothes but mostly wore the hospital garb. Pads. Comfy bras and milk pads. Writing pad and pen, book, camera, wipes and pics of my hubby. Took a cute little outfit for bub to go home in purely for photo reasons. That was it.

[Bub4me]

What a fabulous thread Nae, thanks for starting it. I have been wondering about all this stuff too, but it's been a little overwhelming to do anything about it, but have copied all these great ideas into a word doc and will go through and start investigating and highlighting what I think I need.

One question - Where did you guys keep your bags? I'm wondering if I should keep it in the car in case I'm out when things start to happen and I don't want/can't get home first. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

OK - so I have two questions. When did you start to pack your bags. Nae is obviously super organised (and I thought I was an anal, organised, list-keeping person), but I was thinking around 4-6 weeks out? What do you think?

[briggsy's girl]

i had "piles" of stuff ready to go at about 30 weeks - i packed bubba's bag and toiletries etc, but the stuff for me, i was still using so i kept it all together, and replaced it after i'd used it each time. i had bags in the car from about 36 weeks after having a trip to hospital with PE issues. before that, they were just sitting there, ready to be filled and easy to get at. my bags then kinda lived in the car after that - mainly cos, for me to go anywhere visiting family/shopping etc, it was at least a 40k round trip, hospital 65k from home - so i'd rather be prepared! in the end, it was good that i'd done that - had OB appt on tues, was told i was to be induced on wed, went to mum's for dinner on the tues night and got a call asking me to come in that night cos my results for BT and BP combined made the doc more inclined to get things started early. if stuff had been home, i'd have had to do an extra trip home before mum could take me to hospy - DH was away for work and didn't get to the hospital til about 1am next morning (and bubba didn't arrive til friday!)

[Janie]

Hmmm. I was going to be all organised and ready by 34 weeks. But I broke my foot, and that put a spanner in the works (and I wasn't really organised well enough before that anyway ). So when I went into labour at 35 weeks, our bags were only sort of half packed. The baby bag was ready, thank goodness, but the rest of it wasn't. I would NOT recommend it!!! Trying to pack during labour was not fun, especially with my waters leaking everywhere. I was very lucky I had my lists to work from, otherwise I would have forgotten stuff for sure. And as we were 45 minutes from the hospital, and DH was staying with me, we didn't want to forget stuff, because that would mean sending someone else to our place to get it.

So.....I would say there's no such thing as too early. Pack your bags as soon as you feel like it!

[jakodai]

Hmmm. I was going to be all organised and ready by 34 weeks. But I broke my foot, and that put a spanner in the works (and I wasn't really organised well enough before that anyway ). So when I went into labour at 35 weeks, our bags were only sort of half packed. The baby bag was ready, thank goodness, but the rest of it wasn't. I would NOT recommend it!!! Trying to pack during labour was not fun, especially with my waters leaking everywhere. I was very lucky I had my lists to work from, otherwise I would have forgotten stuff for sure. And as we were 45 minutes from the hospital, and DH was staying with me, we didn't want to forget stuff, because that would mean sending someone else to our place to get it.

So.....I would say there's no such thing as too early. Pack your bags as soon as you feel like it!

I am definitely going to take your advice, Janie! (Not about the broken foot though, I really don't want to be in that position... ouch!!!). It's my last day of work tomorrow, and my mission for this week is to have my bags packed & wash ALL the baby's clothes. I've done my toiletries bag, and started on my bag - thankfully, I have lists too, so hopefully that will help.

I hope everything worked out well?

[Taurean]

Hi Nae!

You've got lots of good tips already but here is my list and ideas as well......

I have a list and have crossed off all the things that are packed. All the last minute items such as makeup, phone charger, etc are now highlighted in yellow so DH can easily see the last items to pack. The list is on the fridge.

We have three bags - a suitcase for me & DH, small hand luggage style bag for bubs and just an enviro bag for labour. The suitcase is a little big but I figure we'll need room to pack the presents we get as well.

All three bags are in the nursery ready to go.


My bag (and DH will add his stuff to this bag when I go into labour):
- my pillow! I'll sleep so much better (well, YKWIM!) if I have my own pillow
- 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 designed for breastfeeding
- a zip up jumper/hoodie
- slippers
- flip flops
- few pairs of socks - I hate cold feet!
- 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 dock
- 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. I just don't like the clothes supplied by the hospitals and I adore bubbies in Wondersuits! The PP nighties are so adorable too and great for nappy changes.
- 2 'going home' outfits
- 2 bunny rugs
- booties, mittens and beanies
- singlets
- comfort blanket/ruggie - a little Tigger one we bought for bubs which I have had in our bed so it smells like us

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
- we'll use the iPod dock for music
- massage oil
- cooling facial spray - I found a Nutrimetics one in my ensuite. Bonus!

I hope this helps! I say pack as soon as you can as you just never know when bubs will decide it's their birthday. It won't hurt anyone to be prepared.